Theme: Biodiversity
Adults
by LearnX Singapore
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Food Security and Biodiversity
Learn on the go. Check out our playlists for collections of short videos, and learning packages for articles, that will give you a slice of history and heritage.
Playlist
A collection of short videos or selected podcasts, exploring topics around Singapore's food security and biodiversity
Playlist: Food Security and Biodiversity
Singapore faces two interconnected challenges: ensuring a resilient food supply and conserving biodiversity in a land-scarce, urban nation. While strategies like urban farming and import diversification strengthen food security, protecting ecosystems and species supports long-term sustainability.
Check out these resources to learn how Singapore balances feeding its people with safeguarding nature.
Growing Singapore's Food Security | Food, Energy, Water - Part 1 | Full Episode (46 mins)
Learn about Singapore’s food security strategies and how technology can be applied to help Singapore grow more with less, with insights from researchers and entrepreneurs.
Source: CNA Insider (2022, Oct 7). “Growing Singapore's Food Security | Food, Energy, Water - Part 1 | Full Episode.” CNA Insider. Retrieved 2025, August 20.
Future food | Our Better Nature EP1 (8 mins)
Discover innovations in Singapore’s food sector that aim to improve the environment, from high-tech farming to plant-based protein.
Source: The Straits Times (2022, Aug 9). “Future food | Our Better Nature EP1.” The Straits Times. Retrieved 2025, August 20.
Can Urban Farming Fix Our Broken Relationship With Food? | Food, Wasted 3/3 (17 mins)
To combat global food wastage, this video explains the advantages of growing native edible plants more suitable for our climate. Converting urban spaces and schools to food production can help reduce waste and over-reliance on imported vegetables.
Source: CNA Insider (2021, Mar 13). “Can urban farming fix our broken relationship with food?” CNA Insider. Retrieved 2025, August 20.
From garden to table: A forager’s passion for Singapore’s edible weeds | CNA Lifestyle (5 mins)
Did you know that there are over 120 types of edible weeds in Singapore? Watch this video to find out more.
Source: CNA Lifestyle (2022, Aug 4). “From garden to table: A forager’s passion for Singapore’s edible weeds.” CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 2025, August 20.
Learning Package: Food Security and Biodiversity
As a highly urbanised island nation, Singapore imports most of its food and is home to rich but fragile biodiversity. This package explores how the city-state addresses both challenges together. On one hand, it examines food security strategies such as diversifying imports, scaling up local production, and innovating with high-tech farming. On the other, it highlights Singapore’s efforts to conserve biodiversity through nature reserves, environmental policies, civil society action, and research into native flora and fauna.
Did you know...
Singapore is one of the world’s most food-secure countries despite importing over 90% of its food, and at the same time shelters more than 40,000 species of plants and animals.
These curated articles, books, and videos will help you explore how food security and biodiversity are linked in shaping Singapore’s sustainable future.
Articles
City Biodiversity Index by Cherylyn Tok Xiu Hui
This article examines the development and implementation of the Singapore Index on Cities' Biodiversity, the world's first standardized tool for measuring urban biodiversity conservation. Proposed by Singapore in 2008 and endorsed by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010, this self-assessment framework comprises 23 indicators across three key areas: native biodiversity, ecosystem services, and governance.
Source: Tok, Cherylyn Xiu Hui. (2011). “City Biodiversity Index" Singapore Infopedia. Retrieved 2025, August 20.
A Slice of Singapore in the Biodiversity Heritage Library by Lim Tin Seng
This article introduces the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL), the world's largest open access digital library for biodiversity resources. Established in 2006, the portal now houses over 57 million pages from more than 150,000 titles. Since joining as a country node in 2014, Singapore has made significant contributions through the National Library Board, particularly in the areas of regional natural history, geography, and ethnography.
Source: Lim Tin Seng. (2019). “A Slice of Singapore in the Biodiversity Heritage Library" BiblioAsia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2025, August 20.
Nature Conservation in Singapore by Ang Seow Leng
This article traces Singapore’s ongoing challenge to balance biodiversity conservation with rapid urban development. From the establishment of forest reserves, wildlife protection laws, and the creation of national parks, conservation has evolved through both state and civic action.
Source: Ang Seow Leng. (2021). “Nature Conservation in Singapore" BiblioAsia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2025, August 29.
Books
Food and the city: overcoming challenges for food security
Elyssa Ludher, Thinesh Kumar S/O Paramasilvam. (2018). Food and the city: overcoming challenges for food security.
This book examines Singapore's journey in achieving food security despite its land constraints. It details the nation's evolving strategies since independence, from import diversification to technological innovation in urban farming, and explores key policies and frameworks that have helped Singapore weather various crises, including the 2008 global food crisis and disease outbreaks, while maintaining its position as one of the world's most food-secure nations. Singapore: Centre for Liveable Cities Singapore. (Call no.: RSING 363.8095957 LUD)
Food security issues in Asia
Paul Teng, ed. (2024). Food security issues in Asia. Singapore: World Scientific. (Call no.: RBUS 338.195 FOO)
This book provides a comprehensive analysis of food security challenges in Asia following the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines key aspects of Asian food production and consumption, with particular focus on rice, vegetables, and fish. Uniquely, it addresses often-overlooked topics like nutrition security, novel foods, and food waste management in the Asian context.
Singapore biodiversity: an encyclopedia of the natural environment and sustainable development
Ng, Peter K. L., Corlett, Richard, Tan, Hugh T. W., eds. (2011). Singapore biodiversity: an encyclopedia of the natural environment and sustainable development. Singapore: Editions Didier Millet in association with the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research. (Call no.: RSING 333.95095957 SIN)
This comprehensive reference work provides the first complete guide to Singapore's natural environment and its remarkable biodiversity of over 40,000 species. Combining scholarly essays on conservation and sustainability with an extensive A-Z encyclopedia of local flora and fauna, featuring more than 2,000 photographs and illustrations. It also examines current conservation challenges and future sustainability efforts.
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Fauna
Learn on the go. Check out our playlists for collections of short videos, and learning packages for articles, that will give you a slice of history and heritage.
Playlist
A collection of short videos or selected podcasts, exploring topics around Singapore’s fauna.
Playlist: Fauna in Singapore
The fauna in Singapore has been featured in several documentaries and television series showcasing their diversity and adaptability in the urban environment. Check out these resources to learn more about Singapore’s wildlife.
Singapore's Urban Wildlife | Wild City (47 mins)
David Attenborough explores the fascinating wildlife in urban Singapore in this two-part series, using the latest filmmaking techniques and providing an engaging and knowledgeable narration.
Source: Singapore’s Urban Wildlife | Wild City (2019, Aug 17). CNA. Retrieved 2025, August 11.
Race To Save Singapore's Wildlife: Just How Biodiverse Are We? | It's In Our Nature | Part 1/2 (47 mins)
The first of a two-part documentary on Singapore wildlife. Explores how this small city state protects our native wildlife and tries to ensure their survival in order to preserve our biodiversity.
Source: Race To Save Singapore's Wildlife: Just How Biodiverse Are We? | It's In Our Nature | Part 1/2 (2021, Apr 9). CNA Insider. Retrieved 2025, August 11.
Wildlife in Our Midst (4 mins)
Find out how the NParks Wildlife Management Division track our wildlife and study their habitat. They also actively educate the public on how to co-exist with them.
Source: Wildlife in Our Midst (2020, Jun 5). NParksSG. Retrieved 2025, August 11.
The Wild Animals of Singapore | Wild Cities (9 mins)
Watch Hannah Stitfall, an English television presenter, wildlife photographer and filmmaker’s enthusiastic introduction to some of the wildlife she spotted at the Singapore Botanic Garden.
Source: The Wild Animals of Singapore | Wild Cities (2019, Mar 15). BBC Earth. Retrieved 2025, August 11.
Learning Package: Fauna in Singapore
Singapore’s wide range of wildlife include birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians and butterfly species that can be found at waterways, parks and even residential areas.
Did you know...
The pangolin is a mammal often mistaken as a reptile due to its scale-covered body. When threatened, it curls into a ball, leaving the sharp scales exposed for protection.
Learn more about the wildlife found in Singapore from these articles and books below.
Articles
Sunda pangolin by Valerie Chew
The Sunda Pangolins are critically endangered in Singapore, and they face the biggest threat from roadkill. This scaly anteater can be found in the nature reserves and is protected under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act.
Source: Valerie Chew. (2009). “Sunda pangolin". Singapore Infopedia. Retrieved 2025, August 11.
Raffles’ banded langur (Banded leaf monkey) by Valerie Chew
Native to Singapore, this black-and-white monkey is on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss. It lives on high treetops in a group, feeding on fruits and leaves of selected tress, and hardly ever travels to the ground.
Source: Valerie Chew. (2016). “Raffles’ banded langur (Banded leaf monkey)". Singapore Infopedia. Retrieved 2025, August 11.
Mangroves: A Tale of Survival by Ang Seow Leng
Mangroves play a key role in protecting Singapore's coastline and help mitigate climate change. They absorb pollutants and the mangrove wood are favoured as construction timber. They also provide a unique ecosystem that offer habitats, nursery and breeding grounds for Singapore's diverse fauna species.
Source: Ang Seow Leng. (2017). "Mangroves: A Tale of Survival". BiblioAsia,13(1) (Apr-Jun 2017). Retrieved 2025, July 7.
Mousedeer by Timothy Pwee
Singapore has two mousedeer species: the lesser mousedeer and the greater mousedeer. The mousedeer is often featured in Malay stories as the sharp-witted one that outsmart the crocodile and the tiger.
Source: Timothy Pwee. (2016). “Mousedeer". Singapore Infopedia. Retrieved 2025, August 11.
Red junglefowl by Peter Pak Yew Guan
The red junglefowl is commonly sighted across Singapore. It was recorded during the early 19th century in Singapore's first Resident, William Farquhar's collection of natural history drawing.
Source: Peter Pak Yew Guan. (2020). “ Red junglefowl". Singapore Infopedia. Retrieved 2025, August 11.
Books
Singaporean creatures: histories of humans and other animals in the garden city
Barnard, Timothy P. (Ed.). (2024). Singaporean creatures: histories of humans and other animals in the garden city
Singapore: NUS Press (Call no.: RSING 304.2095957 SIN)
This book combines historical and ecological analysis of Singapore's development, with emphasis on animals as part of the urban development.
Imperial creatures: humans and other animals in colonial Singapore, 1819-1942
Barnard, Timothy P. (2019). Imperial creatures: humans and other animals in colonial Singapore, 1819-1942. Singapore: NUS Press. (Call no.: RSING 304.2095957 BAR)
One of the first books to document how animals were treated under imperial rule. It incorporates a "variety of multidisciplinary approaches ranging from zoology to cultural studies."
Wild animals of Singapore
Wild animals of Singapore: a photographic guide to mammals, reptiles, amphibians and freshwater fishes. (2008). Singapore: Draco Pub. and Distribution: Nature Society (Singapore). (Call no.: RSING 591.95957 WIL)
Compiled by Nature Society's Vertebrate Study Group, this pocket guidebook helps identify a wide diversity of animals to be found in different coastal, rural and urban habitats: 38 mammals, 87 reptiles, 25 frogs and toads, and 30 freshwater fishes.
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Flora
Learn on the go. Check out our playlists for collections of short videos, and learning packages for articles, that will give you a slice of history and heritage.
Playlist
A collection of short videos or selected podcasts, exploring topics around Singapore’s flora.
Playlist: Flora in Singapore
The flora in Singapore is rich and diverse. It provides visual delights, a refuge for animals and greenspaces for Singaporeans to enjoy. Some plants also have medicinal and economic values. Check out these resources to learn more about the plant diversity in Singapore. .
NParks Portraits | Studying Singapore’s Rainforests for Conservation (6 mins)
This is one of a series of videos produced by the National Parks Board. It introduces the history, ecology and highlights importance of our forests. Studies by researchers on the life cycle of our forest trees enable them to better conserve them to act as buffers against climate change.
Source: NParks Portraits | Studying Singapore’s Rainforests for Conservation (2024, Nov 20). NParksSG. Retrieved 2025, July 15.
Revealing Our Roots: Trees of Singapore | Virtual Tour of Singapore's Freshwater Swamp Forests (10 mins)
A feature on the freshwater swamp forests in Singapore which form a rare ecosystem that play a crucial role in the conservation of biodiversity.
Source: Revealing Our Roots: Trees of Singapore | Virtual Tour of Singapore's Freshwater Swamp Forests (2021, Mar 17). NParksSG. Retrieved 2025, July 15.
Revealing Our Roots: Trees Of Singapore | Virtual Tour Of Singapore's Nature Parks (9 mins)
Highlights how green spaces like nature parks in Singapore help protect our nature reserves and serve as habitats for our native animals.
Source: Revealing Our Roots: Trees Of Singapore | Virtual Tour Of Singapore's Nature Parks (2020, Dec 18). NParksSG. Retrieved 2025, July 15.
Inside Singapore’s Only Seed Bank – Home to 750 Million Seeds of Different Plant Species (5 mins)
An interesting look at Singapore's only Seed Bank at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is a conservation, research and education facility that collects and conserves the seeds of plant species and houses 750 million seeds of different plant species.
Source: Inside Singapore’s Only Seed Bank – Home to 750 Million Seeds of Different Plant Species (2020, Sept 7). OGS. Retrieved 2025, July 15.
Learning Package: Flora in Singapore
Singapore has a rich and diverse flora, including native and introduced species. The 720-square-kilometre of land boasts more than 2,000 native plant species.
The Singapore Green Plan 2030 promises that by year 2030, Singaporeans will enjoy an additional 1,000 hectares of green spaces and 160km of park connectors that are within a 10-minute walk from home.1 million more trees would also be planted across the island.
Did you know...
Whenever world dignitaries such as royalty, heads of state and heads of government visit Singapore, they receive an orchid hybrid named after them as a gesture of friendship to promote goodwill between Singapore and other counties.
Learn more about the plants found in Singapore from these articles and books below.
Articles
Flower Power: Singapore's Orchid Diplomacy by Rebecca Tan
This essay describes Singapore's unique tradition of gifting hybrid orchids to foreign dignitaries as a gesture of friendship to promote goodwill between Singapore and other countries. It covers cultivating orchid hybrids, selecting orchids for VIP and non-VIP, and orchids named to commemorate milestones.
Source: Rebecca Tan. (2022). "Flower Power: Singapore's Orchid Diplomacy."BiblioAsia, 18(1) (Apr-Jun 2022). Retrieved 2025, July 4.
The Blossoming of Tree Planting Day by Lim Tin Seng
Describes the early tree planting activities to beautify parks and public spaces, and the introduction of the 1963 Tree Planting campaign. This campaign was later incorporated into Clean and Green Week in 1990. Some five decades later, Tree Planting Day is still going strong with different kinds of trees planted around the island.
Source: Lim Tin Seng. (2022). "The Blossoming of Tree Planting Day " BiblioAsia, 17(4) (Jan-Mar 2022). Retrieved 2025, July 7.
Mangroves: A Tale of Survival by Ang Seow Leng
Mangroves play a key role in protecting Singapore's coastline and help mitigate climate change. They absorb pollutants and the mangrove wood are favoured as construction timber. They also provide a unique ecosystem that offer habitats, nursery and breeding grounds for Singapore's diverse fauna species.
Source: Ang Seow Leng. (2017). "Mangroves: A Tale of Survival."BiblioAsia,13(1) (Apr-Jun 2017). Retrieved 2025, July 7.
Tree Planting Campaign by Thulaja Naidu Ratnala
Outlines the campaign since its inception in 1963 when the government embarked on tree planting and landscaping exercise to create a green Singapore and promote awareness and appreciation what trees do for the environment.
Source: Thulaja Naidu Ratnala. (2016). “ Tree Planting Campaign" Singapore Infopedia. Retrieved 2025, July 7.
Books
1001 garden plants in Singapore, a new compendium: succulents, aquatic plants and orchids
Soh, Weijing. (2020). 1001 garden plants in Singapore, a new compendium: succulents, aquatic plants and orchids. Singapore: National Parks Board. (Call no.: RSING 581.95957 SOH)
A useful gardening resource and guide for horticulturist and gardeners. It features over 2,700 plants with images and details on their names, care requirements, characteristics, uses and forms.
100 useful herbs of Malaysia and Singapore: an introduction to their medicinal, culinary, aromatic and cosmetic uses
Samy, J. (2014). 100 useful herbs of Malaysia and Singapore: an introduction to their medicinal, culinary, aromatic and cosmetic uses. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions. (Call no.: RSING 615.32109595 SAM)
Presents the uses of 100 herbs commonly found in this region and shows how these herbs are a part of our daily life.
Botanical Singapore: an illustrated guide to popular plants and flowers
Sim, William. (2017). Botanical Singapore: an illustrated guide to popular plants and flowers. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions. (Call no.: RSING 581.95957 SIM)
This small hardcover book presents a collection of watercolour and pencil illustrations of commonly seen plants and flowers in Singapore, with accompanying short descriptions.
Plants and flowers of Singapore
Polunin, Ivan. (2010). Plants and flowers of Singapore. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions. (Call no.: RSING 581.95957 POL)
Features selected 160 Singapore flora with unusual beauty, historic, economic or scientific value and highlights efforts made towards the greening of Singapore.