Of the several forest reserves set aside in 1883 by Nathaniel Cantley, Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens, Bukit Timah was not the only one not worked for timber in the then British Colony of Singapore.
By 1937, the developers' demand for land in expanding Singapore obliged the authorities to abolish forest reserves, except in three areas only.
Today, we have three designated reserve areas: Bukit Timah, the Central Catchment Area, and Labrador Park, a total of about 2000 hectares.