CDL MicroForest has crossed its one-year milestone. The microforest, located at the City Square retail development by City Developments Limited (CDL), is the first research-driven regenerative tropical microforest in a retail mall. It was launched in March 2025.

Developed in collaboration with experts from the National University of Singapore and supported by the National Parks Board, the microforest serves as a living laboratory to study nature-based solutions for urban heat mitigation and biodiversity enhancement.

One year on, preliminary data shows that the CDL MicroForest recorded cooler temperatures by up to five degrees Celsius compared to surrounding areas. The data also found that areas within 1m to 2m of the microforest edge recorded temperatures of up to four degrees Celsius lower compared to urban surfaces further away.

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At the same time, the microforest appears to have better biodiversity, with higher bird-call activity observed within the microforest. It also has around 70% more species richness compared to a grass patch outside the microforest, based on environmental DNA sampling.

The findings reflect how dense, regenerative vegetation can help moderate temperatures and support biodiversity, notes Esther An, CDL’s chief sustainability officer. She adds: “These outcomes are increasingly critical as cities like Singapore warm at approximately twice the global average.”

To that end, the CDL MicroForest serves as “critical climate infrastructure” to pave the way towards a more liveable and healthier built environment, An says. To continue supporting this mission, the CDL MicroForest has now been expanded by an additional 2,800 sq ft to 5,600 sq ft, as part of City Square Mall’s recently completed asset enhancement initiative.

The expansion is expected to amplify the microforest’s cooling effects and ecological benefits, while also providing more research opportunities to strengthen climate resilience.