Bukit Batok Hillside Park

Bukit Batok N3 forest shares the same nature corridor as Bukit Batok hillside park.

‘Youth nature group, Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity (SYVB), called for more decisive action.

Outreach head Jayden Kang raised concerns over the limited forest retention in Bukit Batok. He noted that developments like Tengah had already affected the western ecological network, and suggested that further clearing could worsen the impact.

He likened the current pattern of fragmented development to “death by a thousand cuts.”

The ecological implications go beyond Bukit Batok. Experts warn that Singapore’s wildlife relies on forest corridors to move, breed, and maintain genetic diversity. If these green links are severed, it could lead to population crashes among already fragile species.

Reports about this development acknowledged that construction will likely cause “noticeable stress” on flora and flying fauna, even with mitigation in place.’

https://theindependent.sg/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-bukit-batok-forest-faces-imminent-axe-despite-wildlife-warnings-and-public-outcry/ #

'Death by a thousand cuts': Bukit Batok forest faces imminent axe despite wildlife warnings and public outcry - Featured News Just 0.48ha to be kept as Bukit Batok forest makes way for housing

Ecological survey at Bukit Batok hillside park, 30 March 2026

Fauna seen:
Sarika snail
White-crested laughing thrushes
Black and scarlet cicadas (Huechys sanguinea)
Planthoppers
Grasshoppers
Butterflies
Ants

Many of the cicadas have moulted, with their shells attached to plant leaves in the marsh near the mouth of the main freshwater stream.

It seems more trees have fallen over the past few years due to edge effects worsened by habitat fragmentation.

The stream remained virtually lifeless after the fateful silty discharge from West Hills BTO construction site has wiped out the wildlife, including fish, pond skaters, frogs, dragonflies and damselflies.

The discarded construction barricade has been removed from the mouth of the stream.

However, some litter is still present in the forest near the stream catchment area outside the construction site.

Stagnant water in discarded containers may be breeding Aedes mosquitoes, several of which I have encountered.

A toad carcass was also seen on the pavement along the forest fringe opposite a school.

A healthy forest ecosystem does not facilitate proliferation of disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Their natural predators, such as dragonflies, damselflies, spiders, geckos, fishes, frogs and toads, help to keep their populations in check.

Aedes mosquitoes tend to breed in construction sites and disturbed forests where water is collected in litter, such as discarded empty containers.

It is better to deal with the root cause of the dengue outbreak, which is forest degradation and improper disposal of waste, than the symptoms.

Comparatively, chemical fogging and the Wolbachia project may have unintended effects of the environment and affect non-target species.

(Videos and photos taken on 16 January 2025)

Related post: https://www.facebook.com/share/17JqrnEz2u

On Thursday morning 12 March 2026, a fire broke out in the morning on a second floor unit of Block 465A, Bukit Batok West Avenue 8.

This block faces the West Hill BTO construction site where half of the secondary forest in Bukit Batok hillside park area has been cleared, despite thousands of petition supporters having signed against its deforestation.

The loss of the forest would have increased the urban heat in the vicinity which, coupled with the hot March weather, may increase the risks of fires resulting from electrical faults or short circuits.

“According to SCDF, the top causes of fires in residential premises are unattended cooking and electrical faults.

1,051 of such incidents were recorded in 2025, up from 968 in 2024, according to SCDF’s annual statistics.

To prevent such fires, residents are advised not to leave cooking unattended, and to avoid overloading power sockets or charging devices overnight without supervision.”

https://mustsharenews.com/bukit-batok-hdb-flat/amp/

BBHP recce, 20 February 2026

Sightings include:
Sarika snails (Sarika resplendens)
Wooded hypolytrum (Hypolytrum nemorum)
Common butterfly moth (Tetragonus catamitus)
Dinghy bushbrown butterfly (Mycalesis perseus)

Bukit Batok hillside park recce: Ecological health checkup on 20 February 2026

Since it has been raining heavily the past few days, I decided to check out the freshwater stream located between West Hills BTO worksite and West Glades BTO worksite.

Along the way while climbing over the hilltop, I saw a long-horned moth, which may be an uncommon species.

Though the water in the stream is clear, I saw a large construction barricade discarded in the lower course of the stream.

As I continued walking towards the exit next to West Hills BTO worksite, I saw many discarded waste materials such as drink cans, food containers and plastic bags outside the hoardings on the forest floor, despite having done a short forest cleanup on 23 January 2025.

(See related post https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CdkT45DzZ/)

As expected, there is much mosquito activity in the polluted area, since mosquitoes must have been breeding in the stagnant water collected in the empty containers.

The natural predators of mosquitoes, such as dragonflies and damselflies, were not seen -- they used to be found in abundance around the freshwater stream area until the water was polluted by silty discharge from West Hills BTO worksite in November 2023.

(See related post https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14YLyd9oQ3r/)

Given that an EIA and EMMP have been done for Bukit Batok hillside park area, and the remaining forest has been designated as a nature park, it is concerning that the stream catchment area between the two BTO construction sites is being treated like a garbage dump.

P.S. The issue has been reported via LifeSG app on 21 February 2026.

https://youtube.com/shorts/rilZlh453MA?si=iVOZyvHoKwnQEtCi

Bukit Batok hillside park recce and forest cleanup, 23 January 2025

A dead catfish and a live unidentified frog in the big round water tank are unusual sights in this quaint regenerating secondary forest.

After the recce, I did a forest cleanup to remove discarded trash and litter from the freshwater stream drainage area next to the BTO construction site to prevent further mosquito activity.

Forest cleanup video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Dg256AWh8/