Singapore Faces Backlash Over Deforestation Amid Climate Adaptation Efforts

The Singaporean government is facing criticism for its plans to develop several secondary forests, including Maju Forest, despite spending billions to adapt to climate change. Environmental groups and residents argue that environmental impact assessments (EIAs) do not adequately account for the climate and health benefits provided by forests. The EIAs have identified critically endangered species at the development sites, but protesters claim that the assessments overlook the long-term effects of deforestation. The city-state is looking to address an acute housing crunch amid a growing population, but the development of secondary forests has sparked an unusually impassioned public backlash.