Singapore

General Description / Cultural Significance

Over 220 native orchids once grew wild in Singapore. They are still abundant because they are conserved, but some are endangered or have become extinct. The culture of Singapore developed around orchids and Singaporeans’ love of them continues to be deeply ingrained. The rare Vanda Miss Joaquim (Agnes variety) orchid was chosen as the national flower of Singapore in 1981 to represent Singapore’s hybrid and unique culture.

Singapore’s reverence for the orchid flower is evident in numerous ways. The Singapore Botanic Gardens help to conserve the 179 wild orchids distributed across the country, including the rare and largest specie: the tiger orchid. This national interest manifests itself in the National Orchid Garden collection, which has become home to the most expansive collection of tropical orchids in the world. “Orchid diplomacy” is another example of how respected the orchid is across the country. In this traditional Singaporean practice, orchid hybrids are named after respected individuals visiting from other countries, such as foreign dignitaries, as a sign of goodwill.

Climate Change / Conservation Status

Singapore’s island landscape includes sunny tropical rainforests and swampy mangroves, perfect for orchids. However, as a low-lying city-state, Singapore is especially vulnerable to rising sea levels because 30% of the island is less than 5 meters above sea level. Scientists predict that Singapore will experience a mean sea level rise of up to one meter by 2100. Looking ahead, Singapore is taking rising sea levels into consideration when building infrastructure, and the buildings are now constructed four to five meters above sea level. Singapore has also begun experimenting with polders, which pump water from behind a wall in the sea to prevent water from venturing inwards towards land.

Temperature rises continue to threaten Singapore, with the temperature rising 0.25 °C per decade from 1948 to 2015. Singapore has always been subject to endemic tropical diseases. But now, dangerously warm weather has led to a higher frequency of vector-borne diseases in Singapore. Furthermore, temperature rises are affecting Singapore’s natural plant and animal diversity because of the effects on soil formation and nutrient storage.

Recent scientific research indicates that Singapore is particularly vulnerable and more prone to climate change than was once thought, due to its proximity to the equator, which receives the most radiation. With changing precipitation and rising heat, orchids are under threat. Organizations such as National Orchid Garden have designed unique climate-controlled spaces for orchids to help safeguard as much orchid biodiversity as they can.

Sources

Cheema, S. 2019. Singapore is prepping itself to face climate change through these three practical methods. Mashable SEA. Available from https://sea.mashable.com/science/5692/singapore-is-prepping-itself-to-face-climate-change-through-these-three-practical-methods

Climate Change. Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. Available from https://www.mse.gov.sg/policies/climate-change#:~:text=Protecting%20Against%20Sea%20Level%20Rise&text=Singapore%20is%20particularly%20vulnerable%20to,about%201%20metre%20by%202100

Conserving mountain orchids in tropical Singapore. Arup. Available from https://www.arup.com/projects/national-orchid-garden-singapore

Impact of Climate Change In Singapore. National Climate Change Secretariat. Available from https://www.nccs.gov.sg/singapores-climate-action/impact-of-climate-change-in-singapore/

Lyon, L. 2020. Most people don’t really understand how climate change works. Massive Science. Availabe from https://massivesci.com/articles/climate-change-atmosphere-earth-green-new-deal/#:~:text=Solar%20radiation%20that%20makes%20it,the%20tilt%20of%20its%20axis

Orchid Cultivation. 2019. Roots. Available from https://www.roots.gov.sg/en/ich-landing/ich/orchid-cultivation

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the United Nations. This statement can be found on the original World Sensorium website.

Singaporean Native Orchid – Our Scented Heritage. Scentopia. Available from https://www.scentopia-singapore.com/singaporean-orchid-scent-notes.html

Thiruvengadam, M. 2021. National Orchid Garden. Afar. Available from https://www.afar.com/places/national-orchid-garden-singapore#:~:text=Singapore%20is%20known%20for%20its,one%20named%20after%20Princess%20Diana.

Vanda Miss Joaquim – Our National Flower. ARCH Heritage Collection Pte Ltd. Available from https://www.archsingapore.com.sg/vanda-miss-joaquim-our-national-flower/#:~:text=Vanda%20Miss%20Joaquim%20was%20chosen,Singapore%27s%20uniqueness%20and%20hybrid%20culture.