Singapore: From Garden City to City in a Garden

5th Global Biodiversity Summit for Cities and Subnational Governments

December 9-11 2016, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México

Dr. Lena Chan, Group DirectorNational Biodiversity Centre, NParks, Singapore

Before 1819, Singapore was a tapestry of Primary Lowland DipterocarpForests, Secondary Forests, Freshwater Swamps, Mangroves, Rivers, Grasslands, etc.

Major land-use transformation occurred in Singapore between 1819 and 1930

Adapted from Corlett , 1992

Primary – Primary forestCultivated – Cultivated land, including croplandSecondary – Secondary grassland, scrub and forestUrban – Urban areas, including parks and gardens

Singapore: Garden City

Planting in built-up areas

• Clifford Pier –before and after planting

Singapore today

• Land area: 719.2 km2

• Population: 5.6 million

• Population density: 7,797 persons/km2

– 3rd densest after Macau and Monaco

• 2nd busiest container port globally

• 4 Nature Reserves, 20 Nature Areas

• 337 Parks totaling 263.3km2

• 303km of Park Connectors

City in a Garden

Imagine Singaporeans having a home within a garden,instead of just having a garden outside a home.

CIAG – Strategic Thrusts

• Establish world-class gardens

• Rejuvenate urban parks and enliven our streetscape

• Optimise urban spaces for greenery and recreation

• Enrich biodiversity in our urban environment

• Enhance competencies of our landscape and horticultural industry

• Engage and inspire communities to co-create a greener Singapore

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

• Obligation under the Convention on Biological Diversity

• Singapore produced a NBSAP 2009–2014

• Adopted 5 strategies:– Safeguard our biodiversity – Consider Biodiversity Issues in Policy and

Decision-making– Improve Knowledge of Our Biodiversity &

Natural Environment– Enhance Education and Public Awareness– Strengthen Partnerships with All

Stakeholders and Promote International Collaboration

Singapore’s Native Biodiversity

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• 2145 native vascular plant species

• 384 bird species

• 98 reptile species

• 85 freshwater fish species

• 318 butterfly species

• 125 dragonfly species

• more than 800 spider species

• 35 true mangrove tree species

• 12 seagrass species

• 255 hard coral species

• 50 sea anemone species

Singapore’s Terrestrial Biodiversity

Singapore’s Marine Biodiversity

NParks’ Nature Conservation Master Plan

• The NCMP consolidates, coordinates, strengthens and intensifies all NParks’ current biodiversity conservation efforts

Nature Conservation Masterplan

1. Conservation of Key Habitats

2. Habitat Enhancement, Restoration and Species Recovery

4. Community Stewardship and Outreach in Nature

3. Applied Research in Conservation Biology and Planning

Safeguarding our Key Ecosystems

Photo Credit: sg.asia-city.com, National Parks Board

Safeguarding our Key Ecosystems

Photo Credit: sg.asia-city.com, National Parks Board

Safeguarding our Key Ecosystems

Photo Credit: sg.asia-city.com, National Parks Board

Restoring habitats

Photo Credit: sg.asia-city.com, National Parks Board

• Protecting our coastline: Pulau TekongMangrove Project

Restoring habitats

Photo Credit: sg.asia-city.com, National Parks Board

• Replacing hard structures: Bishan-AMK Park

Restoring Ecological Connectivity

Knema curtisii

Emerald DoveSlender squirrel

Common Palm Civet

Sunda Pangolin

Baccaurea racemosa

• Eco-link@BKE

Incorporating biodiversity into urban areas -Streetscapes

Multi species streetscapeKheam Hock Nature Way

Streetscape Garden Orchid reintroduction

Incorporating biodiversity into urban areas -Skyrise Greenery

Engaging the community

• Commonwealth Secondary School

Engaging the community

Biophilia

• What is a Biophilic City?

1. It is biodiverse, full of nature;

2. Residents feel, see, and experience rich nature, both terrestrial and marine, in the normal course of work, play and life;

3. All inclusive collaborative efforts are made by the people, the private companies and the government to restore, enhance and innovate the integrity of habitats for biodiversity.

© Dreiseitl

Thank youlena_chan@nparks.gov.sg

SINGAPORE, A BIOPHILIC CITY IN A GARDEN