When we think of biodiversity, images of lush rainforests or coral reefs usually come to mind, and not the busy roads, shopping malls, or HDB blocks. Yet, right in the heart of Singapore, nature is thriving in unexpected corners. Welcome to the world of urban biodiversity.

As cities grow taller and denser, life on the ground, in the air, and even in our drains is adapting in surprising ways. In fact, biodiversity in cities like Singapore is quietly shaping our food security, mental health, and resilience to climate change. 

As urban areas globally expand to house 66% of humanity by 2050, the question is no longer should we care but how much longer can we afford not to?

What is Urban Biodiversity?

Urban biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms: plants, animals, fungi, even microbes that call our cities home. Globally, 20% of bird species and 5% of plant species have been recorded in urban areas.

But biodiversity in cities isn't just about how many species we have; it’s also about what they do for us. And in Singapore, these services are being delivered right under our noses.

According to national studies, Singapore is home to over 2,100 native plant species, 390 bird species, 65 mammal species, and 110 reptile species.

These species are not passive background players. Here’s how they benefit us:

1. Our First Line of Defense From Heatwaves

Urban areas can be up to 4°C hotter than nearby nature zones due to the Urban Heat Island effect. In Singapore, temperatures in Raffles Place have been measured 6.5°C higher than forested Upper Peirce.

Fortunately, our cities come equipped with natural air conditioners: plants. Epiphytes like bird’s nest ferns and orchids cool surfaces through shade and evapotranspiration. More greenery means less air-conditioner and less electricity.

2. Clean Air = Better Health

Singapore’s roadside trees, like the Rain Tree, remove an estimated 1,900 tons of PM2.5 pollutants annually. These particles, from traffic and industry, can penetrate deep into lungs and are linked to asthma, stroke, and premature death. These trees aren’t just “nice to have” but they’re the lungs of the city.

3. Natural Pest Control

Mosquito outbreaks? Nature already has a workforce on standby:

• Bats and birds, like the Blue-throated Bee-eater, feed on mosquitoes.

• Otters manage invasive fish species, keeping waterways clean.

Seen a bat at Pasir Ris? That’s nature’s pest control in action.

4. Nature Heals Us

Ever feel calmer in a park? That’s not in your head.

• Green views reduce depression risk by up to 30% (Brace et al., 2020) 

• Watching butterflies can lower your heart rate in just 15 minutes.

Try it next time you’re on a walk.

Fun fact: The biophilia hypothesis suggests humans have an innate connection to nature. We’re hardwired to seek out greenery, which helps explain why even short exposure to nature benefits our mental and physical health.

5. Bioindicators = Nature’s Warning System

Frogs, like the Four-lined Tree Frog, are sensitive to pollution. If you hear frogs croaking near your home after rain, take it as a sign: your local environment is still functioning well.

🐦 Meet the Generalists: Urban Biodiversity MVPs

🦀 Now Meet the Specialists: The Fragile Few

But We’re Losing It … Fast

1. Habitat Loss & Fragmentation:

Singapore has lost over 95% of its original forests and mangroves since the 19th century. What’s left are small, disconnected green patches which are often too isolated for species to survive long-term.

• Example: The critically endangered Raffles’ Banded Langur is now restricted to small forest fragments due to shrinking habitats.

• Why it matters: Fragmented habitats reduce genetic diversity, disrupt migration paths, and make ecosystems more vulnerable to collapse.

• Habitat fragmentation = fewer species, weaker ecosystems, less resilience.

Strong public advocacy for habitat protection, as well as nature-conscious urban planning are crucial practices that we must adopt, nationally and internationally. Many have the misconception that biodiversity is limited in Singapore. We encourage you to learn about local biodiversity with us through our Biodiversity Series - The Biodiversity Collective!

Additionally, Singapore exists in Southeast Asia where biodiversity hotspots are known to be many. Our natural ecosystems are in one way or another connected to the regional ones, nature is not stagnant and is not confined to our geopolitical boundaries! Whatever affects regional biodiversity also has implications on us, vice-versa!

2. Food Insecurity:

Singapore imports over 90% of its food and much of it from just a handful of nearby countries. This reliance makes us vulnerable to climate shocks that are already happening:

• Floods in Johor and Pahang (2023) disrupted farms, damaged pollinators, and triggered fungal outbreaks.

• Saltwater intrusion in Vietnam ruined 33,000 hectares of rice.

• Coral reef decline in Indonesia (from 42% to 29%) reduced exports of key fish like groupers and snappers.
  

To buffer against these disruptions, Singapore launched the “30 by 30” goal: produce 30% of our nutritional needs locally by 2030.

But here’s the catch, urban farming and vertical agri-tech won’t work without biodiversity.

Local food production needs pollinators like the Asian honeybee and Common Mormon butterfly, which thrive in our 1,700+ community gardens. 

No bees, no veggies → even in smart farms.

Without biodiversity, local food resilience is just wishful thinking.

3. Road Mortality:

As roads expand, so do wildlife fatalities.

• Sunda Pangolin deaths have increased 5×, from 4 per year (2016–2021) to 20 per year since 2021.

• Usually the animals that are slow-moving and nocturnal, are no match for traffic

4. Invasive Species:

Invasive species are non-native animals or plants that outcompete local ones and Singapore is full of them.

• 85% of Singapore’s plant species are now non-native.

• Red-eared slider turtles, often released pets, dominate freshwater habitats and displace native turtles like the Malayan Box Turtle. 

• Once introduced, invasive species are nearly impossible to remove and they reshape entire food webs.

5. Urban Heat & Pollution: 

Singapore’s dense infrastructure traps heat and emits pollutants.

• Urban zones can be up to 4°C hotter than forested areas.

• Light pollution creates a skyglow visible from 100 km away.

• Past water pollution in the Singapore River caused mass fish deaths before its 1987 cleanup.

Heat and pollution don’t just make humans uncomfortable, it also makes cities unlivable for many species. As one of the biggest consequences of climate change being rising temperatures, it is all the more crucial for us to protect biodiversity and enhance greenery, as natural defenses and heat mitigators. 

 6. Human-Wildlife Conflict:

With natural areas shrinking, wildlife enters urban zones. In 2023 alone, NParks handled 9,700 wildlife cases, from otters to wild boars. Many incidents lead to fear, property damage, and calls for relocation or culling. But what we call “nuisance” is often just nature trying to survive.

As urban dwellers, we greatly misunderstand and are disconnected from other living creatures and nature. How will we learn to protect nature, if we don’t even reconnect back? 

For instance, we often view insects as pests. But what is their true value, join our upcoming Kopitiam Series featuring Insect experts to learn more here.

7. Overuse and Unregulated Recreation:

Even well-meaning nature lovers can harm fragile ecosystems when access isn’t managed.

• At Chek Jawa, unregulated trampling before 2001 threatened marine life in intertidal zones.

• 95% of our mangroves have been lost, much of it before formal protections were established.

So What Now? 

If urban biodiversity supports our food, health, and resilience, it deserves more than passive admiration but demands intention and actual action.  Our climate response is incomplete without nature in the equation. 

Everyone has a role:

Join one of our guided walks here to explore this hidden urban biodiversity spot which is around the size of 36 football fields, it is an important ecological link between the nature reserves in central Singapore and the Southern Ridges. Once a freshwater swamp, this area was transformed through human development and canal construction… only to slowly return to its wild form, revealing the resilience of urban nature.

Nature has adapted to our cities. Now, it’s our turn to adapt to coexist.

What Can You Actually Do?

Urban biodiversity thrives when people notice and act. Here’s how to start:

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

Urban biodiversity isn’t just about trees or hornbills but it’s vital to Singapore’s climate resilience, food security, and public health. In Singapore, native species cool our streets, clean our air, pollinate crops, and keep ecosystems in balance. But these silent services are under threat. We’ve lost over 95% of our forests, most of our plants are non-native, and roadkill and wildlife conflicts are on the rise. As cities heat up and food supply chains grow shakier, biodiversity becomes less of a “nice to have” and more of a survival tool.

The solution isn’t just more parks, but it’s rethinking how we design, plan, and live with nature. To future-proof Singapore, biodiversity must be treated with the same priority as transport or power.

Urban planners, businesses, and residents each have a role to play, from preserving green corridors to transforming balconies into pollinator havens. In a city where nature still lives next door, small actions can tip the balance.

Urban biodiversity isn’t a luxury. It’s the missing piece in our climate strategy.

☕The Biodiversity Kopitiam: Sip & Learn @ Foreword Coffee (24th June)

Tiny Creatures, Big Impact

In this Biodiversity Kopitiam edition, we’ll zoom in on the incredible world of insects, from the buzzing pollinators in our parks to the beetles hiding in plain sight across our city.

We do a round-table kopitiam style where attendees can choose up to 2 tables to rotate around and hear a speaker share their Biodiversity Insights & Knowledge for 20 minutes at a time, and rotate to your next table.

Whether you're a nature lover, art enthusiast, or just bug-curious — this is your chance to sit, sip, and rediscover the small lives that make our world work.

Founders and CSOs: Need help overcoming your organisation's sustainability challenges?

Book a 30mins non-obligatory call during our ESG consulting office hours for bespoke advice!

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