National Parks Board

Last updated

National Parks Board
NParks Logo.png
Agency overview
Formed6 June 1990;34 years ago (1990-06-06)
Jurisdiction Government of Singapore
HeadquartersSingapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569
MottoCity in Nature
Agency executives
  • Loh Khum Yean, Chairman
  • Hwang Yu-Ning, CEO
Parent agency Ministry of National Development
Website https://www.nparks.gov.sg
Agency IDT08GB0038E

The National Parks Board (NParks) is a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development of the Government of Singapore.

Contents

History

In November 1989, Minister of National Development, S. Dhanabalan, presented the National Parks Bill in Parliament to form a body to manage the three parks, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Fort Canning Park and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, in Singapore. [1] [2] In March 1990, Minister of State for National Development, Lee Boon Yang introduced the National Parks Bill in Parliament to form the National Parks Board as a statutory board. [3]

On 6 June 1990, the National Parks Board was formed to manage the three parks. [2]

On 1 July 1996, the Parks and Recreation Department was merged with the National Parks Board. [4]

Since 1 April 2019, all non-food plant and animal-related functions originally under the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore were transferred to NParks under Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) as part of a reorganisation. [5] [6]

In March 2020, then-Second Minister for National Development, Desmond Lee, announced a new vision for NParks: to further integrate nature into the city of Singapore, NParks would build on its prior goal of a "City in a Garden" to transform Singapore into a "City in Nature". This would entail creating at least another 200 hectares of nature parks, conserving 70 more native plant and animal species, constructing another 160 kilometres of park connectors, and ensuring that every household in Singapore is within a 10-minute walk of a park, by 2030. [7] [8]

Activities

OneMillionTrees Campaign (2020 - present)

During the Committee of Supply debate in Parliament on 4 March 2020, then-Second Minister for National Development, Desmond Lee, announced that NParks would be launching a campaign, OneMillionTrees, to plant a million trees across Singapore over the next 10 years (i.e. by 2030). [9] He explained that this would be a community initiative drawing on support from individuals and organisations, and that the trees would be planted "along our roads, in our parks, estates and green areas", as well as in some coastal areas. [10]

Prior to the launch of the campaign, NParks was planting about 50,000 trees annually. Following the launch of the campaign, NParks aimed to double the number of trees planted annually. [11]

In April 2023, NParks announced that more than 540,000 trees had been planted across the country since the launch of the campaign, such that it was three years ahead of the 2030 target to plant a million trees. Some of the trees planted as part of the campaign include the Pink Mempat, Giam Rambai, and paper bark trees. [12]

Notable incidents

Corrupt conduct by manager (2019)

In 2019, Lee Choon Ping, a NParks manager, was tasked to procure about 10,000 hats for an upcoming garden festival. He contacted Jota Tan Beng Khoon, who was the sole proprietor of SBM Easi Trade (a firm that supplies souvenirs, corporate gifts and events merchandise) and informed Tan that there was a "price war", thereby indicating to Tan that he should quote the lowest price possible to secure the contract. Tan eventually secured the contract to supply the hats.

Upon realising that NParks already had about 5,000 unused hats in storage, Lee instructed Tan to delivery just 5,000 hats and provide a refund for the remaining 5,000 hats into Lee's personal bank account. Lee subsequently informed Tan that he wanted the refund paid personally to him in SGD 1,000 notes.

During investigations, up-skirt photographs were also discovered on Lee's hard disk, which Lee had taken during an open house event which he had attended with his daughter on 7 March 2019.

In 2022, Lee was convicted of attempting to obtain corrupt gratification, cheating, and insulting the modesty of a woman. He was sentenced to a total of 11 months' jail. Seven similar charges of insulting modesty were taken into consideration. [13]

Corrupt conduct by senior director (2022)

In 2022, Teva Raj Palanisamy was convicted of corruption for accepting six free trips between Singapore and Johor in exchange for abusing his position as a senior director of NParks to further the business interests of a NParks sub-contractor. He was sentenced to four months' jail and fined SGD 900. [14]

Leadership

Chief Executive Officer
DateCEOComments
2010 - 16 February 2014Poon Hong Yuen
17 February 2014 - 31 May 2023Kenneth Er Boon Hwee [15]
1 June 2023 - presentHwang Yu-Ning [16]
Chairperson
DateChairpersonComments
2018 - 30 September 2023Benny Lim Siang Hoe
1 October 2023 - presentLoh Khum Yean [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

Lee Hsien Yang is a Singaporean businessman and former brigadier-general. Lee has been a member of Progress Singapore Party (PSP) since 2020.

The Cultural Medallion is a cultural award in Singapore conferred to those who have achieved artistic excellence in dance, theatre, literature, music, photography, art and film. It is widely recognized as Singapore's pinnacle arts award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pasir Ris Park</span> Park in Singapore

Pasir Ris Park is a beach park located in the eastern part of Singapore. It covers an area of 70 hectares, and was partially built on reclaimed land. Initially planned in the late 1970s to serve people living in the vicinity, the park was designed with the help of two Japanese landscape specialists. Construction began on the park in September 1984, and the park was opened in phases from August 1986 to 1991. The park was further expanded in 2007, with the addition of new areas such as a herb garden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Future developments in Singapore</span>

This article shows the notable future developments in Singapore. Most of them are currently under construction with most to be completed within the next five years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park</span> Park in Bishan and Ang Mo Kio, Singapore

Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park or Bishan-AMK Park is a major park in Singapore, located in the popular heartland of Bishan. Serving the residents of Bishan and Ang Mo Kio, the park sits entirely within Bishan, running along the Ang Mo Kio–Bishan boundary line, which is situated at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. In the middle of the park lies the Kallang River, which runs through it in the form of a flat riverbed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Law Society of Singapore</span> Singaporean professional association for lawyers

The Law Society of Singapore is an organisation which represents all lawyers in Singapore. The Law Society of Singapore is a law society and is analogous to what is called a Bar Association in many countries and should not be confused with the Singapore Academy of Law.

Cavinder Bull is a Singaporean lawyer and the chief executive officer of the law firm Drew & Napier. He has served in this position since August 2017, upon the departure of Davinder Singh to start his own practice. He has an active practice in complex litigation and international arbitration and is considered one of the top 15 litigators in South-East Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tan Chuan-Jin</span> Singaporean politician

Tan Chuan-Jin is a Singaporean former politician and brigadier-general. A former member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), Tan served as Speaker of the Parliament between 2017 and 2023, and as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade GRC from 2011 to 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence Wong</span> Prime Minister of Singapore since 2024

Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai is a Singaporean politician, economist and former civil servant who has been serving as the fourth prime minister of Singapore since 2024 and the Minister for Finance since 2021. A member of the governing People's Action Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Limbang division of Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC since 2015, and previously the Boon Lay division of West Coast GRC between 2011 and 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desmond Tan (actor)</span> Singaporean actor (born 1986)

Desmond Tan is a Singaporean actor. He won the Star Awards for Best Actor for his role in When Duty Calls in 2018.

The following lists events that happened during 2017 in the Republic of Singapore.

Presidential elections were held in Singapore on 1 September 2023, the sixth public presidential elections but only the third to be contested by more than one candidate. Incumbent president Halimah Yacob, who had been elected unopposed in 2017, did not seek re-election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvin Tan (politician)</span> Singaporean politician

Alvin Tan Sheng Hui is a Singaporean politician who has been serving as Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth concurrently since 2020. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Moulmein–Cairnhill division of Tanjong Pagar GRC since 2020.

Selegie House is a public housing complex which includes blocks 8-10 along Selegie Road in Singapore.

The adoption of electric vehicles in Singapore is supported by the Singapore government via the Singapore Green Plan 2030 to have new car models required to run on cleaner energy sources and installation of up to 60,000 electric vehicle charging stations. Financial incentives are given to the public for installation of charging points and purchase of electric cars.

The following lists events that happened during 2023 in the Republic of Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Former Bukit Timah Fire Station</span> Building in Singapore, Singapore

The Former Bukit Timah Fire Station, also known as the Old Bukit Timah Fire Station or the Bukit Timah Fire Station, is a former fire station located at Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore. It is planned to be redesigned into a community centre for nature. It is nearby the upcoming Hume MRT station. Bukit Timah Fire Station is also located nearby other heritage sites such as the Former Ford Factory, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and the Bukit Timah Memorial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rifle Range Nature Park</span> Park in Bukit Timah, Singapore

Rifle Range Nature Park is a nature park in Bukit Timah, Singapore. Rifle Range Nature Park was opened on 12 November 2022 and is located along Rifle Range Road and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Rifle Range Nature Park is also Singapore's first net positive energy nature park. Rifle Range Nature Park is the eighth park in the Central Nature Park Network. Rifle Range Nature Park was also built to protect Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

The following lists events that happened during 2024 in the Republic of Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Singapore</span> Impacts of and responses to climate change in Singapore

Singapore adopts a proactive long-term effort in addressing rising sea-levels, temperature increases due to global warming, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

References

  1. "Turning national parks into 'global assets'". The Straits Times. 9 June 1990. p. 8. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Parks board inaugurated". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. The Business Times. 7 June 1990. p. 2. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  3. "Bill to create new board". The Business Times. 14 March 1990. p. 2. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  4. "Two parks bodies merge". The Business Times. 2 July 1996. p. 2. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  5. Wong, Derek (26 July 2018). "Increased expertise, more holistic overview of flora and fauna for NParks". The Straits Times. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  6. Matthew, Mohan. "New stat board to oversee food safety and security; AVA to be disbanded". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  7. "NParks to work with the community to transform Singapore into a City in Nature". National Parks Board. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  8. Heng, Melissa (4 March 2020). "Parliament: More nature parks, park connectors as Singapore transforms into city in nature in next decade". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  9. "S'pore aims to plant 1 million trees in the next 10 years". mothership.sg. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  10. "Speech by 2M Desmond Lee at the Committee of Supply Debate 2020 - Transforming Singapore into a City of Nature". www.mnd.gov.sg. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  11. "What's up with the OneMillionTrees Movement? | TheHomeGround Asia". thehomeground.asia. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  12. Bin, Judd Siow Rui (15 April 2023). "Singapore to hit target of planting one million more trees in 2027, three years ahead of schedule". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  13. "Jail for NParks manager who asked for S$10,000 bribe and had upskirt photos in his possession". CNA. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  14. "Former NParks senior director gets jail, fine for corruptly obtaining free trips to Johor". CNA. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  15. Chua, Grace (11 February 2014). "New NParks chief executive appointed". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  16. "NParks to get new CEO; URA's next chief planner appointed". CNA. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  17. "National Parks Board to get new chairman on Oct 1". CNA. Retrieved 9 November 2023.