P1010125

~ Nature conservation: How much is natural heritage worth in modernized Singapore? (Done By: Peh Chu Ming)

 

What does this picture show?

Numerous rows of trees planted along roads

 

The image that Singapore projects on the international scale is often characterized by the omnipresence of high-rise buildings, skyscrapers, modern highways and many other representative elements of modernity. While urban conservation has taken on a more visible profile in the government’s plans for the city’s development (e.g. this can be particularly seen in the many efforts to conserve shophouses in the CBD area for retail purposes), there are other issues which have gradually surfaced as well as Singapore transforms into a developed country.

 

In this picture, one can see how trees have been incorporated into Singapore’s highly urbanized CBD as a form of ‘decoration’ - blending both the urban and natural setting. Such forms of nature conservation are indeed very popular in modern cities such as New York and Singapore. Taking this to a broader level, Singapore has become increasingly concerned with nature conservation so that the possible irreversible damage that urban redevelopment planners can unwittingly impose on existing nature areas can be prevented. In 2005, the government announced its decision to set up a 2nd botanic garden in Marina Bay, taking another step in promoting the importance of nature conservation. On a separate note, there are also efforts taken to set aside Sungei Buloh as a mangrove and bird sanctuary in the hope to preserve the biodiversity and nature reserves in Singapore. Such are special conservation efforts that seek to reserve and preserve part of Singapore’s land for the natural environment.

 

So now one may ask: Why the needs to conserve nature when lands can be used to build more residential areas or even expand Singapore’s industries? Perhaps it is difficult to justify the conservation of natural areas given the pressing needs of development, but natural heritage areas bring in the tourist dollar too. And nature areas have intrinsic value, which can be given more weight by quantifying in dollar terms the benefits they afford. After all, it is not impossible to attach a dollar value to our natural heritage given the economic tools that are available to price such areas. There are various well established methodologies which have been applied to valuing environmental amenities, and have been used in Singapore in the past as well.

 

As nature conservation becomes increasingly emphasized upon – as it will be in the near future -, perhaps more and more of Singapore’s land will be reserved for such purposes. These may include the establishments of natural parks or botanic gardens – like the one that is undergoing construction in Marina Bay currently and the preservation and conservation of existing nature reserves. On a separate note, lands in Singapore that have already been modernized and industrialized – like our very own CBD – will ‘appear greener’ as well as a means to promote nature conservation, which has already shown its gradually darkening traces in most parts of Singapore. In fact, the initiation of such a trend has already been indicated in the picture shown above! I presume that as time goes by; our CBD will not solely be characterized by skyscrapers and modern features but instead with elements of nature in it as well. The image it projects on the international scale will most presumably contain an element of ‘glorious greenery’ in it and perhaps in the years to come, we will have Singapore’s very own “Garden” CBD! – perhaps

 

Done