1 Ecosystem Services: a future tool to conserve Singapore’s threatened mangroves? Dan Friess, Dan Richards, Shermaine Wong, Jharyathri Thiagarajah, Val Phang The Mangrove Lab Department of Geography National University of Singapore dan.friess@nus.edu.sg www.themangrovelab.com 1

The project What are ecosystem services? What are the issues? “The direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human wellbeing” What are the issues? Mangroves are under threat now and in the future Mangroves are not properly valued Mangroves could be better incorporated into the planning process What are the aims of this project? Quantify the most important mangrove ecosystem services in Singapore Estimate how ecosystem services will change in the future Promote ecosystem services as a tool to communicate the importance of mangroves, and to strengthen the role of mangroves in land use planning (aka show why mangroves are AWESOME)

1. Quantifying ecosystem services Service? Carbon storage Why important? Mangroves take CO2 out of the atmosphere, reduce our national carbon footprint and contribution to climate change Chek Jawa Primary forest Secondary forest Ngo et al. (2013) Phang, Chou & Friess. in press. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

1. Quantifying ecosystem services Service? Carbon storage Why important? Mangroves take CO2 out of the atmosphere, reduce our national carbon footprint and contribution to climate change = 1 652 096 tonnes of CO2-e = annual emissions of 347 810 cars = 185 900 304 gallons of gasoline = annual energy use of 150 739 homes = annual emissions of 621 089 Singaporeans

1. Quantifying ecosystem services Service? Cultural value, spiritual value, aesthetic value, recreation Why important? Bring money into the economy, green spaces for health and relaxation, contributes to the “City in a Garden”

1. Quantifying ecosystem services Service? Cultural value, spiritual value, aesthetic value, recreation Why important? Bring money into the economy, green spaces for health and relaxation, contributes to the “City in a Garden” Other ecosystem services we are studying: Coastal protection Climate (urban heat island) Fisheries Do you have biodiversity data? Other ideas? Join us! Take selfies, save the environment! Richards & Friess. 2015. Ecological Indicators 53, 187-195

NOTE: WE DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD SACRIFICE ANY MANGROVES! 2. Ecosystem services in the future Mangroves will be lost under the 2013 URA Land Use Plan/ 2014 URA Master Plan Is there a balance between land development and mangrove ecosystem services? NOTE: WE DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD SACRIFICE ANY MANGROVES!

Take home messages Singapore’s mangroves provide lot’s of important ecosystem services! Tradeoffs exist between ecosystem services and development, but balances can be found Ecosystem services are a tool to communicate the importance of mangroves to the public and decision makers Ecosystem services could be an umbrella with which to conserve biodiversity Ecosystem services give ecosystems “a voice” in land planning For more info, check out: www.themangrovelab.com