Singtel, Ocean Network Express pledge S$1 million each to NParks initiative

SINGTEL : Z74 0% and Japanese container shipping liner Ocean Network Express (ONE) are each donating S$1 million to the National Parks Board’s (NParks) registered charity and Institution of Public Character, the Garden City Fund.

These will go into supporting enhancement works at the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park and in the process, enable visitors to learn about the importance of coastal conservation and marine biodiversity, announced NParks on Monday (Jun 19).

Singtel’s S$1 million contribution will go towards the enhancement of an existing lagoon into a tidal pool to retain seawater during low tides.

This will serve as a sheltered water body to provide conducive conditions for new habitat niches to be re-established, such as mangrove propagules and seagrass, while also protecting the lagoon beach from erosion. 

On the other hand, ONE’s contribution will be used to establish a new 230 metre-long Ocean Network Express Coastal Forest Trail, which will wind through Big Sister’s Island’s coastal forests and culminate in a hilltop view deck.

NParks said habitat enhancement will also be carried out for the area bordering the trail, through the planting of critically endangered coastal species.

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Both the new tidal pool and forest trail will open to the public when enhancement works to the marine park are completed in 2024.

The contributions from Singtel and ONE will also be used to conduct outreach and marine education programmes that complement the respective enhancement works supported by the donations.

Singtel will additionally create a “marine classroom” to engage the community through educational and monitoring programmes. 

“Through the creation of an immersive and engaging 5G-powered marine classroom, we hope to foster greater awareness and appreciation of our remarkable local biodiversity and empower every generation to enjoy the unspoilt beauty and rich biodiversity of the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park,” said Aileen Tan, group chief people and sustainability officer of Singtel.