{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Short description|Statuary board of the Singapore government}} {{Infobox government agency | agency_name = National Parks Board | logo = NParks Logo.png | logo_width = 150 | seal = | seal_width = | seal_caption = | dissolved = | superseding = | formed = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1990|06|06}} | jurisdiction = Government of Singapore | motto = City in Nature | employees = | budget = | headquarters = Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569 | chief1_name = Loh Khum Yean | chief1_position = Chairman | chief2_name = Hwang Yu-Ning | chief2_position = CEO | parent_agency = Ministry of National Development | child1_agency = | website = https://www.nparks.gov.sg | footnotes = | agency_id = T08GB0038E | chief3_name = | chief3_position = | chief4_name = | chief4_position = | chief5_name = | chief5_position = | chief6_name = | chief6_position = | chief7_name = | chief7_position = | chief8_name = | chief8_position = | chief9_name = | chief9_position = | parent_department = }}
The '''National Parks Board''' ('''NParks''') is a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development of the Government of Singapore.
== History == In November 1989, Minister of National Development, S. Dhanabalan, presented the National Parks Bill in Parliament to form a body to manage the three parks, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Fort Canning Park and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, in Singapore.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 June 1990 |title=Turning national parks into 'global assets' |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/stoverseas19900609-1.2.9.13 |access-date=6 September 2022 |publisher=The Straits Times |page=8 |language=en-SG}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=7 June 1990 |title=Parks board inaugurated |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/biztimes19900607-1.2.12.1.2 |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg |publisher=The Business Times |page=2 |language=en-SG}}</ref> In March 1990, Minister of State for National Development, Lee Boon Yang introduced the National Parks Bill in Parliament to form the National Parks Board as a statutory board.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 March 1990 |title=Bill to create new board |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/biztimes19900314-1.2.11.1.4 |access-date=6 September 2022 |publisher=The Business Times |page=2 |language=en-SG}}</ref>
On 6 June 1990, the National Parks Board was formed to manage the three parks.<ref name=":0" />
On 1 July 1996, the Parks and Recreation Department was merged with the National Parks Board.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 July 1996 |title=Two parks bodies merge |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/biztimes19960702-1.2.9.7.2 |access-date=6 September 2022 |publisher=The Business Times |page=2 |language=en-SG}}</ref>
Since 1 April 2019, all non-food plant and animal-related functions originally under the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore were transferred to NParks under Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) as part of a reorganisation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Derek |title=Increased expertise, more holistic overview of flora and fauna for NParks |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/increased-expertise-more-holistic-overview-of-flora-and-fauna-for-nparks |website=The Straits Times |access-date=26 January 2020 |language=en |date=26 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Matthew |first1=Mohan |title=New stat board to oversee food safety and security; AVA to be disbanded |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-statutory-board-singapore-food-agency-ava-disbanded-10563864 |website=Channel NewsAsia |access-date=26 July 2018 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200809121339/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-statutory-board-singapore-food-agency-ava-disbanded-10563864 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In March 2020, then-Second Minister for National Development, Desmond Lee, announced a new vision for NParks: to further integrate nature into the city of Singapore, NParks would build on its prior goal of a "City in a Garden" to transform Singapore into a "City in Nature". This would entail creating at least another 200 hectares of nature parks, conserving 70 more native plant and animal species, constructing another 160 kilometres of park connectors, and ensuring that every household in Singapore is within a 10-minute walk of a park, by 2030.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NParks to work with the community to transform Singapore into a City in Nature |url=https://www.nparks.gov.sg/news/2020/3/nparks-to-work-with-the-community-to-transform-singapore-into-a-city-in-nature |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=National Parks Board |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Heng |first=Melissa |date=2020-03-04 |title=Parliament: More nature parks, park connectors as Singapore transforms into city in nature in next decade |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/parliament-more-nature-parks-park-connectors-as-singapore-transforms-into-city-in-nature-in |access-date=2024-06-17 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref>
== Activities ==
=== OneMillionTrees Campaign (2020 - present) === During the Committee of Supply debate in Parliament on 4 March 2020, then-Second Minister for National Development, Desmond Lee, announced that NParks would be launching a campaign, OneMillionTrees, to plant a million trees across Singapore over the next 10 years (i.e. by 2030).<ref>{{Cite web |title=S'pore aims to plant 1 million trees in the next 10 years |url=https://mothership.sg/2020/03/nparks-planting-1-million-trees/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=mothership.sg |language=en}}</ref> He explained that this would be a community initiative drawing on support from individuals and organisations, and that the trees would be planted "along our roads, in our parks, estates and green areas", as well as in some coastal areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Speech by 2M Desmond Lee at the Committee of Supply Debate 2020 - Transforming Singapore into a City of Nature |url=https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/speeches/view/speech-by-2m-desmond-lee-at-the-committee-of-supply-debate-2020---transforming-singapore-into-a-city-of-nature |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=www.mnd.gov.sg}}</ref>
Prior to the launch of the campaign, NParks was planting about 50,000 trees annually. Following the launch of the campaign, NParks aimed to double the number of trees planted annually.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-21 |title=What's up with the OneMillionTrees Movement? {{!}} TheHomeGround Asia |url=https://thehomeground.asia/destinations/singapore/whats-up-with-the-onemilliontrees-movement/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=thehomeground.asia |language=en-US}}</ref>
In April 2023, NParks announced that more than 540,000 trees had been planted across the country since the launch of the campaign, such that it was three years ahead of the 2030 target to plant a million trees. Some of the trees planted as part of the campaign include the Pink Mempat, Giam Rambai, and paper bark trees.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bin |first=Judd Siow Rui |date=2023-04-15 |title=Singapore to hit target of planting one million more trees in 2027, three years ahead of schedule |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-to-hit-target-of-planting-one-million-trees-in-2027-three-years-ahead-of-schedule |access-date=2023-11-09 |issn=0585-3923}}</ref>
== Notable incidents ==
=== Purchase of Brompton bikes (2012) === On 25 January 2012, the third day of the Chinese New Year period and a day on which many businesses will remain closed after the preceding two days of public holidays, NParks called a tender for foldable bikes via the government procurement portal, GeBiz. The tender closed six days (three working days) later on 30 January 2012. It was reported that NParks had purchased 26 Brompton bicycles at SGD 2,200 each, from BikeHop, which was the only bidder.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hussain |first=Amir |date=26 July 2012 |title=CPIB to look into NParks bike purchase |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/today20120726-1.2.5 |work=TODAY |pages=1}}</ref>
On 22 June 2012, local Chinese media outlet Lianhe Zaobao highlighted concerns about the procurement process for the purchase of the Brompton bicycles.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 2012 |title=公园局高档新坐骑 |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhzb20120622-1.2.4 |work=联合早报 (Lianhe Zaobao) |pages=1}}</ref> The procurement process was also [https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/csi-attempt-nparks-brompton-procurement-process-ended-up-with-a-dodgy-winning-bidder.3814897/ discussed] on online forums such as HardwareZone,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lay |first=Belmont |date=3 October 2013 |title=How Hardwarezone Forum broke the Brompton bike fiasco |url=https://mothership.sg/2013/10/hardwarezone-forum-broke-brompton-bike-fiasco/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=mothership.sg |language=en}}</ref> and forum letters to national broadsheets expressed concerns about the use of public funds.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tan |first=Buck Yam |date=7 July 2012 |title=Seeking clarity over $2,200-bike purchase |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20120707-1.2.42.6.2 |work=The Straits Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Kah Khoon |date=7 July 2012 |title=Target price should have been less than $1,000 |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/issue/straitstimes20120707-1 |work=The Straits Times}}</ref> NParks commenced an internal investigation into the matter.
On 4 July 2012, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan posted a blog post explaining that NParks needed foldable bikes to facilitate the movement of NParks' staff along park connector networks across the country. He stated that only one vendor responded to NPark's bid and he accepted NParks' explanation that the Brompton bicycles, whilst more expensive, were durable and require less maintenance, and accordingly that NParks had bought the right equipment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boon Wan |first=Khaw |date=4 July 2012 |title=Value for Money |url=http://mndsingapore.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/value-for-money |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707232930/http://mndsingapore.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/value-for-money |archive-date=7 July 2012 |website=Housing Matters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Durai |first=Jennani |date=5 July 2012 |title=Khaw okay with NParks' purchase of $2,200 bikes |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20120705-1.2.39.13 |work=The Straits Times}}</ref> Khaw subsequently stated that NParks had reported its internal findings to him on 30 June 2012, and having read the report, he saw no reason to question to integrity of the officers involved in the procurement process. Nonetheless, he commissioned an internal audit of the procurement that same day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khaw |first=Boon Wan |date=1 August 2012 |title=Of Justice, Fairness and Due Process |url=https://mndsingapore.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/of-justice-fairness-and-due-process/ |website=Housing Matters}}</ref>
On 14 July 2012, a letter from NParks CEO Poon Hong Yuen was published in a national newspaper, admitting that NParks could have handled the purchase better. In the letter, Poon explained that the rationale for the purchase of foldable bicycles was to boost productivity and that NParks had adhered with applicable government procurement guidelines in relation to the procurement process.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Poon |first=Hong Yuen |date=14 July 2012 |title=NParks acknowledges bicycle purchase could have been handled better |work=The Straits Times}}</ref>
On 18 July 2012, Bernard Lim Yong Soon, an assistant director who had been assigned the task of obtaining approval for, and arranging NParks' purchase of foldable bicycles, was summoned for an interview before the Internal Audit Unit of the Ministry of National Development (MND).<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2015 |title=Public Prosecutor v Lim Yong Soon Bernard |url=https://www.elitigation.sg/gdviewer/s/2015_SGCA_19 |website=elitigation.sg}}</ref> On 24 July 2012, it was reported that Lim had been suspended.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sim |first=Fann |date=2012-07-24 |title=NParks officer suspended for foldable bikes purchase worth S$57,200 |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/nparks-officer-suspended-for-foldable-bikes-purchase-worth-s-57-200.html |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-SG}}</ref>
On 23 July 2012, MND reported NParks' purchase of the bicycles to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 July 2012 |title=MND reports Brompton bikes purchase to CPIB |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newpaper20120726-1.2.3.8.1 |work=The New Paper}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=26 July 2012 |title=NParks' bikes purchase referred to CPIB |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes20120726-1.2.15.5 |work=The Business Times}}</ref>
In August 2012, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean informed Parliament that the CPIB had completed its investigations and that the case was before the public prosecutor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-01 |title=DPM Teo: Investigations into Brompton bicycle saga completed |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/i-do-not-condone-wrongdoing--khaw-boon-wan.html |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-SG}}</ref>
In 2014, Lim was convicted of lying to auditors in relation to purchase of the bicycles. Deputy Public Prosecutor Andre Jumbahoy had argued for a jail term of 3-4 months on the basis that there had been "pre-meditation". However, District Judge Marvin Bay rejected this and imposed a fine of SGD 5,000 instead.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Amanda |date=10 June 2014 |title=NParks assistant director Bernard Lim Yong Soon fined S$5,000 |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/nparks-assistant-director-bernard-lim-yong-soon-fined-s5000 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=TODAY |language=en}}</ref>
=== Corrupt conduct by manager (2019) === In 2019, Lee Choon Ping, a NParks manager, was tasked to procure about 10,000 hats for an upcoming garden festival. He contacted Jota Tan Beng Khoon, who was the sole proprietor of SBM Easi Trade (a firm that supplies souvenirs, corporate gifts and events merchandise) and informed Tan that there was a "price war", thereby indicating to Tan that he should quote the lowest price possible to secure the contract. Tan eventually secured the contract to supply the hats.
Upon realising that NParks already had about 5,000 unused hats in storage, Lee instructed Tan to delivery just 5,000 hats and provide a refund for the remaining 5,000 hats into Lee's personal bank account. Lee subsequently informed Tan that he wanted the refund paid personally to him in SGD 1,000 notes.
During investigations, up-skirt photographs were also discovered on Lee's hard disk, which Lee had taken during an open house event which he had attended with his daughter on 7 March 2019.
In 2022, Lee was convicted of attempting to obtain corrupt gratification, cheating, and insulting the modesty of a woman. He was sentenced to a total of 11 months' jail. Seven similar charges of insulting modesty were taken into consideration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jail for NParks manager who asked for S$10,000 bribe and had upskirt photos in his possession |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/jail-nparks-manager-bribe-hat-supplier-upskirt-photos-cpib-probe-3382341 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref>
=== Corrupt conduct by senior director (2022) === In 2022, Teva Raj Palanisamy was convicted of corruption for accepting six free trips between Singapore and Johor in exchange for abusing his position as a senior director of NParks to further the business interests of a NParks sub-contractor. He was sentenced to four months' jail and fined SGD 900.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former NParks senior director gets jail, fine for corruptly obtaining free trips to Johor |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/nparks-corrupt-free-round-trip-johor-teva-raj-palanisamy-2524791 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref>
== Leadership == {| class="wikitable" |+Chief Executive Officer !Date !CEO !Comments |- |2010 - 16 February 2014 |Poon Hong Yuen | |- |17 February 2014 - 31 May 2023 |Kenneth Er Boon Hwee |<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chua |first=Grace |date=2014-02-11 |title=New NParks chief executive appointed |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-nparks-chief-executive-appointed |access-date=2023-11-09 |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> |- |1 June 2023 - present |Hwang Yu-Ning |<ref>{{Cite web |title=NParks to get new CEO; URA's next chief planner appointed |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ura-mnd-nparks-ceo-hwang-yu-ning-adele-tan-new-senior-appointments-3481321 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref> |} {| class="wikitable" |+Chairperson !Date !Chairperson !Comments |- |2018 - 30 September 2023 |Benny Lim Siang Hoe | |- |1 October 2023 - present |Loh Khum Yean |<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Parks Board to get new chairman on Oct 1 |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/nparks-new-chairman-low-khum-yean-benny-lim-3807641 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref> |}
== See also == * List of parks in Singapore
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.nparks.gov.sg}} * [https://www.nparks.gov.sg/cuge Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology] * [https://www.gardencityfund.gov.sg Garden City Fund]
{{Parks in Singapore}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1996 establishments in Singapore Category:Statutory boards of the Singapore Government Category:Parks in Singapore Category:Regulation in Singapore