Land Reclamation Of Singapore: The Advantage Of Land In Singapore

A city with just a total of 712 square kilometres in size, Singapore’s physical constraints have made it a challenge to optimize the use of its scarce land area. Due to the issue of a shortage of land, Singapore has been reclaiming land from the sea since the beginning of its independent existence. The Population White Paper, published by the Ministry of National Development, has projected that Singapore could have a population of between 6.5 and 6.9 million by 2030 which requires 76,600 hectare of land. Thus, land reclamation is essential in order to support the immense increase of population.

Singapore started its land reclamation in 1820s; large-scale reclamation was only carried out in the 1960s. With continuing reclamation, Singapore will grow its land area by 5,200 hectare to cater the increase in population by 2030. Reclamation was started in 2000 at Southern Islands in order to link

John’s Island is estimated with an area of 0.1 ha. Although it is smaller in size, it is the habitat for critically endangered mangrove trees of Singapore. Restoration and regeneration of mangroves were conducted and achieved by natural colonization and replanting. 400,000 young mangrove trees were planted to restore the loss of mangrove. However, due to the slow-growth and special growth requirements, many rare mangrove species cannot be replantedeasily. Mangrove forests can be restored but the complete ecosystem may not be rehabilitated effectively due to the absence of aerial plants.

Mangrove forest is the result of sheltered shores that allow sediment from the sea to settle. It provide habitats for many wildlife and marine species and improve coastal water quality by abiotic and biotic retention. It is an important habitat that buffers the shoreward ecosystem and protects the organisms that lives on coastline. Mangroves supply nutrients to the coral reefs and seagrass communities and have great economical value whether is direct or