MTB_plus_2

Community
Use of forest trail:
It’s bikers
against
nature lovers
“We are not picking
on the mountain
biking community. Our
opposition to the use
of the Butterfly trail is
consistent with our overall
policy on the conservation
of native habitats in the
nature reserve - areas
for the conservation of
native flora and fauna.
This applies to mountain
bikers, hikers, runners
and, especially, ourselves.”
Bike group wants Butterfly trail reopened; nature group
says keep it closed
CYCLING enthusiasts have started a petition for a
trail in a nature reserve to be reopened for mountain biking, but
nature lovers oppose the move.
The trail in question is the Butterfly trail in the Central
Catchment Nature Reserve, which was closed by the National
Parks Board (NParks) in March, as parts of it fall within the
construction site of the upcoming Chestnut Nature Park.
Mountain bikers have lamented the loss of this trail,
famous for its terrain of interlocking tree roots and views of
Upper Peirce Reservoir.
Yesterday, the Mountain Bike Association Singapore
started a petition to the Government to reopen the site. Its
president, Mr Calvin Chin, said that the 1,000-strong association
hopes to get 5,000 signatures and will write to the authorities
“within the next couple of weeks”.
But environmentalists hope the trail stays closed to all
human activities, including mountain biking, hiking and running,
as these have damaged the century-old nature area off Chestnut
Avenue.
On a site visit with NParks and the Nature Society
(Singapore), or NSS, last Friday, The Straits Times saw that the
roots of trees along the man-made trail were exposed, and the
nutrient-rich leaf litter and topsoil layers were eroded.
“These issues result in the destruction of seedlings, as
well as the loss of mature vegetation immediately adjacent to the
trails,” said Mr Tony O’Dempsey, chairman of the NSS’ plant
group, in a forum letter to The Straits Times on May 21.
But Mr Chin said bikers who use the trail are
environmentally conscious. “We tell our members not to litter,
and we do not veer off the tracks,” he said, adding that a member
paid about $500 last year for restoration works on the trail.
Cyclists can now go mountain biking at only four other
areas - Bukit Timah, Mandai, Kent Ridge and Pulau Ubin.
Until recently, mountain biking was not allowed at the
Butterfly trail, with riders risking fines from NParks. In 2012,
the mountain bike association lobbied for the trail to be opened
for recreational use and sent the parks board a study on the use of
the Butterfly trail for mountain biking. NParks decided to allow
cyclists to use the 3.2km trail until the building of new biking
trails at the new Chestnut Nature Park began early this year.
Asked to comment on the report sent by the association,
NParks told The Straits Times that the paper might have touched
briefly on the environmental impact on the forest trails, but it
cannot be considered an environmental impact assessment. Such
an assessment is considered more rigorous.
It noted that the paper “did not make a comprehensive
assessment of the current biodiversity found there nor a thorough
assessment of the impact on the area should mountain biking be
allowed to continue”.
Studies done by NParks and NSS between 2013 and
this year found a number of rare and endangered flora and fauna
in the Butterfly trail site, including the Malayan porcupine and
Hopea and Shorea trees. This was contrary to the association’s
study, which found no endangered species there.
Said NParks: “We are considering the possibility of
closing the trail permanently. However, no decision has been
taken yet and we will make another assessment of the area in
2016 before deciding.”
The Straits Times understands that the mountain
bike association and the NSS are meeting to exchange views
tomorrow.
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