Monday, October 1, 2007

Singapore Botanic Gardens To Get New Attractions

Source : Channel NewsAsia, 01 October 2007

More land has been set aside for the Singapore Botanic Gardens as part of the National Parks Board (NParks)'s redevelopment master plan.

The Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, named after a late philanthropist, can be used to cultivate an appreciation of the environment among the young.

NParks said about S$100 million has been spent since the master plan started in 1990. Tanglin Core opened last year and the Evolution Garden opened two years ago.

"We have just inherited another 11 hectares of land and there will be new gardens in the next three to four years. They will be built on the land," said Ng Lang, CEO of NParks.

More details are expected later this month.

For now, the public can learn about the environment at the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden.

At the garden, an exhibit explains the process of photosynthesis which plants go through to produce oxygen and food.

"It can teach me... plants need photosynthesis early in the morning," said Clementi Primary School student Lawson Kwek.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Yaacob Ibrahim also touched on the topic of gas emissions at the opening of the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden.

He said the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) should be supported as it is already in place and provides a balance.

But he said the mechanism still needs to be tweaked.

His comments came as a new media report suggested that Singapore may venture into its first CDM project in bio-waste management.

The CDM allows developed countries to carry out projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries as an alternative to more expensive emission reduction in their own countries. - CNA/ac

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