Welcome to Sentosa

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	Programmes
	In order to embrace conservation of wildlife and flora, and responsible environmental practices for sustainable development and protection of our natural resources, heritage and the island history, Sentosa has embarked on and initiated several programmes as part of our CSR mission. Our CSR efforts extend to conserving and enhancing the environment as well as the education of the young in helping to preserve our rich island history and natural resources. Recent programmes include Grow Our Nature Heritage, Tourism Academy, Serapong trail, etc As a testimony to our efforts to preserve the rich island history, Amara Sanctuary Resort, Sentosa was awarded the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) Architectural Heritage Awards 2007.

	Grow Our Nature Heritage
	Sentosa’s nature reserves of about 45 hectares comprise essentially of secondary coastal forests, some of which are rather sparse and low in quality, resulting from historical clearing of the forest in the early 1900’s. Deforestation reduced the original large forest into small, isolated fragments that are incapable of supporting a viable population of plant and animal species of the primary forest. The vanishing species affected the complex web of species inter-relations needed for natural forest regeneration. Moreover, as Sentosa island is somewhat isolated from the surrounding major vegetative regions of Malaysia and Indonesia and even mainland Singapore, the natural dispersal of seeds from these regions are not possible. As such, the forest was replaced by secondary and tertiary species, and lacked the original eco-system structure and functions. It is generally limited in biodiversity of the primary tropical rainforest species that can be found in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and in the Southeast Asian countries. As custodian of Sentosa, our long term strategy on nature conservation is two-fold: to develop a love for nature in our youth and to cultivate their interests for our future generations as opinion-formers and leaders, and consumers who will shape the future of Singapore and become conservationists for life; and, to enrich and enhance the biodiversity of the forest species with the aim of transforming the nature reserves close to its “primary” rainforest eco-system in a sustainable manner by planting tree saplings of carefully-selected indigenous species today. This development is intended to benefit our children’s children and their future generations as the transformation process involve nurturing these saplings and allowing them to grow and regenerate themselves over time. The forest restoration program will involve institutions of higher learning in researching the species, its cultivation, growth and survival and the development of the eco-system. Community involvement also takes the form of active participation by secondary schools in active learning through workshops, tree-planting and maintenance/monitoring activities of the restoration process. This initiative will begin in October 2007 and is expected to be carried through a period of the next 2 to 3 years as we focus on enhancing the quality of flora and fauna within the Mount Imbiah and Mount Serapong nature reserves.

	Tourism Academy
	The history of the Tourism Academy at Sentosa, a building under preservation, was brought alive by installing signage and graphics to bring out the rich history of the island. This initiative provides students at the Academy a sense of belonging and personalization and will serve as a tool to train students in their guiding skills, when historical tours are conducted. A walking map is also being produced for visitors to trace the historical roots of our island heritage at the Academy. Sentosa's attempts at preserving its historical heritage are made with the social conscious objective of giving the island an emotional anchor to those who had lived on the island, whose fathers or grandfathers had served so valiantly as soldiers in WW2. These attempts are a start to preserving memories for our future generations and to give Sentosa a "soul" as the island marches towards the 21st century model of fun and recreation.

	Amara Sanctuary Resort
	Winner of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s 2007 Architectural Awards. The stylish new resort includes carefully restored historic buildings from Singapore’s colonial past. The resort’s luxurious Verandah and Courtyard suites are located in an original two-storey barracks buildings built in the 1920s when Sentosa Island was a military stronghold and which were originally the living quarters of British soldiers before and after World War II. The original timber louver windows, doors and balustrades were reinstated, whilst the damaged terracotta roof tiles were replaced with those from demolished buildings of a similar age. Guests can relish in the existing greenery, natural ventilation and peaceful surroundings.

	Rasa Sentosa Resort
	Architectural plans for the driveway to the resort were carefully designed around its signature Angsana tree, which may be over a hundred years old. It is believed to have been planted before the colonial days. It is a champion heritage Angsana tree or the largest of its kind in Singapore – the girth of the tree is 10.2m and it stands at a height of 27.0m. The Resort recently spent more than $3,000 to install a lightning arrestor to protect the tree. A special timber platform has also been constructed for guests and visitors to take a rest by the tree or snap photos with it.

	Siloso Beach Resort
	The Siloso Beach Resort, too, has sensitively interwoven its structures around the gentle slopes and green terrain. The resort was built around it’s signature tree. It has also launched measures to increase energy efficiency by replacing its original heating units with a dual-function system that serves as an aircon cooling unit, as well.

	The Sentosa Resort & Spa
	The 215-room resort features elegant low-rise colonial buildings, immaculately manicured grounds and architecture with open design that connects one with nature. Decades-old native trees and palms have been conserved and are included as part of the overall design of the resort. Built on a heritage site at a cost of S$10.5 million, its award-winning Spa Botanica is Singapore’s first garden destination spa. It won the 11th URA Architectural Heritage Awards – National Monuments and Fully Conserved Building 2005. At the resort, product purchases are made through local suppliers where the resort focuses as much as possible on bringing in home-grown branded products. Vegetables are obtained from the local Hydroponics (water) and Aeroponics (air) farms, which are healthier and not grown using chemicals. We also serve tropical fruits at all times. The property recycles glass and plastic bottles, papers, newspapers, metal cans and old linen. Energy-saving bulbs and key entry systems which control electricity/power are also utilised daily.

	Fort Serapong Archaelogoical Research Project
	Overview
	A team of archaeologists led by Mr Lim Chen Sian from the National University of Singapore was formed, and archival research commenced in April 2006 with on site investigative works starting on 16th May 2006

	Preliminary Findings
	Archival research have yielded significant aerial photographs from the post war period showing remaining installations and gun positions; documents detailing military regiment on the island; and maps. Several of the aerial photographs depict the various stages of decommissioning of the forts on Blakang Mati, while plans reveal architectural developments of the early 20th century. Plans relevant to the project have since been ordered for reproduction from the PRO and NAS. Site clearance work has since revealed several impressive architectural features and structures. Both 6 inch gun positions have been cleared and much of their ancillary and supporting structures exposed. A concrete bunker identified as a position finding cell has been located and cleared between the two gun emplacements. An ancillary structure consisting of three rooms and an attached toilet is found buried beneath rubbe and earth west of the no.2 gun. Further west and up the hill, the battery command post has been identified and uncovered. The ammunition magazine of gun no.2 has yet to be found, and it is suspected that it was destroyed in an explosion leaving behind a crater in the side of Serapong hill. The ramp providing access to no.2 gun and a suspected observation post over looking the eastern approach to Keppel Harbor have also been uncovered. As test excavations are limited to two test pits, few movable artifacts have been recovered. Artifacts found include small finds from test pit SER 001 of porcelain and marine shell. The excavated infantry position downhill yielded a single corroded coin suspected to be of Victorian vintage. Other artifacts from surface finds include, 1950s contemporary beverage cans, bits of metal, possibly mountings and bolts from the gun emplacements, shels, and glass. A single 6 inch armor piercing artillery shell was uncovered at Spur Battery gun emplacemnt no.2 (upper gun). The unexploded ordinance was reported to the island's rangers who in turn called in the police for verification and activation of the military's explosive ordinance dispoal unit. The 6 inch artillery shell is probably ammunition for the no.2 gun (6 inch MKXXIV).

	Fort Siloso
	Fort Siloso is a coastal artillery battery and one of twelve which made up ‘Fortress Singapore’ at the start of World War Two. Although remains of other batteries can be found on Singapore, Fort Siloso is the sole restored battery. More than 245 photographs, documents and film clips are on display. You can even explore old tunnels and view 17th century guns and cannons.

	Future Programmes
	There will be more CSR initiatives as we roll out the programmes through the years, keeping our promise of embracing conservation of wildlife and flora and preserving our heritage and the island history.