National Parks Board
Agency overview
Formed6 June 1990; 33 years ago (1990-06-06)
JurisdictionGovernment of Singapore
HeadquartersSingapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569
Agency executives
  • Loh Khum Yean, Chairman
  • Hwang Yu-Ning, CEO
Parent agencyMinistry of National Development
Websitehttp://www.nparks.gov.sg

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

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]

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).[7] 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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

Leadership

Chief Executive Officer
Date CEO Comments
2010 - 16 February 2014 Poon Hong Yuen
17 February 2014 - 31 May 2023 Kenneth Er Boon Hwee [11]
1 June 2023 - present Hwang Yu-Ning [12]
Chairperson
Date Chairperson Comments
2018 - 30 September 2023 Benny Lim Siang Hoe
1 October 2023 - present Loh Khum Yean [13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Turning national parks into 'global assets'". The Straits Times. 9 June 1990. p. 8. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b "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 perks 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. ^ "S'pore aims to plant 1 million trees in the next 10 years". mothership.sg. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "What's up with the OneMillionTrees Movement? | TheHomeGround Asia". thehomeground.asia. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Chua, Grace (11 February 2014). "New NParks chief executive appointed". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  12. ^ "NParks to get new CEO; URA's next chief planner appointed". CNA. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  13. ^ "National Parks Board to get new chairman on Oct 1". CNA. Retrieved 9 November 2023.

External links

Parks in Singapore
Authority control databases
Categories