The Tropical Ecology & Entomology Lab (TEE Lab) is ecstatic to announce that PI Dr. Eleanor Slade and Senior Research Fellow Dr. Lam Weng Ngai has been awarded a $1.8mil Cities of Tomorrow (CoT) Research and Development grant from the National Research Foundation (NRF), Ministry of National Development (MND) and National Parks Board (NParks) of Singapore.
Under the R&D theme of 'Nature-based solutions for inland climate change adaption', this research titled 'Comparison of litterfall nutrient cycling between forests and urban green spaces in Singapore' will examine the soils and invertebrates of our forests and urban green spaces in Singapore to assess nutrient cycling and leaf litter decomposition to determine the progress and effectiveness of the country's greening initiatives.
With the support of this grant, researchers from the TEE Lab will gather important baseline data regarding nutrient release rates from decomposing leaves and soils across various vegetation types in Singapore. This research plays a crucial role in evaluating the health of these ecosystems, a task of increasing significance amidst the ever-changing weather patterns, evolving climate conditions and the increasing expansion of urban areas.
Ultimately, this research will provide stakeholders with a better understanding of nutrient cycling rates in different environments and land management scenarios and will serve as basis for the development of a comprehensive, long-term monitoring protocol designed to safeguard and enhance the resilience, health and ecological stability of Singapore's parks and nature reserves.
Importantly, this research aligns with the 'City in Nature' initiative, a key component of the 'Singapore Green Plan 2030', underlining its significance in the broader context of Singapore's commitment to a Sustainable 'City of Tomorrow'.