Geography

Sunday, March 28, 2010

♥ 2:53 AM

Topic: Compare the different methods or ways that Singapore government use to overcome the shortage of land here.

1.Description of various ways to increase land

-Land reclamation through landfill and draining swamps:

1.Empoldering
In reclaim land from the sea, dykes must be constructed to prevent the seawater from entering the area to be reclaimed. The area is then filled with sand, rock or soil. The sand can be imported from other countries or obtain from the seabed while rocks and soil can be obtained from the hill nearby.

2.Draining swamps
Dykes are built along the coast to keep the seawater out of the former swamps. Fresh water is brought in from a river through a network of canals. Excess water in the reclaimed land is removed by a system of drains.

3.Restoring Derelict Land
In Singapore, there were mining activities in the past, as seen in the disused granite quarries in Bukit Timah, Bukit Batok and Pulau Ubin. Derelict land can be made useful if it is reclaimed.

Mining pools in quarries can be:

-filled up completely with non-toxic waste
-treated with acidic substances like gypsum
-replanted with vegetation to protect the soil from wind and rain to prevent further soil erosion or filled with water to from lakes.

Singapore also has to overcome the constraints of limited land space. Large-scale land reclamation by landfill has been carried out in different parts of Singapore since the 1960s. Land reclamation took place mainly at the South-East, South-West and North-East of Singapore. The straight coastline is the result of land reclamation.

Singapore’s coastline in the 1950s.

Singapore’s coastline in the 2002.

Past and future reclamation works

Land reclamation in Singapore started as early as 1820. Swamps along Singapore River were filled to provide land for early settlers. These were small land reclamation project as compared to the land reclamation projects after the 1960s. They were large enough to make an impact on the growth of Singapore’s land area. In particular, the reclamation of mangrove swamps in Jurong in 1961 spearheaded Singapore’s industrialization plans and other land reclamation projects. In 1963, the land reclamation project in Bedok provided space to build new homes for Singaporeans.

http://www.dredgingtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Land-Reclamation.jpg

Singapore’s land area grew from 581.5 square kilometers in 1960 to 699 square kilometers in 2004. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) projects a land shortage of 40 square kilometers when the population grows into 5.5 million. If the economic growth continues at the present pace, the government will need more land for housing, recreational facilities and rapid economic growth which includes expanding commercial, industrial activities and developing infrastructure.

Another reclamation project is the merging of seven islands off the South-West coast of Singapore to from Jurong Island. This created a big island for industrial use. Such projects are very expensive as merging of two islands cost $33.5 million.

http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/shellpetrochemicals/images/1-jurong-island.jpg

-Maximizing land use:

Since the amount of land that can be reclaimed is limited, land reclamation is not a long-term solution to the problem of land shortage. Land management through land use planning is important. Land use planning is a suitable response to the rising demand for land because it can settle conflicts about land use so as to maximize existing land use.

1.Mixed Land Use
In large cities with a long history of development, different activities (residential, commercial and industrial) are carried out together in the old city center, forming a mixed land use.

http://old.japanfocus.org/images/UserFiles/Image/2644.blaxell.syanon.singapore/shophousesBukit%20Pasohrdwherecwworked.jpg

In this zone, commercial activities occupy the ground floor, and the residential flats occupying the upper floors.

2.High-density buildings
As competition for land is more intense in cities, buildings are built close together. This allows for more residential flats to house a growing population and offers more offices to accommodate expanding economic activities. Therefore, the density of buildings, especially in the central business district(CBD), is high. Skyscrapers are another solution to the rising demand for land. In Singapore, skyscrapers are built close together.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/53/142789194_6df09a4e55.jpg?v=0

Skyscrapers built close together in Singapore.

-Increase price of land:

Land prices change overtime from place to place. They are governed by the simple law of supply and demand. Higher land prices are caused by a decrease in supply or an increase in demand.

The price mechanism controls the allocation of land uses. It refers to the process by which changes in price guide and shape changes in the value and types of goods and services that are produced. Land prices generally decrease with the distance from the city center. As a result, activities that are able to pay the highest rentals are often found in the city center. Activities that require a larger floor area would more likely to be located in the outskirts of the city. When many businesses compete for the same favorable location, the price of land will rise.

Land is very valuable in cities like Singapore as competition among different land uses is intense. Price is an effective tool to allocate the scarce land in a competitive situation. The closer one gets to the city center, the more expensive the land becomes. As a result of the high land value, activities that can generate high income or profits are usually found in the city center.

The opportunity cost is the cost of a decision in terms of the value of the next best alternative. The opportunity cost of retaining open spaces and old buildings in the city is more available land for commercial purposes such as banking and hotel businesses. However, city planners realize that open spaces and architecturally significant old buildings co-exists with businesses by providing recreation, aesthetic beauty and a sense of history.

-Conservation of land:
In Singapore, a document known as the Singapore Green Plan establishes broad policies for nature conservation. Under the Green Plan, 5% of the land area is to be set aside for nature conservation. The Green Plan’s subsequent Action Programmes identified 19 nature sites and 4 coral reefs as worthy of conservation. In addition, tremendous attention is paid in Singapore towards man-made greening, in the form of tree-planting and landscaping. The city-state prides itself as a "Garden City", and is today one of the greenest cities in the world.

To date, only 3% of the nature sites have legal protection under the National Parks Act (2 National Parks and 2 Nature Reserves), and there exists no protection of marine areas as entire ecosystems. Due to Singapore’s acute shortage of land, conservation of huge swathes of biodiversity-rich areas beyond the existing nature areas has been viewed to be impractical. Priority is accorded instead, to man-made greening of highways, streets and residential areas.

This effort is welcomed by most Singaporeans, but naturalists like members of the Nature Society, Singapore (NSS) feel that given the extremely built-up environment, there is all the more reason to guard and protect against the depletion of whatever little undisturbed natural areas and wildlife which remain in Singapore. Hence, it appears that the debate over the protection of nature areas will continue to feature prominently in the next few years.

Another issue of note is the protection of wildlife. Violations of wildlife conservation are largely unreported, and the general public is quite unaware of the laws which protect fauna and flora. While the smuggling of endangered species is judiciously monitored by the Primary Production Department of the Ministry of National Development, the fines imposed are inadequate and do not sufficiently deter potential offenders. There is significant public ignorance on matters related to the environment, and more public education is needed to redress this.
(http://sunsite.nus.edu.sg/apcel/dbase/singapore/reports.html#sec5.2)

2.Advantages and disadvantages of the different methods, in comparison to other countries’ method.

-Land reclamation through landfill and draining swamps:
Advantages: More land for population usage.
Disadvantages: Land reclamation projects are very expensive.

-Maximizing land use:
Advantages: More land for population usage.
Disadvantage: Buildings are very compact together.

-Increase price of land:
Advantages: Controls the high demand for land in urban area.
Disadvantages: Land prices are very expensive.

-Conservation of land:
Advantages: Natural habitats will not be lost. Therefore, species will not be lost.
Disadvantages: Land cannot be used for building different facilities. Other countries methods:

-Deforestation:
Advantages: More land can be used for the development.
Disadvantage: Soil Erosion. Loss of natural species of flora and fauna. Global warming. Reduced rainfall.

-Agricultural land use(Terracing, Soil-less farming, Irrigation):
Advantages: Maximizing existing land use.
Disadvantages: Expensive.

Conclusion: Deforestation is not effective as it has lots of disadvantages that can cause great damage to the environment.

3.Explaining the relevance of the method in Singapore contexts

-Deforestation:
It is impossible to use this method now as Singapore has hardly any rain forests to cut down to use as space. Also, it is hardly considered as it causes huge impact on the environment. Other forests had been conserved as parks or reservoirs.

-Agricultural land use(Terracing, Soil-less farming, Irrigation):
There is not enough space for agriculture. Singapore can only afford to have high-tech farming as it does not occupy much space. For other types of farming, Singapore does not have enough land. Therefore, it is not possible to use this method except for soil-less farming.

4.Description of how each land use type affects different parties.

-Land reclamation through landfill and draining swamps:
Community: People would have more land for recreational usage and housing.
Industries: Have more space to build factories.

-Maximizing land use:
Community: More land for housing and residential purposes. Have better working condition as there is no overcrowding and more space to accommodate expanding economic activities.

-Increase price of land:
Industries: Makes sure the land is used to its maximum capacity and provide its highest output as they pay huge sum of money to buy the land.

-Conservation of land:
Community: Have more recreational areas.
Nation: Attracts more tourists to visit Singapore, earning more money.

5. Pictures

They have been included inside. However, the videos could not be included.

6.Reflection

The change is inevitable as the population of Singapore would grow. More and more land are required to build more houses and recreational facilities. Land is also needed for the rapid economic growth. This means expanding commercial and industrial activities, and developing infrastructure such as roads, MRT, airport facilities etc.

The growing population is responsible for the change as they need more facilities for recreational and housing purposes. The rapid economic growth is also responsible as more land is needed for expanding commercial and industrial activities, and developing infrastructure.

In conclusion, it is the population and the economy that benefits as the changes like land reclamation and others are meant for them to have better living conditions. As for the economy, it benefits as more industrial facilities can be set up and earn income for the economy. Overall, it is the nation that benefits.