Fruit Quality Evaluation and Conservation of Superior Durian Trees on Pulau Ubin, Nature Parks and Military Training Areas

Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether and when NParks will evaluate the fruit quality of durian trees surviving on Pulau Ubin, nature parks and military training areas; (b) whether superior trees will be conserved by grafting, given that durian seeds are unbankable; and (c) whether any selection will be registered under the Plant Varieties Protection Act 2004.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: Durian trees found in Pulau Ubin and other areas managed by the National Parks Board (NParks) are not native to Singapore and are not a threatened species. NParks does not evaluate their fruit quality, and its conservation efforts do not include these trees.