Singapore, often called the “City in a Garden,” stands as an example of how modern urbanisation can coexist harmoniously with nature. This small city-state, located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, has transformed from a concrete jungle to a verdant metropolis where nature weaves through every street, building, and public space. But how did this once modest port city evolve into a benchmark of urban greening? Let’s delve into the journey of Singapore’s transformation, packed with data, strategic policies, and key initiatives that make it a global leader in sustainable development.
The Vision Of Green Urbanism
The story of Singapore’s greening started in the 1960s, under the leadership of its first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. Facing rapid industrialisation, Lee envisioned a city that embraced nature to enhance citizens’ quality of life. The idea of creating a “Garden City” wasn’t just aesthetic but deeply strategic—an effort to create a healthy environment, attract investors, and improve the overall livability of Singapore.
By 1967, Singapore launched its first official tree-planting campaign, and Lee himself often participated in the movement. Today, this legacy lives on in the form of an ambitious concept: to be not just a “Garden City,” but a “City in a Garden.” This vision has become the centrepiece of Singapore’s urban planning strategy, pushing it to integrate green spaces not just into parks but also within buildings, roads, and almost every corner of the city.
Key Green Initiatives And Strategies
Singapore’s Parks and Connector Network (PCN) is an expansive project designed to ensure that every resident can easily access nature. Covering more than 360 km of park connectors, this initiative links major parks, gardens, and residential areas, allowing Singaporeans to commute across the city on foot or by bicycle. The ultimate goal is to provide seamless green routes through Singapore, enhancing connectivity for both wildlife and humans.
The PCN has grown significantly, linking major green zones like MacRitchie Reservoir and East Coast Park. According to a 2021 report by the National Parks Board (NParks), 95% of residents live within a 10-minute walk from a park, a significant achievement for an urbanised city.
Given the limited land area of Singapore, planners decided to take the concept of greenery vertically. In 2009, the government launched the Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme to encourage developers to create vertical gardens and green roofs. As of 2023, Singapore boasts more than 100 hectares of rooftop gardens and green walls, which significantly reduce the urban heat island effect and improve air quality.
A prominent example is the iconic Marina One, a development featuring a sprawling green core that integrates trees, plants, and even small water features across multiple levels. It serves as both a visual and environmental centrepiece, fostering a cooler microclimate amidst a cluster of high-rises. Such projects show how thoughtful integration of greenery can redefine urban architecture.
One of Singapore’s most recognisable green initiatives is the stunning Gardens by the Bay, a 101-hectare oasis situated right in the heart of the Marina Bay area. Opened in 2012, the gardens are famous for their Supertree Grove, which consists of eighteen vertical structures ranging between 25 to 50 metres tall. These structures are not only visually stunning but also functional, many of them generate solar energy, collect rainwater, and serve as ventilation ducts for nearby conservatories.
Gardens by the Bay is home to over 1.5 million plants from more than 15,000 species, and it attracts over 10 million visitors annually. This development was a bold statement: urban areas can not only incorporate green spaces, but these spaces can also become major attractions while promoting biodiversity.
The Housing Development Board (HDB) is responsible for housing nearly 80% of Singapore’s population, making it crucial to extend green initiatives to residential areas. HDB has implemented a series of rooftop gardens, known as Green Decks, and vertical greenery to cool neighbourhoods and increase green coverage. It’s estimated that by 2030, around 200 hectares of rooftop space across HDB estates will be green, aligning with Singapore’s Green Plan 2030.
Beyond the aesthetic and recreational benefits, these gardens are crucial for flood mitigation. During intense rainfall, green roofs absorb and delay runoff, reducing pressure on the city’s drainage systems.
Balancing Urbanisation With Biodiversity
Singapore’s efforts aren’t just about planting trees, they are also focused on conserving biodiversity. The city-state is home to more than 2,100 native plant species, 364 bird species, and 250 species of hard corals. Central to this is the Nature Conservation Masterplan, which emphasises the preservation of core habitats like Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
In addition, over 50 hectares of forest and wetland have been restored as buffer parks around these reserves, ensuring ecosystems can thrive even as urban development progresses. For example, Kranji Marshes is one such restored wetland that supports hundreds of bird species, including migratory visitors.
In recent years, Singapore has turned to rewilding initiatives to encourage natural ecosystems to flourish within urban areas. The One Million Trees Movement, launched in 2020, aims to plant a million trees across Singapore by 2030. By 2023, over 400,000 trees had already been planted, with the help of schools, businesses, and volunteers, showcasing the significance of community involvement in the green movement.
Rewilding efforts are also seen in projects like the “Park Naturalisation Programme,” where previously manicured parks are redesigned to support native flora and fauna. Such efforts make spaces more resilient while enhancing their ability to serve as mini wildlife habitats.
Benefits Of Urban Greening
Studies show that access to green spaces can improve mental health, reduce stress, and enhance general well-being. In a densely populated city, offering accessible green spaces is essential to enhance the quality of life. A survey conducted by NParks in 2022 revealed that 85% of Singapore residents felt that green spaces significantly improved their physical and emotional well-being.
The presence of abundant nature has also contributed to Singapore’s ranking as one of the healthiest countries in Asia, as ranked by Bloomberg’s Healthiest Country Index.
The idea of a “City in a Garden” has played a crucial role in Singapore’s economic strategy. Green urban planning makes Singapore highly attractive to foreign investors and tourists. In 2019, before the pandemic, Singapore welcomed 19.1 million visitors, many of whom were drawn by the city’s gardens, parks, and green innovations. Gardens by the Bay alone generated an estimated USD 1 billion in tourist revenue in 2019, indicating the substantial economic benefits of these green initiatives.
Moreover, Singapore’s reputation as a green city has made it a preferred destination for multinational corporations and international conferences focusing on sustainability and green technologies. The city has set a global benchmark that influences urban planners worldwide, from Milan’s Bosco Verticale to New York’s High Line.
Challenges And Future Goals
As a low-lying island, Singapore is particularly vulnerable to climate change, and greening plays an important role in its climate resilience strategy. However, maintaining green spaces amid rising temperatures is challenging. The “Singapore Green Plan 2030” aims to tackle these challenges by increasing green cover to more than 50% of the city area, reducing carbon emissions, and ensuring sustainable urban growth.
As Singapore’s population grows, maintaining the balance between development and green spaces is a perpetual challenge. The city-state’s leadership continues to push for policies that ensure no net loss of greenery, which means that whenever urban infrastructure expands, an equivalent or greater amount of green space must be integrated or replaced.
The success of Singapore’s green initiatives offers lessons for cities around the world. By prioritising sustainability, biodiversity, and public well-being, Singapore demonstrates that the cities of tomorrow can be spaces where people and nature thrive together.