Singapore signs declaration to reverse deforestation by 2030

The declaration is in line with Singapore’s City in Nature vision.

Singapore signed a declaration that aims to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, joining over 100 countries in the pledge.

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said backing the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use reaffirms Singapore’s commitment to developing city sustainability whilst conserving nature within its urban environment.

Lee also said that the pledge is in line with Singapore’s City in Nature vision which pushes for the conservation and protection of the city’s core biodiversity areas; enhancement and restoration of its natural habitats; and strengthening of its ecological resilience.

The City in Nature vision is one of the key pillars of Singapore's Green Plan 2030.

In order to achieve its three goals under its City in Nature vision, Lee said the government will be adding new nature parks, restoring tropical rainforest and wetland habitats in national parks and gardens, and planting one million more trees island-wide between 2020 and 2030 amongst others.

“Together, these strategies will not only provide Singaporeans with greater access to nature and its benefits on health and well-being but will also conserve our rich native biodiversity for future generations to enjoy,” Lee said.

As a city-state with land constraints, Lee said Singapore is also “carefully” balancing development and conservation in their land-use planning by adopting a science-based approach.

“As part of the planning process, the ecological value of sites is assessed, and this is taken into account when selecting sites for development,” Lee said.

“For example, in assessing whether to develop vacant sites that were previously cleared for human use but have since become vegetated, factors such as whether they provide critical refugia for native biodiversity, and whether they play an important role for ecological connectivity are taken into account,” the minister added.