Whispers of a lost mangrove forest still linger. Here before you stands the ghostly echo of Sungai Pendas Forest Reserve. Once a vibrant ecosystem it now exists only in fragments. This was not always the case.
Imagine a time long ago. The area now known as Sungai Pendas Forest Reserve was part of a much larger expanse. The Pandan Forest Reserve covered 542 acres in 1966. Some believe it was even bigger before that. This reserve was one of fifteen protected under the Forest Ordinance of 1908. It was a sanctuary. A haven for diverse flora and fauna.
Life thrived in these mangroves. Fishermen lived in villages like Kampong Teban. Their homes were built on stilts above the riverbank. They relied on the river for their livelihood. Prawn farming was a major part of their lives. They coexisted with the natural world. The birdsong of the ashy tailorbird and pied fantail filled the air. Grey and striated herons soared overhead. Even the rare Asian paradise flycatcher called this place home. Mud lobsters mudskippers horseshoe crabs mangrove snails and dog-faced water snakes shared this watery world.
But progress came at a cost. In the 1960s land was needed. The Jurong Industrial Estate expanded. The Pandan Forest Reserve suffered. An amendment in 1966 saw it lose 186 acres. In 1968 it lost its protected status altogether. The industrial march of Singapore had claimed a piece of its natural heritage. The villagers saw their lives uprooted.
The original mouth of Sungei Pandan changed as well. The Republic of Singapore Yacht Club built its premises on reclaimed land. The club moved again in 1999 after losing its seafront to more land reclamation. Its former clubhouse now houses the Singapore Rowing Association. A poignant reminder of what was lost.
Today only fragments remain. A small remnant of a once thriving mangrove forest. The URA Master Plan designates this area as a park. A tiny green space teeming with life. A shadow of its former self. It serves as a reminder. A testament to what was and what could be. A tribute to the whispers of the lost forest of Sungai Pendas.