ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING: NATURE CONSERVATION IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The importance of environmental planning is becoming increasingly recognized in the world as a century of heavy environmental pollution from industrial wastes and severe depletion of natural resources draws to an end. The time has arrived for planners to address the issue of effecting and maintaining "sustainable" uses of land and developments. As Singaporeans enjoy increasing affluence, demand is triggered for a distinctive landscape and quality of life. Conserving nature is as important as restoring the old historical buildings to retain a part of the national cultural heritage. Preserving the habitats of indigenous flora and fauna is also considered as contributing to the recreational and aesthetical components of a quality lifestyle and environment respectively. Land-use planning is an effective starting point towards achieving an environmental or "green" city. This study explores how measures for nature conservation are coordinated in Singapore's planning system. In addition it examines the current planning methodology with regard to creating a 'genuine' garden city, and how policies for nature conservation can be secured at the local planning level to better conserve the natural habitats. A survey that is done found that urban planners possess a positive attitude towards nature conservation. This means that there is potential for adopting an innovative and ecological planning approach in creating an indigenous garden city where nature and man co-exist in harmony.