CONVERSION OF COASTAL HABITATS IN SINGAPORE - INDICATIONS OF UNSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The Republic of Singapore, a small island state lying at the southern extremity of Peninsular Malaysia has, along with other ASEAN nations, stated its commitment to the principle of 'sustainable development' an d ecological sustainability. This paper presents an assessment of the impact of post-World War II development on the extent and quality of i ntertidal coastal ecosystems and ecocomplexes in Singapore - specifica lly on coral reefs, mangroves, and intertidal sand- and mud-flats - an d hence an evaluation of Singapore's commitment to maintaining coastal ecosystems and coastal biodiversity. The extent of these habitats was mapped from topographic and hydrographic maps, and estimates of their future area was derived from the Singapore Concept Plan for the year 'x' (AD c. 2030). In 1953 Singapore contained totals of 63.34 km(2) of mangroves, 30.47 km(2) of intertidal coral-reef flats, and 32.75 km(2 ) of intertidal sand- and mud-areas. By 1993, only 6.5% of the mangrov e, 24.0% of the intertidal coral-reed, remained. The principal post-Wo rld War II impacts on these habitats are attributed to 'reclamation' o f areas for other purposes and increased turbidity of coastal waters, and these causes of stress are continuing. The Government of Singapore 's primary initiative in coastal conservation, the Singapore Green Pla n, will not halt the trend of coastal ecological destruction, and it i s projected that by AD 2030 only 4.20% of the mangrove, 12.18% of the intertidal sediments, and 22.16% of the intertidal coral-reef habitat that was present in 1922 will remain - mostly in a degraded and fragme nted condition. Several misconceptions hinder the adoption of strategi es that might facilitate ecological sustainability, including the beli efs that Singapore has no natural resources, that Singapore is constra ined in introducing more imaginative development strategies by its sma ll land-area, that environmental management equals pollution control, and that ecological destruction was and is inevitable. Accordingly, Si ngapore's present approach to resource management is far from being co nsistent with its stated commitment to the protection of biodiversity and to ecologically sustainable development.