UNESCO World
Heritage Site
Group Members: Joel Soh
Darius Ng
Cleon Yong
Ong Jia Zhi
Choice of Site and Why?
Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve. It is the
first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in
Singapore. It has a range of wildlife and
has the most mangrove wildlife in the
country. It boasts a rich biodiversity of
wildlife not found in other parts of the
country as well.
Description of Site
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Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a nature reserve in
the northwest area of Singapore. It is the first wetlands
reserve to be gazetted in Singapore (2002). The
reserve, with an area of 130 hectares, was listed as an
ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003.
Sungei Buloh has a large variety of birds which included
many migratory species.
The migratory birds came from as far north as Siberia
and Alaska and as far south as Australia.
An area of 0.87 km² was given nature park status in
1989.
It officially opened on 6 December 1993.
Universal Outstanding Value
1. Sungei Buloh has a global importance as a stopover point for
migratory birds. Particularly significant was its unusually high variety
of bird species, over 150 species of rare and exotic birds, which
included migratory birds from as far as Siberia on their way to
Australia to escape the winter months.
2. Saltwater crocodiles are occasionally seen in the reserve, it might
be a remnant localized population which was said to be extinct or
crocodiles from neighbouring countries.
Universal Outstanding Value
3.Sungei Buloh contains Singapore’s largest kingfisher species,
known as the Stork-billed Kingfisher.
4.Sungei Buloh is one of the last remaining mangrove swamps in
Singapore.
5.Sungei Buloh contains more than 500 species of flora and fauna.
Statements of Authenticity
1. From the 1900s to today Sungei Buloh Wetlands
Reserve has remained faithful to its initial purposes:
Conserving the site for migratory birds as a
stopping point
Preserving the plantlife and animal life at the
reserve
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2. It was officially gazetted (from a park) as a nature
reserve in 1 January 2002.
Statements of Authenticity
3. Certified/Listed as ASEAN Heritage Park
in 2003.
4. The primary mangrove forests served as
a stop for migratory birds before its park
status was established and predates the
reserve.
Statements of Integrity
The continued presence of the primary
forest in the wetlands reserve bears
testimony to conservation and
preservation of the wetlands.
Comparison with other similar
properties
Wetlands
Are one of the world’s most important environmental assets
Contains a disproportionately high number of plant and animal
species
Throughout history they have been integral to human survival and
development.
Exist in every country and in every climatic zone
Each one serves different purposes
Hence, no direct basis for comparison
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Tonle Sap (Cambodia)
Pantanal (Brazil)
iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa)
Lac Saint Pierre (Canada)
Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta (Colombia)
La Camargue (France)
Hara Biosphere Reserve (Iran)
Langebaan (South Africa)
The Everglades (USA)
Delta du Saloum (Senegal)
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve?
Pantanal
Source:
http://www.green
stonejourneys.co
m/wpcontent/uploads/
2013/11/vitoriaregia-water-lilypantanalmatogrossensebrazil1.jpg
Pantanal
The Pantanal Conservation Complex consists of a cluster of four protected areas with a total
area of 187,818 hectares. Located in western central Brazil at the south-west corner of the State
of Mato Grosso, the site represents 1.3% of Brazil's Pantanal region, one of the world's largest
freshwater wetland ecosystems. The headwaters of the region's two major river systems, the
Cuiabá and the Paraguay rivers, are located here, and the abundance and diversity of its
vegetation and animal life are spectacular. Inscripted in 2000. The site demonstrates the on-going
ecological and biological processes that occur in the Pantanal. The site plays a key role in the
dispersion of nutrients to the entire basin and is the most important reserve for maintaining fish
stocks in the Pantanal. The area preserves habitats representative of the Pantanal that contain a
number of globally threatened species. The area is a refuge for fauna as it is the only area of the
Pantanal that remains partially inundated during the dry season.
Pantanal
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Total of 187, 818 hectares of protected land
One of the world’s largest freshwater wetland ecosystems
The abundance and diversity of its flora and fauna are spectacular
Inscripted in 2000
Plays a key role in the dispersion of nutrients to the entire basin
and is the most important reserve for maintaining fish stocks in the
Pantanal.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Source:
http://www.seasands.
co.za/Confer1.jpg
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
The ongoing fluvial, marine and aeolian processes in the site have produced a variety of
landforms, including coral reefs, long sandy beaches, coastal dunes, lake systems, swamps, and
extensive reed and papyrus wetlands. The interaction of the environment with major floods,
coastal storms and a transitional geographic location between subtropical and tropical Africa has
resulted in exceptional species diversity and ongoing speciation. The mosaic of landforms and
habitat types creates breathtaking scenic vistas. The site contains critical habitats for a range of
species from Africa's marine, wetland and savannah environments.
Inscripted in 1999. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is one of the outstanding natural wetland
and coastal sites of Africa. Covering an area of 239,566 ha, it includes a wide range of pristine
marine, coastal, wetland, estuarine, and terrestrial environments which are scenically beautiful
and basically unmodified by people. These include coral reefs, long sandy beaches, coastal
dunes, lake systems, swamps, and extensive reed and papyrus wetlands, providing critical habitat
for a wide range of species from Africa's seas, wetlands and savannahs. Its vivid natural
spectacles include nesting turtles and large aggregations of flamingos and other waterfowl.
South Africa’s first world heritage site in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and
unique global values.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
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South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, outstanding natural wetland
and coastal site, in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and
unique global values
Covers 239, 556 hectares of protected land
The site contains critical habitats for a range of species from
Africa's marine, wetland and savannah environments
Inscripted in 1999
The Park is divided into 10 sections, known as “ The Ten Jewels ”
One of the finalists for “ Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2011”
The Everglades
http://images.nationalgeograp
hic.com/wpf/medialive/photos/000/130/cache/a
quatic-floridaeverglades_13047_600x450
.jpg
The Everglades
This site is located at the southern tip of Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico, has been called 'a
river of grass flowing imperceptibly from the hinterland into the sea'. The exceptional variety of its
water habitats has made it a sanctuary for a large number of birds and reptiles, as well as for
threatened species such as the manatee, Florida panther, snail kite, alligator and the American
crocodile. Inscripted in 1979.
Everglades National Park is the largest designated sub-tropical wilderness reserve on the
North American continent. Its juncture at the interface of temperate and sub-tropical America,
fresh and brackish water, shallow bays and deeper coastal waters creates a complex of habitats
supporting a high diversity of flora and fauna. It contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the
Western Hemisphere, the largest continuous stand of sawgrass prairie and the most significant
breeding ground for wading birds in North America.
It provides important foraging and breeding habitat for more than 400 species of birds,
includes the most significant breeding grounds for wading birds in North America and is a major
corridor for migration.
The Everglades
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The exceptional variety of its water habitats has made it a
sanctuary for a large number of birds and reptiles
Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that
provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered
species
Fresh and brackish water, shallow bays and deeper coastal waters
creates a complex of habitats supporting a high diversity of flora
and fauna.
Inscripted in 1979
The Everglades
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Largest designated sub-tropical wilderness reserve on the North
American continent.
It provides important foraging and breeding habitat for more than
400 species of birds,
Is a major corridor for migration.
Wetland Reserve or Park
Purposes
Pantanal, Brazil
Conservation and Preservation,
Ecotourism, Research
iSimangaliso, South Africa
Conservation and Preservation,
Ecotourism, Recreation
The Everglades, USA
Sungei Buloh, Singapore
Agriculture, Conservation and
Preservation, Ecotourism, Recreation,
Research
Education, Conservation and
Preservation, Research, Recreation
Why Sungei Buloh?
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Most of the significant wetland parks and reserves are
found in temperate regions such as the Everglades and
the Pantanal, however, there are not many wetland
reserves and parks located in the tropical regions,
especially in South-East Asia, therefore, the species
found in the wetlands differ a lot from each other, and
Sungei Buloh, one of the many stops of migratory birds,
would have flora and fauna that differ from other
wetland reserves in other parts of the world.
Why Sungei Buloh?
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Sungei Buloh, due to its serene nature, can contribute
greatly to research of the flora and fauna because of its
highly undisturbed nature. Sungei Buloh wetland
Reserve is more natural and untouched, serving its
main purpose of conservation and protection of
wilderness well. iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South
Africa, however,is more for Ecotourism that for
research, hence lacking in continuous contribution to
the research field.
Bibliography
http://www.isimangaliso.com/
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/76
http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/index.htm
http://www.pantanal.org/Mainpant.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungei_Buloh_Wetland_Reserve
https://www.sbwr.org.sg/
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/docs/Sungei_Buloh_Wetland_Reserve_eGuide_LRes.pdf
http://www.ulusingapore.com/gbbuloh.htm
http://www.focussingapore.com/singapore-entertainment/amusement-parks/sungei-buloh-wetlandreserve.html
Thank You!