Mark your calendars, for the Festival of Biodiversity is back!
After the success of last year's inaugural Festival, we're hoping to reach out to even more people, highlight the wonderful wildlife and important green spaces that we still have here in Singapore, and encourage people to play a more active role in protecting and conserving our natural heritage.
When: 13th-14th July 2013 (Saturday and Sunday), 10am-10pm
Where: VivoCity, Level 1 - Central Court B and West Boulevard
Do you know that Singapore is home to more than 400 species of marine fishes? Do you know that Singapore is also home to 250 species of hard corals, which is almost one third of the diversity found in the world? Do you know that species such as the horseshoe crab and the banded leaf monkey can be found in Singapore? Join us at the festival to explore and learn more about Singapore's rich biodiversity!If you missed last year's Festival, here are some highlights:
Join us in the many exciting activities we have in store for you at the festival, and find out how you can play a part in conserving our biodiversity. By participating in the festival, you can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Singapore's rich biodiversity, its benefits, and relevance to us in Singapore.
Jocelyne shared lots of updates on the official blog for Festival of Biodiversity 2012. Here she is speaking to Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin, who spoke at the launch of the Festival.
(Photo by Rene)
Ria was a part of the Singapore Marine Biodiversity Exhibition, and you can read her posts about the preparations and the actual event.
(Photo by Ria)
Preparations:
- Awesome marine colouring sheet - get it at the Festival of Biodiversity
- Seashore CSI at the Marine Exhibition, Festival of Biodiversity
- Meet the marine volunteers of Singapore!
- Volunteers at the Festival of Biodiversity
- Fabulous Marine Exhibition at the Festival of Biodiversity
Here's Ley Kun from the Naked Hermit Crabs, teaching children about marine life found on our shores.
(Photo by Rene)
Sankar was one of many TeamSeagrass volunteers who talked about the importance of searasses and other marine ecosystems.
(Photo by Jeremy Ng)
The specimens at the Mega Marine Survey booth also attracted lots of people.
(Photo by Rene)
Rick showed lots of people why mangroves are such special plants.
(Photo by Eugene Ang)
Sabrina was an intern with NParks who helped out with creation of the information panels for the Singapore Marine Biodiversiy Exhibition. This year, she's back and working on the Festival once again. Hurray!
(Photo by Rene)
One of the accidental highlights of last year's Festival was the little plush marine animals that we made for volunteers and other participants!
(Photo by Rene)
Ria made a huge batch, and she wrote more about them in a post just before the Festival. Rene also took plenty of photos of the mascots, and the people wearing them over that weekend.
- Meet Ms Soctopus and friends at the Festival of Biodiversity!
- The Mascots at the Festival of Biodiversity
Yen-ling provided a suitable substrate for all sorts of marine life to colonise and settle.
(Photo by Rene)
And here I am with my stonefish mascot.
(Photo by Rene)
Debby from The Hantu Bloggers helped out at the Singapore Marine Biodiversity Exhibition, and shared her thoughts.
Pei Yan got to speak to President Tony Tan, our very important Guest of Honour, and wrote about her experience in her own blog.
The Raffles Museum Toddycats! drew the crowds with our wide variety of specimens, and talked about all sorts of interesting animals that could be found living in Singapore.
(Photo by Tze Kwan)
(Photo by Weiting)
(Photos by Rene)
- See, feel & experience biodiversity at Festival of Biodiversity
- Toddycats in the festive mood of biodiversity 2012!
Fellow Toddycats Tze Kwan and Weiting also had the chance to interact with our Guest of Honour.
(Photo from President Tony Tan's Facebook page)
Andy recorded and uploaded videos of some of the talks held during the Festival.
ButteflyCircle was one of many other nature interest groups that also participated in the Festival, and used the occasion to launch a book.
(Photos from ButterflyCircle)
The Nature Photographic Society, Singapore also had a booth, and gave a talk about macro photography.
(Photos from Nature Photographic Society, Singapore)
And finally, here's the Storify that Gladys and I compiled of all the tweets that were posted about the Festival.
We've got lots of fun and exciting activities planned for this year's Festival of Biodiversity, so stay tuned for updates!
(Cross-posted to SBA Plus. Do support me in the Singapore Blog Awards!)
