Nature Nurtures
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nature nurtures ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018 annual report 2017/2018 1 CONTENT NATURE 04 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE NURTURES 06 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 08 MANAGEMENT TEAM 10 ORGANISATION STRUCTURE Greenery remains a distinctive feature of the Singapore landscape, in spite of the pressures of urbanisation. Our green spaces function 12 EXTENDING INFRASTRUCTURE as important focal points, bringing different communities together, for shared activities and active engagement. 20 ENRICHING BIODIVERSITY 30 ENGAGING COMMUNITIES In our City in a Garden, everyone enjoys easy access to flora and fauna found in our parks, gardens and nature reserves. 40 ENHANCING COMPETENCIES 48 GARDEN CITY FUND We have green spaces for recreation and education, inclusive playgrounds, therapeutic gardens and heritage trails, nature ways 52 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT and park connectors; something for everybody in the community. 56 FACTS & FIGURES In these green settings, bonds are built to strengthen the fabric of our society, and nature nurtures our minds and bodies. 62 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 64 PUBLICATIONS 68 FINANCIAL REVIEW 72 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2 nature nurtures annual report 2017/2018 3 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE “As the lead agency for the greening of Singapore, we must not only plant trees and build parks, but also foster a public MR BENNY LIM appreciation for nature and Chairman protect our natural heritage.” For over five decades, the volunteers and staff of NParks have worked with quiet dedication to create a Garden City and now to create a City in a Garden. Envisioning Singapore as a City in a Garden – a MRS CHRISTINA ONG biophilic city – is not only about incorporating Chairman nature, and access to nature, in the design and organisation of our urban environment. It should ultimately be reflected in Singaporeans’ positive engagement and connection with nature in and NParks was originally established as the lead In addition to our own events, we partner with case of the hatching and release of 45 juvenile through such an environment. agency for the greening of Singapore. To achieve community groups to deepen specific interests in Critically Endangered Singapore Freshwater this, we must not only plant trees and build parks, nature. Our Friends of the Parks groups, such as Crabs by the Crab Working Group, which includes Living with nature and sharing our environment with but also foster a public appreciation for nature and Friends of Ubin and Friends of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio researchers from NParks, National University of its many denizens is a way of life that will require protect our natural heritage. Park, help us promote stewardship and responsible Singapore and Wildlife Reserves Singapore. learning and adjustments in attitudes and social use of our green spaces to their peers. The 1,350 habits. The addition of officers from the former Plants and green spaces, of course, remain core to Community in Bloom groups inspire interest and Such cooperation is true in every aspect of AVA, bringing their knowledge and experience in our work. Over the past 12 months, NParks planted confidence in gardening. Our Community in Nature NParks’ work. I would like to thank everyone, veterinary science, is a timely resource to help us more than 52,000 trees, introduced 17 new species programme engaged over 4,500 citizen scientists in from the Board of Directors and management together find a balanced and informed way forward. to our island and opened 80 km of nature ways. Our projects such as Butterfly and Dragonfly Watches. In to all staff, sponsors, donors, agency partners, Park Connector Network now extends over 313 km, May 2017, more than 35,000 participants, including business associates and volunteers, for their NParks has come a long way. Over the last linking parks, nature areas and open spaces, while 20,000 students and 330 partners, joined in partnership in realising a green Singapore. decade in particular, NParks has benefited from bringing communities together. Biodiversity Week activities across Singapore. Mrs Christina Ong’s strong leadership and many It has been an honour and privilege to serve contributions. I hope to be able to build on We develop green spaces for the benefit of all, In our highly urbanised and land-scarce city-state, our as Chairman of this remarkable organisation Christina’s legacy and to work as closely and warmly so we match our horticultural efforts with public biodiversity is a national asset that we must protect for the past ten years. The incoming chairman, with the staff as she did during her tenure. outreach. The diversity of our population inspires for generations to come. Over the last five years, over Mr Benny Lim, brings with him a wealth of our broad range of activities. In October 2017, the 500 flora and fauna species have been discovered or experience and expertise. Under his stewardship, inaugural Singapore Botanic Gardens Children’s rediscovered on our islands and in our waters. These I have every confidence that NParks will Festival encouraged children to engage with nature include, potentially, a small carpenter bee of the continue to fulfil its mission of delivering a through play at the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, genus Ceratina, and the Acriopsis ridleyi, an orchid better quality of life for all Singaporeans through the largest children’s garden in Asia. The Festival originally discovered in 1889 and rediscovered at the its expanded mission to manage our nation’s at the Fort in February 2018, on the other hand, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in 2016. flora and fauna. catered to heritage lovers, bringing the rich history of Fort Canning Park to life. While NParks’ efforts were recognised by the international community with the 2017 UNESCO Mr Benny Lim Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation, Chairman, National Parks Board most of our achievements are not ours alone. (from August 2018) Collaboration is vital in conservation, as in the Mrs Christina Ong Chairman, National Parks Board (till July 2018) 4 nature nurtures annual report 2017/2018 5 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AS OF SEPTEMBER 2018 MR BENNY LIM MRS KOH-LIM WEN GIN DR MALONE-LEE LAI CHOO SEAH KIAN PENG Chairman Board Member Board Member Board Member ANDREAS SOHMEN-PAO WARREN FERNANDEZ DR SURIANI SURATMAN (from 1 August 2018) (till 31 July 2018) (till 31 July 2018) (till 31 July 2018) Board Member Board Member Board Member Mr Benny Lim was Permanent Mrs Koh-Lim was Chief Planner Dr Malone-Lee is Director of the Member of Parliament for Mr Sohmen-Pao is Chairman Mr Fernandez is Editor-in-Chief Dr Suriani is Senior Lecturer at Secretary of the Ministry of and Deputy Chief Executive Centre for Sustainable Asian the Marine Parade GRC, of BW Group Limited, BW LPG of The Straits Times and English/ the Department of Malay Studies, National Development from 2011 of the Urban Redevelopment Cities, School of Design and Mr Seah is also Chief Executive Limited, BW Offshore Limited and Malay/ Tamil Media Group of National University of Singapore. to 2016, and held concurrent Authority (URA) from 2001 to Environment at the National Officer of NTUC Fairprice Singapore Maritime Foundation. Singapore Press Holdings (SPH). She is trained as a social appointments as Permanent 2008. Her career with URA University of Singapore. She has Co-operative Limited. He is also a non-executive He has been with SPH since anthropologist. Her teaching and MRS CHRISTINA ONG Secretary in the Prime Minister’s spanned over three decades, previously worked in strategic Mr Seah has worked in both director of Singapore Symphonia 1990. Mr Fernandez graduated research cover areas on Malay Chairman Office and for National Security during which she played a key planning, urban planning policies the public and private sectors, Company Ltd. Mr Sohmen-Pao with First Class Honours from culture and society. She has (till 31 July 2018) & Intelligence Coordination. Prior role in the strategic planning and heritage conservation. and serves in various public and was previously Chief Executive Oxford University, where he conducted research in Singapore, to that he was the Permanent and design of Singapore’s city Her current research focuses community organisations. He is Officer of BW Group. He has read Philosophy, Politics and Malaysia and the Philippines. She Mrs Christina Ong is founder, Secretary of the Ministry of Home and urban landscape, and the on urban sustainability, and on the board of Consumer also served as a non-executive Economics, and also has a is currently Deputy Chairman of owner and managing director Affairs from 2005 to 2011. Mr conservation of Singapore’s its nexus with development, Goods Forum, International director of the Hongkong Master’s Degree in Public the Malay Heritage Foundation of the COMO Group, which Lim was awarded the Meritorious built heritage. She is currently economic growth and city Co-operative Alliance, Singapore Shanghai Banking Corporation, Administration from Harvard Board of Directors. She is also a comprises luxury fashion retail Service Medal in 2010. He Director of Keppel Land Limited, culture. She supports various Centre for Social Enterprises, Maritime and Port Authority of University. He is currently a board board member of the National company Club 21, hospitality retired from the Civil Service in Board Member of Sentosa regional and international Centre for Fathering and Singapore, Sport Singapore and member of National Heritage Gallery Singapore and National company COMO Hotels and 2016 and serves presently as Development Corporation, organisations in their work on Singapore Olympic Foundation. The Esplanade Co Ltd amongst Board, SPH (Overseas) Ltd, SPH Heritage Board. In addition, Resorts, wellness brand COMO Special Advisor to the Centre for Chairman of Sentosa Cove Resort sustainable urban development, He is a Fellow of the Singapore others. Mr Sohmen-Pao holds an (America) Ltd, The Straits Times Dr Suriani is a potter and has Shambhala, and philanthropic Liveable Cities, Special Advisor Management Ltd and Senior including the United Nations Institute of Directors and honours degree (BA Hons) from Press Ltd, and is Chairman of done commissioned creative grantmaker COMO Foundation.