In one of the largest urban parks in Singapore, the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, a concrete storm drain that ran through the park was ‘naturalized’ into a 3 kilometer-long meandering river with lush banks of vegetation.

Unsurprisingly, up to 4 million people visit the park every year, as the natural river not only benefits well being, recreation and education, but also provides better air quality. The restoration has also had a great impact on biodiversity, and the park is now home to over 100 species of birds, 50 species of butterflies and moths as well as more than 10 species of native riverine plants along floodplains.

The project not only benefits nature, but people, helping reduce the risk of flooding disasters as the natural surroundings are better able to absorb excess water, mitigating risk of damage to the local surrounding housing areas.