July 12, 2019

A recent article featured in TODAY stated that as early as 2045, average temperatures in Singapore could hit as high as 40 on a normal day. Such scientific reminders undoubtedly reiterate the need to concern ourselves with the protection and conservation of key ecological features in our society.

Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee made a clarion call for Singaporeans to be more active in wildlife conservation at the opening of the 5^th international Mangrove Macrobenthos and Management Meeting (MMM5). The MMM5 is a series of international conferences focused on understanding, conservation, and sustainable use of mangrove ecosystems worldwide. Organised once every three to six years since 2000, it is the world’s largest and longest-running mangrove conference. At his opening address, Mr Lee said Singapore is a “microcosm of mangrove deforestation in South-east Asia”, which all the more underscores the need for such mangrove protection efforts, especially in recent times.

This year, the MMM5 was held in Singapore, the first Southeast Asian country to be chosen for the conference ever since its debut in 2000. Associate Professor Daniel Friess (NUS Department of Geography) chaired the organising committee, which is made up of NUS professors from the Department of Biological Sciences, members of the National Parks Board (NParks), and Research Fellow Dr Erik Yando from the NUS Department of Geography.

Read the full article here.