Impact of Western Island Reclamations on Singapore's Pledge to UN to Restore 80 Hectares of Forest, Marine and Coastal Habitats by 2030

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for National Development (a) how the proposed western islands reclamation is consistent with the 20 national biodiversity targets submitted to the United Nations (UN) in October 2024 for a UN biodiversity conference, in particular the target to restore 80 hectares of forest, marine and coastal habitats by 2030; and (b) whether these targets will be revised.

To contribute to global targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Singapore submitted 20 national targets, taking into account our unique circumstances as a land-scarce and densely populated city-state. One of the targets is to restore at least 80 hectares of forest, marine and coastal habitats by 2030.

We are on track to achieving our national targets. As of March 2026, we have restored 60 hectares of forest, marine and coastal habitats. For instance, the National Parks Board has embarked on a mangrove restoration project at Sungei Durian in Pulau Ubin, which aims to naturally restore around 8,000 mangrove plants over time.