Long-term Proportion of Land Area Set Aside for Green Spaces

Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to Minister of State Alvin Tan. I have three supplementary questions. First, given the latest update by Deputy Prime Minister Gan yesterday on declining population growth these few years and possible population decline in 2030s if there is no reversal of the trend, will the Ministry of National Development (MND) then review the green spaces allocation in the long-term land planning considerations, as a proportion of the total land usage?

The second supplementary question: green spaces are essential for the mental well-being of Singaporeans. As mental wellness issues come to the forefront, can more cleared land be set aside for open spaces like parks and recreational spaces for people to unwind, to decompress and do sports?

And the third supplementary question: vegetation is an effective means to counter urban heat. In view of rising urban heat concerns, will MND consider increasing the pace of the OneMillionTrees movement and in fact, even go beyond the one million trees target to perhaps, 1.5 million or even two million trees by 2030?

Sir, I thank Ms Poh Li San for her thoughtful three supplementary questions. I will say first of all that we are committed to build Singapore as a City in Nature – that is our vision for the long term. And indeed, green spaces and the preservation of green spaces are critical. But we also need to balance between green spaces as well as our building needs, as I have mentioned in this House prior.

In that regard, the National Parks Board (NParks) has been working very closely with MND to safeguard our green spaces, including over 7,800 ha of green spaces and that includes nature reserves, nature parks, parks, park connectors and includes our four nature reserves, which contain some of the most sensitive and biodiverse habitats.

We are also on track to safeguard an additional 1,000 ha of green spaces and we have also already developed 130 ha of parks in the last five years.

On her second supplementary question about the link between green spaces and mental health, that is something that we look into very carefully. We do think that there is a strong link between green spaces and the ability and opportunities for us to enjoy these green spaces, which have benefits to mental health. In that regard, last year, I announced the Parks for Health Framework under NParks, where we have identified 15 contemplative landscape sites, including Farquhar Garden at Fort Canning Park and the Learning Forest at Singapore Botanic Gardens. In that regard, we are building these contemplative landscape sites and more rest points along park connectors in areas with more seniors. We are also bringing these areas and parks closer to the community, including our therapeutic gardens in neighbourhoods and within healthcare institutions. In fact, by 2030, I announced that we aim to have 30 therapeutic gardens and we are working with the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and SingHealth to make this happen.

On the Member's third point on heat resilience, we do have heat resilience mitigation measures. In fact, in our planning considerations, we incorporate wind flow considerations into urban planning. And we also have adaptation measures, including heat stress advisories, which can help the community to plan their activities.

But our City in Nature vision moves beyond, and it is really beyond the OneMillionTrees movement. We have a broad project in place to ensure that Singapore remains a City in Nature, of which the OneMillionTrees movement is one particular goal, as well as one particular initiative.