7 
patrol the Reserve, and have maintained a path all round it. The path is in 
part a raised bank, and includes plank bridges. Re-making of part of the 
path was completed during 1948. 
The Pandan Reserve also was almost entirely cleared of large trees in 1937. 
The regeneration in the past ten years has been satisfactory, and the effect of 
some re-planting (from seed) made in 1939-40 is now apparent. The 
Reserve contains all the characteristic plants of mangrove, and also is big 
enough to give shelter to an interesting natural fauna. Our thanks are due to 
Mr. Choa Ho Ann, who has taken a considerable interest in the Reserve from 
its establishment, and to him the present satisfactory condition of the trees 
is largely due. 
The Bukit Timah Reserve includes all the remaining forest on the upper 
slopes of the hill, which is the largest in Singapore island (567 ft.) except the 
slopes in the water catchment area which adjoins the Reserve. The total 
area now reserved is about 200 acres. It includes a fine sample of primitive 
forest, with a great variety of trees and smaller plants, some of which certainly 
do not now occur elsewhere in the island. 
Before 1941 a number of paths were made in the Reserve, to give access to 
all parts of it, and also a boundary path. The Reserve is regularly patrolled, 
and cutting of timber is now negligible. Areas which had been devastated in 
1936-37 have regenerated well and now carry dense thickets of young trees. 
The Japanese fortunately did not do much damage in the Reserve though they 
made some excavations on the summit and at another place. • During 1948 
the paths were brought back to their former condition and regularly maintained, 
four of the shelters were re-built, and new plans of the Reserve placed in each 
shelter and at the entrance. 
The Reserve is threatened on three sides by granite quarries. It is hoped 
that a limit has now been set to the extent of these quarries, as any further 
extension will seriously damage this final remaining piece of natural forest in 
the island. Such an area of forest must be sufficiently large if it is to be self- 
regenerating, and also if it is to maintain a humid internal climate in which the 
lesser forest plants can flourish. Ferns and other delicate plants will disappear 
(some have probably already gone) if the area is further restricted. 
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