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“I'm really passionate about marine conservation and hence having the opportunity to work as a Senior Conservation Officer in Chek Jawa is really a dream come true for me to pursue my passion” , says How Choon Beng, Senior Outreach Officer, National Parks (NParks)

Choon Beng, what inspired you to join Nparks?

I’ve always been interested in Biology and conservation, so joining Nparks was definitely the best choice for me. I first started out working in the parks division, before eventually transferring over to the conservation division.

It must be quite a unique experience to work on Pulau Ubin?

Pulau Ubin is unique in the sense that you actually have the concept of village life existing within a national park. Therefore, my work revolves around

helping to preserve this special sense of heritage and rustic living, which is such a rare experience for Singaporeans now.

The main part of my job involves working with corporate sponsors like HSBC, and in helping them find ways to achieve their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). I also conduct conservation tours around Pulau Ubin, and organise workshops and information sessions, as part of Nparks’ efforts to educate the public about the importance of conservation.

	Are there any special requirements to work with Nparks as a Conservation Officer?
	Having a relevant degree in Biology or Horticulture for example, is the first step. The rest is essentially on the job training, and Nparks will constantly send you for training courses so that you can upgrade your skills and knowledge. In fact, being an employer which values career and personal development, NParks will sponsor staff who have the right attitude and are passionate about their work for further studies to equip them with the right skills to perform the job.

Are there any special requirements to work with Nparks as a Conservation Officer?

Having a relevant degree in Biology or Horticulture for example, is the first step. The rest is essentially on the job training, and Nparks will constantly send you for training courses so that you can upgrade your skills and knowledge. In fact, being an employer which values career and personal development, NParks will sponsor staff who have the right attitude and are passionate about their work for further studies to equip them with the right skills to perform the job.

Do you face challenges working in conservation?

I find that the main challenge is in educating and influencing the attitudes of younger Singaporeans to be more aware and interested in nature and the importance of conservation. And this is hard because many of them are more interested in computer games and aren’t keen on the idea of going outdoors.

I remember how, when a group of children visited Pulau Ubin on a school excursion, and some of them could not even distinguish a duck from a chicken. This example highlights how some younger Singaporeans have become alienated from nature.

On another note, the fact that Singapore has an excellent international reputation as a ‘clean and green’ garden city is a start in getting people to appreciate nature. But we still have to put in a lot of effort to make people more aware and concerned about actually protecting nature and understanding the importance of conservation.

What’s the best thing about being a Conservation Officer?

I'm really passionate about marine conservation and hence having the opportunity to work as a Senior Conservation Officer in Chek Jawa is really a dream come true for me to pursue my passion.

Chek Jawa is a marine wetlands area that is at the eastern end of Pulau Ubin. It’s essentially an inter-tidal zone of mud flats teeming with marine life like starfish and sea horses.

Chek Jawa is also a collection of six distinct habitats - coastal forest, mangrove, sandy beach, sand and mud flats, coral rubble and a tiny island called Pulau Sekudu, or Frog Island. It is unique because all these different habitats are clustered in an area just 1 sq km in size.

Chek Jawa would have been lost forever, if not for its discovery by a local botanist called Joseph Lai.

In 2001, he discovered Chek Jawa by chance, while acting as a volunteer guide for some students from Raffles Girls' School, who were exploring the coastal forests in the area.

The government had initially marked the area for land reclamation – villagers living in the area had been resettled and construction equipment brought in to clear the land.

However, once word had spread about Chek Jawa, many Singaporeans came by to appreciate its abundant biodiversity. It eventually became a hotly debated issue on whether Chek Jawa should still be reclaimed, after so many people argued for its conservation.

After much thought, the government eventually decided to leave Pulau Ubin untouched for as long as it is not required for development.

What are your hopes for conservation in the future?

My personal aspiration and dream is for all Singaporeans to truly embrace and enjoy our fantastic marine life. Furthermore, I’m also looking forward to many more corporations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) collaborate with Nparks to protect our environment. It’s also heartening to see more volunteers coming onboard to help Nparks with conservation, and we always try to place them in areas that they are passionate about.

Did you like this story? Let us hear from you. Write us a letter at marketinginfo@jobsdb.com.sg

www.nparks.gov.sg


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