A year-long study by National University of Singapore researchers has confirmed what urban dwellers instinctively feel: greenery cools. But the findings from the City Developments Limited MicroForest at City Square Mall are particularly striking: temperatures within the 260 sqm patch (now expanded to twice its size) are up to 5°C lower than surrounding urban areas.
Launched in March 2025 in collaboration with CDL and NParks , this compact microforest is proving that nature-based solutions can work even in space-constrained Singapore. Beyond cooling, the forest supports native biodiversity, with acoustic recordings showing higher bird call activity and environmental DNA sampling detecting 70% more species compared to a nearby grass patch .
