January 2015 RUMbles

The highlight in January was the opportunity for R.U.M Initiative members to meet with NParks to learn more about NPark's great work in mangrove restoration on Pulau Ubin.

R.U.M Initiative members and friends also continued to survey abandoned aquaculture ponds in January. Including an exciting night kayaking survey.


On 5 Jan, Robert Teo and his team from Ubin NParks briefed R.U.M. Initiative members on the ongoing and planned mangrove restoration at Pulau Ubin and brought us to these various sites. Here, Robert Teo is sharing about the old pond near the mangrove boardwalk where natural regeneration has been taking place.

Some of the rare mangrove trees planted at Chek Jawa.

We also checked out an abandoned Southeast pond. This is one of the sites that GARS is considering for their restoration work.

During the trip, Philip Lim (Singapore fish farmer, Pulau Ubin) demonstrates his water quality measurement methods on the abandoned pond. More photos on the R.U.M. facebook group.

Restore Ubin Mangroves (R.U.M.) Initiative and friends made 5 surveys in January! On 3 Jan, we checked out the Southeast ponds from the shore!

We were fortunate to have bird experts with us on this trip, to check on the birds that are found near and at the abandoned aquaculture ponds. More photos on the R.U.M. facebook group.

On 4 Jan, A super small team made a last minute decision to visit Ubin. In our effort to get a closer view of the abandoned pond near Celestial Resort, we came across the encampment of this old man who was mending one of the many nets draped in the area. More photos on the R.U.M. facebook group.

On 16 Jan, thanks to Philip Lim, some lucky Restore Ubin Mangroves (R.U.M.) Initiative members got a chance to survey Pulau Ubin mangroves at night! · It turns out that it is actually easier to identify mangrove trees at night than during daylight. This photo was taken from the safety boat. More photos on the R.U.M. facebook group.

On 25 Jan, A small team of Restore Ubin Mangroves (R.U.M.) Initiative and friends surveyed the Jelutong ponds. Some of the sluice gates still have concrete in good condition. We encountered fishermen using the abandoned ponds.

We stopped by the boatyard at Sungei Jelutong. More photos on the R.U.M. facebook group.

On 27 Jan, A small team of Restore Ubin Mangroves (R.U.M.) Initiative did a recce for a possible clean up at abandoned aquaculture ponds in Southeast Pulau Ubin led by the Nature Society (Singapore) Marine Conservation Group. Entangled among the roots of the mangrove trees on the shore, large quantities of washed up fishing nets ranging from very old to brand new.

There are large piles of plastic and styrofoam above the high water mark. Probably dumped by shore users. More photos on the R.U.M. facebook group.

There's much work to do to restore mangroves at Pulau Ubin and we can't wait to start!

Here's a group shot of some Restore Ubin Mangroves (R.U.M.) Initiative members and friends. Thanks to Dan Friess, we remembered to take a a group photo on Ubin itself. Now, we need to remember to take a group photo while we are actually surveying!