Evolving Singapore into a City in Nature
Lena ChanInternational Biodiversity Conservation Division, National Parks Board
Global Platform for Sustainable Cities
Bringing Nature to Cities

11 November 2020

The Singapore Context: City – State – Island
A small island withlimited land resources
to meet the needs ofboth a city and acountry
Land Area: 722 km2Population: 5.6 mil
Population Density:
7, 804 persons/km2

High population
density in Singapore
coexists with richbiodiversity
Need to cater to andbalance the needs ofbothA list of Singapore’s native biodiversity• 2145 native vascular plant species• 414 bird species• 109 reptile species• 85 freshwater fish species• 334 butterfly species• 122 dragonfly species• more than 800 spider species• 35 true mangrove tree species• 12 seagrass species• 255 hard coral species• 200 sponge species

From “City in a Garden” to “City in Nature“
Restoring nature back into the city for liveability, sustainability and well-being

Garden City toCity in a Garden
50 yrs of greening• Intensifying tree
planting• Strengthened
connectivity of parks
and greenery withPCN• Integrated greenerywith built
environmentCity in Nature –A New Paradigm
Truly unique value
proposition wherepeople and nature
come first:• Integrate ecology
into the urbanlandscape• Create sustainableecosystems fornature and people
to thrive• Provide immersive
experiences withnature for improved
health well being• Build communitiesof stewards

Singapore’s “City in Nature” Framework
Applying Nature-Based Solutions
Outcomes

High Liveability
Ecological
Resilience
ClimateResilience
SocialResilience

Underpinned by biophilic systems and design

Sustainable
EconomicGrowthSocial layer

Ecological layer

Recreation layer

Greenery layer

Green Cover(base layer)

Safeguard and strengthen core areas

Safeguard and strengthen core areas

Safeguard and strengthen core areas

Sisters’ Islands Marine Park

Wildlife in the City

Migratory Birds

Spawning of hard corals

Marine Turtles

Develop ecological connections

Develop ecological connections

Roadside trees

Develop ecological connections

East Coast Parkway

Develop ecological connections

Kampung Admiralty

Develop ecological connections

ParkRoyal@Pickering

Habitat Enhancement and Restoration

Learning Forest, Singapore Botanic Gardens

Habitat Enhancement and Restoration

Bishan-Ang Mo Kio ParkHabitat Enhancement and Restoration

Community Stewardship
Nurturing a Biophilic Community –Citizen Science in Action – Community In and With Nature
Citizen ScientistsFamilies•Family
NaturePledge•
•••
•
•••
•

NParks Garden Bird Watch
NParks Butterfly Watch
Heron Watch
Malayan Water Monitor
Lizard Count
Shorebird Sighting Records
Seagrass Monitoring withTeamSeaGrass
Reef Monitoring with Blue
Water Volunteers
NParks BioBlitz
Intertidal Monitoring
Singapore (iTideSG)

Schools•••

Green schools
for biodiversity
Ecotoxicology
Marine Biomonitoring
programme
Nature Way
monitoring•••Nature OutreachWorkshops
Biodiversity weekfor schools
SeashoreAmbassador
Programme

Community Stewardship and Outreach in NatureEveryone has a Role to PlayOne Million Trees Campaign led by Community

City in Nature – a more Gracious and Caring Society

HortPark Nature Playgarden

SINGAPORE INDEX ON
CITIES’ BIODIVERSITY(CITY BIODIVERSITYINDEX) – AN UPDATEDVERSION WILL BE
PUBLISHED SOON

- Self monitoring tool for cities
to evaluate their urban
biodiversity conservation
efforts- Developed in collaboration
with SCBD and Global
Partnership on Local andSubnational Action forBiodiversity

THANK YOU

Singapore – A Biophilic City in Naturelena_chan@nparks.gov.sg