Singapore to conduct nationwide mapping of coastal and marine habitats

Singapore's National Parks Board (NParks) has launched a tender for a nationwide study to map coastal and marine habitats, marking the third such exercise since 2011. The study will use high resolution satellite imagery to track changes in coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves across mainland Singapore and its offshore islands and reefs, excluding the waters around Pedra Branca. The project will quantify changes between 2011, 2018, and 2026, with the resulting geospatial dataset being made available to the public.

The timing of the tender, issued on August 25, follows Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's August 23 National Day Rally announcement regarding the potential merging of several western islands through reclamation to support energy, industry, and defense needs. NParks stated that the mapping is part of regular efforts and is not linked to the proposed reclamation. However, the reports differ in their framing of this connection. A center leaning outlet emphasized the official denial from NParks that the study is linked to the western island project. In contrast, a center right leaning outlet framed the study as having added significance due to the reclamation plans and highlighted concerns from the marine community and scientists regarding the environmental impact of such development.

Marine scientists noted that the study is timely due to sea level rise and climate driven events. Experts from the National University of Singapore and the Friends of Marine Park stated that accurate maps are critical for mitigating the impacts of coastal development, identifying conservation priorities, and managing sea space. The tender is expected to take 15 months to complete and closes on September 21.