Singapore is going to launch an ambitious greenery programme with more urban farms and communal rooftop food gardens. This was announced by Desmond Lee, Second Minister for National Development, at the opening of greenery and landscape design event GreenUrbanScape Asia today.
The programme christened ‘The Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises’ (LUSH) aims to replace greenery lost during a building’s development or redevelopment. This will be enhanced to improve both the quality and quantity of urban greenery.
The programme will also encourage property developers to house urban gardens and communal rooftop gardens in their buildings, and increase landscaping on walls and roofs – which can also help lower ambient temperature.
Lee said, “Such features have been gaining popularity in our urban landscape, as many Singaporeans have a keen interest in farming and gardening.”
He added, “The enhanced LUSH programme will encourage more people to take up urban farming and gardening near their offices and homes, while allowing developers to better utilise rooftop space.”
The programme was first introduced in 2009 and the scheme has contributed to more than 130 hectares of greenery so far, or the equivalent of about 210 football fields.
During the programme, the Minister also highlighted a new study, which found 110 species of birds and butterflies on roof gardens across the island, representing 13 and 18 per cent of the total number of bird and butterfly species in Singapore.
The study was jointly conducted by the National Parks Board and National University of Singapore at 30 rooftop gardens over 20 months, the study also found 24 species of rare or uncommon birds and butterflies.
The Minister said, “This joint study suggests that with careful design planning, urban roof gardens can play host to a diverse range of wildlife, and help complement the equally important work of natural habitat conservation and enhancement.”