GEL Topic 1: Thinking Geographically

Nature provides essentials like air and water for humans to survive. Living organisms such as bees help pollinate crops for a continuous supply of food. Nature provides spaces for recreation which allows people to bond with family and friends, maintaining their physical and mental health

NParks' Therapeutic Gardens help to connect people with nature and reduce stress which helps improve their physical, psychological and social well-being

People in the neighbourhood may tend to the health of nearby nature areas, ensuring that the plants and animals there thrive. People in local communities can encourage each other to enjoy nature areas without causing irreversible damage

NParks organises a range of activities during the week of international day for biodiversity in May. One activity is the Green Wave Campaign which aims to educate youths about the importance of protecting our natural environment

They bring benefits to each other. Green spaces & urban wildlife —> Mental health and wellbeing enhanced. Reforestation —> more shelter and habitat for urban wildlife —> people gain enjoyment

Presence of vegetation provides shade for people and reduces sunlight reaching the surface. Small particles are intercepted by leaves which are washed to the ground when it rains, improving air quality

The NParks Citizen Science Initiative, Dragonfly Watch, trains participants to identify different dragonfly species at their assigned sites. This results in greater protection of the species by raising awareness of their importance in the environment

People hike along non-designated trails in nature areas —> soil compaction rainwater cannot infiltrate surface —> higher surface flows and soil erosion as soil particles washed away. People may also trample on vegetation —> damages plants, affecting their growth

In 2014, human activities led to severe soil erosion and habitat degradation in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. This resulted in the limiting of public access to the nature reserve for 2 years

As Singapore continues to urbanise and develop, natural habitats continue to shrink —> Wildlife venture out of their nature areas in search of food or shelter —> increasing frequency of human-wildlife encounters —> humans provoke them —> wildlife attack

Sense of place is developed when people associate meanings and memories with locations. It is derived from our experiences with the natural and built environment, and interactions at these locations

It reflects the relationship people have with the places around them. It helps to build our identity, allowing us to understand ourselves and others better.

One location may hold different meanings for different people, depending on our needs, lifestyle and how we make sense of our experiences of places.

Repeated encounters with objects and people. Significant or memorable events at local landmarks and gathering places

Residents in Singapore have vivid memories of East Coast Parkway as it is a route that they go by when returning home from overseas

The truss line bridges in Bukit Timah built in 1932 as part of a railway line were unique in its design. As such, many people associate it with Singapore's railway's history. Many couples and families take photos there, making memories

Different forms and types of media such as texts, audio, graphics and still or moving images by individuals and organisations, reflecting people's ideas, memories and significance of location which can be shared with others via, print, broadcast and internet based media

Areas that have similar physical and/or human characteristics

Environmental characteristics, Human characteristics, geographical location

They can be in the sphere of influence of services, events, and objects on other locations in the area as that's where the regions boundaries lie

They reflect non-random arrangements that are recognisable as shapes, clusters, geometry and repeated occurrences at regular intervals E.g. Train stations on Circle Line MRT resemble a circle on a map

Spatial associations refer to the tendency of a pair of services, events and objects to be located near each other.

Fitness corners located near HDB blocks allowing the elderly to easily access them without travelling to another estate or block

They refer to the extent of an area in which a phenomenon or process takes place.

Therea are more than 20 towns spread across the country, catering to different lifestyles each with a town centre, serving as commercial and social hubs for residents living in its neighbourhoods

Global, Regional, National & Local

Smaller areas located within larger areas

Residential Unit, Precinct, Neighbourhood, Town

They have between 400 and 800 residential units and facilities are often within close proximity, serving residents' everyday needs.

A neighbourhood serves between 4000 and 6000 residential units. Each neighbourhood comprises a few precincts. A few neighbourhoods form a town which has a town centre.

1. Serves residents and provides for nature at distinct levels of the precinct, neighbourhood and town. 2. Creates connections and synergies across precincts, neighbourhoods and towns.

Land in each town is allocated for housing, industrial and commercial development, with remaining land for roads, schools, parks and more. Facilities enable the town to be self-sufficient and provide employment opportunities.

Long-term plans at national levels made to achieve this by optimising limited land —> caters to diverse needs of current and future Singaporeans

URA coordinates long-term planning with multiple stakeholders & agencies with long-term plans spanning 50 years, reviewed every 10 taking into account diverse needs & competing land uses