Deforestation of Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks: An open letter

Dear Minister of State and Minister of Development and the Prime Minister of Singapore,

I’m writing to you regarding our nation’s forests. I’m sure you have heard and read the recent news about HDB yet again targeting our forests at Maju and Gillman Barracks.

I honestly am not a very confrontational person and have kept quiet on most of the government issues but this is getting ridiculous and affecting the future of Singapore. I can’t stay quiet any longer and I’m tired of the lies told just to assuage us. It is one thing for the government to say “yes we will have to recycle developed land” during the Clementi forest saga and go back on their word a short time later. They also utterly decimated our Tengah forests because of lack of outcry.

We are already left with so little forests and nature here in Singapore, except for little pockets here and there which is not enough to sustain life. I worry about the future that we are leaving behind for our future generations. I mean, sure, there’s the population growth and whatever economic reasons but have you considered that when you remove a forest, you can NEVER get it back.

When writing this, I did consider Alvin Tan’s statement yesterday but it appears that the government is not hearing us. He is still saying that he will redevelop 60% of the forests into HDB.

We are already left with only 16% of forests and deforestation rate has gone up rapidly in recent years. At this rate, when we celebrate our nation’s 120th birthday, there will be no forests left. I wonder when HDB will stop or is it until we have nothing left to conserve? Will we wait until we lose our soul before we regret?

In the words of Baba Dioum: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.”

What are we teaching our future generation? To take advantage of something that can’t fight back simply because it is helpless or there is no “perceived value”? Are our voices not loud enough? When will the government start listening to us? We are all stewards of our land as Singaporeans, not just the government. It is really not up to just you to decide what to do with it.

We are a small tiny nation and sustainability should be our main priority. Why are we doing such things for short term gains? What happens if we run out of forests or sea to reclaim? Can our tiny island still continue to have enough resources to support a huge ever-growing population?

I have said my piece and signed petitions and written to you and other members, and done my part. What are you going to do? We are all watching.

Sincerely,

Rachel

PS. Featured pic is of 61st National Day fireworks. Makes me wonder what if we will look like urban jungle in another 60 years.