Landfill Eden

With a barely audible grunt, the guide gently lifts the sea cucumber from the water. It is a large specimen, around two to three times the size of the guide’s hand. As water spurts from the cucumber – its defensive mechanism in action – visitors gather and give murmuring sounds of approval; a little boy gapes in disbelief. After all, this is what you expect to find in a seafood restaurant, certainly not on a landfill.

While Singapore may be known for being a regional economic power house, it has also won accolades for being a garden city. Throughout the city, there are numerous parks and gardens where locals head for morning taichi sessions and evening walks. And around Singapore, there are several islands, each boasting a diverse marine habitat. It may come as a surprise that one of the islands with the greatest variety of marine life is the Semakau Landfill, also known as Pulau Semakau.

Located 8 kilometres off the southern coast of Singapore, the Semakau Landfill originally comprised of two separate islands, Pulau Semakau and Pulau Sakeng. Work began in 1995 to connect the two islands via a 7-kilometre bund to form an artificial landfill. Covering 350 hectares, the Semakau landfill can hold up to 63 million cubic metres of non-incinerable refuse and ash – and will meet Singapore’s landfill needs till 2045.

But rubbish is not all you will find on Pulau Semakau. As Ron Yeo, a guide and education officer from the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity explains, “Pulau Semakau has a variety of habitats which harbour many organisms not commonly seen elsewhere in Singapore”. A survey conducted in 2005 found several species of endangered marine plants and animals. To maintain the rich diversity of the island, 13 hectares of mangrove trees that were previously displaced by construction of the island were also replanted.

Opened to the public in 2005, one of the best ways to get a glimpse of Pulau Semakau’s marine habitat is by visiting the intertidal area on a tour conducted by the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity. The intertidal area refers to the area of the seabed covered by seawater during the high tide that becomes exposed when the tide goes out. As the tide ebbs, it reveals a teeming amount of life for one of the harshest living environments found in the sea.

Nudibranches, or more commonly known as sea slugs, float effortlessly through the rock pools, their bright colours a warning to all who fancy a snack. A small crab scuttles near the bright edges of a fluted clam, its shell muted by the lustre of the shell. Brightly coloured corals blend with the meadows of seagrass in a display that rivals any garden on land.

Visitors may also opt for the National Environment Agency’s Education/Recreational outing, where they receive a briefing on waste management in Singapore, followed by a tour of the landfill and recreational activities. Other activities organised on the island include bird watching, sport fishing and stargazing. Some 66 species of birds have already been sighted on Pulau Semakau, a figure that includes the rare Great-billed Heron.

As climate change batters its way across the world, affecting ecosystems and humanity alike, it is a stark reminder of life’s tenacity even in the harshest of environments. With global warming threatening many marine ecosystems, it is worth to take some time to appreciate the delicate balance of life in a teeming and spectacular paradise such as Pulau Semakau.

Go island hopping!

Contact these groups on the activities offered on Pulau Semakau. Terms and conditions do apply. Visitors to the island are encouraged to bring insect repellent as well as a torch in good condition for night tours.

INTERTIDAL WALK

This is a wonderful chance to immerse yourself in the vivid diversity of island wildlife at low tide. Visitors can walk around to see vast mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs, crabs, starfi sh, sponges, shrimps and other flora and fauna. Contact: The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity (http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/workshop/)

BIRD WATCHING

As many as 66 species of migratory birds, shore birds and forest birds visit Semakau Island because of the aundance of fi sh in the surrounding waters of the isle. Contact: The Nature Society of Singapore (www.nss.org.sg)

STARGAZING

Away from the city lights of Singapore, Semakauisland offers a clear view of the night sky for an awe inspiring stargazing session. Contact: The Astronomical Society of Singapore (www.tasos.org.sg)

EDUCATIONAL/RECREATIONAL OUTING

Great for school kids, this educational visit explains the design, operation and process of solid waste management in Singapore and is followed by a tour of the landfi ll. After the educational programme, visitors can engage in recreational activities, such as fishing, cycling, barbecuing and camping. Contact: The National Environment Agency (www.nea.gov.sg)

SPORT FISHING

As many as 17 different fish species including barracuda and queen fish can be found in the waters of the island. Sport fishing enthusiasts can enjoy catch and release fishing activities in the various water bodies in and around the isle. Contact: The Sport Fishing Association of Singapore (www.sfas.net)