Singapore, an Interesting Case Study - Biodiversity is an interesting case study of biodiversity. Singapore over the last 30 years has experienced a major transformation from a third

A living fossil: Gymnocrinus richeri

Chapter VIII

Singapore, an

Interesting Case

Study

Singapore, an interesting case

study

The Diversity Of Life On Earth

2010 © Sylvain Richer de Forges. All rights reserved. 160

Introduction Chapter VIII:

Biodiversity in the Singapore Context

This chapter aims to provide an insight on the state

of biodiversity in Singapore.

Singapore is an interesting case study of biodiversity.

Singapore over the last 30 years has experienced a

major transformation from a third world country to a

highly developed nation. This development has been

at the expense of severe damage to the original

biodiversity.

Much of the species found in Singapore a century ago

are no longer found on the island.

Another particularity of Singapore is that it is an

Island nation of relatively small size. Most of the

islands land has now been sacrified for development

purposes should it be industrial or residential.

However, in its late history, Singapore is trying to

preserve what is left of its original biodiversity by

implementing a number of measures.

About 5% of the land in Singapore has been

dedicated to serve as natural parks. Only a few

parks hold original ecosystems. However the city is

also making efforts to incorporate the natural

environment into the city scape itself. Such

initiative will not bring back the original

biodiversity but at least brings some degree of

biodiversity back to the city.

Such concepts could well be inspirational for cities

of the future around the world. As 80% of the world

population will be living in cities by 2050, it is

important to design cities by integrating natural

features.

© Sylvain Richer de Forges

Chapter VIII: Singapore, an Interesting Case Study



The environmental issues that Singapore

faces today are characteristic of highly-

urbanized cities.

These issues pertain to preventing pollution

from industrialization and urbanization,

preventing marine pollution in its highly-

traversed waters and the protection of

nature areas.

VIII.1 (a) The

Singapore Context





Singapore is a good case study of the fact that maintaining a few localized biodiverse spots within a

city is not sufficient to prevent important species loss.

VIII.1 (b) At the expense of intense development, Singapore has already lost most of its original biodiversity.





Singapore holds many bio-diverse ecosystems due

to its suitable location near the equator.

However, Singapore has already lost most of its

natural environment and biodiversity due to rapid

development in the last 30 years.

A study published in May 2010, “Evaluating the

Relative Environmental Impact of Countries”,

ranks Singapore as the highest in relative

environmental impact. This research was

conducted by the University of Adelaide’s

Environment Institute, National University of

Singapore and Princeton University.

This study shows that relative to its land size,

development in Singapore has significantly

contributed to its forest loss, natural habitat

conversion, marine captures, carbon emissions and

biodiversity.

VIII.2 (a) Impacts of

Urban Development on

Biodiversity





VIII.2 (b) Impacts of

Urban Development on

Biodiversity

Singapore has lost 90 percent of its forest, 67 per

cent of its birds, about 40 per cent of its mammals

and 5 per cent of its amphibians and reptiles. Of

the original mangroves, less than 5% is left. 39% of

all native coastal plants are extinct.

A large proportion of the remaining species are

endangered and their habitats are threatened by

urban development and land reclamation.

Singapore continues to be challenged with pressures

of modernization, limited land availability and a

mandate to preserve the well-being of its

environment and of its citizens.

In order to overcome these challenges, the

Singapore government and urban planners have

designed and implemented strategies in the last 30

years to make Singapore a city garden. © Sylvain Richer de Forges




VIII.3 (a) Vision for a

Green City

Today Singapore is one of the few cities in the

world which has managed to incorporate green

spaces and parks within its urban environment.

Over 13% of Singapore’s land area is dedicated

to greening the urban landscape and maintaining

a healthy ecosystem; this includes parks, park

connectors, green spaces and nature reserves.

There is a significant percentage of land

allocated for non-residential and non-

commercial use for a country as small as

Singapore.

Furthermore, in the next 10-15 years, the Urban

Redevelopment Authority (URA) plans to add

new parks and park connectors to Singapore’s.

In URA's Concept Plan and Master Plan, URA aims

to eventually link up the whole island in a 150

km round island route.





To promote green building technologies and designs,

Singapore introduced a Green Mark Scheme for

Buildings. A number of buildings have been Green

Mark certified under this initiative since it was

implemented in 2005.

The National Parks Board has created rooftop

gardens in commercial and residential buildings

which have both aesthetic and environmental

benefits including a positive impact on biodiversity

should green roofs be implemented on large scale.

Green vertical walls have also been built at sites

such as Changi Airport. Such initiatives are only

starting to appear in the city environment in

Singapore and around the world as case studies.

Large scale implementation would however be

required to make a significant difference on

biodiversity in cities.

VIII.3 (b) Vision for a

Green City





A key objective to Singapore’s greening initiatives is

to raise awareness and educate its citizens; and to

engender in Singaporeans a sense of love and

respect for nature.

The everyday practices of individuals can pose a

threat to Southeast Asia’s ecosystems.

Urban lifestyle habits such as excessive consumption

and waste, inadequate recycling, and the demand

for exotic animal products are just a few of the

ways that Singaporeans have a negative impact on

the environment.

Changing these harmful lifestyles and habits start

with changing the mindsets of Singaporeans.

VIII.3 (c) Vision for a

Green City





One of the biggest criticisms to Singapore's city greening

effort is that it is superficial, too high-maintenance and,

ultimately, not ecologically sustainable.

Priority has been given to man-made greening of highways,

streets and residential areas and not enough effort has been

invested conversing and restoring the little natural areas left

in Singapore.

In recent years to preserve its heritage, Singapore has

retained several restricted nature reserve sites where land

development is inhibited and the inherent ecosystems are

protected.

The reserves are utilized for research in preserving and

revitalizing biodiversity in Singapore and educating the public.

However, more can still be done to implement legal

legislature and define land boundaries to protect Singapore’s

nature reserves.

VIII.4 Preserving and

Restoring Biodiversity in

Singapore





Pulau Ubin’s vegetation was once cleared for the cultivation

of rubber and crops like coffee, pineapple, coconut and

jasmine.

Today, it is one of the last rural areas in Singapore having

been preserved from urban development, concrete buildings

and tarmac roads. Pulau Ubin contains an abundance of

natural flora and fauna.

Chek Jawa is a 5,000 year old coral reef on Pulau Ubin.

Relatively well preserved ecosystems such as wetlands can

still be found on Chek Jawa.

In 2009, the mouse-deer, which has been thought to be

extinct for over 80 years, was discovered on Pulau Ubin.

Scientists speculate that preservation of nature in Pulau Ubin

has allowed for this creature to spread again.

Recovering species is a positive sign that over long periods of

preservations, wild life and eco-systems can be repopulated

to some extent.

VIII.5 (a) Singapore

Remaining Biodiverse

Locations: Case Study

Pulau Ubin





Pulau Tekong is known for being exclusively

used for military training. Less known is that

Pulau Tekong has one of the largest remaining

mangrove forests in Singapore.

Coastal erosion is putting this 92 hectares of

mangroves in danger. Erosion is being caused by

the movement of ships and strong sea waves.

In 2010, the National Parks Board is undertaking

a project to restore and stabilize the coast line.

8,000 mangrove saplings will be planted to help

deflect sea waves and increase the biodiversity

on the island.

The work being done by the National Parks

Board is a prime example of how Singapore is

protecting its remaining biodiverse areas.

VIII.5 (b) Case Study:

Pulau Tekong





Sunggei Buloh holds extensive mangrove

environments with their associated rich

biodiversity.

This site is of global importance as it has a high

variety of bird species which include migratory

birds that stop over from as far as Siberia on their

way to Australia.

Other reserves of interest in Singapore include the

MacRitchie reservoir, Singapore’s oldest reservoir,

as well as Bukit Timah reserve which has a dense

tropical rainforest.

VIII.5 (c) Singapore’s

Remaining Biodiverse

Locations: Case study

Sunggei Buloh






VIII.5 (d) A lot can still be done in Singapore in the pursue of becoming one of the worlds first “city in a garden”.





VIII.6 (a) Biodiversity in the City

Singapore is one of the few cities in the world which has managed

to incorporate green spaces and parks within the urban

environment. Examples include the popular Singapore Botanic

Gardens, busy East Coast Park and tranquil Mount Fabor.

There are more opportunities for Singapore to incorporate natural

features within its urban environment. For example, there is

potential in the implementation of large scale vertical green walls

and to expand the connection of parks and waterways.

To this point, in the next 10-15 years, the Urban Redevelopment

Authority (URA) plans to add new parks and park connectors to

Singapore’s North-East, East and North Regions.

In Singapore’s North Region, the URA also plans to enhance

nature-oriented leisure attractions at Mandai and Kranji.





VIII.6 (b) Singapore extensive network of water reservoirs help to maintain some bio-diverse ecosystems.

However, the creation of new reservoirs such as the Marina Bay reservoir are also controversial when it

comes to biodiversity disturbance.

The marina bay reservoir

despite having some

advantages for flood

control and water

management will have

significant negative

impacts on biodiversity.

As the water within the

bay will slowly change

from salty to fresh

water, many species

which inhabited the bay

wont be able to adapt to

the salinity sudden

change.





VIII.6 (c) Most of the species found in Singapore are not endemic to the

Island but have been introduced from neighboring countries.

Due to its proximity

to Malaysia, most

species found in

Singapore are also

found in Malaysia.

There is therefore

only few real

endemic species in

Singapore itself.





Invasive species is a big problem in Singapore.

VIII.6 (d) As a major transport transit

platform for South East Asia,

numerous indigenous species are

regularly introduced to Singapore.

The pet and trade industry is also

a big contributor as these species

are regularly released into the

environment (reservoirs, parks…).





Singapore has a few good examples to illustrate that industrial development can be made by not entirely compromising the surrounding

ecosystems.

In Singapore most of the waste is incinerated and the remains from this process are disposed on an artificial landfill. On the other side

of this landfill however lies a nature reserve with extensive sea grass, coral reefs and mangroves. This is a very good (and unique)

example of how a bio-diverse environment can co-exist to some extent with industrial installations.


VIII.7 Compromise between Development & Environment Preservation




As highlighted in this chapter, Singapore is a

very good case study to illustrate the

dilemma faced by urban areas and

biodiversity conservation.

Singapore has already sacrified most of its

biodiversity for development purposes. Only

a few isolated parks and natural spaces are

left in the island city.

However, when compared to other cities

around the world, Singapore is actually a

good example of how intense development

and high population densities can be done in

such a way to minimize biodiversity losses

and/or bring biodiversity back to city

environments to some extent.

Conclusion Chapter VIII

Singapore has an ambitious plan to become

the worlds first true city in a garden.

Numerous initiatives such as improving

existing parks, interconnecting these parks

through green pathways and the development

of roof-top gardens and vertical walls are

under development.

Since most of the world population will be

living in cities in a few decades, Singapore is

a good case study of how cities around the

world should develop by incorporating natural

features into their design.



Documents

Singapore, an Interesting Case Study - Biodiversity is an interesting case study of biodiversity. Singapore over the last 30 years has experienced a major transformation from a third