International Year of the Reef (IYOR) 2018

What is IYOR?

IYOR is a global effort initiated by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) to raise awareness and understanding of the value of and the threats to coral reefs, so as to increase the effectiveness of conservation, research and management efforts worldwide. In Singapore, IYOR is being celebrated by various groups through activities which showcase Singapore’s coastal and marine biodiversity as well as the threats they face. Find out more at www.icriforum.org/about-icri/iyor.

Treasuring our Reefs

NParks, in collaboration with the Friends of Marine Park community and other partners, is launching a series of activities and programmes to celebrate the International Year of the Reef (IYOR) 2018. The activities and programmes held throughout the year in Singapore seek to raise awareness of the impact of human activity on the marine ecosystems, instil environmental stewardship and involve you and the community in local conservation efforts.

IYOR2018 poster final

Under NParks’ Community in Nature initiative, you can participate in a range of surveys to help collect data on Singapore’s coastal and marine ecosystems. You may also be able to organise your own activities in line with IYOR 2018, with support from NParks.

Activities & Programmes

Find out how you can participate in the IYOR 2018 here! More activities and details will be updated here regularly, so do check back for more information. Click here for the full calendar of events and availability of dates.

If you would like to participate as a group or school, resource kits are available for you to organise your own BioBlitz and coastal clean-ups. For other opportunities to collaborate for IYOR 2018, reach out to us at marinepark@nparks.gov.sg!

Event	Description	Organised/ Coordinated By	Remarks	Dates
*Monthly Activities*
Intertidal Watch	Learn to identify common marine animals found in Singapore and help to record what inhabits the intertidal zones around Singapore’s shores! Data collected contribute to long-term monitoring of our coastal environments.	NParks	Registration & pre-event training required; Email Intertidal_Watch@nparks.gov.sg for updates and registration details. Pre-event training workshop held on 7th April 2018 and in June (TBC)	Jan: 2nd - 4th, 31st May: 18th - 21st Jul: 15th - 17th Aug: 14th Nov: 24th - 26th Dec: 23rd
Marine Trash Monitoring	Help collect macro-debris and microplastics from the beaches of Sisters' Islands Marine Park and other shores to contribute to the national baseline data for marine debris!	NUS/NParks	Registration and on-site training provided; Visit tinyurl.com/marinetrashsampling to register or contact Joleen Chan at joleen.chan@nus.edu.sg.	Jan: 14th, 20th Feb: 17th Mar: 10th More dates TBC
Marine Trash Monitoring	Organise your own coastal cleanup on the beaches of Sisters' Islands Marine Park!	NParks	Registration required; please email marinepark@nparks.gov.sg to register	Subject to group availability
Marine BioBlitz - in conjunction with Reef Friends	Marine Bioblitz is an opportunity for experienced scuba divers to help document the biodiversity of Singapore, with opportunities to interact with marine biologists.	Various groups	Registration & guidelines for activity organisers provided; please email marinepark@nparks.gov.sg for programme updates and registration details.	Jan: 23rd Feb: 8th Mar: 4th Apr: 3rd May: 27th - 29th Jun: 24th Jul: 22nd Aug: 19th Sep: 1st Oct: 23rd Nov: 2nd Dec: 13th
Reef Friends (Singapore coral reef survey) - in conjunction with Marine BioBlitz	A citizen science programme coordinated by the Blue Water Volunteers to monitor the long-term condition of Singapore’s coral reefs. Volunteers are taught reef survey techniques and species identification.	Various groups	Participants must have valid SCUBA certification, have local diving experience and commit to regular surveys before they can register and join the programme; Visit the Facebook page for more details and to register. Training dates: 21st Feb, 16th Mar; 7pm	Mar: 4th Apr: 3rd May: 27th - 29th Jun: 24th Jul: 22nd Aug: 19th Sep: 1st
*Singular Events*
Friends of the Marine Parks at Seletar Mall's "Our Home, Their Home"	Learn about Singapore’s marine biodiversity through interactive exhibits and games!	Seletar Mall	Walk-in event; no registration required.	Mar: 10th - 18th
Friends of the Marine Park at Asia Dive Expo	The biggest dive show in Asia, ADEX is a platform for various exhibitors such as dive operators, equipment manufacturers and conservation groups. Look out for educational talks by experts and booths set up by the Friends of the Marine Park community.	Underwater 360/ Friends of the Marine Park/NParks	Ticketed event; Visit ticket.adex.asia.	Apr: 6th - 8th
Friends of the Marine Park at the Festival of Biodiversity	An annual event organised by NParks in collaboration with the Biodiversity Roundtable. The Festival features an exhibition, talks by guest speakers and booths from various nature groups that showcase local biodiversity and conservation efforts.	Biodiversity Roundtable/NParks	Walk-in event; no registration required.	Jun: Dates TBC
International Seagrass Biology Conference and Workshop (ISBW13)	The Conference and Workshop feature seminars and workshops on seagrass conservation and science communication both locally and globally. A public talk by the plenary speakers will also be organised.	ISBW13 Organising Committee	Registration required for free public event; Visit www.isbw13.org for updates and registration details.	Jun: 11th-17th
*Interval Activities*
Biodiversity Beach Patrols	Beach Patrol is a citizen science programme where trained volunteers look out for sea turtles and horseshoe crabs on Singapore’s shores. Volunteers will be trained to identify species and possible nests.	NParks	Registration for training opens on 4th Feb, 10am; Training date: 26th Feb, 7-8pm Click here for updates and registration details.	Mar - Sep: Dates TBC
Workshops and Talks	Talks and workshops covering various focus areas like marine trash, biodiversity, turtle ecology, etc. To be updated below.	NParks/ Friends of the Marine Park	Registration required.	Jan: 27th¹Tentative: Dates TBC for Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec
Workshops and Talks	¹Microplastics Analysis Workshop Description: Learn about the impact of trash on marine biodiversity and various community efforts in addressing them. You can also do your part and contribute to the understanding of microplastics in Singapore.	NParks/ Friends of the Marine Park	Registration required; Click here for updates and registration details.	Jan: 27th