In June 1963, Singapore’s prime minister planted a tree to mark the beginning of a sustained campaign to enhance the city state’s appearance. No one could have anticipated the transformation that followed. This is the story of that process. Now, 50 years later, highly urbanized Singapore enjoys a green network of nature reserves, large and small parks, tree-lined streets and community gardens that is the envy of other big cities. Singapore has had to make tough decisions. Land is scarce. There are trade-offs between maintaining the island’s rich, natural biodiversity and public demands for housing and infrastructure appropriate to the 21st century. Nevertheless, the National Parks Board, and its partners in the public, private and civic sectors, continue to strive to keep Singapore green. Lavishly illustrated, the book shows how Singapore aims to be a ‘City in a Garden’, reminding us that the community must engage with the greening ‘mission’, if this great achievement is to continue.

Seagrasses are a vital and widespread but often overlooked coastal marine habitat. This volume provides a global survey of their distribution and conservation status.