Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Tourism Malaysia have launched a joint programme to encourage nature-lovers to visit and discover both Singapore’s Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Malaysia’s Pulau Kukup Johor National Park.
As part of the ‘Passport 2 Nature’ programme, from October 1 to December 31, visitors can receive a ‘Passport 2 Nature’ at entrance counters of both parks.
Through completing a series of family-friendly interactive questions, visitors can uncover the parks’ unique flora and fauna, and earn stamps on their Passport, according to a joint press statement on October 1, 2018.
Upon completion of the Passport, they can present it to staff at either park and redeem a limited-edition souvenir created for the campaign.
“Singapore is located along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. This means we serve as a valuable stop-over in the journey taken by migratory birds that come from as far away as Siberia," said Dr Adrian Loo, Group Director, Conservation of the National Parks Board.
"We welcome the opportunity to work with our wetland counterparts in other countries that are also part of the flyway, such as Pulau Kukup Johor National Park, to build up our knowledge of the migratory patterns and requirements of these amazing birds. This will enable us to better formulate conservation strategies for our wetlands to ensure the long-term survival of these birds.”
Pulau Kukup Johor National Park, a Ramsar Site, is one of five national parks in Johor.
Besides the importance of its mangrove habitat, eco-tourism facilities have been developed on the island.
The ‘Passport 2 Nature’ initiative follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between NParks and the Johor National Parks Corporation on 21 February 2018. The agreement aims to establish Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Pulau Kukup Johor National Park as Sister Sites under the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
The MoU enhances collaboration in joint research on migratory shorebirds found in both sites, enables knowledge and expertise sharing in wetland habitat management, and facilitates outreach and education.