Ecosystem services

a) ecosystems consist of living communities and the non-living environment interacting with one another

b) aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in neighbourhoods including ponds, lakes, parks and forests

2. Provisioning and regulating services

a) provisioning services available in neighbourhoods include fresh water and food

b) regulating services in neighbourhoods include microclimate regulation, flood mitigation, air and water quality

3. Cultural and supporting services

a) cultural services in neighbourhoods include aesthetics, education and recreationrecreation

b) supporting services in neighbourhoods include soil formation, pollination and photosynthesis

Remember the uses of the tropical forests which you learned in Sec 1? Can you recall the following? - they can be grouped in the different types of ecosystem services.

A wide range of biodiversity thrives in Singapore's ecosystems.

A 2019 research has shown that Singaporeans plant a huge diversity of plants outside their homes – 231 different species were found across a survey of 135 corridors. If you look a bit closer, you may even notice insects or birds visiting these plants, resulting in a small but thriving ecosystem. 

The following are pictures of plants along my corridor and my balcony. 

National Parks Board (NParks) has adopted a wide range of Biophilic designs in urban planning to bring nature closer to people's everyday lives with a diversity of trees and flowering plants along sidewalks and also the creation of little pocket gardens whenever there is space for it. Such biophilic designs help people feel more connected to nature, in hopes that people will feel more restored mentally and emotionally as they interact with nature. 

We can categorise the different types of ecosystem services as:

The supply of food is one of the most important provisioning services provided by nature to people and it can be obtained through means such as agricultural activities and fisheries. These provisioning services, such as the supply of fresh water and food, are also found in an urban neighbourhood ecosystem.  Look at how urban farming initiatives is introduced in Tampines.

Hydroponics garden on the rooftop of Tampines Hub - providing food in an urban neighbourhood
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-hdb-blocks-in-tampines-could-get-community-gardens-farms-to-step-up-food-production-capability

Ecosystem services as Regulating ecosystem services. These regulating services are also available in an urban neighbourhood, including microclimate regulation, strategies that reduce the the severity of flood damage when it occurs as well as air and water quality control.
Look at how plants can remove pollutants from the stream at Rifle Range Nature Park.

Photographs on the newly opened Rifle Range nature park which is part of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve are kindly contributed by Mdm Ng Yuet Ling. 

Cultural ecosystem services are also available in an urban neighbourhood. The presence of green spaces can provide many cultural ecosystem services such as aesthetic appreciation and opportunities for stress-relieving activities. When residents engage in these activities, it may improve their physical and mental health and foster their social belonging and group identity. As a result, one’s sense of place can also be strengthened. 

Below are pictures taken when I visited the Singapore Botanic Garden. Definitely a place to engage in stress-relieving activity. 

A heritage garden in Hougang - learning more about our past from the trees and plants. 

Supporting ecosystem services are also available in an urban neighbourhood. One key supporting service is pollination which is vital to many animals and people. Wild bees play a significant role in crop pollination, which ensures that the crops are able to reproduce to provide food for animals and humans. Another important supporting service is photosynthesis. When plants photosynthesise, carbon dioxide is absorbed and oxygen is released. Photosynthesis is responsible for producing and maintaining the oxygen content of the Earth’s atmosphere. This ensures that all other ecosystem services can function.