Project Semakau - Launch of 'Living Shores' Secondary School Workbook and Public Education Booklet

Last Saturday, on 16 April 2011, HSBC, together with their corporate partners and family members gathered at the Mapletree Business Centre to attend the launch of Project Semakau's 'Living Shores' Secondary School Workbook and Public Education Booklet. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources graced the launch and was joined by Mr Andrew Tan, CEO, NEA; Mr Alex Hungate, CEO, HSBC, Singapore and Professor Leo Tan, Director (Special Projects), NUS.

Since its inception on 14 Nov 2008, Project Semakau is a community initiative by HSBC in partnership with Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) of NUS and supported by NEA.  It is a three-year project to promote and conserve the inter-tidal shores of Pulau Semakau by conducting a dedicated programme of outreach and research activities with the help of volunteers.  The volunteers were trained and guided by RMBR scientists and they undertake a comprehensive scientific survey to collect data on the island's biodiversity with the aim of enhancing the value of Pulau Semakau as a nature education and conservation site. The project has been a boost to intertidal research, a field which researchers find difficult to study because of a lack of manpower and support. HSBC has made this project possible by providing funding support of S$600,000 to RMBR to cover the cost of outreach, conservation and research activities.

From left : Prof Leo Tan, Mr Alex Hungate, Minister and CEO, at the launch ceremony

After the launch, more than 100 participants were ferried to Semakau Landfill for an intertidal walk.  Mr Ong Chong Peng, General Manager of Semakau Landfill, and his staff facilitated the intertidal walk. The weather was good and the tide level was ideal for participants to walk on the mudflat for a considerable distance to observe and learn fascinating facts about the rich diversity of marine creatures. After the walk, participants cleaned up the beach by picking up flotsams along the western shore of Pulau Semakau.

It was indeed a very fruitful, educational and memorable outing for all, and it was a great opportunity for NEA to present our work in solid waste management as well as to demonstrate that with good engineering design and foresight, an offshore landfill can co-exist with the marine biodiversity.

Mr Alex Hungate and his family at intertidal walk

Participants picking up flotsams after the intertidal walk