MEDIA FACTSHEET

Coney Island Park

Coney Island Park was developed on the principles of environmental sustainability and seeks

to enhance and protect the wide variety of habitats found in the area. The 50 ha park is home

to a wide variety of habitats, including coastal forests, grasslands, mangroves, and Casuarina

woodlands.

Environmental initiatives adopted in the park focus on conserving energy and water, and

recycling and retaining of the natural elements in the park. For example, toilets at the park are

zero-energy and self-sufficient. Electricity used to power the pumps for the toilets is generated

from solar power. Water used for toilet flushing and hand washing is harvested from rainwater

and diffused sunlight is used to provide light indoors. Casuarina timber from uprooted trees is

also collected and recycled into park signages, seats, benches, boardwalk, as well as exhibits.

Habitat enhancements

Various efforts have been made to improve the habitats of Coney Island Park. Nest boxes for

birds like bee-eaters, kingfishers and woodpeckers have been installed around the island to

increase the availability of suitable nesting sites. Enrichment planting has also been carried

out for the different habitats.

The community has come forward to support habitat enhancement efforts at Coney Island

Park since its opening. Singtel and Mr Han Jok Kwang, a long-time NParks volunteer and

supporter, have sponsored tree planting and educational signs, while youths from Outward

Bound Singapore have helped to plant trees on the island.

Under the programme sponsored by OCBC Bank management and staff, over 50 species of

native coastal plants will be introduced to the project area, making it the most diverse habitat

enhancement project planned for Coney Island Park since its opening.

Habitat enhancement supported by OCBC Bank management and staff

Over five years, the 4 ha plot at Coney Island Park under the programme will be strategically

planted and maintained to help the introduced plants thrive in their natural habitat. The plot

will be reforested using the Maximum Diversity Restoration method, in which a large range of

suitable species is introduced to increase floral diversity. The species selected to be

introduced are native plants that are suited to the coastal forest environment and provide food

or shelter for the fauna of Coney Island Park.

Location of habitat enhancement programme (Picture credit: NParks)

The first phase of the habitat enhancement commenced with the planting of trees and shrubs

to create a highly diverse coastal forest plot. The plot contains a selection of free-flowering

shrubs found commonly along the sandy, coastal beaches of Singapore, as well as a variety

of coastal trees, showcasing the variety of plants that will be introduced into the rest of the

plot.

Coastal forest plot at habitat enhancement site (Photo credit: NParks)

Native flora of the coastal forest plot

Photo credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

Rose Myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) The Rose Myrtle is a woody shrub that grows up to 3 m tall and has silvery-grey leaves. It bears magenta-pink flowers that resemble cherry blossoms. The edible fruits are velvety berries that turn purple when they are ripe. They are also eaten by birds.

Photo credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

Indian Camphorweed (Pluchea indica) The Indian Camphorweed has a wide distribution and can be found in India, South China, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and across Southeast Asia. It grows along seashores and in tidal swamps. The Indian Camphorweed is a bushy shrub with silvery leaves. It is free-flowering, and bears clusters of pink flowers that are pollinated by butterflies and other insects.

Photo credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

Beach Bean (Canavalia rosea) The Beach Bean occurs in tropical coastal areas and is native to Singapore, where it is found along the seashore. The Beach Bean is a trailing, non-woody legume with alternately arranged leaves that are made up of three leaflets each. It grows as a creeper that forms dense mats along the shoreline and up to the upper littoral zone, and helps to stabilise the sand.

Photo credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

Small-leaved Nutmeg (Knema globularia) This tree can grow up to 24 m tall in lowland primary and secondary rainforests, and coastal areas. It is a critically endangered native species and bears fruit which are eaten by the Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris).

Photo credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

Twin-Apple (Ochrosia oppositifolia) Presumed to be nationally extinct in Singapore, this tree has white fragrant flowers and fleshy leaf blades that are usually broader at the tip than at the base.

Photo credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

Kelentit Nyamuk (Guioa pleuropteris) This Vulnerable tree can grow up to 30 m tall. It bears small red fruit which have one to three well-developed lobes. Its seeds are round to drop-shaped, and are covered with a fleshy orange outer layer which is eaten by birds.

Plant collection and propagation

On 31 May 2017, OCBC volunteers participated in an NParks-led plant collection and

propagation session. The volunteers covered multiple locations along Punggol Promenade

and Coney Island Park to collect seeds and harvest plants suitable for introduction to the

project area.

Some of the plants required specific harvesting methods, such as air-layering. A method of

propagating new trees and shrubs from stems still attached to the parent plant, the stem is

wrapped with damp moss to encourage roots to form.

OCBC volunteers, guided by NParks staff, carrying out air-layering on Pelir Musang

(Fagraea auriculata) (Photo credit: NParks)

The plants and seeds were brought back to NParks Pasir Panjang Nursery where the

volunteers helped to process the cuttings and seeds and plant them into trays. These plants

will be nurtured in the nursery until they are of suitable size and hardy enough to be planted

on site.

Species collected and propagated

Photo credit: Eileen Chia, National Parks Board

Photo credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

Photo credit: Neo Meng Yang, National Parks Board

Damak-damak Tahun (Scolopia macrophylla) Formerly believed to be extinct in Singapore, a single specimen of this Critically Endangered tree was rediscovered on Coney Island in 2014, and subsequently more individuals were found within its vicinity. Its timber is reddish brown, denser than water and can be used for construction.

Photo credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

Pelir Musang (Fagraea auriculata) This Critically Endangered native plant occurs locally at the offshore islands Pulau Tekukor and Pulau Pawai. Its large fragrant flowers develop singly, or in small clusters, and mature from white to cream to yellow. Its bark is apparently used to treat ulcers and the sticky substance under the skin of the fruit has been used as glue.

Photo credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

Sea Lettuce (Scaevola taccada) This plant can be found at various coastal forests and beaches of Singapore. It has pale yellow or white flowers and its round, fleshy fruits ripen from green to white. It has apparently been used for various treatments, including treatment for asthma, ear ache, eye infections and indigestion.

Photo credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

Seashore Purslane (Portulaca pilosa ssp. pilosa (race pilosa)) Found on Pulau Ubin, the critically endangered native Seashore Purslane has evolved brilliant magenta-pink flowers that attract butterfly pollinators. Its fleshy leaves help to retain moisture in its natural dry seashore habitat and the seeds are a food source for birds like the Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata). In addition to being an attractive groundcover, it is easy to care for, grows well in full sun and is quite drought tolerant.

Photo credit: Ang Wee Foong, National Parks Board

Silver Bush (Sophora tomentosa) The fruit pods of this Critically Endangered plant resemble a string of beads and are covered with short hairs. Its yellow flowers provide nectar for butterflies, and the leaves provide food for caterpillars of various moths.