CDL MicroForest
FIRST RESEARCH-DRIVEN REGENERATIVE TROPICAL MICROFOREST IN A RETAIL MALL WITHIN SINGAPORE’S HIGH-DENSITY CITY CENTRE
On 10 March 2025, the CDL MicroForest, alongside the CDL EcoTrain, was officially opened by Guest-of-Honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. He was joined by CDL’s senior management team, representatives from NUS, NParks, and JKT, as well as young eco-champions from CDL’s “We Love Our Planet” storytelling contest. The trees planted that day symbolise the 3P sectors’ shared responsibility to combat climate change and foster a greener tomorrow for our future. This collaborative effort exemplifies the power of partnerships in addressing environmental challenges.
Building on this spirit of cooperation, the CDL MicroForest emerged from a conversation between CDL’s Chief Sustainability Officer Esther An and Dr Adrian Loo, Director of NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, at the conclusion of COP29 last year. Within three months, we created the first regenerative tropical microforest in a retail mall located in Singapore’s high-density city centre. This remarkable achievement reflects the collective commitment of our partners to address the climate emergency, particularly the pressing issue of urban heat island effect in Singapore.
Located at City Green, the urban park adjacent to City Square Mall, this approximately 2,800 sq ft MicroForest was created to study how microforests can reduce urban temperatures, boost biodiversity and enhance ecological resilience. In 2024, Singapore experienced its fourth consecutive year of record-high temperatures within a decade, and one of its heaviest rainfall since 1980, highlighting issues like flash floods, infrastructure strain, soil instability and biodiversity due to urbanisation. In response, the CDL MicroForest was developed as a nature-based solution to mitigate urban heat and enhance biodiversity.
This initiative exemplifies a unique collaboration among the private sector and academia, uniting the expertise of CDL as the developer and manager of City Square Mall, and experts from National University of Singapore (NUS), who specialise in urban nature-based solutions.
Guided by the principle of ‘cooling by greening’, this pilot serves as a living laboratory, collecting critical data on how regenerative microforests can reduce urban heat, improve air quality, restore biodiversity and enhance liveability. By incorporating a diverse range of plant species, the CDL MicroForest mimics a tropical forest, lowering temperatures and providing refuge for Singapore’s wildlife, including native pollinators and dispersers.
This project is a scalable model for integrating regenerative tropical microforests into dense urban areas, supporting ecological connectivity and reinforcing Singapore’s vision of a City in Nature. Through research and measurable outcomes, this collaboration aims to promote nature-based solutions, laying the groundwork for sustainable, ecologically resilient urban environments that will thrive for generations to come.
Benefits of a regenerative tropical microforest:
- Cooling by Greening: Enhances thermal comfort by reducing urban heat through natural shade and evapotranspiration.
- Reduces Flooding & Helps with Flash Floods: Improves water absorption and drainage, reducing surface runoff and flood risks.
- Enhances Biodiversity: Supports a rich variety of plant and animal species, creating a thriving ecosystem.
- Improves Air Quality: Absorbs pollutants and releases oxygen, contributing to cleaner air.
- Sequesters Carbon: Captures and stores carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate climate change.
- Reduces Mosquito Populations: Creates a balanced ecosystem with natural predators to control mosquito breeding.
- Reduces Noise Pollution: Acts as a natural sound barrier, minimising urban noise.
- Supports Mental Well-being: Provides green spaces that promote relaxation and reduce stress.
- Boosts Soil Health: Enhances soil fertility and prevents erosion through deep-rooted vegetation.
The MicroForest initiative is a joint effort between CDL and the following experts from NUS –
Office of the President, NUSJoint-Appointments:
NUS College
NUS Cities – College of Design & Engineering (CDE)
Engineering Design & Innovation Centre (EDIC-CDE)
Director, Regenerative Agritech Centre, Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science
Read about the launch event here.
Deputy Director, Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, NUS
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