National Parks Board

Over the last six months, the Youth Stewards for Nature (YSN) programme enabled about 160 passionate youths aged 18 to 25 years old to get actively involved in building our City in Nature. With this year’s participation nearly double that of the inaugural batch, the programme continues to gather a thriving community.    By tackling real-world challenges, youths were able to gain industry-relevant experience in horticulture, landscape architecture, nature management or biodiversity conservation, with the mentorship of our NParks colleagues and YSN alumni.   At yesterday's YSN closing session, the youths shared about their experiences and learnings from across 17 projects, including:   • Improving and promoting Singapore’s Nature Ways: Nature Ways are planted routes that mimic the natural structure of forests, facilitating the movement of birds and butterflies between green spaces. The youth stewards sought to repurpose Nature Ways into educational corridors that not only support biodiversity but also engage pedestrians to learn about our urban ecology. With the support of our colleagues, the youths successfully created a prototype for interchangeable educational panels and tested them at Tengah and Yishun Nature Ways.   • Using open-source AI platforms to improve workflows for camera trapping: Accompanied by NParks staff, youths ventured into the forest to set up and deploy camera traps to collect project data for their AI model. Through fine-tuning and adapting existing open-source pre-trained models, the team found innovative ways to streamline and improve the manual and laborious task of processing large volumes of camera trap footage. Their work encourages further exploration of using new technology to advance wildlife research and conservation.   • World Wildlife Day Regional Youth Symposium: Organised by 25 youth stewards, the third World Wildlife Day (WWD) Regional Youth Symposium saw youth attendees from 15 countries come together to engage in discussions, workshops and networking opportunities focused on youth involvement in wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship. Spotlighting innovative solutions and connecting passionate youths from the region, WWD anchors and grows Southeast Asia’s next generation of conservation leaders.   If these projects excite you and resonate with your passions, join us to help transform Singapore into a City in Nature!    More about Youth Stewards for Nature (YSN):  https://lnkd.in/gArPNAy4   #NParksBuzz #CityinNature #CityinNatureSG #YouthStewardsForNature #YSN2024

The Esri User Conference is the world’s largest Geographic Information System (GIS) conference, ideal for developing your GIS skills and showing off your geospatial projects. Taking place from 15 July 2024 to 19 July 2024 at San Diego, California, it is an annual event where you can join a collaborative user community of forward-thinking GIS professionals to discover new insights, share best practices and learn about the latest geospatial technology. We are happy to share that this year, our NParks colleagues will be presenting in a session together with Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA) titled, “Planning and Operating a City in Nature”. This will be happening live on stage during the conference plenary session on 15 July 2024 alongside other US presenters, to explore the potential of GIS in building a more interconnected and sustainable world. Our NParks colleagues will be sharing about how NParks uses technology to advance Singapore towards a City in Nature, through the seamless end to end processes in Maven II, including Contractor Fleet Management System, Mobile TI, tree tilt sensors and Remote Tree Management System (RTMS). If you would like to tune in to catch the “Planning and Operating a City in Nature” sharing by NParks on 15 July 2024 (Mon), you may register* to watch the live recording online here: https://lnkd.in/gzb5wfuf Planning and Operating a City in Nature 📅: Mon, 15 July 2024, 2:00pm - 3.30pm PDT (Tue, 16 July 2024, 5:00 - 6:30am SGT) *Note - For more information on the registration rates, please refer here: https://lnkd.in/dxuz6Qc #NParks #NParksBuzz #CityinNature #CityinNatureSG #EsriUserConference2024 #EsriUC2024

Held in conjunction with the Singapore Garden Festival (SGF), the Singapore Gardeners’ Cup is a friendly, collaborative competition for local community gardening groups that was first introduced in 2010. The competition is a platform to deepen knowledge of plants, horticultural skills, landscape implantation expertise and new design ideas. More at https://lnkd.in/gRR7rTAs In this year’s seventh edition of Singapore Gardeners’ Cup, 40 groups of community gardeners, from housing estates, schools and organisations will compete for the best of show garden and other awards. The gardening groups are split into five teams, each representing one of the five districts of Singapore. Teams will partner staff from NParks, landscape architects and implementing partners to develop their thematic garden, according to this year’s theme of “Botanical Fun”. Featuring a variety of tropical plants with an emphasis on sustainability, do check out the Singapore Gardeners’ Cup as part of Singapore Garden Festival 2024, for an unforgettable thematic gardens of collaboration and artistry. Singapore Garden Festival 📅: 3 - 11 Aug 2024 📍: Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Levels 6 and 4 🔗: https://sgf.nparks.gov.sg/   #NParks #NParksBuzz #CityinNature #CityinNatureSG #SGF2024 #SingaporeGardenFestival Photos: 1. Garden of Nectar by North East District, SGF 2022 2. The Enchanted Fruit Forest by North West District, SGF 2022 3. By Royal Bee-cree by Central Singapore District, SGF 2022

We are looking for an energetic and driven individual to join the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation (CWR) team as a Manager/Senior Manager! CWR receives wildlife such as mammals, reptiles, and birds that have been rescued due to injuries or seized from the illegal wildlife trade. You will be involved in overseeing the veterinary care and management of animals, including physical examination, diagnostics, treatment, veterinary and surgical procedures, biosurveillance sampling, and animal rehabilitation, as well as managing the Centre's operations. There will also be opportunities to help out with ongoing Animal & Veterinary Services (AVS) programmes, including disease outbreak investigations and inspections. If this sounds like what you're looking at for your next career, we welcome you to apply and join our dynamic team in ensuring that the animals at the Centre receive the best care: https://lnkd.in/gjQjJfmf   𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: • Veterinary degree from veterinary schools fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons or the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council, or veterinary degree from other universities • At least 1 year of relevant experience working in a veterinary clinic or research institute or other wildlife related facilities is preferred • Relevant experience in wildlife veterinary care in Singapore or overseas will be advantageous • Competent in handling, treatment and care of wildlife, including but not limited to mammals, birds and reptiles • Independent and able to work effectively with others in a team environment • Willing to work after office hours, on weekends and during public holidays when required • Possess good writing, interpersonal and communication skills • An organised, creative and resourceful team player who is able to work independently   𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Animal And Plant Health Centre 6 Perahu Road, Singapore 718827   𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥.

Have you heard about the Nature Kakis Network? 👂 Meet some of the friendly folks in the Nature Kaki Network as they share their experiences organising nature programmes for the community! Nature Kakis is a network of chapters formed within the constituencies to be touchpoints for community-led City in Nature initiatives. It aims to accelerate the mainstreaming of nature programmes into the heartlands and eventually establish Nature Kakis Chapters in each constituency. These Chapters will organise and lead projects for the community, with support from partners, grassroots organisations and agencies including NParks and the People's Association. First launched in May 2023 with eight chapters, the network has since grown to 21 Nature Kakis chapters. This growth is testament to the team’s dedication and efforts. Get inspired and be part of the Nature Kakis Network today! More details at: https://lnkd.in/gJ79BY5q #NParksBuzz #NParks #CityinNature #CityinNatureSG #NatureKakis

For avid photographers and videographers, showcase your skills and bring nature to life with the #CityinNatureSG Video Challenge 2024!   Organised by the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) Council and supported by NParks, all budding creatives and nature enthusiasts residing in Singapore are invited to participate in this competition to capture the beauty of our natural environment through your unique lenses.   Participants may choose to submit videos based on two categories:   - The “Activities in Nature” category is designed for outdoor enthusiasts, environmentalists, and nature lovers who wish to showcase unique activities in Singapore's green spaces. - The “Stories in Nature” category invites participants to present fascinating facts about Singapore’s natural and urban landscape through creative storytelling and visual effects.   Each participant/team may submit up to 3 videos, collated into one competition form submission. Stand a chance to win attractive cash prizes for the top 6 winning entries, with the top prize of S$1,000.   Capture and share the beauty of our City in Nature, and we look forward to seeing your submissions! Submission period 📅: 29 June 2024 to 31 July 2024 🔗: https://lnkd.in/gbKBjV73

Curious about how Singapore’s streetscapes have evolved over the years? Kickstarted in 1963, Singapore’s greening journey began with founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew launching the first nationwide tree-planting campaign. He then introduced the vision of a Garden City in 1967, to green up the island as quickly as possible to provide shade and a pleasant environment. Fast forward to today, we can now enjoy an abundance of nature that helps to cool our surroundings, improve air quality, and provide a more sustainable and climate-resilient home as Singapore transforms into a City in Nature. Together with these greening milestones, our tree management regime has also evolved over the years with the introduction of technology such as the Resistograph, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanners, and the Remote Tree Management System (RTMS). To complement these advancements in technology, our colleagues’ years of experience as arborists are also instrumental in enhancing our tree health assessment capabilities and providing colourful and lush streetscapes for all to enjoy. Hear from our colleagues, Mr Chuah and Siew Ngim, as they share about how they take care of the trees along our roads and the various milestones of Singapore’s greening journey, from a Garden City to a City in Nature today.    Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/eWNRfRh9   Find out more about what we do behind-the-scenes at NParks: https://lnkd.in/gHQ3avm3 #NParksBuzz #CityinNature #CityinNatureSG #NParksPortraits #Streetscapes

Today marks Ubin Day, a celebration of Pulau Ubin and a culmination of the two-week long Pesta Ubin festivities. This year, the festivities were attended by more than 800 participants!   The next bound of The Ubin Project was also launched today, in conjunction with its 10th anniversary this year. Developed by the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN) together with Ministry of National Development Singapore and NParks, the next bound of The Ubin Project is a long-term plan that charts efforts to ensure Pulau Ubin’s natural and cultural heritage continues to be conserved together with the community in the next 10 years.   The plan’s key proposals build on the projects that have been completed over the past decade. This includes implementing more habitat enhancement and species recovery efforts, embarking on a Kampung House Restoration Programme, and rolling out the Ubin School initiative. • Habitat enhancement and species recovery efforts: Ongoing programmes on Pulau Ubin will be intensified with the planting of native trees at remaining degraded habitats, replacement of invasive and exotic plant species with native plants, and introduction of the native Cinnamon Bush Frog (Nyctixalus pictus) into Ubin’s habitats. A new in-depth mangrove survey will also be carried out to gather data on the biodiversity of Pulau Ubin’s mangroves. This will add to existing knowledge on the island’s animal and plant diversity and distribution, and inform targeted strategies for the systematic long-term monitoring and management of these critical blue carbon habitats on Ubin. This survey is supported by OCBC as part of their contribution to the development of the OCBC Mangrove Park at on Pulau Ubin. • Kampung House Restoration Programme: As part of efforts to revitalise kampung life on Pulau Ubin and retain its heritage and rustic kampung charm, NParks has developed a dedicated Kampung House Restoration Programme, where we will work with the community to progressively restore kampung houses on the island. • Ubin School initiative: The Ubin School initiative is a suite of programmes based at the existing Ubin Living Lab that aims to promote environmental stewardship among youths through multidisciplinary programming, experiential learning, and environmental education. This initiative was developed with the FUN Educator Workgroup, consisting of master teachers and senior educators, and will be rolled out in partnership with Outward Bound Singapore and the support of various primary and secondary schools. We will continue to work closely with FUN to engage stakeholders and the public on how best to implement these proposals, and to further enhance Pulau Ubin’s cultural and natural heritage. More details at 👉 https://lnkd.in/gsd4wqfE   #NParks #NParksBuzz #CityInNature #CityInNatureSG #PulauUbin #PestaUbin2024 #UbinDay

Located in the heart of Singapore’s financial centre, Raffles Place Park (RPP) is a familiar park and public space among downtown office workers, residents and visitors to the Central Business District (CBD). As part of ongoing efforts to rejuvenate our city centre and integrate nature into the urban landscape, NParks and Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA) are launching a design competition for the revamp of RPP today. This competition builds on public engagement sessions held by NParks and URA in 2021 under the Friends of the Park initiative. This involved consulting parkgoers, heritage interest groups and key precinct stakeholders such as the Raffles Place Alliance to gather feedback on the redevelopment of RPP. The participants expressed a common desire for the park to serve dual functions as both a key urban park that could be a green oasis for respite within the CBD, as well as a signature public space that could accommodate a wider variety of uses. To turn this vision into reality, the design competition seeks proposals that will not only enhance the wellbeing of the CBD community, but also improve pedestrian connectivity and bring greenery closer to people within our City in Nature. This design competition is open to all practising architects registered with the Board of Architects. We look forward to receiving your creative ideas! More details on the competition can be found at https://lnkd.in/gQB5Ss6h. #UrbanDesign #RafflesPlacePark #NParks #URA #GreenSpaces

Earlier today, we were honoured to have the Prime Minister of The Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet visit the National Orchid Garden during his first Official Visit to Singapore. On the occasion of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet’s visit, an eye-catching and free-flowering orchid hybrid – 𝘝𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦 Hun Manet, was named in his honour. The 𝘝𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦 Hun Manet produces strong and upright inflorescences that are 25 – 35 cm in length, and bear 12 to 20 distinct flowers. Its flowers emit a faint jasmine fragrance and are complemented by a showy violet lip with white ridges. The petals and sepals also have a mauve background and is adorned with lavender tessellations. The Orchid Hybridisation Programme in the Singapore Botanic Gardens has produced many significant orchid hybrids over the course of its history. Many of these orchids are named after foreign dignitaries and celebrities to commemorate their visits to Singapore and to the Gardens. For more information on orchid hybridisation, visit: https://lnkd.in/gGcfZHzc