Biodiversity

Along with the Commission on Biological Diversity and the Global Partnership of Cities and Biodiversity, Singapore led the development of a City Biodiversity Index (CBI) to try to measure urban efforts towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. In 2010, Singapore also submitted its Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Despite Singapore’s highly urban setting, it has a wide range of terrestrial ecosystems including mangroves, coastal ecosystems, open undisturbed habitats such as grassland and freshwater habitats such as lakes and streams. These ecosystems and their component species are conserved within a network of two national parks and four nature areas. Approximately 4.5% of Singapore’s land area is legally protected within the four nature reserves, and another 4.5% within the two national parks. The National Parks Board (NParks) further manages a network of streetscapes and park connectors. At least 2,053 species of higher plants are considered to be native, 360 species of birds have been recorded as resident and there are a vast but uncounted number of insects and invertebrates. Singapore’s few endemic species include freshwater crabs and prawns within the nature reserves. The forests of Singapore are not commercially exploited for timber or other timber products, and there are no indigenous people that rely on forests for subsistence. The forests are therefore managed primarily for biodiversity conservation, water catchments, and the maintenance of ecosystems. In addition to these Nature Reserves, there are 18 sites identified by the government for their rich biodiversity and long-term maintenance of these sites has been identified as a priority. Skyrise greening and the rehabilitation of forests and forest animals is also being pursued. NParks is monitoring the long-term diversity, growth, and survival of trees in marked study plots. A coral nursery has also been established off Pulau Semakau to enable Singapore to proactively enhance existing marine habitats by maximizing the survival of naturally occurring coral. NParks is also developing pre-emptive management strategies to counter mangrove erosion in coastal areas.