July 7th

By Mutt Mulligan

Lessons learned: Singapore protects living landscapes

In the past, TurfMutt has shared living landscapes lessons learned from faraway lands, like South Africa and China. Singapore has a living landscapes success story, as well!

Singapore is celebrating 53 years of “greening Singapore,” which was launched by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1963. Since then, Singapore has transformed from the “garden city” to a “city in a garden” by conserving biodiversity, enhancing greenery and creating a more livable city.

Between 1986 and 2007, the green cover in Singapore grew from 36 percent to 47 percent. Today, half of the city is covered in greenery.

Despite drought, flood and water pollution, the city government has invested in research and technology to strategically address water challenges over the past half century. In addition, it has built a robust diversified water supply known as the “Four National Taps.” This system is made up of local catchment water, imported water, highly-purified reclaimed water (known as NEWater), and desalinated water.

Singapore has been recognized internationally as a model city for water management and an emerging global hydrohub. Please join TurfMutt and his environmental partner in crime, Water Warrior, in congratulating the city of Singapore for being water wise and protecting living landscapes.

To learn more about the benefits and importance of living landscapes for protecting the nature that starts in your own backyard, go to LivingLandscapesMatter.com.