SUTD Campus, Singapore

Project Summary

bioSEA conducted a comprehensive biodiversity survey at the SUTD campus to establish a baseline for understanding ecological and social benefits associated with green spaces.

Biodiversity surveys were conducted along 4 transects and the waterbodies on SUTD campus documenting all major fauna groups including birds, insects, spiders, mammals, bats, reptiles and amphibians and fish by dedicated experts and supported by SUTD volunteers. In addition, biodiversity records within 500m from the SUTD campus were compiled using citizen science databases to understand how the diversity on campus contributes to the neighbourhood. Flora lists planted on campus were obtained from SUTD facilities and analysed for their nativeness and benefits to biodiversity.

A total of 275 fauna species were recorded of which 14 species were deemed to be of conservation significance – 9 birds, 1 mammal (Smooth-coated Otter), 1 bamboo bat, 1 butterfly and 2 spider species. At the neighbourhood scale, SUTD has 70% of species thus far recorded from within 500m of the campus. This makes it an important biodiversity node for the neighbourhood.

Community engagement was integral, with a citizen science initiative on iNaturalist enabling staff and students to contribute to biodiversity monitoring. The study also highlighted the ecological connectivity between the campus and nearby landscapes, supporting rare species like the Smooth-coated Otter and Blue-eared Kingfisher.

Recommendations included increasing native plantings, enhancing habitat complexity, and minimizing pesticide use to foster ecological balance. This project provided actionable insights for integrating biodiversity into urban design while reinforcing SUTD’s commitment to sustainability.

As a followup, a citizen science project was created on iNaturalist for the SUTD community to document their biodiversity observations from the campus at their own convenience. 

To our knowledge, this is the first of its kind biodiversity assessment of a university campus in Singapore.

Associated Links

iNaturalist SUTD project