Speech by 2M Desmond Lee at the Opening of the Singapore Botanic Gardens Seed Bank

Jul 13, 2019

Good morning. I am very delighted to join you this morning for the opening of Singapore’s very first seed bank at the Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG). 

The journey of a seed is a story of survival; a story of life. Look around us. Many of the majestic trees we see today began their life decades or perhaps even centuries ago as small seeds, some dispersed by wind or water, while others may have clung on to animals to hitch a ride. These natural mechanisms ensured the seeds did not just fall too near each other or their parent plant, so they would not compete with one another for resources.  This allowed trees and plants to survive and thrive. 

But with increasing threats from disease, natural disaster, and importantly, climate change, the natural dispersal mechanisms of seeds may not be enough. It is therefore timely for NParks to establish a seed bank here in the SBG, as a form of insurance against such threats. 

This enhances the Gardens’ role in botanical conservation, research and education. It will also complement existing seed banking efforts for agriculture and forestry by research institutions globally, and ensure that we can conserve our natural heritage for the benefit of future generations.

Let me share more about what we want to achieve with this Seed Bank. First, we want to support the conservation of more plant species here at our Gardens. The Seed Bank will expand the Gardens’ conservation capacity. It will be able to store seeds from up to 25,000 plant species. This is more than twice the 10,000 plant species in the Gardens’ living collection at present. 

The seeds can be used in habitat restoration and species conservation projects both in Singapore, and in our region. For example, we will be storing the seeds of the critically endangered Sindora wallichii, or Sepetir tree, which we collected from a Heritage Tree in Changi. 

Second, we want to improve storage methods for seeds from tropical plants. This is important as the other seed banks mostly focus on the seeds of temperate plants. Their cold storage methods may not be suitable for some of our regional tropical plant species.

Therefore, NParks will conduct research on various storage methods at our own Seed Bank. Over time, we will be able to establish better methods for storing such seeds in the long term. Seed banking is not a straightforward process – not just putting a seed aside and storing it at the right temperature. That is important, but you need to test the viability of seeds from time to time to ensure what you stored remains viable for the future. There is a lot of science and experimentation involved. 

Third, we want even more people to learn about the value of seeds and the need to conserve them. One of the key features of the Seed Bank is our interpretive gallery. Visitors will be able to catch a glimpse of the various laboratories, as well as the processes that take place behind the scenes in the process of seed banking.

NParks will also organise guided tours and public talks to help visitors understand seed storage and species conservation.

In addition, there is an outdoor seed dispersal garden that uses sculpture to show the different methods of seed dispersal that I spoke about earlier. Beyond conservation and science, NParks takes its role very seriously in educating the public about what it does and why this is important for the environment, for Singapore, and for the future of biodiversity in our region.

Let me take the opportunity to thank the Goh Foundation at this point. The research and education elements at the Seed Bank were supported by the Foundation’s generous donation of $1 million, in memory of Mrs Goh Cheng Liang. 

I was told that the family saw this as a meaningful way to remember Mrs Goh, as the continuation of important plant species will be a living legacy for the next generation.  

I am also happy to hear that the Seed Bank has received support from HSBC, Goldbell Foundation, Yokogawa Engineering Asia Pte Ltd, Alfa Tech, Kirtida & Bharat Mekani, Britesparx Design Pte Ltd and Benel Singapore. 

I encourage more individuals and organisations to come forward and support our Seed Bank through our Give to the Gardens programme.

We want to work together with you to ensure that our natural heritage will be conserved for future generations to enjoy. What we enjoy today – the canopy, the shade, the beauty, both the streetscape and the city and in our parks and reserves – they are the result of previous generations of Singaporeans making the effort to conserve and experiment, to plant and grow, to nurture and care for our greenery. Through the Seed Bank and our other efforts today, you can work alongside my colleagues at NParks and our nature groups to ensure that this beauty and biodiversity is enjoyed by our children and future generations.

In tandem with the opening of the Seed Bank, we are also launching the annual Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival today. NParks has lined up a series of exciting programmes, including workshops, movie screenings, and concerts, bringing people to the park. 

We will also be launching a book titled ‘The Nature of Poetry’. Edited by local poets Prof Emeritus Edwin Thumboo and Eric Tinsay Valles, the book features poems and photographs celebrating nature in Singapore. I am sure that the book will inspire a greater appreciation and connection with nature amongst its readers. 

Thank you for joining us this morning. Please help us disperse and spread the word about our new Seed Bank to all your family and friends. I also hope that you will enjoy the various activities NParks has arranged for you for the rest of the day.