e ESSAY

C I T Y I N N AT U R E
KENNETH ER
Kenneth Er is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Parks Board, Singapore.

Transforming Singapore
into a City in Nature

Artist’s impression of the upcoming Rifle Range Nature Park, which provides more space for nature-based recreation.
Image: NParks
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The importance of nature and green spaces for physical, emotional
and mental wellbeing cannot be understated, particularly in a
land-scarce country like Singapore. In this essay, Kenneth Er,
Chief Executive Officer of Singapore’s National Parks Board,
explains the country’s journey to becoming a City in Nature and
the role of the natural environment in post-pandemic cities.

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NParks introduced Situated one degree north of the

equator, Singapore resides within
Prior to this, when the British
arrived in Singapore in 1819, the
the City in Nature a region of perpetual summer and island was covered with rainforests,
vision...to ensure a high rainfall. Despite being a small
city-state of 728 km2 and one of the
swamps and mangroves. By 1900,
more than 90% of the primeval
green, liveable and most densely populated countries forest had been cleared for timber
sustainable home in the world, Singapore is home to a
rich diversity of flora and fauna. This
extraction, agriculture, and the
creation of settlements. While the
for Singaporeans is the result of a concerted effort British designated forest reserves
for generations in the greening of Singapore since
the 1960s, which exemplifies the
and nature reserves, much of these
areas were eventually replaced with
to come. concept of sustainable development plantations and agriculture, leaving
from a time when environmental only small reserves scattered
awareness was still low. across the island. It was not until

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Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network was launched in August 2020. This Nature Park Network safeguards a variety of complementary wetland habitats, strengthening
the conservation of wetland biodiversity in the vicinity of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR).
Image: NParks

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the 1960s, that the then-Prime National Parks Board (NParks) has
Minister of independent Singapore, adopted biophilic design to restore
Mr Lee Kuan Yew, launched the natural habitats, and has been
Garden City campaign and the engaging the community to help
greening of Singapore. sustain the greening efforts.

In the beginning, the aim was to With increasing urbanisation,

“green” the island as quickly as coupled with a rise in global
possible to provide shade and temperatures and extreme
access to green spaces for all. weather conditions due to climate
To achieve this, clear parameters change, the living environment
for greenery were established will become less comfortable.
through park provision standards Hence, a response that seeks
and road codes, as part of the urban not only to retain and integrate
planning process. greenery, but also to restore urban
nature, is needed to mitigate these
The strategy evolved, and flowering effects and continue to provide a
trees and shrubs were planted to high-quality living environment for
provide colour. Parks were linked Singaporeans. This will also ensure
up by the Park Connector Network that Singapore remains a distinctive
and building developers were global city that instils pride in
encouraged to incorporate skyrise its people and attracts talent,
greenery to improve the living investment, and visitors.
environment. In recent years, the

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The Central Nature Park Network, comprising the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve and surrounding Nature Parks, together with the
adjacent Nature Corridors, help to strengthen the ecological resilience of the nature reserves.
Image: NParks

Transforming Singapore 71
into a City in Nature

In recent years, In March 2020, NParks introduced

the City in Nature vision, as part of
reserves to protect them against
the impact of urbanisation. These
NParks has been the next bound in urban planning, nature parks serve as buffers

establishing which aims to ensure a green,

liveable and sustainable home
and complementary habitats for
Singapore’s native flora and fauna
networks of nature for Singaporeans for generations to thrive. They also enable visitors

parks around the to come. This bold new vision

builds on the greening efforts that
to enjoy nature-based activities such
as hiking, mountain biking and bird
nature reserves Singapore has undertaken over the watching with minimal disturbance

to protect them past decades, and encompasses

the following strategies:
to the nature reserves.

against the impact

of urbanisation. Extending Singapore’s
Natural Capital
Singapore’s four nature reserves
safeguard the country’s most
important representative
ecosystems, serving as core
refugia for biodiversity. They
are also primary providers of
ecosystem services like clean air
and water. In recent years, NParks
has been establishing networks
of nature parks around these

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Intensifying Nature in conditions such as dementia, heart rich biodiversity. Such nature-based
Gardens and Parks and mood disorders, or who are solutions will help build resilience
Beyond expanding Singapore’s recovering from strokes. A parallel against inland flooding.
Nature Park Network, landscapes effort is underway to build more
in gardens and parks are also being nature playgardens, so that children Fourth, NParks will conserve more
curated to make them more natural. can play within a natural setting. native plant and animal species
First, NParks will incorporate nature- This will help younger generations over the next decade. Ongoing
based designs into new and existing forge a greater connection with habitat restoration and species
gardens and parks. A wider variety nature through play, exploration recovery efforts have enabled
of planting schemes with a diversity and learning. Singaporeans to encounter and
of native plant species emulating enjoy once-rare species such as
Singapore’s natural forests will be Third, NParks will naturalise the Oriental Pied Hornbill, Common
incorporated. This will bring visitors waterways and waterbodies Birdwing, Singapore Kopsia and
closer to nature. in gardens and parks. Where native orchids in our gardens,
possible, concrete canals will parks and streetscapes.
Second, more therapeutic be transformed into naturalised
landscapes in gardens and parks rivers with adjacent low-lying
will be incorporated to cater to the areas functioning as floodplains,
needs of different users. Evidence- while reservoirs will serve as
based designs will be applied to naturalised lakes that catch and
these landscapes to bring about retain rainwater. This will enhance
health and wellbeing benefits, flood protection for nearby homes
including respite to people with and properties, while supporting

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The lowland forests and wetlands in the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Learning Forest were ecologically restored to conserve a wider variety of native flora and fauna.
The restored wetlands also enhance flood resilience in the area.
Image: NParks

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Therapeutic landscapes and programmes are designed to bring about greater health and wellbeing to Singaporeans.
Image: NParks

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As a result of NParks’ species recovery efforts, the Oriental Pied Hornbill and other native species can now be found across Singapore’s urban landscape.
Image: NParks

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Skyrise greenery, such as in the Kampung Admiralty mixed-use development in northern Singapore, brings greenery closer to residents’ everyday lives.
Image: Patrick Bingham-Hall

Restoring Nature in three-fold. The intensified greenery

the Urban Landscape will not only cool industrial estates,

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By 2030, all To bring greenery closer to
Singaporeans’ everyday lives,
but also help to improve air quality
and beautify the surroundings.
households will nature in the built environment will
be within a continue to be restored. This will
also cool the urban environment
Strengthening Connectivity
Between Green Spaces
10-minute walk and bring the therapeutic effects There is a need to strengthen the

from a park. of greenery directly to people in

their homes and workplaces. One
ecological connectivity between
Singapore’s green spaces to sustain
key initiative is the implementation a healthy natural ecosystem. To
of skyrise greenery in Singapore’s achieve this, NParks is incorporating
buildings and infrastructure. This multi-tiered planting into the
enables developers and building country’s streetscapes to create a
owners to incorporate even more forest-like structure along its roads.
greenery within Singapore’s Roads with such planting are known
limited space. Skyrise greenery as Nature Ways. This will also make
cools buildings and their spaces, Singapore’s streets cooler and more
increasing comfort while further comfortable for pedestrians, while
softening their appearance and enhancing resilience against the
advancing Singapore’s status as a effects of urbanisation. NParks
world leader in vertical greening. aims to complete 300 km of
Nature Ways by 2030, and aspires
NParks will also focus on greening to make every road a Nature Way
industrial estates. Today, these in the longer term. In tandem,
are among the hotter areas on the NParks will continue to expand
island, as they are surrounded by the Park Connector Network to
less greenery. NParks is working ensure that more communities
with various stakeholders to can access nature easily. By 2030,
increase the total number of trees all households will be within a
across industrial estates by almost 10-minute walk from a park.

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Building Science
and Technology, and Fostering Community
Industry Capacity Stewardship through Biophilia

As Singapore is transformed NParks also works closely with To nurture community involvement,
into a City in Nature, a science- the landscape sector, Institutes it is imperative that parks and
based approach will be needed to of Higher Learning and other gardens must be well appreciated.
restore urban nature and address Government agencies to promote This sense of biophilia—the innate
the effects of urbanisation and the adoption of digitalisation and connection between humans and
climate change. A concerted focus mechanisation in landscaping nature—then shifts the focus from
on science and technology has efforts. An example is the simply providing green spaces
underpinned these efforts thus development of a Remote Tree for respite and recreation, to
far, and this will be expanded. Measurement System, which uses fostering a sense of ownership
machine learning to automatically and responsibility. NParks works
In the area of nature conservation, extract the geospatial locations and closely with the community through
predictive models are applied physical parameters of Singapore’s several key programmes to nurture
to identify green spaces to be trees, such as their height and girth, stewards of nature.
safeguarded. For example, agent- from Light Detection and Ranging
based modelling predicting the (LiDAR) scans. This will enable The Friends of the Parks (FotP)
movement and settlement of coral arborists to more efficiently obtain initiative brings together local
propagules helped validate the an overview of trees in any given stakeholders and volunteers to play
suitability of Sisters’ Islands as area. Data models, such as the Tree a greater role in promoting active
Singapore’s first Marine Park. Structural Model, are also used to and responsible use of Singapore’s
“Least resistance” pathways for project the stability of trees under parks through community-led
various fauna have also been different wind speeds. programmes and initiatives. In
modelled using Geographic late 2019, NParks expanded
Information System (GIS) the initiative to systematically
technology so that the involve communities in the design, 75
establishment of ecological development and management of
corridors is soundly based 50 parks between 2020 and 2025.
on science. By opening up more opportunities

The structural stability of trees can be monitored virtually through the Remote Tree Measurement System.
Image: NParks

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for communities to co-create these redouble Singapore’s efforts to establishing community gardens
parks, NParks hopes to build a green its urban infrastructure on an and conserving Singapore’s natural
greater sense of ownership of these unprecedented scale, underpinning heritage. Moving forward, NParks
green spaces. the transformation into a City is expanding the CIB programme by
in Nature. The OneMillionTrees providing more allotment gardens
The Youth@SGNature initiative movement will be driven by and encouraging people to grow
aims to provide youths with more the community with NParks’ fruits, vegetables and herbs. These
opportunities to engage with nature, support. Key partners such as efforts will help engender biophilia
and to cultivate them into stewards FotP communities, nature groups, amongst Singaporeans.
for biodiversity conservation and corporate partners and volunteers
greenery. One example is the Youth will champion initiatives relating
Stewards for Nature programme, to the tree-planting efforts. By
which challenges youths to take involving the community, NParks
up a project to solve real-world hopes to foster ownership in the
problems in research, outreach, liveability of the city-state, while
biodiversity conservation, or building social resilience.
horticulture and landscape design.
Existing NParks programmes,
In 2020, NParks launched the including the Community in
OneMillionTrees movement to Bloom (CIB) movement and the
plant a million more trees across Community in Nature initiative,
Singapore by 2030. It aims to already involve volunteers in

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Members of the community supporting forest restoration efforts as part of the OneMillionTrees movement.
Image: NParks

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In 2020, NParks launched the
OneMillionTrees movement to
plant a million more trees across
Singapore by 2030.

A City in Nature in the

Midst of a Pandemic

The sudden emergence of COVID-19 compared to before the pandemic.

disrupted our daily lives on an This was especially so for parks
unprecedented scale, and also with a more natural setting like
cast a spotlight on urban planning nature reserves and nature parks.
practices across the world. Like This surge in interest comes after a
many other cities, Singapore prolonged confinement and limited
imposed strict restrictions on access to nature during the Circuit 77
movement to control the spread Breaker—which may have left many
of COVID-19. Termed the “Circuit feeling deprived of the wellbeing
Breaker”, this lasted from 7 April effects of being in nature, amid
2020 to 1 June 2020, during which the stresses brought about by the
residents could only leave their COVID-19 pandemic.
homes for essential activities
such as seeking medical attention, Looking beyond the pandemic in the
purchasing food and groceries, “new normal”, these observations
and exercising. Gardens and parks reflect the importance of providing
remained open during the Circuit accessible urban nature and
Breaker, but with restrictions on green spaces in cities. They also
permissible activities. underscore how crucial nature is in
providing benefits to physical and
When Circuit Breaker restrictions mental wellbeing as we continue
were eased, NParks observed to transform Singapore into a City
greater interest in our parks, in Nature.
resulting in higher visitorship

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