Speech by Minister Desmond Lee at the Launch of Kingfisher Wetlands in Gardens by the Bay
Nov 12, 2021
Today, I am glad to open Kingfisher Wetlands, our latest enhancement to Gardens by the Bay.
Since it opened in 2012, Gardens by the Bay has become an iconic part of our city skyline, and a symbol of Singapore. Located on prime land in the heart of the city, it demonstrates our determination to keep spaces lush and green for Singaporeans to enjoy, even as we continue to develop.
Gardens by the Bay has also provided a place for people to get out for some respite and recreation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, it has safely welcomed more than 10 million visits since April 2020.
At the same time, the Gardens host rich biodiversity. It is home to more than one million plants, and charismatic native wildlife such as the lesser whistling duck and the smooth-coated otter. And over 130 species of birds have also been recorded here!
For this, we have to thank our urban planners and horticulturists, who have transformed and nurtured the Gardens from reclaimed land, into a lush habitat.
But we are not stopping here. We continue to improve the Gardens, with regular floral shows, pop-up events and exhibits, as well as new and enhanced facilities and spaces.
The new Kingfisher Wetlands are an example of such an enhancement.
When Gardens by the Bay was first developed, this area had two isolated water bodies - Kingfisher Lake and Lotus Pond. Over the years, the area has come to host a diversity of wildlife.
To enhance the habitats to create the new Kingfisher Wetlands, the Gardens by the Bay team connected Kingfisher Lake and Lotus Pond, and planted native trees.
The team has added new water cascades and streams between the waterbodies, to improve the area’s water quality and circulation, and to create new microhabitats for biodiversity to flourish. This was done in an environmentally sensitive manner to minimise the impact on the area’s existing biodiversity. For example, the team has aligned the water cascades so that existing large trees at the site can be retained.
In addition, the team has planted more than 200 native mangroves. These include familiar species such as the Nipah palm, the source of the
attap chee seeds found in our local desserts, as well as critically endangered native mangrove species, such as the Upriver Orange Mangrove.
Besides strengthening our nature conservation efforts, the Wetlands can also be accessed by the public for nature-based recreation. The area features a new wildlife look-out and educational signage so that visitors of all ages can get up close to nature.
The Kingfisher Wetlands contribute to our efforts to transform Singapore into a City in Nature, through which we are weaving nature more intensively into our urban fabric – even in the heart of downtown.
Besides providing more habitats for biodiversity and a place for Singaporeans to enjoy nature, the Wetlands’ mangroves also support our national sustainability efforts in another way.
Gardens by the Bay is partnering the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions and DHI Water and Environment, to use Kingfisher Wetlands for research and as a testbed for sustainability solutions.
Specifically, researchers will use the Wetlands to explore potential “blue carbon” solutions – which capture and store carbon in coastal and marine ecosystems. In fact, the Gardens by the Bay team has already conducted some surveys on the carbon content in the existing man-made ponds in the Gardens. Results showed that the carbon content of the ponds’ underwater soil sediment is comparable to what is found in other natural wetland habitats, which are very efficient at storing carbon. By using the Kingfisher Wetlands as a living laboratory, we can further explore how best to maximise the potential of our man-made wetlands for long-term carbon storage.
This is part of our efforts to actively support research into blue carbon science. Such research can help us to lower our carbon footprint and help mitigate climate change. We can also potentially share our know-how with regional partners and collaborate on projects together.
The Kingfisher Wetlands project is also a good example of how the public and private sectors have come together to advance sustainability. Let me thank all the sponsors and supporters of the Kingfisher Wetlands.
In particular, I would like to acknowledge Kikkoman Corporation’s strong support for this project. Kikkoman has been a long-standing partner of Gardens by the Bay. In fact, in 2010, Kikkoman funded the development of Kingfisher Lake, one of the two waterbodies that is now part of the Kingfisher Wetlands. Kikkoman’s latest contribution, which commemorates its 35
th anniversary here in Singapore, was key to the Wetlands’ enhancement works.
In addition, Temasek is supporting Gardens by the Bay’s research efforts on blue carbon.
Thank you all for your generosity.
The community, too, can play a part in the sustainability efforts here at the Gardens. With the support of the SG Eco Fund, Gardens by the Bay will organise community tree planting and citizen science biodiversity monitoring sessions at the Kingfisher Wetlands. The Gardens will release more information on how you can sign up for these activities soon.
I hope you and your friends and family will enjoy these enhancements at Kingfisher Wetlands.
Let’s continue on our sustainability journey, and work together to transform Singapore into a City in Nature.
Thank you.