SIT launches mangrove conservatory with $680,000 donation from Foundation of Rotary Clubs Singapore

Located next to the upcoming Punggol Coast MRT station and within JTC’s Punggol Digital District, works will begin in July.

The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) has announced plans for a new mangrove conservatory, established with a $680,000 donation from the Foundation of Rotary Clubs Singapore (FRCS), which will be disbursed over three years.

Situated next to the upcoming Punggol Coast MRT station and in the heart of JTC’s Punggol Digital District, SIT says the conservatory will also be readily accessible to the public exploring the Punggol Heritage Trail.

At the launch of the Rotary-SIT Mangrove Conservatory on May 23, SIT says the conservatory will focus on preserving genetically diverse mangroves and reintroducing lost species. Experiments will be conducted to identify mangroves that can help Singapore and the region address global warming and rising sea levels, increase biodiversity and maximise carbon sequestration.

According to SIT, construction will begin in July and the conservatory is expected to be completed by December 2025. 

SIT’s Associate Professor Cesar Jung-Harada, the principal investigator and project lead, says mangroves, coral and seagrass can protect our shores, increase biodiversity and sequester carbon. “The Mangrove Conservatory will be very special, as it will help to address climate challenges and simulate Singapore’s climate in controlled environments, and with our public outreach and education efforts, we can raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection in a very tangible way.”

Chew Ghim Bok, from the Board of Directors, Rotary International, says: “With the drive of Singapore Green Plan 2030 and Rotary International’s seventh area of focus, Protecting the Environment, the timing cannot be better than now.”

“The establishment of a mangrove conservation facility at SIT is a huge opportunity for us to make a lasting impact on the world and community around us,” adds Chew. “The Rotary Clubs in Singapore and SIT partnership, in mangrove conservation to mitigate effects of climate change and maximising carbon sequestration, is a match made in heaven.”

SIT plans to extend outreach to include experts working on applied research projects, community volunteers and agencies such as the National Parks Board (NParks) and Conservation International. 

With further support from FRCS, SIT will expand mangrove research and development to ecological restoration at nearby Coney Island and Pulau Ubin. According to SIT, these places will have a large mangrove forest that will boost authentic learning opportunities for students. 

This is the first of SIT’s “10 Acts for Good” community and social initiative, in celebration of its 10th anniversary as an autonomous university.