From reviving biodiversity to improving lives, wetlands have a huge impact on the world and the creatures living in it! This World Wetlands Day, futr Singapore celebrated by bringing you wetlands and mangroves in Singapore to explore.
This one’s for the adventurous, for the families with curious little ones, and for those who enjoy the great outdoors! Celebrated every 2nd February, World Wetlands Day celebrates the world’s wetlands; raising awareness of wetlands, their importance to the world and how we can restore them.
According to Roots, since the 1960s, coastal habitats, wetlands, and mangroves have been cleared to make way for residential sites, land reclamation, and more. Mangroves, the most abundant form of wetlands in Singapore, once occupied up to 13% of Singapore’s total land area in the 1800s. Today however, these unique habitats make up less than 0.5% of Singapore’s land area – they’re primarily found in areas like Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve, Pasir Ris Park, and more.
Which is why this World Wetlands Day, we’re spreading a little extra appreciation to our mangroves and wetlands! Scroll down to check out all the wetland areas in Singapore, and how we can love them a little more.
1. Botanic Gardens: Keppel Discovery Wetlands.
Singapore’s Botanic Gardens needs no introduction. Our very own UNESCO World Heritage Site, the gardens are full of Singaporean history, flora, and fauna. With free entry and beautiful scenery, what’s not to love?
Beyond the popular National Orchid Garden and Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden however, is the Keppel Discovery Wetlands! The 1.8-hectare piece of land is a restoration project of the forest’s wetland ecosystem that was once historically found within the vicinity of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The most accessible freshwater forest wetland in Singapore, you’ll find trails and boardwalks, Orchid Islands, and even a marsh fed by a natural spring!
2. Jurong Lake Gardens: Rasau Walk.
Picturesque captures of blue skies and lalang fields, Jurong Lake Gardens is truly the spot for stress-relief and relaxation. What could be better than a jog along thriving plant life, fauna and memorable green spaces?
It would be amiss however, to mention Jurong Lake Gardens without mentioning the main attraction of the area: the lake! A 70 ha reservoir, the lake serves unparalleled views, and brings life to the place. Just north of Jurong Lake Gardens, you’ll find Singapore’s largest man-made floating wetland. Walk along the 300-metre long Rasau Walk boardwalk and look out for fish among partially submerged plants, before heading to Neram Streams, the naturalised water channels that flow into Jurong Lake, just south of Rasau Walk.
3. Pulau Ubin: Chek Jawa.
Only a fifteen to twenty minute cycle from Pula Ubin’s main jetty, Chek Jawa is a hidden treasure trove of intertidal flora and fauna. Meet fiddler crabs, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, and even octopi! A miracle of an area, Chek Jawa is home to 6 different habitats: the sandy beach, rocky beach, seagrass lagoon, coral rubble, mangroves, and coastal forest, all meeting in one location.
Although this area was initially slated for land reclamation in 1992, Chek Jawa’s biodiversity was brought to public attention in 2000. Locals, nature lovers, and the general public flocked to save the area. Now, as long as Singapore does not require Pulau Ubin to be developed, Chek Jawa’s precious gems are here to stay!
4. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
Okay, the walkways might need a little bit of maintenance (and they’re working on it right now!) but the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is an all-time classic for anyone looking to appreciate Singapore’s wetlands. From Estuarine Crocs to migratory birds thriving amongst mangroves, mudflats, and forests, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage site for a reason!
5. Pasir Ris Park mangrove boardwalk.
Nestled in the east of Singapore, Pasir Ris Park is a popular beach and park for picnics, barbecues, and chalets. And it’s no wonder – the sun, the sand, the sea, and even Wild Wild Wet nearby for our enjoyment. Little do many know though, Pasir Ris Park is also home to a mangrove boardwalk with multiple trails!
If you’re exploring the area, be sure to stop by the three-storey Bird Watching Tower located within the mangrove forest. Alternatively, walk along the boardwalks and keep your eyes peeled for mudskippers, monitor lizards, and if you’re sharp, mangrove water snakes!
6. Sengkang Riverside Park.
For calm and tranquillity, Sengkang Riverside Park is the place to be. With Punggol Reservoir running through it as well as the constructed Sengkang Floating wetland hosting rich biodiversity, Sengkang Riverside Park is a nature-lover’s haven. Watch mangrove birds and damselflies live their best lives, admire manually planted marshes on any of the park’s many trails, or learn more about exotic fruits you can’t find in Singapore’s markets.
7. Kranji Marshes.
Home to more than 170 species of birds, 54 species of butterflies, and 33 species of dragonflies, Kranji Marshes is an important habitat for the conservation of biodiversity in Singapore.
Known for its freshwater marshes, woodlands, and grass habitats, a stroll along this wetlands’ trails might uncover woodpeckers, monitor lizards, or even a Common Moorhen. And while you’re here, don’t forget to climb to the top of Raptor Tower for a panoramic view of Kranji Marshes. You might just catch a glimpse of a Changeable Hawk Eagle or a White-bellied Sea Eagle!
8. Tampines Eco Green.
A hidden gem of a sanctuary, Tampines Eco Green is an eco-friendly park in the middle of the unsuspecting Tampines neighbourhood! Home to open grasslands, freshwater wetlands, and even a secondary rainforest, Tampines Eco Green’s hiking trails provide you with a green escape from Singapore’s concrete jungle – even if ever so briefly.
9. Lorong Halus Wetlands.
There are two ways to make your way to Coney Island – and one of the ways is past Lorong Halus Wetland, an endearing area filled with scenic, breathtaking views. Once a landfill, the wetland spans an area of 18 football fields, and was built to collect and treat rainwater before it reaches the adjacent reservoir.
The main attractions of the area though is the old, steel railway bridge that makes for incredibly IG-worthy pics, and the cattails growing throughout the wetland that make up part of the area’s innovative bioremediation system (a natural means of absorbing harmful substances from the environment).
10. Hampstead Wetlands Park.
Did you know that in the middle of Seletar Aerospace Park is a little sanctuary for nature enthusiasts to rest, relax, and breathe? The 3.23 hectare Hampstead Wetlands Park is a green haven, a safe space for plants, birds and other wildlife that inhabit freshwater ecosystems.
Drop by to enjoy Snags and habitat islands, nesting spots, and the variety of flora and fauna that comes with them!
11. Berlayer Creek.
Part of Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk, Berlayer Creek is one of the two remaining mangroves in the south of mainland Singapore. Drop by to visit mangroves, a rocky shore and mudflats. If you’re observant, you might just spot a Spotted Moon Crab or Coastal Horseshoe Crab! Long-tailed Macaques roam the area too, so you’ll get a chance to watch monkeys swing from trees. Be sure to keep your goodies away!
12. Khatib Bongsu
This one’s only accessible by kayak, which makes it an all the more exciting experience! Known as the land of the giants, Sungei Khatib Bongsu is one of Singapore’s last great natural waterways and has exceptionally large flora and fauna compared to the rest of Singapore’s biodiversity – from clams to trees! Kayak beneath hanging roots, through mangrove trees and tight waterways. Access to the river is difficult though, and navigation can get tricky, so we recommend going with an experienced guide.
Loved this article and all the wetlands and mangrove walks? Check out Singapore’s marine life at these intertidal spots, or check out these exciting events happening in Singapore for World Wetlands Day!
