1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The main aims of the intervention included: "address the dual need for water supply independence and flood protection while creating access to a thriving waterscape within a dense urban area" (Ref. 8); as well as: "transform the country’s network of utilitarian drains, canals, and reservoirs into vibrant and beautiful streams, rivers, and lakes, seamlessly integrated with their adjacent land developments" with the goal of creat[ing] new spaces close to the water for recreation and community bonding" and "turn[ing] Singapore into a vibrant city of gardens and water" (Ref. 3).
Other goals included (Ref. 8):
• Create natural and vegetated river banks, while freeing the Kallang River from a concrete channel and integrate it into the park;
• Increase aquatic and riparian biodiversity;
• Increase the number and types of microhabitats;
• Promote the resilience of the species and guarantee their long-term capacity to survive;
• Prevent soil erosion from reducing the green and recreational spaces within the park;
• Provide multiple and flexible water storage facilities;
• Ensure that the constructed infrastructure will resist floods and remain in good conditions;
• Maximise land, monetary, and human resources;
• Create a new space for different communities to encounter and for recreational purposes;
• Bring people closer to water;
• Create a positive perception and sense of stewardship towards the environment;
• Offer space in the heart of urbanity where people can observe, preserve and nurture wildlife;
• Contribute to the liveability of the city;
• Design friendly spaces for all kinds of visitors, especially for children, pet owners, and seniors.
Other goals included (Ref. 8):
• Create natural and vegetated river banks, while freeing the Kallang River from a concrete channel and integrate it into the park;
• Increase aquatic and riparian biodiversity;
• Increase the number and types of microhabitats;
• Promote the resilience of the species and guarantee their long-term capacity to survive;
• Prevent soil erosion from reducing the green and recreational spaces within the park;
• Provide multiple and flexible water storage facilities;
• Ensure that the constructed infrastructure will resist floods and remain in good conditions;
• Maximise land, monetary, and human resources;
• Create a new space for different communities to encounter and for recreational purposes;
• Bring people closer to water;
• Create a positive perception and sense of stewardship towards the environment;
• Offer space in the heart of urbanity where people can observe, preserve and nurture wildlife;
• Contribute to the liveability of the city;
• Design friendly spaces for all kinds of visitors, especially for children, pet owners, and seniors.
Quantitative targets
Objectives defined for the project were largely qualitative.
Monitoring indicators defined
Whilst numerous impacts have been recorded as a result of the intervention, relatively little information exists on pre-determined monitoring indicators. Nonetheless, Ref. 9 considers how the planning of the park restoration required "extensive tests [to be] carried out to refine a selection of appropriate techniques and plants, as well as finding an effective construction method". Being "the first time that soil bioengineering techniques were applied in urbanised Singapore", a testbed was constructed to evaluate the suitability of various techniques and plants prior to full roll-out of the intervention (Ref. 11). Over ten different types of potential "systems and plants were evaluated along a 60-meter test" strip (Ref. 8).
Recognising that the Kallang river would undergo geomorphological changes over time, the need for "periodic site
walkthroughs, topography survey[s] and hydraulic/hydrodynamic modelling" was underlined as a means by which to monitor the evolving hydraulic capacity of the river (Ref. 11). Monitoring of the river's condition was also promoted to tourists and visitors to the park as an ecological education activity (Ref. 7).
Recognising that the Kallang river would undergo geomorphological changes over time, the need for "periodic site
walkthroughs, topography survey[s] and hydraulic/hydrodynamic modelling" was underlined as a means by which to monitor the evolving hydraulic capacity of the river (Ref. 11). Monitoring of the river's condition was also promoted to tourists and visitors to the park as an ecological education activity (Ref. 7).
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities
The primary activity implemented to achieve the above-outlined objectives and targets centred around the ecological restoration of the Kallang River. Following the demolition of the concrete river channel, a new riverbed was excavated which incorporated features of a natural river design such as meanders, width variations, pools, riffles and rocky obstacles (Ref. 8). Such an approach was taken to create different flow patterns, promote varying water velocities and improve habitat diversity (Ref. 8).
Through the use of soil bioengineering techniques, vegetation at the site was increased and the risk of soil erosion minimised (Ref. 7). The creation of wetlands was undertaken to provide a nature-based cleansing biotope which would improve water quality within the river itself and therein the reservoir into which the river flows (Refs. 1, 7 and 11). In 2012, volunteers and residents were enlisted to specific plants which would create butterfly habitats within the park (Ref. 1).
Through the use of soil bioengineering techniques, vegetation at the site was increased and the risk of soil erosion minimised (Ref. 7). The creation of wetlands was undertaken to provide a nature-based cleansing biotope which would improve water quality within the river itself and therein the reservoir into which the river flows (Refs. 1, 7 and 11). In 2012, volunteers and residents were enlisted to specific plants which would create butterfly habitats within the park (Ref. 1).
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The naturalisation of the Kallang river was supported through the implementation of soil bioengineering techniques and was the first case of such techniques being used in the tropics (Ref. 3. It also provides a successful case study of water-sensitive urban design (WSUD), a relatively novel approach in Asian cities (Ref. 10).
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
As summarised by the Singaporean National Parks Board (NParks, Ref. 3), "This is the first river naturalisation project in the tropics to incorporate soil bioengineering techniques to stabilise the riverbanks, protect them from erosion, and provide habitats for the flora and fauna, and it will serve to be a vital reference source for future projects in the region". Restoration of the park and river further "presented an opportunity for the installation of the
first cleansing biotope in Singapore, which offers effective water treatment while maintaining a natural and beautiful environment" (Ref. 3), hence was a novel innovation for the region. The novelty of the intervention is further exemplified by the requirement for testbeds to have been developed in which potential soil bioengineering techniques could be optimised and a wide variety of native plant species could be explored for their inclusion into the restoration (Ref. 3).
first cleansing biotope in Singapore, which offers effective water treatment while maintaining a natural and beautiful environment" (Ref. 3), hence was a novel innovation for the region. The novelty of the intervention is further exemplified by the requirement for testbeds to have been developed in which potential soil bioengineering techniques could be optimised and a wide variety of native plant species could be explored for their inclusion into the restoration (Ref. 3).
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Despite being recognised that the restoration project "will serve to be a vital reference source for future projects in the region" (Ref. 3), it is unclear whether such future projects have since been informed by this initiative.
6. Evaluation and learning
7. Sources
Please specify other source of non-financial contribution
Community partners "organized activities to keep the general public constantly engaged" with the project's development (Ref. 8).
