Fun with R.U.M. mangrove workshop!

I had lots of fun figuring out mangrove trees and plants last weekend. At a special workshop on mangrove flora ID by the Restore Ubin Mangroves (R.U.M.) Initiative and Leafmonkey Workshop.

The awesome mangrovers!
Photo by Mohammad Juhari

Thanks to enthusiastic support from an overwhelming response to the workshop!



In line with the interests expressed by the participants, I gave a brief introduction to the mangroves in Singapore. Their importance, status and threats to them. Also shared more about the Restore Ubin Mangroves (R.U.M.) Initiative and how their newfound skills will play a part in helping Mother Nature do the planting in natural restoration of abandoned aquaculture ponds on Pulau Ubin.

Thanks to Alyce and Chay Hoon for double-cheking the
Mandarin version of the R.U.M. pamphlets.

We then broke up into smaller groups and had lots of fun figuring some common mangrove plants!

Even common mangroves can be a little tricky to tell apart.

Photo by Mohammad Juhari.

Dr Jean Yong's awesome 'blue mangrove ID charts' come in very handy.

Photo by Mohammad Juhari.

As we ended the workshop, we had a special surprise for Prof Dan Friess. It was his birthday the next day. Thanks to Stephen Beng for the delicious 'Swampy Cake' and Lisa Lim for the birthday banner and dividing up the cake for everyone.

Photo by Mohammad Juhari

Thanks to Mohammad Juhari documenting all the happenings with lovely photos as usual. To Stephen Beng for the amazing 'Swamp Cake', Lisa Lim for sorting us out so efficiently as usual, Chay Hoon for the emergency print support, for the many experienced people who came to help lead the small group activities and to everyone who made time to come on a Friday night.



Field workshop

The very next day, we gathered at Pasir Ris Park to take a closer look at real mangrove plants and try to figure out their ID.

Thanks to experienced participants for sharing stories and tips about the many fascinating plants we saw. We're touched that Jonathan Tan too the time to join us even though he was due to fly off in the next few hours. Here he is sharing about fabulous figs!

I was so glad to be able to share with them my favourite mangrove tree. The very elegant Lenggadai which grows right by the bridge. As we were leaving near sunset, some of the night blooming sea shore trees started to blossom!

Thanks to Mohammad Juhari documenting all the happenings with lovely photos as usual. Photos and videos too (see comments on the facebook post).


The enthusiasm and interest expressed by the participants are inspiring! We plan to start surveys this weekend!

This week, we also came up with a R.U.M. logo!

More about how to volunteer with the Restore Ubin Mangroves (R.U.M.) Initiative. Keep up with the latest happenings on the R.U.M. facebook group.