Green City

Our 4 Nature Reserves:

1. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (163 hectares)

The reserve contains lowland and coastal hill dipterocarp forest. Examples of the tall seraya Shorea curtisii growing at this relatively low altitude are a sign of the coastal influence. About half of the reserve consists of primary forest, and half shows signs of significant past disturbance.

2. Central Catchment Nature Reserve (3,043 hectares)

The reserve contains scattered patches of primary lowland dipterocarp forest, tall secondary forest of varying quality depending on its age, maturity and tree species mix, and freshwater swamp forest. The surfaces of the reservoirs (MacRitchie, Upper Peirce, Lower Peirce, Upper Seletar) also constitute part of the nature reserve.

3. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (131 hectares)

The reserve contains mangroves, mudflats, river, and disused fish and prawn ponds that are gradually reverting to more natural brackish wetland types.

4. Labrador Nature Reserve (10 hectares)

The reserve contains secondary coastal forest, much of which has grown up since the Second World War, but with some older elements. It is on steep sandstone slopes, at the seaward foot reaching to a rocky shore and shallow coral and rubble substrate.

How do Nature Parks serve as Buffer Parks?

Nature reserves are protected areas of rich biodiversity that are representative sites of key indigenous ecosystems. To safeguard the native flora and fauna in these areas, there are special restrictions on the activities that can be carried out. 

As part of a holistic conservation approach, some nature parks have been established on the margins of the Nature Reserves to act as green buffers. NParks enhances the habitats within these buffers so that they remain rustic and forested, and at the same time provide an alternative venue for the public to enjoy recreational activities. 

Nature parks also buffer the Nature Reserves against developments that abut the Reserves. The 31-hectare Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve extension buffers the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. There are currently six nature parks in Singapore, covering more than 250 hectares. These nature parks buffer the nature reserves in Singapore.

How are biodiversity conservation efforts evaluated?

Singapore, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Partnership on Local and Subnational Action on Biodiversity, developed a tool to evaluate cities’ biodiversity conservation efforts. This tool was adopted globally in 2010. 

In recognition of Singapore’s leading efforts, it is known as the Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity. You may refer to the diagrams to understand how parks are included in evaluating the biodiversity of Singapore.

Some examples of developing ecological connections are Nature Ways and the Park Connector Network.

Nature Ways are routes planted with specific trees and shrubs to facilitate the movement of animals like birds and butterflies between two green spaces. These routes also connect areas of high biodiversity to urban communities, create immediate habitats and bring nature closer to Singapore residents. Besides enhancing the living environment, these green corridors (a thin strip of land that provides sufficient habitat to support wildlife, often within an urban environment, thus allowing the movement of wildlife along it) help create a greater appreciation of the rich biodiversity in our City in Nature.

Nature Ways are designed to replicate the natural structure of forests as far as possible. Trees, shrubs and groundcover are planted along the streetscape to re-create habitats similar to those found in natural forests. Greenery along these routes are also enriched with flowering plants which attract butterflies and support their breeding.

Streetscape greenery, rooftop and vertical greenery, as well as community gardens also enhance ecological connectivity, which is important as it facilitates the movement of biodiversity and exchange of genetic material, leading to healthier populations.

Skyrise Greenery

Skyrise Greenery is a concept that integrates green elements into the built environment. As physical living conditions become increasingly stratified, we need to look to innovative Skyrise Greenery to offer a sphere of new possibilities in our physical and social environments. It represents a vision to evolve our ever intensifying cities into urban scapes that are dynamic in more environmental and sustainable ways. The Skyrise Greenery Awards aim to promote and reward greening efforts in urban developments.

Rooftop Gardens of Nanyang Polytechnic were awarded Skyrise Greenery Excellence Award in 2015, making it the top 7 out of 123 entries. As part of Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)’s continual effort to create more green spaces for its students, two spacious roof areas in the campus have been transformed into beautiful roof gardens surrounded by lush vertical greenery.

The design of the first garden located at Block P, Level 3 was inspired by a butterfly in motion, where the colourful green walls symbolises the wings of a butterfly. The successful transformation of the first garden inspired the Polytechnic to create a second garden at Block S, Level 4, where the shapes and height of the trellises and planter boxes depict the undulating effect created by the ripples of the waters in the pond next to the block.

Community Gardens

The Community Garden at Blk 173 of Kebun Baru Link Residents' Committee emerged within the top 12% of the 243 entries in ‘Community in Bloom Awards 2018’, and was awarded with the highest band, i.e. Platinum Banding for Public Housing Estates.

The biennial Community In Bloom (CIB) Awards recognise and reward gardening efforts of Singapore’s gardening groups. The judging criteria for the CIB Awards comprise the following: a) Garden Quality, b) Level of Community Involvement & Inclusiveness, c) Educational & Outreach Quality.

Answer:

• Tree House (60 Chestnut Ave, Singapore 679517)

• Eco Sanctuary (65 Chestnut Ave, Singapore 679524)