• Mapletree, the Nature Society (Singapore) and BirdLife International jointly organise photographic exhibition on Singapore’s endangered bird species at VivoCity from 16 – 23 August 2019
• Visitors can also find out more about the 35th Singapore Bird Race at the Exhibition

SINGAPORE – Mapletree Investments (“Mapletree” or “the Group”), the Nature Society (Singapore) and BirdLife International co-organised a specially-curated photo exhibition, titled “Singapore Birds on the Brink – Our Threatened Birds in Pictures” (“the Exhibition”), to be held from 16 to 23 August 2019 at Mapletree’s flagship retail mall, VivoCity Singapore. 

Opened by Ms Low Yen Ling, Mayor of South West District and Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower on 16 August 2019, this exhibition showcases Singapore’s rich biodiversity by focusing on our threatened bird species. Besides raising the profile of our threatened birds and the threats they face, the exhibition also aims to raise awareness of the upcoming 35th Singapore Bird Race, jointly organised this year by the Nature Society (Singapore) and BirdLife International, and supported by Mapletree.

Mr Hiew Yoon Khong, Mapletree Group Chief Executive Officer, said, “As a leading real estate developer, Mapletree has always been conscientious in developing and operating our assets with a strong focus on environmental sustainability. Mapletree is happy to work with the Nature Society (Singapore) to raise awareness of our threatened bird species through this photographic showcase and being the main sponsor for the upcoming Singapore Bird Race.”

Supporting the Exhibition and the Singapore Bird Race is aligned to one of Mapletree’s key Corporate Social Responsibility pillars of support for the environment, the other three being the arts, education and healthcare. It is also a continuation of the partnership between Mapletree and the Nature Society (Singapore), and builds from the work in May 2019 when Mapletree provided venue sponsorship for the Nature Society (Singapore)-organised “Straw-headed Bulbul Conservation Planning” Workshop.

The Workshop successfully sought feedback and support from key conservation stakeholders in Singapore to develop a coordinated conservation strategy to identify priority actions to conserve the Straw-headed Bulbul, one of Asia’s most threatened bird species. 

Said Mr Vinayagan Dharmarajah, Asia Regional Director of BirdLife International, “Species conservation in Asia can only be advanced if there is strong collaboration between governments, civil society and the corporate sector. In this respect, the support of an important corporate player like Mapletree to conserve our Straw-headed Bulbul is an outstanding example how the corporate sector can provide critical support for the conservation of threatened species.” 

In Singapore, many of our resident bird species have suffered large declines because of the loss of their forest or mangrove habitats or competition with invasive species, while others have been persecuted for the pet trade.  However, some resident species such as the Crested Goshawk and the Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot have shown visible population increases that suggest some of our red-listed birds are resilient and can recover with time.  

Visitors to the Exhibition can expect to learn more about these endangered bird species and take the chance to participate in the ‘Crossword Puzzle Contest’ and win Mapletree vouchers by getting clues from the Exhibition panels. Those who wish to take up the challenge can sign up for the 35th Singapore Bird Race organised by the Nature Society (Singapore) and supported by Mapletree on 16 and 17 November 2019. 

Registration for the Singapore Bird Race starts will start on 1 September 2019 and ends on 17 October 2019. More details of the Singapore Bird Race can be found below and here: https://tinyurl.com/SingaporeBirdRace2019 

Photo Exhibition Details: 
Singapore Birds on the Brink – Our Threatened Birds in Pictures
Photo exhibition jointly organised by Mapletree, Nature Society (Singapore) and BirdLife International
Date: 16 – 23 August 2019
Venue: VivoCity, Southeast Boulevard, Level 1
(near The Queen & Mangosteen), 
1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585

Selected photos from the Opening Ceremony for the Photo Exhibition held on 16 August as below

Ms Low Yen Ling (left), Mayor of South West District and Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower, and Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman of Mapletree, officiating the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the “Singapore Birds on the Brink” Photo Exhibition

Mayor Low (left) interacting with students from the Green Club of National Junior College who shared their passion in doing their part for the environment

Mayor Low chatting with photographers, Cheng Heng Yee and Quek Oon Hong on the ‘Nationally Endangered’ Changeable Hawk Eagle

The Exhibition will run from 16 to 23 August 2019 at VivoCity, Southeast Boulevard, Level 1