Nature Park Network & Nature Corridors

Nature Park Network

NParks will protect Singapore’s four nature reserves and our core biodiversity areas through the establishment of Nature Park Networks that safeguards and extend our natural capital.

Central Nature Park Network

As part of a holistic conservation approach, NParks had established a network of buffers in the form of nature parks, surrounding Singapore’s Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. NParks sensitively enhances the habitats within these buffers so that they remain rustic and forested, and at the same time provide the public with alternatives to connect with nature. These buffers also protect the central nature reserves against developments that abut them. Beyond serving as buffers and habitats, the Central Nature Park Network provides ecologically inter-dependent habitats for the flora and fauna of the Nature Reserves, and are also integral to the network of ecological connectivity that is being established throughout the island.

Central Nature Park Network

The establishment of the Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network adds to the existing Central Nature Park Network.

Taking reference from the Nature Conservation Masterplan, NParks utilises a science-based approach to ensure that the buffer areas and the ecological network are optimal as habitats and ecological corridors. One such effort is through the Forest Restoration Action Plan which guides the approach to assist our nature parks and ecological corridors approximate the mature rainforest in species and structure.

Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is recognised internationally as an important site for migratory waterbirds along the East Asian – Australasian Flyway that stretches from the Arctic through Russia and Alaska, to Australia and New Zealand, encompassing 22 countries. It harbours unique wetland flora and fauna, and is home to more than half of the bird species that can be found in Singapore.

Buffers to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve include extensions to the east, west and south, Kranji Marshes, and the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat. Collectively, these complementary wetland habitats strengthen the conservation of wetland biodiversity in the northwestern part of Singapore and form the Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network.

Not publicly accessible

Jalan Gemala Marshland and Kranji Reservoir Marshes Nature Areas
Southern Extension

Upcoming

Lim Chu Kang Nature Park (formerly Western Extension)
Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat Nature Park

Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network

Labrador Nature Park Network

Labrador Nature Park Network comprises core habitats such as Labrador Nature Reserve and the mature forests along the Southern Ridges (Kent Ridge Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Mount Faber Park), as well as Nature Parks and areas that buffer Labrador Nature Reserve such as Berlayer Creek Nature Park, Labrador Nature Parkand the Pasir Panjang Park. Covering more than 200 hectares, the conceptualisation of Labrador Nature Park Network took into account the ecological profile of the area, with input from a scientific Advisory Panel comprising academics and domain experts from the nature community, as part of NParks’ island-wide Ecological Profiling Exercise (EPE).

To further strengthen ecological connectivity between Labrador Nature Reserve and its surrounding green areas, the EPE scientific Advisory Panel had suggested to enhance the connection northwards towards the Southern Ridges. Habitat enhancement along Pasir Panjang Park will also extend connectivity westwards towards West Coast Park.

Upcoming

Pasir Panjang Park (enhancements)
Berlayer Creek Nature Park
Alexandra Nature Park
Park at King's Dock

Do note the Dos and Don’ts if you are visiting the various nature parks.

Nature Corridors

Nature Corridors are identified pathways that map out important ecological connections between areas rich in biodiversity, such as nature reserves and nature parks. Within Nature Corridors, ecological connectivity is enhanced through creating connections between existing parks, Nature Ways, and the Park Connector Network, as well as safeguarding new ones. Nature Corridors were conceptualised by taking into account the ecological profile of the areas, as well as their ecological connectivity with surrounding habitats:

Bukit Batok Nature Corridor

The Bukit Batok Nature Corridor lies between Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Tengah Forest Corridor. The hills within this nature corridor are intermediate nodes that allow the movement of wildlife, which can facilitate the exchange of genetic material between the two areas, and healthier biodiversity populations.

In view of the rich biodiversity found in the Bukit Batok Nature Corridor, two upcoming nature parks, the 9 ha Bukit Batok Hillside Nature Park and the 16 ha Bukit Batok Central Nature Park, have been safeguarded. NParks will sensitively enhance these areas to strengthen the connectivity between the Central Nature Park Network and Tengah Forest Corridor.

Altogether, the Bukit Batok Nature Corridor will comprise more than 125 ha of nature parks and 10 km of trails that will also serve as ecological connectors, as well as Nature Ways and Park Connectors.

Clementi Nature Corridor

The Clementi Nature Corridor comprises forested sites at Clementi, Toh Tuck and Maju as well as the Rail Corridor. It provides ecological connectivity between Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Southern Ridges, and also links up the Bukit Batok Nature Corridor with the Labrador Nature Park Network.

Within the Clementi Nature Corridor, NParks will continue to identify connectivity routes in the land-use planning process. This will allow ecological connectivity in the area to be maintained, even if developments take place in the area in future. In addition, a sizeable nature park will be safeguarded in the western side of the greenfield site at Ulu Pandan, which is richer in biodiversity, to serve as a stepping-stone habitat between Clementi Forest and the Southern Ridges (Kent Ridge).

Khatib Nature Corridor

The Khatib Nature Corridor comprises a series of upcoming green spaces that will serve as buffer and stepping stones habitats, Nee Soon Nature Park, Miltonia Nature Park, and an extension at Lower Seletar Reservoir Park. There will be more than 90 hectares of new green spaces as part of Khatib Nature Corridor.

To strengthen the ecological and recreational connectivity, a network of park connectors, Nature Ways and trails through Lower Seletar Reservoir and the surrounding Khatib areas will be curated to connect the various green spaces. A total of 150 hectares of nature parks and parks and 80 km of curated walking and cycling experiences will be included within the new Khatib Nature Corridor.

Lornie Nature Corridor

Lornie Nature Corridor, which buffers the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, is the reclamation of the old Lornie Road for greenery and recreation. The planting verges on both sides of the road have more than 100 species of trees and shrubs in a multi-tiered manner that mimics a rainforest, to create a more naturalistic landscape. In time, this will result in a forested corridor, restoring nature into the highly urbanised area.

The Lornie Nature Corridor also protects the forest edge abutting Central Catchment Nature Reserve against the impacts of drying and wind. This buffer would also make our nature reserve forests more resilient to the effects of climate change such as extreme weather conditions.