Chek Jawa

The visitor centre at Chek Jawa was converted from a Tudor-style house built in the 1930s.

Tanjong Chek Jawa (or Tanjung Chek Jawa or simply Chek Jawa; Chinese: 仄爪哇) is a cape and the name of its 100-hectare wetlands located on the south-eastern tip of Pulau Ubin, an island off the north-eastern coast of the main island of Singapore. Chek Jawa is among the last few plaes left with a natural rocky shore.

The wetlands are unique as several ecosystems can be observed in one area — sandy beach, rocky beach, seagrass lagoon, coral rubble, mangroves and coastal forest.

History

Preservation

Previously a virtual unknown, Chek Jawa came into national prominence and focus only since the early 2000s when the area's rich biodiversity was discovered almost by chance during a nature outing at low tide. News on the impending land reclamation works planned by the government on the area sparked a rare show of public-led and coordinated effort to reverse the reclamation plans. The Singapore Government, in turn, surprised many when they acceeded to these requests in December 2001. The area has been fenced off due to an increase of tourists into the area, damaging the ecosystem in the area. Conservation efforts were made by the Ministry of National Development to preserve the area.

In 2001, the National Parks Board (NParks) took over Chek Jawa's management. NParks conducts free guided tours of Chek Jawa a few times each month during low spring tide periods, and about 20,000 visitors have gone on its tours from 2002 to 2007.

Temporary closure

In early 2007, Chek Jawa was closed to the public after being damaged by heavy rains in December 2006. Freshwater rains upset the wetlands' saltwater balance, resulting in the widespread death of marine creatures such as sea anemones, seastars and sponges. Tours conducted by NParks were stopped in March 2007 to let the wetlands recover.

Re-opening and new development

On 8 July, 2007, the nature preserve was re-opened to the public. Unlike before, visitors going to Chek Jawa no longer need to join the free guided tours conducted by NParks. These are conducted only a few times each month during low spring tide periods.

The Singapore Government has also added new amenities with a visitor management plan for Chek Jawa, at a cost of S$7 million. These included a 1.1-kilometre boardwalk, a 20-metre tall viewing tower and a visitor centre with a viewing jetty.

The new boardwalk running along the coast and into the mangrove area allows visitors to get up close to plant and marine life such as fiddler crabs and monitor lizards, without damaging the area. Special care was taken to construct the boardwalk, which is made from concrete but simulated to resemble timber. This is more environmentally friendly as it cuts down on the use of wood while still retaining its natural feel.

The seven-storey viewing tower called the Jejawi tower allows visitors to view the tree canopy and observe birdlife such as the Collared Kingfisher and Straw-headed Bulbul.

At the visitor centre, which was converted from a Tudor-style house built in the 1930s, visitors can learn more about Chek Jawa's wildlife.

A montage of Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin, Singapore.

Further reading

• Tan, Ria and Yeo, Alan, in association with The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore (2003) Chek Jawa guidebook Singapore: Simply Green ISBN 981-04-8832-7
• Chua, Ee Kiam (2002) Chek Jawa: discovering Singapore's biodiversity Singapore : Simply Green ISBN 981-04-6814-8

External links

• The Saga of Tanjong Chek Jawa
• Chek Jawa by National Parks
• Chek Jawa by NUS
• Chek Jawa by WildSingapore
• Satellite image of Tanjung Chek Jawa - Google Maps