Contractor, supervisor receive conditional warnings for unauthorized tree clearing at Singapore reservoir

Singapore's National Parks Board (NParks) has issued conditional warnings to a contractor and a project supervisor involved in the unauthorized clearance of trees at Lower Peirce Reservoir. The incident, which occurred earlier in June, saw dozens of saplings and shrubs cleared from a site designated for a nationwide greening initiative.

NParks stated that investigations concluded the contractor and supervisor, who were undertaking cyclical replacement of the boardwalk, committed their first offense. They were issued 24-month conditional warnings. If either party reoffends during this period, they could face court charges for both the initial and subsequent violations. Cutting or displacing any plant within a national park or nature reserve without permission carries penalties of up to six months in jail, a fine of up to S$50,000, or both.

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after carefully considering the facts and circumstances of the matter

NParks had previously confirmed an investigation into the unauthorized clearance, which affected about 40.5 square meters of a planting site. The agency had communicated to the site supervisor that the proposed area for material storage was unsuitable. However, the project supervisor, covering for the absent site supervisor, misunderstood instructions and proceeded with storing materials at the planting site. Both the contractor and project supervisor admitted their error and agreed to bear the costs of replanting and maintaining the cleared plot. NParks has since replanted the area with 60 new plants.

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Although the site supervisor had communicated NParks’ directions to him, the project supervisor had misunderstood the instructions, and stored the materials at a site which NParks had earlier assessed to be not suitable.