{"id":6219,"date":"2014-04-27T12:12:46","date_gmt":"2014-04-27T16:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/?p=6219"},"modified":"2015-06-01T15:47:44","modified_gmt":"2015-06-01T19:47:44","slug":"marine-biodiversity-conservation-in-coastal-cities-tales-from-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/2014\/04\/27\/marine-biodiversity-conservation-in-coastal-cities-tales-from-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Marine Biodiversity Conservation in Coastal Cities: Tales from Singapore"},"content":{"rendered":"

The main picture prefacing the news article<\/a> by Roger Harrabin on the BBC website on 8 April 2014 on the final draft report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change<\/a> (IPCC) was a stark black and white scene of strong high waves breaking against sea-walls.\u00a0 It drives home the point that island and coastal cities will bear the hardest brunt of climate change.<\/p>\n

The IPCC report<\/a> did not have good news to share.\u00a0 In fact, \u201cemissions have been accelerating rather than slowing<\/a>\u201d. \u00a0A scan of the world map shows that coastal areas have the highest population density.\u00a0 More than half the world\u2019s population live in cities and more than half of this urban population live in coastal areas, and hence most of the people affected by climate change will be those living in coastal cities.\u00a0 As coastal areas link land to sea, the activities of people living in these areas inevitably have impact on both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.\u00a0 They are the very people who can make a disproportionate difference to biodiversity conservation.<\/p>\n

Armelle Labadie-Ouedraogo, Isabelle Lavail-Ravetllat and Oliver Hillel highlighted the role<\/a> that port cities can play in biodiversity conservation.\u00a0 They shared the experience of Brest Metropole Oceane and the Maritime Territories International Network, a step in the right direction.\u00a0 Tim Beatley<\/a> had written about Blue Urbanism and posed the questions on what city citizens can do for marine conservation.<\/p>\n

I would like to continue to expound on the issues raised by the previous authors by focussing on what the different residents of coastal cities can do to conserve their biodiversity and to prepare themselves for climate change effects by adaptation and mitigation.<\/p>\n

We cannot conserve what we do not know.\u00a0 Therefore, biodiversity surveys are essential<\/b>.<\/b><\/span> Singapore recently embarked on a Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey<\/a>. \u00a0The Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey of Singapore (CMBS) is\u00a0meant\u00a0\u00a0to address the above challenge. \u00a0This ambitious national initiative, launched in 2010, was the first time that a concerted effort was made to comprehensively catalogue the marine biodiversity of Singapore.\u00a0 Carried out in phases over five years, the CMBS brought\u00a0 together the larger community of experts, non-governmental organisations, government agencies and volunteers to collect biodiversity information on mudflats, intertidal areas, coral reefs and the seabed of Singapore. \u00a0This was the key innovation of the CMBS \u2014\u00a0instead of relying on a limited pool of academia and naturalists to do the survey work, the CMBS set out to accomplish its objectives by bringing together a diverse group of people and organisations to contribute to a large-scale, multi-disciplinary project that is of national importance.<\/p>\n

The CMBS has now completed two major expeditions in October 2012 and May 2013.\u00a0<\/b> Within 3 and half years, CMBS uncovered 64 possible new species, more than 188 new records and 9 rediscoveries. \u00a0There were numerous rare discoveries made during CMBS. \u00a0One of 14 species identified as possibly new to science is the \u201cLipstick\u201d sea anemone. Found in the mudflats at Pulau Ubin, this predatory animal has a distinctive red mouth and may not have been recorded anywhere else in the world. \u00a0Another species identified as possibly new to science is the orange-clawed mangrove crab found in coastal mangroves and a small goby, nicknamed \u201cZee\u201d found in mudflats off Lim Chu Kang. \u00a0Other new records for Singapore include species of jellyfish, stinging nettles, bristleworms, marine slugs, crabs, sea cucumbers, and fishes. \u00a0In addition, some crabs were also rediscovered during the survey. \u00a0The zebra crab, found in the Southern islands, was last seen in the early 1960s. \u00a0A rarely seen tree-climbing Nipah crab was predicted to be in Singapore 20 years ago but was not confirmed until 2012. \u00a0Even more surprising is the rediscovery of a large coastal catfish species last seen in Singapore waters over 100 years ago \u2014\u00a0how could we have missed it for so long!<\/p>\n

Through this survey, we discover species new to science and gain a better understanding of the rich marine biodiversity that Singapore harbours despite the city state\u2019s fast-paced development and port activities.<\/p>\n

\"Clownfish
Clownfish co-existing with sea anemone. Photo: Karenne Tun<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It has been observed that the areas with richer hard coral biodiversity tend to recover better from coral bleaching than species poor areas.\u00a0 Hence, it is important to know what species we have so that we can better conserve them. \u00a0Biodiversity surveys help us identify areas that need intervention for them to be enhanced if natural ecosystems are to be sustained.<\/b>\u00a0 Coastal erosion is one prevalent problem that causes biodiversity loss and could benefit from facilitated enhancement. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We observed a site where the sea front mangrove trees were destabilized by strong currents. \u00a0The typical engineering approach would be to build a seawall.\u00a0 We felt that a hard infrastructure would not solve the problem but would instead deflect the waves to another site which in turn would be eroded. \u00a0We wanted to replant it with mangroves but hydrological modelling indicated that the mangroves would not be able to withstand the strong waves.<\/p>\n

We decided to test out a hybrid solution, i.e., intersperses a low rock revetment with mangroves. \u00a0The rock revetment formed a solid base to support the mangroves that were planted in biodegradable pots.\u00a0 Several species of mangroves were used to emulate that of the natural environment.\u00a0 The selection of the species was assisted by observing the species zonation in the surrounding wild patches.\u00a0 Nature is the best teacher.<\/p>\n

\"Hybrid
Hybrid coastal protection infrastructure comprising a low rock revetment interspersed with mangrove plants Photo: National Parks Board of Singapore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the enhancement of marine ecosystems, a continuous supply of native species is necessary.<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>For the coastal protection project, a mangrove nursery was set-up.\u00a0 Seeds and saplings were obtained from the nearby natural environment.\u00a0 This was also done with faunal species, like corals and giant clams.<\/p>\n

Coral fragments were collected so that no corals were destroyed or damaged when collecting stocks for the coral nursery.\u00a0 The coral fragments were secured on platforms so that they could grow under optimal conditions.\u00a0 When they reached a certain size, they were translocated to impoverished areas to enhance those sites.\u00a0 This project aimed to enhance the biodiversity in less rich sites and also to broaden the distribution of the corals, to maximise survival rates of hard corals.<\/p>\n

\"Coral
Coral nursery in Singapore Photo: National Parks Board of Singapore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We also found that the giant clams needed some assistance for them to thrive.\u00a0 Giant clams are naturally slow-growing so we experimented with ex situ<\/i> breeding to facilitate its growth.\u00a0 When they had reached a certain size, we released them to suitable habitats and monitored their establishment in the natural environment.<\/p>\n

Costal area and human settlements<\/strong><\/p>\n

What are the most dominant features in human coastal settlements?\u00a0 How can we do more to conserve our marine biodiversity?\u00a0 Where are the areas that are least explored for marine biodiversity conservation?\u00a0 Many of our coastal cities have hard infrastructures like seawalls, jetties, marinas, etc.\u00a0 People do not normally associate these structures with biodiversity but they are most prevalent in our built-up environment.\u00a0 If we want to improve our quality of life, we need to bring back the biodiversity that provides us with essential ecosystem services or populate our built-up environment with marine flora and fauna.\u00a0 Moreover, marine biodiversity can do all of the following without additional energy input from us \u2014 nor would they release more carbon into the environment.\u00a0 Firstly, marine fish, shrimps, etc. provide us with a long-term supply of proteins, if we harvest them on a sustainable basis. \u00a0Secondly, filter feeders can clean up the water.\u00a0 Thirdly, marine plants can aerate the water, hence, maintaining the oxygen levels in water. \u00a0Fourthly, marine biodiversity increases the recreational and tourism values.\u00a0 The list goes on and on.<\/p>\n

We decided to work with multi-agencies, marinas, condominiums, etc., to populate our coastal infrastructures.\u00a0 We are currently working with a team from the university to design tiles with different textures that can be attached to seawalls so that each texture would attract different kinds of marine organisms.<\/p>\n

\"Sea
Sea fans on sea walls in Singapore. Photo: Karenne Tun<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the marinas has reduced the cleaning of their hard structures and the result is the proliferation of soft corals and other marine organisms.\u00a0 These marine organisms add colour and beauty to the marina besides carrying out several ecosystem services for free.<\/p>\n

\"Marine
Marine organisms in Keppel Marina, Singapore. Photo: Karenne Tun<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These are some of the ways we have tried to conserve our marine biodiversity.\u00a0 A coordinated approach to development and marine conservation like the integrated urban coastal management (IUCM) will ensure that utilization of resources is optimized.\u00a0 To track whether these efforts are effective, it is crucial that quantitative monitoring systems are put in place.\u00a0 The Singapore Index on Cities\u2019 Biodiversity<\/a> is an evaluation tool that could be applied for this purpose.<\/b> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is so much to do.\u00a0 The entire population has to be galvanized to implement marine biodiversity conservation efforts.\u00a0 Everyone is a stakeholder.\u00a0 Many of our conservation efforts are carried out with the help of volunteers.<\/p>\n

\"CMBS
CMBS volunteers. Photo: National Parks Board of Singapore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is increasingly evident that the marine environment is a treasure trove for innovative pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and industrial products.\u00a0 City residents will stand most to gain from successful marine biodiversity conservation. \u00a0With the concentration of humans in coastal cities and the diverse expertise that they harbour, coastal cities can perform miracles for marine biodiversity conservation with imagination spiced with thinking out of the box.\u00a0 More importantly, coastal cities\u00a0must<\/span><\/em> do it because they are the most vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change and biodiversity loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lena Chan
\n<\/strong>Singapore<\/p>\n

On The Nature of Cities\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The main picture prefacing the news article by Roger Harrabin on the BBC website on 8 April 2014 on the final draft report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was a stark black and white scene of strong high waves breaking against sea-walls.\u00a0 It drives home the point that island and coastal cities […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":6222,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[273,297],"tags":[401,402,41],"coauthors":[145],"class_list":["post-6219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-essay","category-essay-science-and-tools","tag-biodiversity","tag-coasts","tag-tools"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6219"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=6219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}