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350ha. Unspoilt mangroves, vast seagrass meadows, coral reefs, sandy shores.

Entry only with designated interest groups (see below)

History of Semakau Landfill

In 1999, when the last remaining landfill on Singapore's mainland was exhausted, the Semakau Landfill was created by enclosing Pulau Semakau and a small adjacent island (Pulau Sakeng) with a rock bund. More history. All of Singapore's waste now ends up at Semakau, i.e., ash from the incineration plants and all non-incinerable waste.



During the construction of the landfill, effort was made to protect the marine ecosystem, especially mangroves and corals. 13 hectares of mangrove were replanted to replace those removed during construction of the bund. Wildlife continues to thrive on Pulau Semakau, and the air and water quality remains good.



Semakau opened!

On 16 Jul 05, Pulau Semakau was opened for nature-related recreational activities. Members of the public can now visit the island for birdwatching, sports fishing and intertidal walks.



Marine life of Pulau Semakau

The Landfill construction buried all of Pulau Sakeng and half of Pulau Semakau. The original Pulau Semakau which was not buried by the landfill construction has an enormous intertidal area which is rich in amazing wildlife. The natural mangroves there shelter a wide variety of plants and animals, many no longer seen on the mainland or other islands. There is a vast seagrass meadow, possibly the largest in Singapore that is accessible to the public. There is a wide zone of coral rubble with amazing marine life, leading to the coral reefs that line the edge of the island. Here's some posters of Semakau's intertidal shores and more about a survey of Semakau's mangroves in 2005.



Getting there

Contact NEA for a visit to Pulau Semakau: Other activities

TeamSeagrass also conduct regular surveys of seagrasses on Pulau Semakau. Anyone may join TeamSeagrass as a volunteer. For details and contact see the TeamSeagrass blog More tips for visitors

More about preparing for a trip to the shores

More FAQs about visiting the shores

How to take photos on the shores.