The National Parks Board celebrates community-driven biodiversity conservation efforts at 15th Festival of Biodiversity

-       140,000 unique insect DNA sequences recorded in first extensive survey of flying insects in Singapore’s forests

-       Community stewardship helps to guide the management approach for leopard cats at Changi

-       Two organisations recognised for their contributions to nature conservation projects

-       Updated Nature Conservation Masterplan reflects evolving priorities and expanded functions

-       15^th edition of Festival of Biodiversity opens with over 30 booths, 20 talks and workshops

 Singapore, 6 June 2026 – At the launch of the Festival of Biodiversity today, the National Parks Board (NParks) shared updates on various biodiversity conservation efforts involving various sectors of the community to safeguard Singapore’s natural heritage. This includes  key study findings under the Tropical Forest Ecology Research programme, such as the first extensive survey of flying insects in Singapore’s forests which has resulted in 140,000 unique insect DNA sequences recorded. As part of a science and community-based approach to wildlife management, NParks, in consultation with the Singapore Wildcat Action Group (SWAG), is planning to relocate Mainland Leopard Cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) sighted in the Changi area to more suitable habitats to safeguard the welfare and continued survival of these animals. Delta Electronics and GSK-EDB Trust Fund had Heritage Trees dedicated to them in recognition of their generous contributions that have helped advance marine and botanical conservation efforts in Singapore. NParks unveiled today the updated Nature Conservation Masterplan which reflects new priorities including a greater emphasis on community stewardship to guide Singapore's biodiversity conservation strategies. 

These announcements, shared at the 15^th edition of the Festival of Biodiversity, Singapore’s biggest biodiversity festival, by Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry Mr Alvin Tan, highlight the critical role the community play in conserving Singapore natural heritage and partnering NParks on various biodiversity conservation efforts.

In his speech, Minister of State Tan also updated that Singapore’s centre of excellence for marine science, first announced in March 2026, will be named the National Institute for Marine and Ocean Sciences (NIMOS). It will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research into Singapore’s 

marine and coastal ecosystems, bringing together expertise from government, academia, and the wider research community, and develop a robust pipeline of local talent to grow our marine science ecosystem. 

Key study findings under the Tropical Forest Ecology Research (TFER) programme

Established in March 2021, the TFER programme coordinates and advances forest ecological research in Singapore, with the overall aim of informing forest management strategies and policies in Singapore and the region. It brings together expertise from NParks and institutes of higher learning, such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University, to develop science-based interventions for the management and restoration of Singapore's forests.

Long-Term Forest Ecological Monitoring project

The TFER programme is anchored by a Long-Term Forest Ecological Monitoring (LTFEM) project that maintains a network of 160 long-term forest study plots across the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Batok Town Park, Thomson Nature Park, and Windsor Nature Park. Analyses of plot survey data between 1992 and 2022 found that young secondary forests have been maturing steadily, while older secondary and primary forest patches have seen a decline in large trees, with storm damage identified as a key contributing factor. Tracking these long-term patterns allows a better understanding of how Singapore's forests may respond to increasingly frequent extreme weather events, and to develop more targeted strategies for forest protection and restoration. The surveys also yielded rediscoveries of plant species originally thought to be locally extinct and new botanical records for Singapore, underscoring the importance of long-term forest research.

Largest-ever survey of flying insects uncovers remarkable diversity in Singapore's forests

A key project under the TFER programme sought to establish an ecological baseline for Singapore's insect diversity for long-term monitoring. The collaborative study between NUS' Plant Ecology, Evolution, and Biogeography Lab, the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, and NParks completed the largest-ever survey of flying insect communities in Singapore's forests. The year-long study used Malaise traps to catch insects flying in the forest understorey, and DNA metabarcoding to analyse the samples, recovering around 140,000 unique insect DNA sequences, including many undescribed species, most of which are flies and wasps. These insects, while physically small, form the foundation of healthy forest ecosystems – serving as food sources for other animals, breaking down organic matter as decomposers, and supporting plant reproduction as pollinators. The findings provide a crucial benchmark for monitoring the future health of insect populations in Singapore's forests, and support NParks' efforts to safeguard the ecological value of these habitats. 

Pioneering study documents and reveals first plant-frugivore interaction network for Singapore's forests

In another study, NUS' Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions and NParks collaborated on a pioneering study to construct the first plant-frugivore interaction network for Singapore's forests to examine the roles of fruit-eating animals and fruiting tree species in forest regeneration. The 18-month field research study, which involved visual tree watch surveys and camera trapping, recorded more than 1,075 plant-frugivore interactions, encompassing 21 tree species and 45 fauna species in total. The network analysis revealed that common fruit-eating animals play key roles in plant-frugivore interactions that underpin seed dispersal and natural regeneration in Singapore's forests. Furthermore, fruiting forest trees supported at least 16 frugivore species of conservation concern, such as the Greater Green Leafbird (Chloropsis sonnerati) which is locally Critically Endangered. In the long run, the findings will inform the selection of tree species for planting under NParks’ Forest Restoration Action Plan and strengthen the formulation of targeted biodiversity conservation strategies for endangered and key frugivorous species.

The public can learn more about the TFER programme and LTFEM project at a talk held as part of the Singapore Botanic Gardens Speaker Series on 11 June 2026. More information can be found at https://go.gov.sg/sbg-speaker-series-jun-2026.

New tranche of TFER grants and fellowships to advance collaborative research

In the next phase of the TFER programme, NParks launched the Grants and Fellowships Scheme (GFS) to further advance forest ecological research in Singapore and the region. In addition to providing expertise and access to sites for research, the TFER GFS provides funding support for early career researchers in tropical forest ecology, with the aim of building research capacity and encouraging the use of data collected in long-term research plots under the TFER programme.

The first grant call for the TFER GFS was held from January to March 2026, and results will be announced in the second half of 2026. Potential interested researchers can come onboard for future grant calls or visit www.nparks.gov.sg/services/research-programmes/TFER-GFS for more information. Corporations interested in supporting future research projects on tropical forest ecology can do so through the Garden City Fund – NParks’ registered charity and IPC. Find out more at www.gardencityfund.gov.sg.

Leopard cats to be relocated from Changi as part of biodiversity conservation efforts

NParks has been working closely with SWAG to better understand the presence and distribution of leopard cats in the Changi area. In 2025, in a project facilitated by NParks, SWAG conducted a rapid survey along the Changi coastal stretch using camera traps. The fieldwork confirmed the presence of five leopard cats – two adult males, one adult female, and two juveniles. Taking into consideration the proximity of the leopard cat sighting locations to areas with ongoing and upcoming developments, NParks is planning to relocate the leopard cats starting in the second half of 2026 to suitable habitats in other parts of Singapore, such as nature areas including nature reserves, which will better support the species’ health and welfare.

Heritage Tree dedications to recognise donor contributions through Garden City Fund

Conservation efforts are also made possible with donor support through the Garden City Fund. In conjunction with the Festival of Biodiversity, NParks is dedicating a Heritage Tree[1] at Fort Canning Park to Delta Electronics and another Heritage Tree at Mount Emily Park to GSK-EDB Trust Fund. These two donors have generously supported NParks’ programmes including the 100k Corals Initiative, the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey II, and the 8^th Global Botanic Gardens Congress. 

NParks marks conservation milestones with updated Nature Conservation Masterplan (NCMP)

The NCMP, first launched in June 2015, is the cornerstone of NParks’ long-term commitment to strengthening biodiversity conservation in Singapore. Its original four key thrusts comprised the conservation of key habitats; habitat enhancement, restoration and species recovery; 

applied research in conservation biology and planning; and community stewardship and outreach in nature. Since the launch of the original NCMP, biodiversity conservation in Singapore has gained momentum supported by stronger community and stakeholder participation and collaboration. The updated NCMP reflects our evolving priorities and expanded functions. It comprises five thrusts, including two cross-cutting horizontal thrusts. 

Key changes include revising the first thrust to emphasise the importance of enhancing connectivity between key habitats, and splitting the second thrust into two separate thrusts to draw a clearer distinction between ecosystem-level habitat enhancement and restoration efforts, and species-specific initiatives targeting threatened species and urban-adapted wildlife.  Science and technology as well as community stewardship and outreach are elevated to two horizontal thrusts to reflect their major role in supporting the other thrusts. 

15^th edition of Festival of Biodiversity returns to National Library Building for the second year

Members of the public can visit over 30 biodiversity-themed booths, participate in over 20 family-friendly talks and workshops, and enjoy other activities at the Festival held at the Plaza, National Library Building, from 6 to 7 June. This year’s highlights include a curated selection of biodiversity-related books for adults and children showcased in a special exhibition prepared in collaboration with the National Library Board. Youths interested in the biodiversity conservation sector can also look forward to “Human Library: Biodiversity Conservation Edition!”, a career exploration session organised by NParks as part of the National Youth Council’s Job Tasters.

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