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Bukit Timah: the History and Significance of a Small Rain-forest Reserve

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Richard T. Corlett
Richard T. Corlett
Affiliation:
Lecturer, Department of Botany, National University of Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 0511, Republic of Singapore; Currently: Lecturer, Department of Botany, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
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Extract

The 71 hectares mainly of rain-forest on Bukit Timah Hill have been isolated for more than 130 years. During most of this period, the forest has received some form of protection: initially for climatic reasons, then as a forest reserve, and finally as a Nature reserve. It has also suffered a great deal of disturbance from illegal logging, firewood collection, hunting, wartime shelling, and recreational activity. Despite this, the Reserve still supports an immensely rich flora and fauna, although many bird and mammal species have been lost.

The example of Bukit Timah suggests that, contrary to most predictions, small rain-forest reserves can play a significant role in biological conservation, as well as satisfying educational and recreational needs.

Type
Main Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , Spring 1988 , pp. 37 - 44
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1988

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