GEOGRAPHY IN

EVERYDAY LIFE
TOPIC 1
Thinking Geographically
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

In this topic, you will learn:

1.1 What is the relationship between people and nature in

their neighbourhood?
1.2 How do people acquire a sense of place in their
neighbourhoods?

1.3 What is the relationship between locations in a

neighbourhood?
1.4 How are neighbourhoods organised in Singapore?
425 × 639

GEOGRAPHY IN
EVERYDAY LIFE
TOPIC 1.1
Thinking Geographically
What is the relationship
between people and nature in
their neighbourhood?
TOPIC 1.1

Thinking Geographically

What is the relationship between people and nature in their

neighbourhoods?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

In this topic, you will learn:

Relationships between people and nature

Benefits enjoyed by people and nature

Disadvantages to people and nature

 FOUR KEY GEOGRAPHICAL CONCEPTS
provide a lens for us when we are analysing phenomena and issues in the world

• refers to fundamental levels

• refers to locations or an • Generally, refers to a • physical and human of organisation (local,
area with unique physical location/geographical point environments which are regional, global) scale of
and human on the earth's surface (e.g., interconnected and imagery (e.g. satellite to
characteristics as determined by latitude or independent. ground photographs ).
longitude)
• holds different meanings
for people as it is derived • include basic spatial
from people's experiences concepts such as locations,
such as their memories distance, direction and spatial
and perceptions patterns and processes such
as distribution of tropical
climate.
People and nature co-exist in different environments. Let’s watch a video
which explains the concept of ENVIRONMENT.
 ENVIRONMENT

refers to

Physical Environment Built Environment

Environment refers to the physical and built environments which can be

natural, managed or constructed.

It also includes the processes that occur naturally or result from human
actions.
Which of the following photographs show NATURE?
A photograph of the hiking trail in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Source: MOE)
A Photograph of a
mushroom sprouting by
the pavement in Bukit
Batok
A photograph of pigeons at Arab Street
A photograph of trees lining the Pan Island Expressway
(Source: MOE)
Singapore is often thought of as a concrete jungle and we may overlook the
importance of nature in our neighbourhoods

But in reality, we are likely to interact with some form of nature daily in our
neighbourhoods and in our school.
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE AND NATURE?

Within various environments, diverse relationships exist between

people and nature.

DEPENDENT INTERCONNECTED MUTUALLY AFFECT

1 LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND NEARBY NATURE AREAS ARE
DEPENDENT UPON EACH OTHER

PEOPLE DEPEND ON NATURE NATURE AREAS DEPEND ON PEOPLE

(a) survival (a) Look after nearby nature areas
(b) a continuous food supply (b) Encourage one another to enjoy
(c) maintaining their physical & nearby nature areas
mental well-being
PEOPLE DEPEND ON NATURE

(a) The natural world

provides what
humans need to
survive

Nature provides essentials like air

and water for humans to survive.
Oxygen from air is critical for
respiration and water is essential
for hydration and other bodily
functions.

Hence, people DEPEND on

these resources found in nature
to live and thrive on the planet.
PEOPLE DEPEND ON NATURE

(b) Local
communities
depend on bees for
crop pollination

Living organisms like bees are

essential for pollinating crops and
enabling a continuous supply
of food.

Bees transfer pollen between

flowering plants, allowing
them to reproduce.

People DEPEND on pollinators

like bees, many staple crops
like fruits, nuts and vegetables
would decline
PEOPLE DEPEND ON NATURE

(c)
Nature
provides spaces
for people's well-being

Green spaces like parks and

gardens allow people to
participate in recreational,
leisure and social activities with
family and friends.

People DEPEND on these nature

spaces to reduce stress and
maintain physical and mental
well-being.
EXAMPLE
Therapeutic Gardens
Improve Wellbeing
Therapeutic gardens provide a
calming, restorative environment
that helps reduce stress and
improve wellbeing.

Being surrounded by nature,

whether in a garden or natural
landscape, has great benefits for
both mental and physical health.
The 1,650sqm Therapeutic Garden @ Bedok Reservoir Park overlooks the scenic Bedok
Reservoir. It is the first therapeutic garden to be built over a former sand quarry, and to have an interactive
rock garden as one of its features. Stones and boulders have been incorporated into the garden’s features
and amenities to reflect its heritage. The garden has a pavilion which offers visitors an unobstructed, scenic
view of the reservoir and offers sheltered space for group activities in the future.
The 3,100 sqm Therapeutic Garden at Jurong Lake Gardens was launched on 23 October
2021 and consists of two sections – one designed for adults and another for children, with features specially
curated for seniors with dementia and children with conditions such as mild autism and attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both sections are wheelchair-accessible.
NATURE AREAS DEPEND ON PEOPLE
People in the neighbourhood may look after nearby nature areas, investing efforts to
ensure that the plants and animals living there thrive

(a) Hence, nature areas DEPEND on local communities to look after them to thrive.
NATURE AREAS DEPEND ON PEOPLE

(a) Encourage one another to enjoy nearby nature areas

An infographic showing some ways nature areas can be enjoyed sustainably

(b) Nature areas DEPEND on people to encourage one another to enjoy them in
order to thrive without being subjected to irreversible damage.
NParks organises the Green Wave campaign during the week of international day of biodiversity in
May, which aims to educate youths about the importance of protecting our natural environment

Each year, students from around the world plant locally important trees in their school compounds at 10 am on the
International Day of Biological Diversity, 22 May.
This creates a figurative “green wave” that begins in the Far East before eventually rippling across the globe. As part of Green
Wave, schools may select up to five plants from either a native shrub or tree species to be planted within the school
compound.
2 LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND NEARBY NATURE AREAS
MUTUALLY AFFECT EACH OTHER

Bring BENEFITS to each other Bring DISADVANTAGES to each other

 2 LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND NEARBY NATURE AREAS
MUTUALLY AFFECT EACH OTHER

NATURE AREAS BENEFIT PEOPLE PEOPLE BENEFIT NATURE

b
e
n
e
b f
e I
n t
e s
f
i
t
s
Study the figure below, which shows a map of temperature variations across Singapore

Which parts of Singapore are cooler? Which areas are warmer?

What are the likely factors that

contributed to the variation in
temperature?
NATURE AREAS BENEFIT PEOPLE
Vegetation cools the surrounding air through evapotranspiration
& by providing shade
Water evaporates
from the leaves,
uses heat from the
surrounding, thus
cooling it
Reduces the amount of
direct sunlight that
reaches the surface
Provides shade
for people

Water is drawn
up the stem to
the leaves

Roots uptake water

from the soil

A LOWERING OF AIR TEMPERATURE

 NATURE AREAS BENEFIT PEOPLE

1) Vegetation absorbs air pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide

2) Small particles in the air are

intercepted by leaves and
then washed down to the
A diagram showing vegetation removing pollutants from the environment
ground when it rains.

B REMOVAL OF POLLUTANTS
NATURE AREAS BENEFIT PEOPLE

A Nasa study explains how to purify air with house plants

 NATURE AREAS BENEFIT PEOPLE

Wetland plants
Clean water Pollutants

A diagram showing
how wetland plants
remove pollutants

Absorb excess
from water

nutrients in water
Suspended sediments
& pollutants get trapped

B REMOVAL OF POLLUTANTS
NATURE AREAS BENEFIT PEOPLE
Nature areas are popular recreation spaces offering numerous opportunities
for outdoor activities such as biking, camping, hiking and rock climbing.
Singapore has four nature reserves as well as 350 parks, providing local
communities with ample spaces to carry out leisure and recreational activities.

A map showing the various

nature areas in Singapore

C PROVISION OF RECREATION SPACE

Have you recently engaged in any recreational activities in any of the nature areas in your
neighbourhood? For example, the bird watching tower in Pasir Ris park is a popular spot
where one can admire the mangroves and birds

A photograph showing the Pasir Ris bird watching tower

 Studies have also shown that direct and frequent interactions with nature can
bring about a range of health benefits and improve people’s well-being.

These interactions can reduce the severity and occurrence of chronic health conditions
PEOPLE BENEFIT NATURE
Local communities can collectively raise awareness about the value of nature areas,
encouraging positive behaviour that does not damage nature.

A RAISING AWARENESS OF THE VALUE OF NATURE

PEOPLE BENEFIT NATURE
An example is the Dragonfly watch, which is a citizen science initiative helmed by the
NParks to involve the community in collecting valuable information about dragonflies and
damselflies in Singapore’s parks, gardens and reserves. Information gathered will contribute
towards better park management and conservation measures of these insects.

An illustration showing how citizens can record down wildlife using a phone app
PEOPLE BENEFIT NATURE
Local communities can also organise or participate in conservation efforts such as
Clean-up Programmes, to remove pollutants from the environment.

An example is the waterways

clean-up programme organised by
the Waterways Watch Society.

Through this programme, schools

and companies have the
opportunities to pick up trash from
the Marina Reservoir on foot,
using bicycles, kayaks or boats.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic,

more than 1,000 participants
fished out 2,429kg of trash from
Marina Reservoir in 2020 through
this programme.
Removal of pollutants helps to
restore the natural habitats
and provide a health
environment for species to
thrive.

B ORGANISE OR PARTICIPATE IN CONSERVATION EFFORTS

2 LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND NEARBY NATURE AREAS
MUTUALLY AFFECT EACH OTHER

People bring Nature may bring

DISADVANTAGES to DISADVANTAGES to people
nature
Disadvantages

Disadvantages
causing soil Human-wildlife Environmental
Worsening
erosion & conflicts due to protection
pollution &
damaging increased limiting
disturbing wildlife
vegetation encounters development
A photograph showing a dirt
path in Clementi Forest

(Source: MOE)
PEOPLE BRING DISADVANTAGES TO NATURE
When people hike along non-designated trails in nature areas, they may
trample and damage vegetation and forest floors, affecting their growth.
Excessive trampling of the topsoil of forest floors would lead to soil compaction.

BEFORE AFTER

Loose and not compact soil Compacted soil

Compacted soil prevents air, water and roots from penetrating,

resulting in negative impacts on the habitat’s health.

A CAUSING SOIL EROSION AND DAMAGING VEGETATION

 PEOPLE BRING DISADVANTAGES TO NATURE

Littering of metal cans, plastic bags and bottles by visitors will worsen pollution
in nature areas
Wild animals can get cut by metal cans or become entangled with plastic
containers and bags

B WORSENING POLLUTION AND DISTURBING WILDLIFE

 PEOPLE BRING DISADVANTAGES TO NATURE

Feeding wildlife may also alter their behaviours, causing them to lose their natural foraging ability and start to venture out of their natural habitats and approach
humans for food, potentially increasing When encounters between humans and wildlife lead to negative results, such as loss of property, livelihoods, or injury.
human-wildlife conflicts.

For example, there are many instances of visitors feeding long-tailed macaques at MacRitchie Reservoir. This may alter the habits and behaviours of macaques,
which are highly intelligent and adaptable animals, capable of surviving without human help. They may become less skilled in foraging and become dependent on
humans for food. In Singapore, particularly in the nature reserves, the long-tailed macaques play a critical role in dispersing seeds. Hence, it is of great importance
that we do not change their habits and behaviours.

A photograph showing a long-tailed macaque mistaking a styrofoam box as food

(Source: NParks)
 The law prohibits the feeding of any wild animals. Anyone caught
intentionally feeding wildlife will be fined $5,000 on the first offence.

A poster showing why people should not feed wildlife

PEOPLE BRING DISADVANTAGES TO NATURE
In the long-run, extensive feeding of wildlife may increase their numbers beyond the
carrying capacity of our natural areas. When the carrying capacity is exceeded,
population will not have necessary natural resources to survive. This may also
contribute to these animals leaving their natural habitat in search of food.

Pigeons eating rice grains thrown out by a feeder living Bird droppings on the 14th floor of an HDB
in a block flats along Toa Payoh Lorong 4. (Photo: flat along Toa Payoh Lorong 4. (Photo: Gaya
Gaya Chandramohan Chandramohan)

B WORSENING POLLUTION AND DISTURBING WILDLIFE

NATURE MAY BRING DISADVANTAGES TO PEOPLE

Encounters between humans and wildlife are expected to increase

Factors such as urban expansion, people’s growing interest in outdoor

recreation, and an overall greening of the city have brought people and wildlife
closer together, increasing the frequency of human-wildlife encounters.

However, such encounters may not always be positive.

NATURE MAY BRING DISADVANTAGES TO PEOPLE

WILDLIFE FROM NEARBY NATURE AREAS MAY HARM PEOPLE

As a result of an increase in human-wildlife encounters, human-wildlife conflict

may also increase. Due to the increase in wildlife sightings, local communities may
not know how to react when they come across wildlife and may unintentionally
provoke them, which may trigger the animals to attack.

A photograph of wild boars in the

middle of the road
(Source: NParks, Bryan Lim)

B HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICTS DUE TO INCREASED ENCOUNTERS

Due to the close proximity between urban areas and forests, wild animals such as
wild boars may venture away from the forest in search for new food sources and new
spaces to live in. If they venture too far into unfamiliar spaces, they can become
stressed, confused and fearful, and may be more likely to attack when provoked or
triggered.

B HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICTS DUE TO INCREASED ENCOUNTERS

 Following the attack, some residents
For example, two residents in Punggol became more cautious as they walked
were separately attacked by a wild boar around the neighbourhood.
on the same night in February 2021. It is
unsure if the boars were provoked prior
to the attack.

B HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICTS DUE TO INCREASED ENCOUNTERS

The National Parks Board (NPB) conducts population surveys and
research studies to understand the distribution of wild boars
throughout Singapore's nature areas, as well as carries out animal
conflict mitigation measures and engagement programmes to
educate the public on why they should not feed wildlife.

HOW TO KEEP WILD BOARS OUT OF YOUR HOMES?

If you have further queries, please contact us through our online feedback form at https://www.avs.gov.sg/feedback.

B HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICTS DUE TO INCREASED ENCOUNTERS

NATURE MAY BRING DISADVANTAGES TO PEOPLE
Some people in the local communities may feel the protection of nature is done
at the expense of their needs. Take the Cross Island line (CRL) as an example.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MAY BE PERCEIVED TO BE

B LIMITING DEVELOPMENT
It was proposed to build the CRL around, instead of under the CCNR to protect our la

A photograph of a Raffles Banded Langur

(Source: NParks, Bryan Lim)

A photograph of a Sunda Pangolin

(Source: NParks, Bryan Lim)
However, residents living around the nature reserve were concerned that
the proposal would cause damage to their properties or result in
their homes being acquired to make way for construction.

Hence, people may think that

environmental conservation
protection results in
increased inconvenience for
them, or limits urban
development.

https://ifonlysingaporeans.blogspot.co
m/2016/02/cross-island-line-ltas-
environmental.html

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MAY BE PERCEIVED TO BE

B LIMITING DEVELOPMENT
The Cross Island MRT Line Shows The Complexity of Making
Environmental Trade-offs
The headline decision to build a 50km Cross Island MRT
Line (CRL) under Singapore’s Central Catchment
Reserve was announced last week and has since
garnered significant public attention. After the study
concluded, the Ministry of Transport decided that 2 km of
the MRT tunnel will run directly underneath the nature
reserve at a depth of 70 metres – equivalent to the
height of a 25-storey HDB block – the deepest any MRT
tunnel will go here. This would mean that the work is fully
carried out through hard granite rock, far away from
surface flora and fauna.
 Think Geographically
through NEIGHBOURHOODS
spaces shared by
Communities symbiotic relationships
Nature areas
BENEFITS
DEVELOPMENT

LOWER TEMPERATURE
PROMOTES

WELL-BEING
ENHANCE REMOVE POLLUTANTS
HARMS

LIMITS

are homes
PROVIDE RECREATION

ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
WILDLIFE disturbs

DISADVANTAGES DAMAGE VEGETATION

INCREASE WORSEN POLLUTION
HUMAN-
CAUSE SOIL EROSION
WILDLIFE
ENCOUNTERS
urban expansion
visitors to nature
growing interest
in outdoors
greening efforts
by the state