Last updated: June 2024
A new nature sanctuary was unveiled at the Kingfisher Wetlands, Gardens by the Bay, in Singapore in 2021. Before the sanctuary was created, the original site was a popular bird-watching spot for the birding community and nature photographers. However, it was isolated and "often missed by the general public". The new Kingfisher Wetlands was thus developed with the aim of enhancing and enriching the Gardens, as well as providing new nature areas for visitors to explore. The place is a new hotspot for the flourishing diversity of exotic flora and fauna. Furthermore, the project helps in mitigating climate change through mangrove plantations. Over 200 native true mangrove trees and mangrove associates have been planted, contributing to sustainability by storing “blue” carbon. Additionally, the project actively supports research into blue carbon science. This contributes to the country's effort to transform Singapore into a City in Nature by weaving nature more intensively into the urban fabric. [1, 4]
Asian Koel Bird
https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/kingfisherwetlands
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- Coastal wetland, mangroves and salt marshes
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
Project objectives
1. Contribute to climate change mitigation by storing "blue carbon" through mangrove plantations.
2. To provide more habitats for biodiversity and preserve the existing species variety including the native ones.
3. To provide a place for people to get out for some respite and recreation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. To create a new wildlife look-out and educational signage so that visitors of all ages can get up close to nature. [1, 2, 4]
Implementation activities
The Kingfisher lake and the Lotus pond, two bodies of water, which were previously separated, were connected by two streams running under a footpath. Along with having water cascading into a rock pool, the streams were created to help increase the level of oxygen in the water. Water is pumped from Kingfisher Lake and flows into the Lotus Pond as a waterfall. The water then flows back into the lake through the two streams via gravity as the pond is located higher than the lake. Additionally, more than 200 mangrove plants, some from critically endangered native species, were planted in the Lotus Pond. Other new implementation activities at the wetlands included a wildlife lookout shelter and a Kingfisher Trail. [3]
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
- Improve carbon sequestration through selection of more adaptable species
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Create new habitats
- Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Means for conservation governance
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore ecological connectivity
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Local government/municipality
- Researchers/university
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Main actor: Ministry of National Development, Collaboration with: Kikkoman Corporation, Temasek, NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions and DHI Water and Environment [4]
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increase in protected green space areas
- Increased number of protection areas
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Increased protection of threatened species
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. The Project Website. Kingfisher Wetlands Park, Gardens by the Bay. URL: Source link. Accessed on 19th April, 2022.
2. Tan, A. (2021) New nature sanctuary at Gardens by the Bay, Kingfisher Wetlands, has wildlife lookout & giant kingfisher sculptures. Mothership. URL: Source link. Accessed on 19th April, 2022.
3. Woon, W. (2021) Get wowed by wildlife at newly opened Kingfisher Wetlands at Gardens by the Bay. The Straits Times. URL: Source link. Accessed on 19th April, 2022.
4. Ministry of National Development (2021) Speech by Minister Desmond Lee at the Launch of Kingfisher Wetlands in Gardens by the Bay. URL: Source link. Accessed on 19th April, 2022.
5. National Parks. (n.d.) Singapore, a City in Nature. Singapore National Government. URL: Source link. Accessed on 23rd April, 2022.
2. Tan, A. (2021) New nature sanctuary at Gardens by the Bay, Kingfisher Wetlands, has wildlife lookout & giant kingfisher sculptures. Mothership. URL: Source link. Accessed on 19th April, 2022.
3. Woon, W. (2021) Get wowed by wildlife at newly opened Kingfisher Wetlands at Gardens by the Bay. The Straits Times. URL: Source link. Accessed on 19th April, 2022.
4. Ministry of National Development (2021) Speech by Minister Desmond Lee at the Launch of Kingfisher Wetlands in Gardens by the Bay. URL: Source link. Accessed on 19th April, 2022.
5. National Parks. (n.d.) Singapore, a City in Nature. Singapore National Government. URL: Source link. Accessed on 23rd April, 2022.
Nipah Palm
https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/kingfisherwetlands
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher
https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/kingfisherwetlands
Upriver Orange Mangrove
https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/kingfisherwetlands
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the UNA global extension project funded by the British Academy.