Pre-National Day mangrove cleanup @ LCK East – registration closes tomorrow

101 people have signed up to celebrate National Day in a meaningful way with the pre-National Day mangrove cleanup at Lim Chu Kang East. Registration closes tomorrow.

 

The happy news is that the mangrove at the original site has a very low load of trash after an earlier year-round coastal cleanup in late June. So we are tackling the adjacent area of Lim Chu Kang East mangrove (view the map). We began working at this site in 2011 (see photos here and the burden of trash there has been reduced considerably.

Still, the 100 of us will have our work cut out for us.

There will ICCS cleanups a month after this, at both LCK and LCKE mangroves. These sites are experiencing their best relief from macro-trash in recent decades, which has been carefully achieved at several sites now, to manage impact even as we remove marine trash. What a grand and gradual effort by volunteers over 20 years!

For this cleanup, we’ve conducted our recce, booked two 45-seater buses to fetch volunteers from Kranji MRT, prepared the stores, updated participants, sought permission from SPF via SLA, and informed NEA DPC to help with trash removal – they all replied very quickly, by the way. And we look forward to the company of people who are making an effort to celebrate National Day in a meaningful way!

Celebrate National Day with a Coastal Cleanup @ Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove (Sat 06 Aug 2016)

Update – the Pre-National Day mangrove cleanup is relocated to LCK East mangrove.

Every year, volunteers with the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS) celebrate National Day with a coastal cleanup @ Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove. This year we will be working on Saturday 6th Aug 2016: 8.00am – 10.30am.

To join us, Sign up here by 1st August 2016!
Transport will be provided from Kranji MRT to the cleanup site @ Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove

Why do we conduct coastal cleanups? Habitats along Singapore’s coastlines host an amazing biodiversity and trash present in these areas impact our wildlife adversely and devalue the natural beauty of the landscape. Coastal cleanups conducted by volunteers around the world remove this trash, raise awareness about the impact of marine trash, and motivate us to work towards solutions. including sustainable daily practises.

Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove is an unprotected but precious patch of wetland, located in the northwest of Singapore. Incoming trash from the Johor Straits is regularly deposited on the shoreline and impacts the animals, plants and the organisms of the ecosystem there.

Meeting Point: Participants can meet at the bus stop outside Kranji MRT (Bus code: 45139) and will be transported to the cleanup site at Lim Chu Kang road end, or meet us at the venue itself.

Itinerary 

• 07.45am – Bus pick up at bus stop outside Kranji MRT (Bus code: 45139)
• 08.15am – Bus arrives at the Lim Chu Kang Road end. Apply insect repellant, collect gloves and trash bags. Safety and procedure briefing.
• 08.30am – Cleanup begins
• 09.45am – End of cleanup; transport trash bags to Trash Collection Points 1–3.
• 10.00am – Trash is weighed and moved to the Trah Disposal Point; debrief.
• 10.15am – Participants clean up; there are no public amenities in this area an your legs must be clean to enter the bus. So bring some water.
• 10.30am – Bus departs for Kranji MRT.

Things to note:

1. Transport to Lim Chu Kang Beach, gloves, trash bags and weighing scales are provided.
2. You must wear hard-soled covered shoes or booties to to protect your feet from hazards, else you will not be allowed to work in the area.
3. A change of clothes is recommended after a sweaty workout.
4. You must be clean to enter the bus – bring a cloth and extra water to do this.
5. Long pants are recommended to protect your legs from insect bites.
6. We will continue the cleanup in rain (bring rain gear) but cease if there is threat of lightning.

Things to bring:

1. Water bottle (with at least one litre of water)
2. Hat and/ or sun block
3. Reusable raincoat / poncho (we will work in light rain)
4. Towel to wipe off sand and mud
5. Change of clothes for public transport.

Be prepared:

1. Sleep early the night before
2. Have a decent breakfast – it’s hard work!
3. Be punctual – the bus is unable to wait for latecomers; and the tide waits for no one!
4. Refer to this recce report of Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove.
5. Please read our advice to participants to prepare yourself for the cleanup!

Thank you for caring for our planet!

Showing our love for Singapore: National Day Coastal Cleanup @ Lim Chu Kang

7 August 2015, Friday — It was the first day of the Jubilee Weekend, and ICCS was down at Lim Chu Kang Beach and Mangrove celebrating National Day in our usual fashion; with a coastal cleanup! Altogether 48 volunteers showed our love for Singapore by removing 749kg of trash in 92 trash bags out of her Lim Chu Kang habitats.

Northwest Zone Captain Adriane Lee and I arrived on site earlier with the logistics, and did a quick recce before the participants arrived. Trash was abundant on the coastline, with various types of plastics hanging from branches and strewn under the trees.

 

 

Left: Plastic bags, raffia string, and a deflated balloon trashed!
Right: Plastic pieces strewn over the pencil roots of Avicennia sp.

  

Our hearts were filled with accomplishment at the sight of a mangrove relieved of trash so early that morning. We transferred trash bags to three Trash Collection Points (TCP) for weighing and formed a chain to transfer the weighed bags to the Trash Disposal Point at the edge of the jetty. This prearranged point with NEA’s Department of Public Cleanliness would be where the contractor would collect later.

Throughout the cleanup, we encountered mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) moults and we used the specimens to introduce these amazing mangrove critters to the cleanup volunteers. I also talked about other cleanup and guiding efforts conducted by NUS Toddycats. ICCS Coordinator Sivasothi aka Otterman rounded up the session with the conservation and research history of this site, the importance our remaining mangrove patches and the value of the morning’s effort at relieving the site of impactful trash.

 

Left: Talking about mangrove horseshoe crabs (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) using moults we found. Right: Cleanup volunteers listening intently to Sivasothi’s stories about Mandai and Lim Chu Kang mangroves in the 80’s and 90’s and how as an NUS undergraduate in the 80’s, he was was dismayed by the phenomenal amount of pollution there.

Otterman’s large Singapore Flag had disappeared this year – so the red and white shirted participants arranged themselves into a flag!

Do you see the flag?

Thank you to everyone for a sensitive and effective cleanup at Lim Chu Kang, and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our nation’s 50th birthday!

Photos on Flickr.

Celebrate National Day with a Coastal Cleanup @ Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove (Fri 07 Aug 2015)!

Singapore celebrates her 50th year of independence in August and once again, volunteers with the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS) celebrate National Day with a Coastal Cleanup @ Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove. This time we are working on first day of the Jubilee Weekend – Friday 7th Aug 2015: 8.00am – 10.30am.

Sign up by 4th August 2015 to join us! Transport will be provided from Kranji MRT to the cleanup site @ Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove

Why do we conduct coastal cleanups? Habitats along Singapore’s coastlines host an amazing biodiversity and trash present in these areas impact our wildlife adversely and devalue the natural beauty of the landscape. Coastal cleanups conducted by volunteers around the world remove this trash, raise awareness about the impact of marine trash, and motivate us to work towards solutions. including sustainable daily practises. Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove is an unprotected but precious patch of wetland, located in the northwest of Singapore. Incoming trash from the Johor Straits is regularly deposited on the shoreline and impacts the animals, plants and the organisms of the ecosystem there.

Meeting Point: Participants can meet at the bus stop outside Kranji MRT (Bus code: 45139) and will be transported to the cleanup site at Lim Chu Kang road end, or meet us at the venue itself. Itinerary 

07.45am – Bus pick up at bus stop outside Kranji MRT (Bus code: 45139)
08.15am – Bus arrives at the Lim Chu Kang Road end. Apply insect repellant, collect gloves and trash bags. Safety and procedure briefing.
08.30am – Cleanup begins
09.45am – End of cleanup; transport trash bags to TCP.
10.00am – Trash is weighed followed by the debrief.
10.15am – Participants clean up. There are no public amenities in this area. Your legs must be clean to enter the bus. 10.30am – Bus departs for Kranji MRT.

Things to note:

1. Transport to Lim Chu Kang Beach, gloves, trash bags and weighing scales are provided.
2. You must wear hard-soled covered shoes or booties to to protect your feet from hazards, else you cannot work in the area.
3. A change of clothes is recommended after a sweaty workout. You must be clea to enter the bus – bring a cloth and extra water to do this.
4. Long pants are recommended to protect your legs from insect bites.
5. We will continue the cleanup in rain (bring rain gear) but cease if there is threat of lightning.

Things to bring:

1. Water bottle (with at least one litre of water)
2. Hat and/ or sun block
3. Reusable raincoat / poncho (we will work in rain)
4. Towel to wipe off sand and mud
5. Change of clothes for public transport.

Be prepared:

1. Sleep early the night before
2. Have a decent breakfast – it’s hard work!
3. Be punctual – the bus is unable to wait for latecomers; and the tide waits for no one!
4. Refer to this recce report of Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove.
5. Please read our advice to participants to prepare yourself for the cleanup!

Thank you for caring for our planet!

Successful National Day Mangrove Cleanup at Lim Chu Kang Mangrove!

On 9th August 2014, a group of volunteers celebrated National Day in a meaningful way — by battling marine trash at Lim Chu Kang Mangrove. 83 volunteers showed up and cleared 1.135 tonnes of trash. This is the seventh year we have conducted the cleanup in celebration of National Day.

Our volunteers worked sensitively and cleared trash both from the sandbank as well as from the mangrove. It was a pleasure to work with highly motivated individuals and we completed the clean up ahead of time at 10.30am. Once again, thank you for your lovely camaraderie on National Day, we hope to see you again next year!

See more photos of the National Day cleanup on Flickr by Kenneth Pinto, Chester Low and Fung Tze Kwan.

New restrictions to some State Land sites – Zone Captains will inform Organisers

Last year, five of my students and an ICCS Organiser were issued a “stern warning” for trespassing on state land at Tanah Merah – you can read about it here. These signs certainly caught us by surprised as ITE College West (School of Engineering) and Nanyang Girls’ Boarding School had worked at Tanah Merah 7 for ICCS 2013 the previous week without incident.

These new signs are different from all others which have previously marked State Land – they promise that “Trespassers will be arrested”. And indeed several people have been served notice since.

In response to queries about the incident, Singapore Police Force (SPF), the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) met to discuss a response. And thereafter, SLA offered to liase with SPF on behalf of ICCS for access to restricted State Land sites. We provided SLA a list of all sites at which our volunteers conduct coastal cleanups early this year and all was ready.

In the past couple of weeks, as we conducted recce trips, we put the mechanism to work. Informing SLA, they have relayed our requests to SPF who have granted us access each time. It has been a smooth process although it has put an end to spontaneous trips.

New signs at Lim Chu Kang

Ground recces reveal just two more of our current sites are affected by the new signs in addition to Tanah Merah 7, namely Lim Chu Kang and Lim Chu Kang East – for now. For the upcoming international ICCS event in September, Zone Captains for these areas (Adriane Lee for North-West and Hannah Leong for Tanah Merah) will provide a Point of Contact to SPF via SLA and will have Organisers prepare a nominal list of volunteers complete with NRIC (or FIN) numbers.

Whatever the challenges SPF is facing along our coasts, this procedure ensures volunteer coastal cleanups along our shores are able to continue their fight against marine trash.

This Saturday, for the seventh year, I am organising a National Day mangrove cleanup at Lim Chu Kang. Permission has already been provided by SPF via SLA and I have nominal roll of volunteers against which we will take attendance – a quick exercise after which we return to the business of tackling marine trash, a loving gesture by a group of people in celebration of National Day.

Thanks to NEA, SPF and SLA for all the help!

Photo by Sean Yap, 2013.

Celebrate National Day with a mangrove cleanup @ Lim Chu Kang on Saturday, 9th August 2014!

Celebrate our National Day
with a mangrove cleanup
on Saturday, 9th August 2014!

Sign up here by Wed 6th Aug 2014 if you want to help!

The pre-national Day Coastal Cleanup 2011 cleared more than one tonne of trash!

The Mission:
Lim Chu Kang mangrove is a beautiful and unique patch of unprotected mangrove in Singapore, facing the Western Straits of Johor. It is adjacent to a Police Coast Guard base and offshore, kelongs and fish farms unload their produce at the jetty for delivery to markets in Singapore.

The famous mud lobster mounds

Scientists have worked in this mangrove for decades and though it is but a small patch that remains, it is scientifically interesting and holds many stories about animal and plant life and heritage in Singapore. In 2008, the Sungei Buloh Master Plan revealed it would link up with the Lim Chu Kang mangroves.

Trash from the Johor Straits is regularly deposited on Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove and since this is state land which is not used recreationally, this marine trash impact on marine life is battled through the efforts of various groups who conduct coastal cleanups throughout the year at this site.

A typical scene at Lim Chu Kang beach

The removal of trash is tackled sensitively through the actions of small groups. To contribute to this exercise, I organise a pre-National Day cleanup annually in celebration of Singapore’s birthday and invite anyone who wants to help to come along.

In 2011 sixty-four of us removed more than a tonne of trash in 133 bags of trash in just over an hour! And in 2012, with just a week’s notice 40 of us cleared 669kg of marine trash in 83 trash bags. In 2013, 42 of us cleared 752kg in 75 trash bags and 36 bulky items out of the site.

All you have to do is sign up here by Wednesday 6th Aug 2014 to be part of a happy bunch!

---

Itinerary:

• 0730 – bus pick-up at Dover MRT and one bus-stop after Clementi MRT, along Commonwealth Avenue West Road
• 0820 – reach LCK, distribute into sub-groups, apply insect repellent, collect gloves and trash bags.
• 0840 – Safety briefing, identification of Trash Loading Point (TLP) and bus shelter, wet weather plan (carry on unless lightning threat)
• 0850 – cleanup begins.
• 1000 – Loading teams start moving trash out to TLP
• 1030 – clean-up ends, weigh trash and discussion; Q&A
• 1045 – participants clean up – note: no washing point, so bring small amount of water to wipe down.
• 1100 – Bus returns to Clementi MRT then NUS

 

Click for map of pickup points

The Clementi pick up point, one bus stop after Clementi MRT

Provided:

1. Transport to site.
2. Gloves.
3. Trash bags.
4. Weighing scales.

Be prepared!

• Sleep early the night before and hydrate – this will affect your performance and enjoyment of the morning,
• set your alarm to wake up on time – we can’t wait for latecomers (time and tide critical) and
• have a decent breakfast – it will be a workout, last year 42 of us cleared >800kg of trash!

What you should bring:

1. Covered shoes with hard soles – hard-soled booties are fine.
2. Water bottle (at least one litre of water).
3. Hat and/or sun block.
4. Raincoat/ponco (we’ll carry on working in rain)
5. Towel in a bag – to wipe off any sand and mud off you.
6. Suggestion – dry fit clothes are suitable for this work. A change of a cotton t-shirt is recommended after a sweaty workout.
7. Light pants will help protect your legs from insect bites as well as from the debris, but bermudas are fine.
8. Water-proof your belongings.
9. Some water to wipe yourself down with

Transport:

Registered participants who require transport can be picked up at these timings/locations (click for maps):

1. 0730 – Bus stop at Dover MRT along Commonwealth Ave West (Bus stop no. 19031)
2. 0735 – Bus Stop after Clementi Interchange (Bus stop no. 17181; note you must walk some 100m from Clementi MRT Station)

Note that the bus cannot wait at these locations so do come early.

Driving?
Meet us at Lim Chu Kang Road end (click link to see map) at 0820 where parking space is available.

The cleanup site at Lim Chu Kang mangrove

Happy National Day!

National Day coastal cleanup 2013 – 42 volunteers remove 752kg of marine trash in 75 trash bags and 36 bulky items

In celebration of Singapore’s 48th National Day, 42 volunteers worked hard on a Saturday morning of 10th August 2013 and removed 752 kg of marine trash which was polluting our precious Lim Chu Kang mangroves. The rubbish in 75 trash bags and 36 bulky items were set aside at the Trash Disposal Point above the waterline and close to Lim Chu Kang Road end where NEA’s Department of Public Cleanliness will arrange for a contractor to remove and dispose of that load.

Thanks to everyone for their fine effort!

See more photos and video on Flickr: Album 1, Album 2, Album 3.

Celebrate our National Day with a mangrove cleanup @ precious Lim Chu Kang on Saturday, 10th August 2013!

Celebrate our National Day
with a mangrove cleanup
on Saturday, 10th August 2013!

Click to sign up by Wed 7th Aug 2013!

The pre-national Day Coastal Cleanup 2011 cleared more than one tonne of trash!

The Mission:
Lim Chu Kang mangrove is a beautiful and unique patch of unprotected mangrove in Singapore, facing the Western Straits of Johor. It is adjacent to a Police Coast Guard base and offshore, kelongs and fish farms unload their produce at the jetty for delivery to markets in Singapore.

Scientists have worked in this mangrove for decades and though it is but a small patch that remains, it is scientifically interesting and holds many stories about animal and plant life and heritage in Singapore. In 2008, the Sungei Buloh Master Plan revealed it would link up with the Lim Chu Kang mangroves.

The famous mud lobster mounds of Lim Chu Kang mangrove

Trash from the Johor Straits is regularly deposited on Lim Chu Kang beach and mangrove and since this is state land, and not used recreationally, the impact on marine life is battled through the efforts of various groups who take to the beach and mangrove during cleanups throughout the year.

A typical scene at Lim Chu Kang beach

The removal of trash is tackled sensitively through the actions of small groups. To contribute to this exercise, I organise a pre-National Day cleanup annually in celebration of Singapore’s birthday and invite anyone who might want to come.

In 2011 sixty-four of us removed more than a tonne of trash in just over an hour! And in 2012, with just a week’s notice 40 of us cleared 669kg of marine trash in 83 trash bags!

All you have to do is sign up here by Wednesday 7th Aug 2013 to be part of a happy bunch!

For a brief about marine life, marine trash and solutions for this problem, join us at the ICCS Briefing and Lecture a week earlier!

---

Itinerary:

• 0745 – bus pick-up at Dover MRT and one bus-stop after Clementi MRT, along Commonwealth Avenue West Road
• 0830 – reach LCK, distribute into sub-groups, apply insect repellent, collect gloves and trash bags.
• 0845 – Briefing, identification of Trash Loading Point (TLP) and bus shelter, wet weather plan (carry on unless lightning threat)
• 0900 – cleanup begins.
• 1000 – Loading teams start moving trash out to TLP
• 1030 – clean-up ends, weigh trash and discussion; Q&A
• 1045 – participants clean up – note: no washing point, so bring small amount of water to wipe down.
• 1100 – Bus returns to Clementi MRT then NUS – Note: help needed to wash gloves in NUS.

Click for map of pickup points

The Clementi pick up point, one bus stop after Clementi MRT

Provided:

1. Transport to site.
2. Gloves.
3. Trash bags.
4. Weighing scales.

Be prepared!

• Sleep early the night before and hydrate – this will affect your performance and enjoyment of the morning,
• set your alarm to wake up on time – we can’t wait for latecomers (time and tide critical) and
• have a decent breakfast – it will be a workout, last year 42 of us cleared >800kg of trash!

What you should bring:

1. Covered shoes with hard soles – hard-soled booties are fine.
2. Water bottle (at least one litre of water).
3. Hat and/or sun block.
4. Raincoat/ponco (we’ll carry on working in rain)
5. Towel in a bag – to wipe off any sand and mud off you.
6. Suggestion – dry fit clothes are suitable for this work. If you prefer cotton, a change of t-shirt will come in handy after a sweaty workout.
7. Light pants will help protect your legs from insect bites (if you tend to get bitten!) as well as from the debris, but bermudas are fine.
8. Water-proof your belongings.
9. Some water to wipe yourself down with

Transport:

Registered participants who require transport can be picked up at these timings/locations (click for maps):

1. 0740 – Bus stop at Dover MRT along Commonwealth Ave West (Bus stop no. 19031)
2. 0745 – Bus Stop after Clementi Interchange (Bus stop no. 17181; note you must walk some 100m from Clementi MRT Station)

Note that the bus cannot wait at these locations so do come early.

Driving?
Meet us at Lim Chu Kang Road end (click for map) at 0830 where parking space is available.

The cleanup site at Lim Chu Kang mangrove

Happy National Day!

Pre-National Day Cleanup 2012 @ Lim Chu Kang Mangrove

Volunteers cleared 669kg of marine trash from Lim Chu Kang mangrove in 83 trash bags on Saturday. This is the fifth year we have conducted the cleanup in celebration of National Day.

This year, the volunteers responded with only a week’s notification and were well prepared. When we found little debris on the sandbank, we were able to fan into the mangrove proper and clear recent and embedded trash from the mud lobster mount system. This is best done sensitively but a small group so I was really pleased things turned out so well!

“Celebrating National Day in Lim Chu Kang mangroves!” By Jocelyne Sze, Nature rambles, 09 Aug 2012 [link

“ICCS Pre-National Day coastal cleanup @ Lim Chu Kang mangrove!” Purple Mangrove, 05 Aug 2012 [link]

Call to action on the ICCS News Blog,

“Equipment check – The Flag,” by N. Sivasothi. Otterman Speaks, 01 Aug 2012 [link]

Photo albums

• 1 – 92 photos by Airani and Sivasothi,
• 2 – 55 photos by Andy Dinesh,
• 3 – 32 photos y Jocelyne Sze,
• 4 – 32 photos by Fung Tze Kwan