Singapore’s ambitious plan to create a new Western Island is raising fresh questions over the future of some of the country’s richest marine habitats, as scientists and nature groups call for detailed environmental studies before any reclamation goes ahead.
The proposal, announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the 2026 National Day Rally on Aug. 23, involves potentially merging several southern islands to create a larger landmass for future industry, power infrastructure and defence needs. Among the islands identified as potentially involved are Pulau Bukom, Pulau Semakau and Pulau Sudong, with other surrounding areas also potentially affected.
The plan is part of Singapore’s long-term approach to securing additional land and infrastructure options for future generations. Mr Wong said Singapore must balance the need for development with the protection of green spaces, biodiversity and places with heritage value.
But beneath the proposed development zone lies an ecosystem that marine scientists say is exceptionally valuable.
Marine habitats larger than Sentosa could be affected
According to data from the National Parks Board’s Southern Islands Biodiversity Survey cited by The Straits Times, intertidal habitats across the islands and surrounding reefs that could fall within the potential reclamation area cover about 592.8 hectares — an area larger than Sentosa and representing more than half of the Southern Islands’ intertidal areas.
The area includes coral reefs, seagrass habitats and other marine ecosystems that support a wide range of species.
Scientists say the Southern Islands are particularly significant because they contain much of Singapore’s remaining natural coral reef habitat. Some reefs around Pulau Hantu and Pulau Semakau are estimated to date back roughly 8,000 years, making them mature ecosystems that cannot simply be recreated after reclamation.
Marine researchers have also highlighted the area’s importance for giant clams, fish populations, coastal ecosystems and scientific research. One researcher cited by The Straits Times estimated that 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the wild giant-clam populations studied by her are found in areas that could potentially be affected.
Scientists warn that some losses may be irreversible
The biggest concern is not simply the construction itself, but the permanent loss of mature marine ecosystems if they are buried beneath reclaimed land.
Marine scientists told The Straits Times that direct burial of coral reefs during reclamation cannot be fully offset through coral transplantation. Transplanted corals, they argue, cannot immediately reproduce the complex ecological functions of reef systems that have developed over thousands of years.
The concern comes at a particularly sensitive time for Singapore’s reefs.
In June, The Straits Times reported that Singapore’s 2026 annual coral spawning season was unusually muted. Scientists said the weaker reproduction could reflect reduced resilience following the 2024 marine heatwave, during which more than 40 per cent of Singapore’s corals reportedly experienced bleaching at one point.
Singapore’s reefs could also face another climate-related challenge. Researchers have warned that a strong El Niño could place additional stress on the country’s coral ecosystems in 2027.
That makes the question surrounding future reclamation more complicated: the ecosystems are already facing climate pressure while potentially confronting major physical changes to their surrounding environment.
Government says studies will come first
The Ministry of National Development has stressed that the Western Island proposal is still being studied.
An MND spokesperson told The Straits Times that the Government recognises the biodiversity value of the Western Islands and surrounding waters. Technical studies will include feasibility studies, site investigations and surveys, as well as engineering and environmental studies examining possible development options and their preliminary effects on biodiversity and hydrodynamics.
The Government also said stakeholders will be engaged and their knowledge and expertise will help inform the studies and identify ways to avoid, minimise and mitigate environmental impacts where possible.
This means the current proposal should not be interpreted as confirmation that every identified marine habitat will ultimately be reclaimed.
Why the Western Island matters to Singapore
From the Government’s perspective, the proposal is part of planning for Singapore’s long-term needs.
The country has limited land, and the Government has repeatedly emphasised the need to plan decades ahead for homes, jobs, infrastructure, energy security and national defence.
The proposed Western Island could provide space for a new generation of industries and power-related infrastructure, while its location near Jurong Island could support Singapore’s future industrial and energy ambitions. Analysts cited by The Straits Times have also discussed the possibility of designing the new area around integrated low-carbon energy infrastructure.
That creates a difficult balancing act: Singapore needs land and infrastructure for future growth, but some of the areas being considered are also among its most valuable remaining natural marine environments.
Conservation groups want alternatives on the table
Scientists and nature groups are not necessarily arguing that Singapore should abandon development altogether. Instead, many are calling for the planning process to examine whether the reclamation footprint can be redesigned to avoid the most ecologically important habitats.
Some marine scientists have suggested that the eventual reclamation boundary should remain flexible enough to preserve significant coral reefs, seagrass areas and other mature ecosystems.
There is also a longstanding conservation proposal behind the debate.
The 2018 Singapore Blue Plan proposed that Pulau Semakau, Pulau Hantu, Pulau Jong and nearby reefs be designated as a marine reserve. That proposal was not adopted, according to The Straits Times.
Researchers say the Southern Islands are not only important because of the species they contain. They also function as living laboratories where scientists can study how marine ecosystems respond to urbanisation, climate stress and environmental change.
The bigger question for Singapore
The Western Island proposal reflects a familiar challenge for Singapore: how to create room for a growing economy and future generations without permanently losing parts of the natural environment that make the country unique.
Prime Minister Wong acknowledged this tension during the National Day Rally, saying Singapore must make difficult choices and trade-offs while studying development impacts carefully and minimising disruption where development is necessary.
For now, no final reclamation footprint has been established. The Government says studies and stakeholder engagement will help determine how the project could proceed.
But for marine scientists and conservationists, the stakes are already clear.
The waters around Singapore’s Southern Islands contain coral reefs and marine habitats that have survived decades of development and repeated coral-bleaching events. Whether those ecosystems can continue to survive alongside Singapore’s next major land-expansion project may ultimately depend on decisions made during the planning and study phase — long before the first reclamation works begin.
And that is the question now hanging over Singapore’s Western Island plans: how much new land can be created without permanently burying the natural heritage already beneath its waters?
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