The Central Catchment Nature Reserve (Chinese: 中央集水区自然保护区) is the largest nature reserve in Singapore, occupying 2889 hectares Forming a large green lung in the geographical centre of the city, it houses several recreational sites, including the Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari, as well as several newer facilities built to encourage public appreciation of the reserve, such as the HSBC TreeTop Walk.
It is one of the 4 gazetted nature reserves in Singapore. The other three are namely Labrador Nature Reserve which was gazetted since 1 January 2002, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. All four nature reserves, along with the parks are protected under the Parks & Trees Act 2005.
The nature reserve acts as a catchment area for the surrounding reservoirs. The country’s main reservoirs - MacRitchie, Upper Seletar, Upper Peirce and Lower Peirce – are located in the central catchment area.
Most forests in Central Catchment Nature Reserve were cleared for logging and cultivation unlike Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, which remain relatively undisturbed. The Central Catchment Nature Reserve now consists of a mixture of young and mature secondary forests with virgin primary forest surrounding the reservoirs.
Read more about Central Catchment Nature Reserve: Attractions, Nature Education, Banded Leaf Monkey Conservation
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