Learning+journeys

Advantages of the forest: -Catchment Canopy of forest blocks rain and prevents erosion Leaf litter of forest on the grown is like a sponge Water percolates into the ground and gets filtrated as it flows down the water table before it gets released into the reservoir Alternative would be mushes(tall grass) like in Kranji Reservoir -Carbon syncing The process of trees taking in carbon dioxide, transforming it into bark and wood, and locking it into the ground This helps alleviate global warming -For oxygen -For the animals’ habitat -Cleans the air Toxic particles in the air gets trapped in the leaves of the trees When it rains, all the toxic substances locks into the ground -Medicines in the forest -Home to indigenous people and their culture and history

Singapore Island Country Club - golf course there discharges chemicals into the water and causes eutrophication:

-blue green algae(grows in big groups) feeds on these chemicals -they are short-lived -get eaten by bacteria -bacteria consumes oxygen -fish in the water get deprived of oxygen -they die and decompose -water turns fowl.  Monsoon drain: -lots of algae grow there -people clear the algae periodically -in the lower part of the monsoon drain, two pathways are created -water comes down from reservoir with great force -it gets split into 2 equal parts -when 2 parts of water clash and meet again later, their forces negate with each other(this safeguards the bank of the canal) -then goes to kallang river -this area is artistically done, its a unique part of singapore

Secondary forest Features: -Trees are shorter than primary forest -Widely spaced -Lesser species -Within 60 to 100 years, a secondary forest can turn into a primary forest again -If primary forest is nearby, wind, water and animals can affect the maturity of a secondary forest -if primary and secondary forests get further and further apart, the secondary forest may never turn into a primary forest again

Tree stumps along the boardwalk in water: Used as stepping stones in the past before the boardwalk was built But decomposed and rotted over time Erosion in the forest:

Due to rain, tree roots have been exposed Assessment of human activities in Lower Pierce

-disrupts their diet -causes them to become dependent -monkeys may search rubbish bins for food || -signboards are in place to remind people not to feed the monkeys || -disrupts animal life in the forest || -signboards are in place to remind people not to bring dogs into the forest || -clearing of forest land -pollution of water -excessive use of fresh water to maintain grass ||  || -possible extinction of some fish species in the reservoir -pollution of water || -rocks are placed at one area of the reservoir and these are the areas where fishing is allowed, so that people can stand on the rocks and not contaminate the soil and water -mitigates erosion and creates a barrier || -soil erosion -decreasing biodiversity of the area ||  ||
 * Activity || Possible consequence || Conservation measures ||
 * Feeding monkeys || -threatens monkeys
 * Bringing dogs in || -when dogs urinate, it is a sign of marking their territory and so this causes animals in the forest to leave that area
 * Golfing || -eutrophication
 * Fishing || -soil at the banks of the reservoir are disturbed
 * Rubber plantation || -clearing of forest land

Silent observations Red - me Blue - water trickling, sounds like it’s flowing, full of life Orange - crickets “croaking”, high pitched sounds Green - cicadas singing, high pitched sounds Pink - Birds chirping in the distance Purple - Wind howling periodically, softly