UNESCO World Heritage Site

1. UNESCO World Heritage Site Group Members: Joel Soh Darius Ng Cleon Yong Ong Jia Zhi

2. Choice of Site and Why? Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve. It is the first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in Singapore. It has a range of wildlife and has the most mangrove wildlife in the country. It boasts a rich biodiversity of wildlife not found in other parts of the country as well.

3. Description of Site • Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a nature reserve in the northwest area of Singapore. It is the first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in Singapore (2002). The reserve, with an area of 130 hectares, was listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003. • Sungei Buloh has a large variety of birds which included many migratory species. • The migratory birds came from as far north as Siberia and Alaska and as far south as Australia. • An area of 0.87 km² was given nature park status in 1989. • It officially opened on 6 December 1993.

5. Universal Outstanding Value 1. Sungei Buloh has a global importance as a stopover point for migratory birds. Particularly significant was its unusually high variety of bird species, over 150 species of rare and exotic birds, which included migratory birds from as far as Siberia on their way to Australia to escape the winter months. 2. Saltwater crocodiles are occasionally seen in the reserve, it might be a remnant localized population which was said to be extinct or crocodiles from neighbouring countries.

6. Universal Outstanding Value 3.Sungei Buloh contains Singapore’s largest kingfisher species, known as the Stork-billed Kingfisher. 4.Sungei Buloh is one of the last remaining mangrove swamps in Singapore. 5.Sungei Buloh contains more than 500 species of flora and fauna.

7. Statements of Authenticity • From the 1900s to today Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve has remained faithful to its initial purposes: • Conserving the site for migratory birds as a stopping point • Preserving the plantlife and animal life at the reserve 2. It was officially gazetted (from a park) as a nature reserve in 1 January 2002.

8. Statements of Authenticity 3. Certified/Listed as ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003. 4. The primary mangrove forests served as a stop for migratory birds before its park status was established and predates the reserve.

9. Statements of Integrity The continued presence of the primary forest in the wetlands reserve bears testimony to conservation and preservation of the wetlands.

10. Comparison with other similar properties Wetlands • Are one of the world’s most important environmental assets • Contains a disproportionately high number of plant and animal species • Throughout history they have been integral to human survival and development. • Exist in every country and in every climatic zone • Each one serves different purposes • Hence, no direct basis for comparison

11. Tonle Sap (Cambodia) • Pantanal (Brazil) • iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa) • Lac Saint Pierre (Canada) • Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta (Colombia) • La Camargue (France) • Hara Biosphere Reserve (Iran) • Langebaan (South Africa) • The Everglades (USA) • Delta du Saloum (Senegal) • Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve?

12. Pantanal Source: http://www.greenstonejourneys.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/vitoria-regia-water-lily-pantanal-matogrossense-brazil1.jpg

13. Pantanal The Pantanal Conservation Complex consists of a cluster of four protected areas with a total area of 187,818 hectares. Located in western central Brazil at the south-west corner of the State of Mato Grosso, the site represents 1.3% of Brazil's Pantanal region, one of the world's largest freshwater wetland ecosystems. The headwaters of the region's two major river systems, the Cuiabá and the Paraguay rivers, are located here, and the abundance and diversity of its vegetation and animal life are spectacular. Inscripted in 2000. The site demonstrates the on-going ecological and biological processes that occur in the Pantanal. The site plays a key role in the dispersion of nutrients to the entire basin and is the most important reserve for maintaining fish stocks in the Pantanal. The area preserves habitats representative of the Pantanal that contain a number of globally threatened species. The area is a refuge for fauna as it is the only area of the Pantanal that remains partially inundated during the dry season.

14. Pantanal • Total of 187, 818 hectares of protected land • One of the world’s largest freshwater wetland ecosystems • The abundance and diversity of its flora and fauna are spectacular • Inscripted in 2000 • Plays a key role in the dispersion of nutrients to the entire basin and is the most important reserve for maintaining fish stocks in the Pantanal.

15. iSimangaliso Wetland Park Source: http://www.seasands.co.za/Confer1.jpg

16. iSimangaliso Wetland Park The ongoing fluvial, marine and aeolian processes in the site have produced a variety of landforms, including coral reefs, long sandy beaches, coastal dunes, lake systems, swamps, and extensive reed and papyrus wetlands. The interaction of the environment with major floods, coastal storms and a transitional geographic location between subtropical and tropical Africa has resulted in exceptional species diversity and ongoing speciation. The mosaic of landforms and habitat types creates breathtaking scenic vistas. The site contains critical habitats for a range of species from Africa's marine, wetland and savannah environments. Inscripted in 1999. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is one of the outstanding natural wetland and coastal sites of Africa. Covering an area of 239,566 ha, it includes a wide range of pristine marine, coastal, wetland, estuarine, and terrestrial environments which are scenically beautiful and basically unmodified by people. These include coral reefs, long sandy beaches, coastal dunes, lake systems, swamps, and extensive reed and papyrus wetlands, providing critical habitat for a wide range of species from Africa's seas, wetlands and savannahs. Its vivid natural spectacles include nesting turtles and large aggregations of flamingos and other waterfowl. South Africa’s first world heritage site in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and unique global values.

17. iSimangaliso Wetland Park • South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, outstanding natural wetland and coastal site, in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and unique global values • Covers 239, 556 hectares of protected land • The site contains critical habitats for a range of species from Africa's marine, wetland and savannah environments • Inscripted in 1999 • The Park is divided into 10 sections, known as “The Ten Jewels ” • One of the finalists for “ Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2011”

18. The Everglades http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/130/cache/aquatic-florida-everglades_13047_600x450.jpg

19. The Everglades This site is located at the southern tip of Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico, has been called 'a river of grass flowing imperceptibly from the hinterland into the sea'. The exceptional variety of its water habitats has made it a sanctuary for a large number of birds and reptiles, as well as for threatened species such as the manatee, Florida panther, snail kite, alligator and the American crocodile. Inscripted in 1979. Everglades National Park is the largest designated sub-tropical wilderness reserve on the North American continent. Its juncture at the interface of temperate and sub-tropical America, fresh and brackish water, shallow bays and deeper coastal waters creates a complex of habitats supporting a high diversity of flora and fauna. It contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere, the largest continuous stand of sawgrass prairie and the most significant breeding ground for wading birds in North America. It provides important foraging and breeding habitat for more than 400 species of birds, includes the most significant breeding grounds for wading birds in North America and is a major corridor for migration.

20. The Everglades • The exceptional variety of its water habitats has made it a sanctuary for a large number of birds and reptiles • Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species • Fresh and brackish water, shallow bays and deeper coastal waters creates a complex of habitats supporting a high diversity of flora and fauna. • Inscripted in 1979

21. The Everglades • Largest designated sub-tropical wilderness reserve on the North American continent. • It provides important foraging and breeding habitat for more than 400 species of birds, • Is a major corridor for migration.

23. Why Sungei Buloh? • Most of the significant wetland parks and reserves are found in temperate regions such as the Everglades and the Pantanal, however, there are not many wetland reserves and parks located in the tropical regions, especially in South-East Asia, therefore, the species found in the wetlands differ a lot from each other, and Sungei Buloh, one of the many stops of migratory birds, would have flora and fauna that differ from other wetland reserves in other parts of the world.

24. Why Sungei Buloh? • Sungei Buloh, due to its serene nature, can contribute greatly to research of the flora and fauna because of its highly undisturbed nature. Sungei Buloh wetland Reserve is more natural and untouched, serving its main purpose of conservation and protection of wilderness well. iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa, however,is more for Ecotourism that for research, hence lacking in continuous contribution to the research field.

25. Bibliography http://www.isimangaliso.com/ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/76 http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/index.htm http://www.pantanal.org/Mainpant.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungei_Buloh_Wetland_Reserve https://www.sbwr.org.sg/ https://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/docs/Sungei_Buloh_Wetland_Reserve_eGuide_LRes.pdf http://www.ulusingapore.com/gbbuloh.htm http://www.focussingapore.com/singapore-entertainment/amusement-parks/sungei-buloh-wetland-reserve.html

26. Thank You!