tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43228655321757314462024-03-15T00:04:43.118+08:00wildsingapore newsenvironmental news for singaporeansRia Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comBlogger9155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-59123773495732354322019-09-09T08:15:00.002+08:002019-09-09T08:33:24.319+08:00Malaysia, Johor: Land reclamation may be behind mass fish deathsVENESA DEVI <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/07/land-reclamation-may-be-behind-mass-fish-deaths">The Star</a> 7 Sep 19;<br />
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What went wrong?: Some of the dead fish found along Pantai Lido.<br />
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JOHOR BARU: Land reclamation along Pantai Lido could potentially be the main cause of mass fish deaths in the area.<br />
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State Local Government, Urban Wellbeing and Environment Committee chairman Tan Chen Choon said the Department of Environment (DoE), along with the Fisheries Department, were still investigating the matter and not ruling out land reclamation as the contributing factor.<br />
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“The DoE visited the location on Thursday upon receiving complaints about the occurrence and found that the dissolved oxygen level of the water was very low at 1.2mg/l,” he said.<br />
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“The hot weather and disturbance of the water flow here due to land reclamation are believed to be contributing factors, but we are still investigating the matter.”<br />
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In a statement, Tan said he had instructed the DoE to look into the Environment Impact Assessment for the reclamation project to avoid a recurrence of such incidents.<br />
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Dozens of dead fish were spotted along Pantai Lido during a visit there yesterday, along with a strong stench.<br />
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This is the second occurrence of mass fish deaths along Pantai Lido recently, with the first incident on Aug 28.<br />
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State Fisheries Department director Zamani Omar said land reclamation had caused blockages in the waterway, resulting in limited water exchanges.<br />
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“The fish in the area were possibly trapped in water with a low dissolved oxygen level, causing them to suffocate.<br />
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“The hot weather, followed by sudden downpours, could also have killed the fish as they had to experience extreme and sudden changes of temperature,” he said, adding that there were no signs of industrial pollution in the water.<br />
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Malaysia Nature Society vice-president Vincent Chow said the recurring fish deaths here were a clear sign of pollution.<br />
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“Just because no industrial waste is found does not mean that there is no pollution, as the mud from land reclamation could also cause pollution.<br />
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“The relevant agencies should not only check the water samples, but also take samples from the dead fish to know what caused them to suffocate,” he said.<br />
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<b>Johor looking into development projects and mass fish deaths</b><br />
VENESA DEVI <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/07/johor-looking-into-development-projects-and-mass-fish-deaths">The Star</a> 7 Sep 19;<br />
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Dead fish seen along Pantai Lido in Johor Baru following reports of mass fish death caused by low oxygen levels.<br />
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TANGKAK: The Johor government is investigating whether development projects, including land reclamation work around Pantai Lido, have led to the mass death of fish in the area.<br />
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Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said that the relevant agencies are currently preparing an in-depth report on the matter.<br />
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“The Environment Department (DOE) and Fisheries Department are still looking for the main reason why the oxygen level in the water went down, which led to the death of fish.<br />
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“This is the second time we have seen such an occurrence and I have urged the relevant agencies to take proactive measures, ” he said, adding that he is still awaiting reports from DOE and the Fisheries Department.<br />
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He was speaking to reporters after attending a Johor Corporation corporate social responsibility programme dubbed Jalinan Ukhwah JCorp here at Kundung Ulu in Tangkak on Saturday (Sept 7).<br />
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Dr Sahruddin added that at the moment, the state government has not issued any orders to stop development projects in the affected area.<br />
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“If the incidents have anything to do with development projects, we will consult the relevant agencies to improve procedures, ” he said.<br />
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<b>Dead fish incident: Johor Fisheries Dept says stagnant water must be treated first before being released</b><br />
MOHD FARHAAN SHAH <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/08/dead-fish-incident-johor-fisheries-dept-says-stagnant-water-must-be-treated-first-before-being-released">The Star</a> 8 Sep 19;<br />
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JOHOR BARU: The Johor Fisheries Department has suggested that a process to replace and treat stagnant water be conducted along Pantai Lido following two separate incidents of mass fish deaths in the area.<br />
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Its director Zamani Omar said a water analysis report, which was sent on Aug 28 following the first incident, found high amounts of ammonia and phosphate as a result of the decaying fish.<br />
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"Things will get worse if domestic wastewater flows into the reservoir and threatens other aquatic life.<br />
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"As an immediate measure, the department has suggested that the ammonia problem be rectified by exchanging pool water where stagnant water must be treated before being released into public waters," he said in a statement here on Sunday (Sept 8).<br />
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Zamani added that as for a long-term solution, more efficient irrigation routes should be constructed at Pantai Lido to ensure that water flows in and out according to the tide.<br />
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He pointed out that this was to ensure that domestic waste does not accumulate locally and affecting the water quality of aquatic life.<br />
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Zamani said currently, there was only one pathway that had been built for such purpose compared to the overall large area of Pantai Lido.<br />
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It was reported that the state government may look into ways to improve development procedures at Pantai Lido following mass fish deaths in the area, says Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal.<br />
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He said the relevant agencies were still investigating development projects, including reclamation works.<br />
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Dr Sahruddin added that if the incident had something to do with the development projects, the state government would consult the relevant agencies, including the Department of Environment and Town and Country Planning Department, to look into it.<br />
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The state government was not ruling out land reclamation along Pantai Lido as being the main cause of mass fish death there.<br />
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Dozens of dead fish were spotted along Pantai Lido for the second time on Friday just days after a similar occurrence on Aug 28.<br />
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Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-59583272119859919382019-09-09T08:12:00.003+08:002019-09-09T08:33:24.411+08:00Malaysia: Two men nabbed, over 600 turtle eggs seizedGoh Pei Pei <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/519745/two-men-nabbed-over-600-turtle-eggs-seized">New Straits Times</a> 8 Sep 19;<br />
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KUCHING: The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) enforcement team nabbed two men for selling sea turtle eggs at Pasar Tamu Kubah Ria on Saturday.<br />
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SFC chief executive officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton said the first suspect, aged 65, was caught at 9.45am and 214 eggs were seized.<br />
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“When our team returned to the market for another round of patrol in the afternoon, they arrested a 26-year-old man with 438 sea turtle eggs. We had lodged a police report for further investigation,” he said in a statement today.<br />
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On the same day, another team raided a stall at Bandar Riyal market in Kota Samarahan for selling wild boar meat.<br />
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A 62-year-old male suspect was nabbed and 17 packets of the wildlife meat were seized.<br />
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Zolkipli said anyone who hunts, kills, keeps, sells or consumes protected animals faces a one-year jail term and RM10,000 fine.<br />
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“In the case of the sea turtle which is a totally protected wildlife in Sarawak, the maximum fine is RM50,000 and five years’ jail,” he said.<br />
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Meanwhile, commercial sale of bearded pigs is strictly prohibited under the Sarawak Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998. The seller and seller can be fined up to RM5,000 and RM2,000 respectively.<br />
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Zolkipli added the state government allocated RM70 million for SFC to deploy reef balls along the state shoreline to conserve and protect the marine life, especially the sea turtles.<br />
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“We are serious in combating and eradicating illegal wildlife trade and its supply chain. Hence, any sales of the eggs must be reported to the authorities.<br />
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“We will continue to intensify our efforts against these illegal activities and raise awareness on wildlife conservation among the public.” he added.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-41130253108423479772019-09-09T08:11:00.001+08:002019-09-09T08:33:23.948+08:00Malaysia: Sharks and rays still in demand in Sabah for their meatOlivia Miwil <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/519707/sharks-and-rays-still-demand-sabah-their-meat">New Straits Times</a> 8 Sep 19;<br />
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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is keen to protect sharks and rays in the state’s waters but the problem is the two species of marine life have been a staple food for some locals.<br />
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A fishmonger of 35 years at the wet market here, who declined to be named, said due to demand from consumers, fisherman continue to net the two species.<br />
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“I am aware of the move to ban the catching of sharks and rays to prevent both species from becoming extinct. But some people in Sabah including fishermen still consume the meat,” he said, adding sharks and rays were sold between RM8 and RM12 per kilogramme.<br />
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He however said that the catch involving the two marine species was far less nowadays, compared to three decades ago.<br />
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“Back then, I used to sell at least a tonne of sharks - guitar sharks and hammerheads in a week.<br />
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“I remember the biggest shark weighed about 200 kilogrammes. Now the most I get from the suppliers is just 70 kilogrammes and is available only twice or thrice a week,” he said, adding that he receives his shark and ray supply from fisherman operating in the waters of Sabah’s west-coast.<br />
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A buyer who only wanted to be known as Hassan said he consumed shark meat once a month due to the belief that it helps in the “cleansing of the lymph system” in the body.<br />
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During a recent Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference, Malaysia was among 40 countries which opposed a proposal to protect certain species of sharks and rays from exploitation.<br />
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The federal Fisheries Department defended the vote against the move saying that the sharks and rays were caught unintentionally.<br />
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Shark experts have said fishing of those species did not contribute to direct decline of their population.<br />
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However, the federal government had in July gazetted four species of sharks and two species of rays to be listed as endangered under the newly amended Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) (Amendment) Regulations 2019.<br />
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The newly listed species under the Shark group are Sphyrna mokarran (great hammerhead shark), Sphyrna zygaena (smooth hammerhead shark), Eusphyra blochii (winghead shark) and the Carcharhinus longimanus (oceanic whitetip shark).<br />
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The species under the Ray group are Manta birostris (oceanic manta) and Manta alfredi (reef manta).<br />
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Previously, it was reported that Sabah Food and Agriculture Industry minister Datuk Junz Wong as saying that in recent years, restaurants in the state had also stopped serving shark fins as there wsas a better conservation awareness among the people.<br />
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The state, however, would look into protection of shark and ray species through the amendment of state Fisheries Enactment and ban trawlers in the near future for more sustainable marine stock in Sabah waters.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-11004389072175883482019-09-09T07:54:00.004+08:002019-09-09T08:33:23.186+08:00Philippines: Whale shark population increases - WWF<a href="https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/09/09/wwf-whale-shark-population-increases/">Business Mirror</a> 9 Sep 19;<br />
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More than 100 new ‘butanding’ (whale shark), including juveniles, spotted in Donsol, the highest number in several years.<br />
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DONSOL, Sorsogon—One-hundred-four new butanding (whale shark) individuals have been identified in Ticao Pass off the coast of Donsol, Sorsogon, between January and June 2019, according to a report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines.<br />
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Whale shark, classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on their Red List of Threatened Species, is a filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest living fish species in the world.<br />
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Each whale shark can be identified based on the unique pattern of spots behind its gills, which serves as a “fingerprint” for identification. Just as no two human fingerprints are alike, no two whale sharks have the same spot pattern.<br />
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The addition of these new sightings puts the total number of whale shark individuals spotted in Donsol at 676 since the monitoring began in 2007, the WWF said in its news release.<br />
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This represents nearly 40 percent of all the 1,724 whale sharks identified in the Philippines. The number of individuals spotted in 2019 was also the largest in several years, with only 22 new individuals spotted in Donsol between 2017 and 2018 by comparison.<br />
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The whale sharks were sighted during this year’s photo identification activities conducted by WWF-Philippines. In the first half of this year, 168 individuals—with 64 re-sightings alongside the 104 newly identified ones—were noted.<br />
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Very young whale shark juveniles were also identified among the 168 individuals that were spotted. Their presence suggests that the Ticao Pass may be a pupping ground for whale sharks, further increasing the ecological significance of the area.<br />
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“These whale sharks that pass by Donsol aren’t just important due to their value to local tourism. More than that, they play an important systemic role in providing resilience to the local ecosystem,” said WWF-Philippines Donsol Project Manager Manuel Narvadez Jr. in the news release.<br />
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“The number of whale sharks spotted in Donsol indicates that its waters are now rich with plankton, which is their primary food. They have even come here with their young,” he added.<br />
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WWF-Philippines has been active in Donsol since 1998 and has actively worked with the local government unit (LGU) for more than two decades for the conservation of the Ticao Pass and the local whale sharks.<br />
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The whale shark census, which monitors the number of whale shark individuals passing through Donsol, began in 2007.<br />
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A thriving ecotourism industry centered on communal participation in the conservation of the whale shark has helped Donsol rise from a fifth-class municipality on its way to first class.<br />
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Conservation activities in the Ticao Pass between WWF-Philippines and the LGU of Donsol will continue in the coming years. WWF-Philippines is currently exploring options of expanding the current Marine Protected Areas (MPA), or establishing new ones in neighboring Masbate municipality to further protect the Ticao Pass and its inhabitants.<br />
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“Whale shark tourism at Donsol is a long established eco-tourism venture, which the WWF-Philippines team helped set up and running. After so many years, it is very gratifying to see local communities and the whale sharks continuing to benefit,” said Dr. Andy Cornish, leader of “Sharks: Restoring the Balance,” WWF’s global shark and ray conservation program.<br />
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“Protecting more marine areas near Donsol could play a key role in enhancing protection for these endangered ocean nomads for generations to come,” Cornish said.<br />
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WWF’s global program on sharks includes work to conserve whale sharks in Ecuador, Mexico, Pakistan, and Tanzania, in addition to the Philippines, it added in its news release.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-34387491970852743392019-09-09T07:54:00.003+08:002019-09-09T08:33:23.855+08:00Stranded whales: Numbers on the rise around UK shoresHelen Briggs <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49596734">BBC News</a> 6 Sep 19;<br />
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The number of whales and dolphins washing up around the UK coastline has risen, according to new figures.<br />
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In 2017 alone, 1,000 animals were stranded - more than in any year since records began.<br />
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A total of 4,896 whales, dolphins and porpoises died on beaches between 2011 and 2017 - up 15% on the previous seven years.<br />
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Scientists found a number of causes for the deaths, including infectious diseases, fishing and plastic.<br />
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It's difficult to say conclusively what's driven the rise, but it's associated with multiple causes, including rises in some dolphin and whale populations, they say.<br />
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"Strandings aren't actually in and of themselves bad news," Rob Deaville of ZSL (Zoological Society of London), who led the report, told BBC News.<br />
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"There's a misconception that we're trying to stop strandings - we're not, we're trying to learn more about those that are due to human activities and then try and mitigate those where we can."<br />
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In some respects the data paints a bleak picture, but there are still positives to be drawn, he added.<br />
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More than 20 cetacean (whale, dolphin and porpoise) species were recorded over seven years - roughly a quarter of all cetacean species known in the world.<br />
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One, the dwarf sperm whale, had never before been seen in the UK.<br />
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Why are scientists investigating this?<br />
Since 1990, scientists have been investigating why whales, dolphins and porpoises wash up around the UK coastline.<br />
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This gives an insight into the health of marine wildlife in British waters, the changing patterns of different species, and threats from human impacts, such as chemical pollution, marine noise and accidental fishing.<br />
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The underlying causes of whales becoming stranded on beaches are not always clear, including any part played by humans.<br />
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What did they find?<br />
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Over seven years, post mortems were carried out on about 1,000 specimens, allowing the cause of death to be determined.<br />
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Accidental entanglement in fishing gear accounted for about one in four deaths of common dolphins, and one in 10 for the harbour porpoise.<br />
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Other deaths caused directly by humans included 25 animals struck by a ship and a single Cuvier's beaked whale which died in 2015 after swallowing marine litter.<br />
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Deaville said more monitoring was needed on a global scale to get a better picture of the threats.<br />
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He told BBC News: "Ultimately we want to make sure that our children and our children's children can still be out there and see these animals in the wild as we've been lucky to do so when we are alive."<br />
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Members of the public can report a stranded marine animal here through the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme .Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-28607691340483150732019-09-04T06:50:00.001+08:002019-09-04T07:03:52.950+08:00Land reclamation projects to combat climate change can be funded from past reserves: Lawrence WongNG JUN SEN <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/land-reclamation-projects-combat-climate-change-can-be-funded-past-reserves-lawrence-wong">Today Online</a> 3 Sep 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE — To finance the fight against climate change, smaller-scale infrastructure such as flood barriers can be funded from the Government’s Budget each year, while “long-lived major” infrastructure — including sea walls — could involve borrowing, said Second Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in Parliament on Tuesday (Sept 3).<br />
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When land reclamation is involved, the costs will come from Singapore’s past reserves and the value of the reclaimed land after it is sold in the future will be fully returned to the reserves, said Mr Wong, who is also the National Development Minister.<br />
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“The reclamation of land is in essence a conversion of past reserves — from financial assets to state land. This use is not a draw on past reserves,” said Mr Wong, adding that this arrangement is part of the Reserves Protection Framework agreed between the Government and the President, whose constitutional role is to safeguard the national reserves.<br />
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Mr Wong was answering a parliamentary question by Associate Professor Walter Theseira, who had asked about the extent to which this policy to fund land reclamation will be applied to the S$100 billion climate change costs announced in this year’s National Day Rally by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. <br />
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The Nominated MP asked in a supplementary question: “Is the commitment then… that the cost of land reclamation will be coming from past reserves, without drawing down or (having) requirement on raising taxes, or is it going to be flexible based on the Finance Minister at the time?”<br />
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Mr Wong said the framework already allows the Government to use the past reserves for all land reclamation projects.<br />
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“That is already the case today and that is the way in which we operate currently,” he said.<br />
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Last month, a Mediacorp poll found that young people were evenly split in their views on whether climate change mitigation measures — which would benefit future generations when the works are completed — should be funded by current taxes (41 per cent) or national reserves (42 per cent). A minority (18 per cent) wants it to come from taxes on future generations.<br />
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“MOF will continue to study equitable and sustainable ways to finance the full suite of climate adaptation measures we need to protect our island,” said Mr Wong.<br />
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<b>S$100b for climate change measures could come from borrowing, reserves and ministry budgets</b><br />
Aqil Haziq Mahmud <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/100billion-climate-change-borrowing-reserves-budget-parliament-11867642">Channel NewsAsia</a> 3 Sep 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE: The Government could fund the S$100 billion cost of climate change protection measures using a combination of borrowing, reserves and ministry budgets, Second Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong told Parliament on Tuesday (Sep 3).<br />
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This comes after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced in his National Day Rally speech on Aug 18 that Singapore would probably need to spend S$100 billion over 100 years to tackle climate change and rising sea levels.<br />
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Measures include building an additional pump house at Marina Barrage, creating polders and reclaiming offshore islands on the eastern coast of Singapore.<br />
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"We will need a combination of funding methods to finance the various climate change adaptation measures," Mr Wong said.<br />
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"Smaller-scale infrastructure such as localised flood barriers for public assets, such as hospitals and bus depots, can be funded from the budgets of ministries.<br />
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"For long-lived major infrastructure such as sea walls, the Government will look to the option of borrowing to spread the cost across the generations which will benefit.<br />
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"Where the measures include land reclamation, the land reclamation costs can already be met from past reserves."<br />
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Mr Wong, who is also National Development Minister, was responding to a question by Nominated Member of Parliament Walter Theseira on how much of the reserves will be used to fund the measures.<br />
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The minister explained that the use of past reserves to fund reclamation costs is in accordance with the Reserves Protection Framework, which is agreed between the President and Government.<br />
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"The land created through reclamation will be protected as part of past reserves, and when such land is subsequently sold, the proceeds accrue fully to past reserves," he said.<br />
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"So the reclamation of land is in essence a conversion of past reserves – from financial assets to state land, and the use is not a draw on past reserves."<br />
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Under the Supply Bill that Parliament debates and approves each year, Mr Wong said the Government will seek approval for development expenditure, which includes land reclamation costs.<br />
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The Government also provides the President with a statement on land-related expenditures annually, he said.<br />
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"The Ministry of Finance will continue to study equitable and sustainable ways to finance the full suite of climate adaptation measures we need to protect our island," he added.<br />
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Associate Professor Theseira then asked if it was the commitment that "in all such cases the cost of land reclamation will be coming from past reserves without the draw down or requirement to raise taxes currently" or if it will be flexible, based on the finance minister at that time.<br />
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"As I've said just now, the Reserves Protection Framework already allows the Government to use the past reserves for all land reclamation projects," Mr Wong replied.<br />
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"That is already the case today, and that is the basis for which we operate currently."<br />
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Source: CNA/hz(mi)Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-83755942712736423162019-09-03T06:54:00.001+08:002019-09-03T07:14:40.857+08:00Malaysia: Divers remove ghost nets, rescue bamboo shark off Malohom bayOlivia Miwil <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/518102/divers-remove-ghost-nets-rescue-bamboo-shark-malohom-bay">New Straits Times</a> 2 Sep 19;<br />
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KOTA KINABALU: The threat posed by ‘ghost nets’ — fishing nets discarded or lost in the sea — to marine life forms was evident recently when a dive and recreation team from Gayana Marine Resort discovered two bamboo sharks battling for their lives in the surrounding waters off Malohom bay here.<br />
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The team managed to rescue one shark, but could not save the other.<br />
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The resort was conducting a cleanup operation following the discovery of ghost nets in the surrounding waters of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP).<br />
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“Initially, we had only wanted to look for new dive sites to bring our guests to.<br />
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“However, during our recce, we were shocked to find patches of corals covered by ghost nets,” said the resort’s operations manager Alfonso Valirianus.<br />
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Alfonso said it was sad to see beautiful and healthy coral reefs being damaged and broken by the weight of the abandoned fish nets.<br />
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The team then brought back some of the living coral fragments entangled in the ghost nets to the resort’s Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC) to be replanted.<br />
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At the MERC facility, which was established in 2007, visitors are offered educational tour, participate in conservation programmes such as coral replanting and adoption, as well as sea grass planting activities.<br />
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By virtue of being part of the diving community, the resort also supports initiatives to conserve marine life and coral reefs in all protected marine parks.<br />
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In July, a group of divers fished out 72kg of ghost nets during an underwater cleanup effort targeted at removing unwanted fishnets from the protected Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.<br />
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In the future, Gayana is also looking into introducing underwater cleanup initiatives to expose resort’s guests more on the effects of unsustainable fishing and uncontrolled usage of single-use plastic items.<br />
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“At the resort, we always strive to inform guests that fishing and wildlife hunting are illegal within the protected Sabah Parks,” says MERC ambassador Lizio Mosigil.<br />
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“We constantly get queries from new guests whether they can catch their own fish and get them cooked for dinner. But instead of just saying “no”, we take them to our MERC facility and let them see for themselves why we are so passionate about conserving our marine lives.” he added.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-68408978035273028382019-09-03T06:49:00.002+08:002019-09-03T07:14:40.577+08:00Indonesia: Some 70 percent damage caused to South Kalimantan's mangrove forest<a href="https://en.antaranews.com/news/131914/some-70-percent-damage-caused-to-south-kalimantans-mangrove-forest">Antara</a> 31 Aug 19;<br />
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Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Some 70 percent of the 116,824 hectares of mangrove forest in South Kalimantan's coastal area have incurred destruction.<br />
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"The existence of mangrove forest in South Kalimantan is under threat. Care and concrete actions are deemed necessary to preserve the mangroves," Dean of the Faculty of Fishery and Marine of the University of Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) Pahmi Ansyari noted in a statement, Saturday.<br />
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Apt actions, including the planting of mangrove seedlings, are deemed necessary for restoration of the mangrove forest ecosystem. Mangrove is beneficial for the environment and crucial to preventing abrasion.<br />
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"As part of the concrete action demonstrating our care for mangrove forest preservation, we will organize a one thousand mangrove tree planting event dubbed 'Action for Mangrove (BUM),'" Phami Ansyari, an expert in aquaculture, stated.<br />
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The event will be held in the Pagatan Besar coastal area in Takisung Sub-district, Tanah Laut District, on September 7, 2019, to prevent abrasion and restore the condition of the coastal ecosystem and marine biota.<br />
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The mangrove seedling planting activity will involve university students, lecturers, local officials, employees of private company PT Arutmin Indonesia, and local residents, including fishermen, of Pagatan Besar Village.<br />
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The event is part of a series of activities organized to celebrate the 55th Anniversary of the ULM's Faculty of Fishery and Marine this year.<br />
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In the meantime, Indonesia currently has 3.5 million hectares of mangrove forests, making it one of the countries in the world with the largest area of mangrove forests, he stated.<br />
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"One-fourth of the world's mangrove forests are found in Indonesia. The rehabilitation of mangrove forests tops the list of the Indonesian government's priorities. The rehabilitation includes a social forestry program that President Joko Widodo has introduced," coordinator of the special staff of the illegal fishing eradication task force (Satgas 115) Mas Achmad Santosa noted in a written statement recently.<br />
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At the 5th International Panel on Sustainable Ocean Economy held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, recently, Indonesia reiterated the importance of protecting the mangrove ecosystem and mitigating the impacts of climate change.<br />
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Mangrove forests are one of the coastal ecosystems that play a role in mitigating the impact of climate change.<br />
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Mangrove forests can store five folds more greenhouse gases than inland forests, he stated.<br />
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Reporter: Firman, Fardah<br />
Editor: Rahmad NasutionRia Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-55480855499442642442019-08-31T15:07:00.004+08:002019-08-31T15:12:41.168+08:00Shovelnose rays, served as ‘shark head’ in Singapore eateries, now critically endangeredNABILAH AWANG <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/shovelnose-rays-often-served-shark-head-spore-eateries-critically-endangered-cites">Today Online</a> 30 Aug 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE — Food lovers who enjoy a delicacy called “shark head” in Singapore restaurants may want to think again as the animal has just been classified as critically endangered.<br />
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“Shark head” is the sea creature known locally as the shovelnose ray — also known as the white-spotted wedgefish — and is usually promoted as a dish rich in collagen, which is meant to promote skin elasticity.<br />
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The creature was added to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Cites meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, ended on Wednesday (Aug 28).<br />
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The rays can be found in the waters of South-east Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, and the Northern coast of Australia, said Ms Sue Ye, founder of marine conservation group Marine Stewards — whose mission is to protect marine resources by promoting sustainable fishing practices.<br />
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Local fishermen occasionally catch them, she said, adding that they were urged to release them back into the ocean if they did.<br />
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Ms Ye also pointed out that the rays are sold in supermarkets chains here at about S$13 per kg and that Singaporeans should be aware of the importance of taking steps to ensure they are not made extinct.<br />
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Aside from the shovelnose rays — also known as the bottlenose wedgefish, with the technical name Rhynchobatus australiae — 17 other shark and ray species are classified under Appendix II of Cites as critically endangered.<br />
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Appendix II-listed species can be traded commercially only after traders have obtained relevant Cites permits, according to the National Parks Board (NParks) website.<br />
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Dr Neil Hutchinson, a shark and ray expert from James Cook University’s Singapore campus, explained that the population of shovelnose rays has suffered a 95 per cent decline in the last 20 years.<br />
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He added that the primary causes of this decline are overfishing and habitat loss.<br />
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“Both rays and sharks live in shallow sandbanks and these places are where most coastal fishing take place,” said Dr Hutchinson.<br />
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MANY UNAWARE SHOVELNOSE RAYS COULD BE CLOSE TO EXTINCTION<br />
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Ms Ye said that it is important to spread awareness on shovelnose rays as not many Singaporeans are aware that the species may be getting close to extinction.<br />
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“By spreading the message, hopefully anglers will release the fish when caught, restaurants stop buying them and consumers stop ordering them for dinner," she said.<br />
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When TODAY sought comment from supermarket chains, Giant said that it does not carry the item. Sheng Siong and NTUC FairPrice have not responded.<br />
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As Singapore is a signatory to Cites, NParks is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of Cites.<br />
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It works closely with the Singapore Food Authority (SFA), border control agencies as well as international and Singapore partners to tackle illegal trade of Cites-listed species.<br />
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In a joint statement, NParks and SFA said that imports and exports of these species are monitored closely and several considerations are taken into account before issuing licences, including the listing of the species on Cites, the purpose of the transaction and verification of export permits with the exporting country.<br />
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“When SFA receives applications to import such food products, SFA checks that the applications are accompanied by NParks’ Cites permits,” said the agencies.<br />
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NParks’ director of the coastal and marine division Karenne Tun said that fishing is banned in areas such as Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Labrador Nature Reserve rocky shore, Chek Jawa Wetlands and the waters around Coney Island Park.<br />
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“These areas are managed as sanctuaries for the mangrove and marine habitats to flourish and the fish population to grow to maturity,” said Dr Tun.<br />
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She added that recent marine surveys show that the shovelnose ray has not been spotted in these sanctuaries but has been reportedly been caught by recreational fishermen in waters outside of these areas.<br />
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“Through our Friends of Marine Park Community, we have engaged recreational fishermen to practise responsible and sustainable fishing to protect our freshwater and marine habitats and biodiversity for our future generations to enjoy.<br />
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“We will be happy to work with fishing groups, like Marine Stewards, who are concerned about the fishing of endangered species like the shovelnose ray, to educate the public on responsible and sustainable fishing practices,” Dr Tun said.<br />
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Offenders can be fined up to S$5,000 for fishing in ‘No Fishing’ areas in NParks-managed parks, and up to S$50,000 for fishing in nature reserves.<br />
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Heavy penalties are also put in place for those illegally importing or exporting Cites-listed species.<br />
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Under the Endangered Species Act, the maximum penalty for the illegal import, export and re-export of any Cites-listed species is a fine of up to S$500,000, or two years’ imprisonment, or both.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-25826593432743515452019-08-31T14:40:00.001+08:002019-08-31T15:12:40.888+08:00Malaysia: Protected marine parks no sanctuary for endangered turtlesAvila Geraldine <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/516997/protected-marine-parks-no-sanctuary-endangered-turtles">New Straits Times</a> 29 Aug 19;<br />
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KOTA KINABALU: Despite efforts to save turtles, the endangered species are still under threat, even within protected marine parks in the state, in particular the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP) near here.<br />
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Marine biologist Scott Mayback said the threats come in various forms, including heavy boat activities, marine debris, fish bombings, and ghost nets.<br />
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“(The ghost net) is a major concern. People are still using it to catch fish, even within a protected marine park.<br />
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“Each year, we will find a few dead turtles in the marine parks. This year so far, there are two discoveries,” he told New Straits Times.<br />
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Mayback, who oversees a turtle rescue centre at Gaya Island Resort, said round-the-clock enforcement is needed to ensure marine life stay protected from threats caused by human activities.<br />
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He also stressed on the need to reduce marine debris and limiting boat use in certain areas, especially those covered with seagrass, a major component of turtles’ diets.<br />
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The protected TARP covers five islands namely Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik, Sulug, and Gaya. The heavily tourist-populated islands are Sapi, Manukan, and Mamutik, while Gaya is the only inhabited island with a 5-star luxury resort.<br />
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The presence of marine debris and fishing nets, trapping corals and marine life, in these conservation zones is not uncommon.<br />
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Recently, a diver stumbled upon a dead hawksbill sea turtle tangled in fishing net while leisure diving at one of the diving spots within the protected TARP. Another diver found a bamboo shark trapped in the nets.<br />
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Over the years, the diving fraternity have taken their own initiatives to remove fishing nets underwater.<br />
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Last month, Sabah Parks divers fished out 72kg of ghost nets from the Manggaris dive site near Pulau Gaya and Coral Garden site near Pulau Sapi during a clean-up effort.<br />
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Sabah Parks Board of Trustees' chairman Mohd Amin Abdul Mem had said most of the ghost nets – fishing nets that have been left or lost in the ocean by fishermen – had drifted into the park area and became entangled in the coral reefs.<br />
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He noted that Sabah Parks had received many complaints on the presence of ghost nets, stressing they would take immediate action to address the concern.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-16744676250305093752019-08-31T14:29:00.001+08:002019-08-31T15:12:40.702+08:00Great Barrier Reef outlook very poor, Australia says<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-49520949">BBC</a> 30 Aug 19;<br />
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The Great Barrier Reef's outlook has been officially downgraded from poor to very poor due to climate change.<br />
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Rising sea temperatures thanks to human-driven global warming remain the biggest threat to the reef, a five-year Australian government report says.<br />
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Actions to save it "have never been more time critical", the report reads.<br />
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Stretching over 2,300km (1,400 miles), the reef was designated a World Heritage site in 1981 for its "enormous scientific and intrinsic importance".<br />
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But in recent years the reef has been increasingly damaged by warmer seas which have killed off coral and affected its long-term health.<br />
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Unesco's World Heritage Committee is due to consider adding the reef to its list of sites that are "in danger".<br />
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The massive report documents the condition of the reef and its outlook for the future.<br />
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What does the report say?<br />
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Under Australian law, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) must produce a report on the state of the World Heritage site every five years.<br />
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In the first report in 2009 scientists said the reef was "at a crossroads between a positive, well-managed future and a less certain one". The second report in 2014 ranked it as "an icon under pressure" with efforts needed to fight key threats. <br />
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"Since then, the region has further deteriorated and, in 2019, Australia is caring for a changed and less resilient reef," the most recent report states.<br />
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Rising sea temperatures caused "mass bleaching events" in 2016 and 2017 that wiped out coral and destroyed habitats for other sea life. While some habitats remain in a good state, the condition of the site as a whole is worsening.<br />
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"Threats to the reef are multiple, cumulative and increasing," the report says. "The window of opportunity to improve the Reef's long-term future is now."<br />
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Scientists say the number of new corals plummeted by 89% on the reef thanks to recent bleaching events, which affected a 1,500km stretch.<br />
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Australia pledged A$500 million (£276m) to protect the reef last year.<br />
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Can we save the reef?<br />
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Since the report was released, environmentalist groups have been calling for greater global action to tackle the climate crisis, and for the Great Barrier Reef to be given extra protections.<br />
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Imogen Zethoven, director of strategy for the Australian Marine Conservation Society, said: "We can turn this around, but only if the prime minister cares enough to lead a government that wants to save it. And saving it means being a leader here and internationally to bring greenhouse gas emissions down.<br />
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"This is now the third Outlook Report. We've had 10 years of warnings, 10 years of rising greenhouse emissions and 10 years watching the Reef heading for a catastrophe."<br />
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Addressing reporters in Sydney, the GBRMPA's chief scientist, David Wachenfeld, agreed the reef's problems were "largely driven by climate change".<br />
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"Despite that, with the right mix of local actions to improve the resilience of the system and global actions to tackle climate change in the strongest and fastest way possible, we can turn that around," he added.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-81305825131830500802019-08-29T06:15:00.001+08:002019-08-29T06:44:37.762+08:00Malaysia: 'Malaysians deserve to know why we voted against proposal to protect sharks, rays'Olivia Miwil <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/516308/malaysians-deserve-know-why-we-voted-against-proposal-protect-sharks-rays">New Straits Times</a> 27 Aug 19;<br />
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KOTA KINABALU: It was reported yesterday that Malaysia was among the 40 countries that opposed a proposal to protect certain species of sharks and rays from exploitation.<br />
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Tabled by Mexico at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference, the proposal which would require ratification this week, would see the marine species no longer being traded unless it can be proven that their fishing would not impact their survival.<br />
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102 countries voted in favour of the move.<br />
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Representing Malaysia at the conference was the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry.<br />
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Sabah Shark Protection Association Aderick Chong told the New Straits Times that the state should take the lead when it comes to the protection of endangered shark species in its waters.<br />
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It was reported that among the newly protected species include mako sharks, wedgefishes and guitarfishes.<br />
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“Wedgefishes and guitarsharks are easy to identify and (thus) enforceable (ban from fishing or selling the species).<br />
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“What would be better is to protect all sharks (species) so that authorities do not have to identify which is protected and which is not,” Chong said.<br />
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He added that Malaysians deserved to know the reasons behind the country’s objection to the proposal.<br />
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“If we are to make any improvements we need to know what was behind the ‘nay’,” he said.<br />
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Last month, the federal government gazetted four species of shark and two species of ray to be listed as endangered under the newly amended Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) (Amendment) Regulations 2019.<br />
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The newly listed species under the Shark group are Sphyrna mokarran (great hammerhead shark), Sphyrna zygaena (smooth hammerhead shark), Eusphyra blochii (winghead shark) and the Carcharhinus longimanus (oceanic whitetip shark).<br />
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The species under the Ray group are Manta birostris (oceanic manta) and Manta alfredi (reef manta).<br />
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On average, some 55,000 divers come to Sabah yearly and 80 per cent of them come to see live sharks.<br />
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This year-round activity contributes more than RM300 million in tourism receipts.<br />
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<b>Fisheries Dept: M'sia voted against shark protection as species not targeted</b><br />
FATIMAH ZAINAL <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/28/fisheries-dept-m039sia-voted-against-shark-protection-as-species-not-targeted">The Star</a> 28 Aug 19;<br />
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PETALING JAYA: Malaysia opposed an international resolution to protect certain species of sharks and rays from exploitation because they are not targeted species, says the Fisheries Department.<br />
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All the marine species listed in the proposal, such as the Mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus and Isurus paucus), Guitarfishes (Guitarfishes) and Rhinidae spp (Wedgefishes), were not targeted species but were actually by-catch, it said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 28).<br />
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“In this case, the population will not be affected by exploitation and trade of those species, ” the Fisheries Department added.<br />
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The statement was issued after it was reported that Malaysia was among 40 countries that voted against the proposal tabled at the 18th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP18) For Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on Sunday (Aug 25) in Geneva, Switzerland.<br />
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Malaysia’s stance to oppose the inclusion of those marine species in the Appendix II CITES was made after garnering views from shark experts in the Asian region and a recommendation from the Fisheries Department.<br />
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“The listing of those species in the Appendix II CITES was discussed by fisheries experts at the Regional Consultation on for Development of the Asean-Seadec Common Position on the Proposed Listing of Commercially-exploited Aquatic Species into the CITES Appendices meeting, which took place on January 30 to January 31 in Bangkok, Thailand.<br />
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“Following the discussion, the stance of Asean countries regarding the listing was then discussed at the 15th Asean Working Group on CITES and Wildlife Enforcement meeting, which took place from April 2 to April 4 in Sandakan, Sabah.<br />
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“In the meeting, the majority of Asean countries unanimously agreed to oppose the proposal put forward by countries like Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Gambia and Senegal, ” it said.<br />
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The listing of commercially exploited aquatic species which did not meet the criteria for listing as set by CITES could not be supported for listing in the CITES Appendix, said the Fisheries Department.<br />
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The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO) panel of expert advisers, including the CITES secretariat, were of the stance that Mako Sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus and Isurus paucus) were unsuitable to be listed because they did not fulfil the criteria that had been set in line with Article II, paragraph 2(a) or 2(b) in the CITES Convention.<br />
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Meanwhile, the suggestion to list the Guitarfishes (Guitarfishes) and Rhinidae spp. (Wedgefishes) species was not accompanied by concrete proof for the UN FAO panel of expert advisers to make an accurate assessment, said the Fisheries Department.<br />
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CITES is an international agreement between governments with the aim to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants do not threaten their survival.<br />
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"Three main things that CITES stress upon is legality, sustainability and traceability. Each listing must fulfil the criteria that has been set and not only by looking at the angle of merely conservation," said the Fisheries Department.<br />
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Although not listed in the CITES Appendix, certain species including sharks could however be managed with specific management measures, including under the National Plan of Action for Sharks (NPOA-Shark), it added.<br />
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It was reported that on Sunday (Aug 25) that 40 countries, including Malaysia, voted against the proposal which aimed to strengthen protection for 18 species of sharks and rays.<br />
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Meanwhile, 102 countries voted in favour of the move, which sought to impose rules on sustainable trade of the 18 species.<br />
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Malaysia was represented at the high-level COP18 CITES conference by the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-53902515037234990322019-08-29T06:00:00.000+08:002019-08-29T06:44:37.668+08:00Indonesia: Jokowi names Penajam Paser Utara as new capital city site<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="https://en.antaranews.com/news/131576/jokowi-names-penajam-paser-utara-as-new-capital-city-site">Antara</a> 26 Aug 19;<br />
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"We have concluded that the most ideal location for the new capital city is partly in Penajam Paser Utara District and partly in Kutai Kertanegara District," Jokowi said.<br />
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has named Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kertanegara in East Kalimantan Province as the sites of the new capital city.<br />
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"We have concluded that the most ideal location for the new capital city is partly in Penajam Paser Utara District and partly in Kutai Kertanegara District," Jokowi revealed at a press conference at the State Palace here on Monday, flanked by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.<br />
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Jokowi reiterated that the government had conducted studies on candidates of the new capital city in Kalimantan Island.<br />
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He elaborated that East Kalimantan had met the requirements to be the new capital city that entail minimum risk of natural disaster and located at the heart of Indonesia. The site is also close to big cities, such as Balikpapan and Samarinda, and it has 180 thousand hectares of government-owned land.<br />
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According to the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas), development of the new capital city will be started in 2021, and the construction of government buildings is targeted for completion in 2024.<br />
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Attendees at the press conference comprised National Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, East Kalimantan Governor Isran Noor, and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.<br />
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Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil had earlier noted that the government will require three thousand hectares of land to construct government offices in the first stage of development of the new capital city.<br />
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The project is expected to cost up to Rp466 trillion (US$32.3 billion) to be covered by the State Budget (Rp74.44 trillion), Public Private Partnership scheme (Rp265.2 trillion), and private investment (Rp127.3 trillion). Related news: Awaiting people's participation in new capital city-related decision<br />
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EDITED BY INE<br />
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<b>Kalimantan forest to remain intact despite capital development</b><br />
<a href="https://en.antaranews.com/news/131686/kalimantan-forest-to-remain-intact-despite-capital-development">Antara</a> 27 Aug 19;<br />
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The Joko Widodo (Jokowi) administration has assured that the development of the capital city will not damage the environment and vowed that East Kalimantan forests will remain intact. This comes after the government announced that parts of North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kertanegara Districts in East Kalimantan Province would be the location for the country’s new capital expected to be inaugurated in 2024, the year when Jokowi’s second term will end.<br />
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President Jokowi told the media August 26, 2019 that the two districts were selected, as they faced the least risks from natural disasters, including floods, earthquake, tsunamis, forest fires, and landslides.<br />
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Moreover, they are strategically located in the heart of Indonesia and near Balikpapan and Samarinda that are developed cities. Hence, basic infrastructure and facilities already exist. Besides, the government owns 180 thousand hectares of land there.<br />
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The decision to move from Jakarta was based on a three-year study conducted by the government.<br />
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"The results of the studies concluded that the ideal location for a new capital city will be part of North Penajam Paser District and part of Kutai Kartanegara District in East Kalimantan," President Jokowi, who has been re-elected for the 2019-2024 term, noted.<br />
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The work is expected to start in 2021 and cost up to Rp466 trillion (US$32.3 billion) to be covered by the State Budget (Rp74.44 trillion), Public-Private Partnership scheme (Rp265.2 trillion), and private investment (Rp127.3 trillion).<br />
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Relocating the capital city in Kalimantan has triggered debates on both sides. The island, also known as Borneo, is considered “the lung of the world” as it is home to vast forests that help absorb CO2.<br />
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Forests are a stabilizing force for the climate. Approximately 2.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide, one-third of the CO2 released from burning fossil fuels, is absorbed by forests every year. Forests also regulate ecosystems, protect biodiversity, play an integral part in the carbon cycle, and support livelihoods.<br />
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Indonesia is home to the world’s third-largest tropical rain forest area after Brazil and Congo.<br />
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Located near Balikpapan City, Bukit Soeharto Forest Park in Samboja Sub-district, Kutai Kartanegara District, hosts the Wanariset Samboja Orangutan Rehabilitation and Reintroduction Center, as well as an education forest managed by the University of Mulawarman.<br />
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Balikpapan also has the Sungai (River) Wain Protected Forest (HLSW) which has extraordinary biodiversity including endangered fauna such as sambar deer, orangutans (Pongo pygmaues), sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), and nearly 200 species of birds.<br />
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Surrounding Balikpapan, are also many primary forests, mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs on its coastal area.<br />
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The primary forests and coasts are home to some 1,400 rare yellow-hair proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus), leopards, dugong, crocodiles, green turtles, 60 to 140 dolphins, 300 species of birds, 100 species of mammals, and more than 1,000 species of trees, according to a research conducted by Stanislav Lhota.<br />
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Being home to such rich biodiversity, Balikpapan and its surrounding areas, including Samboja and its Bukit Soeharto Forest Park, have been called "the last fortress of lowland tropical forests in Kalimantan" by environmentalists.<br />
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"It will cover a total area of 180 thousand hectares. Some 40 thousand hectares will become the main area, and in future, it will be expanded to 180 thousand hectares. Half of it would be green spaces, including preserved forest. In parts of North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kertanegara, we have the Bukit Soeharto preserved forest," National Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said.<br />
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The government has yet to decide on the specific delineation for the next capital. Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya confirmed there were no difficulties in preparing the exact location for the new capital city to be situated between North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara, as forest area allotment is changeable with government policy.<br />
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"As we know, in addition to the Bukit Suharto Forest Park, there are also conservation and production forests in the districts, and several of them have obtained permits," she noted.<br />
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The allotment of forest areas can be changed in line with the government’s policy based on Government Regulation No. 104 of 2015 on Procedures for Changing the Purposes and Functions of Forest Areas, she explained.<br />
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The relocation is necessary for economic and development equity across the country and to ease the burden on Java Island in general and Jakarta in particular, Jokowi had explained earlier.<br />
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"The burden of Java Island is getting heavier with the population reaching 150 million or 54 percent of Indonesia's total population, with 58 percent of Indonesia's economic GDP on Java Island," he said.<br />
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He pointed to Jakarta, as an administration and business center, also being overburdened.<br />
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Hosting both government and business centers, Jakarta is currently facing major problems of overpopulation, severe congestion, air pollution, and water pollution.<br />
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The central government studied numerous locations in Java and concluded that the burden on Java would only increase if the new capital were to remain there. It is Indonesia's fifth-largest island after Papua, Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Sulawesi.<br />
Related news: Time to shift capital city to Kalimantan: Jokowi<br />
Related news: Public Works Ministry ready to build capital city in East Kalimantan<br />
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By Fardah<br />
Editor: Suharto<br />
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<b>Capital city concept to entail environmental restoration: minister</b><br />
<a href="https://en.antaranews.com/news/131722/capital-city-concept-to-entail-environmental-restoration-minister">Antara</a> 28 Aug 19;<br />
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Balikpapan, East Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Environmental Affairs Minister Siti Nurbaya affirmed that the concept of the new capital city in East Kalimantan will encompass restoration of the environment at the Bukit Suharto Forest Park and adjoining areas.<br />
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The relocation of the capital city should neither be viewed as a matter of concern nor should it elicit skeptical reactions, as it would also prioritize environmental improvement, the minister noted in a statement here on Wednesday.<br />
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East Kalimantan Province has been facing environmental issues, including former mine pits.<br />
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"Hence, the plan to build the capital city there can also serve as a momentum to solve the problems. Hence, it could be implemented positively," Nurbaya explained.<br />
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Nurbaya has made assurance that her ministry will safeguard unique ecosystems existing in East Kalimantan in a sustainable manner.<br />
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The new capital city development concept, which is smart and forest city, is a theory that concurrently focuses on environmental improvement, she pointed out.<br />
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0n Aug 26, 2019, the central government had declared that parts of the districts of North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kertanegara in East Kalimantan will be the location for the country’s new capital that is expected to be inaugurated in 2024.<br />
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The plan has triggered reactions from the public, in general, and environmental organizations, in particular, as Kalimantan is home to extensive forest areas.<br />
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Greenpeace Indonesia has voiced its concerns over the plan, as it will necessitate forest and land conversion to develop a capital city and will consequently impact the environment. Developing a new capital city without giving prior consideration to the environment will lead to environmental issues cropping up akin to what Jakarta is bearing witness to, Greenpeace Indonesia Director Leonard Simanjuntak explained in a statement on Tuesday.<br />
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"We can see that air pollution in Jakarta is caused by means of transportation and coal-fueled power plants surrounding Jakarta. If the new capital city will rely on coal, as a source of energy, like in Jakarta now, do not ever expect that the new capital city will be free of air pollution," he stated.<br />
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Reporter: Virna PS, Fardah<br />
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti<br />
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<b>Environmental study of new capital by November</b><br />
<a href="https://en.antaranews.com/news/131776/environmental-study-of-new-capital-by-november">Antara</a> 28 Aug 19;<br />
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Jakarta (ANTARA) - A Strategic Environmental Study (KLHS) of the new capital city in East Kalimantan is expected to be completed in November 2019, Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar has said.<br />
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"It won't take too long. It will be two months at the latest, most likely in November," the minister said here Wednesday. The KLHS is in line with the Government Regulation No 46/2016 regarding KLHS for major projects.<br />
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The relocation will include the simultaneous restoration of the environment in North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara Districts in East Kalimantan, she said.<br />
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President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had issued instructions that the ecosystems of Bukit Soeharto Forest Park, Balikpapan Bay and several others should be restored simultaneously with the development of the new capital city.<br />
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Her ministry has been preparing a reference framework and other strategic steps over the last two days, to be conveyed directly to President Jokowi, the Presidential Secretariat Office (KSP) and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), she said.<br />
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0n August 26, 2019, the central government had declared that parts of the districts of North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kertanegara in East Kalimantan will be the location for the country’s new capital that is expected to be inaugurated in 2024.<br />
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The new capital city will function on the concept of smart and forest city.<br />
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The plan has triggered reactions from the public, in general, and environmental organizations, in particular, as Kalimantan is home to extensive forest areas.<br />
<br />
Greenpeace Indonesia has voiced its concerns over the plan, as it will necessitate the conversion of forest and land for development and will consequently impact the environment. Developing a new city without assigning prior consideration to the environment will lead to issues similar to what Jakarta is witnessing, Greenpeace Indonesia Director Leonard Simanjuntak explained in a statement Tuesday.<br />
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"We can see that air pollution in Jakarta is caused by means of transportation and coal-fueled power plants surrounding Jakarta. If the new capital city will rely on coal, as a source of energy, like in Jakarta now, do not ever expect the new capital city to be free from air pollution," he stated.<br />
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Reporter: Desi Purnamasari, Fardah<br />
Editor: Sri Haryati<br />
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<b>Greenpeace raises concerns over capital city relocation to Kalimantan</b><br />
<a href="https://en.antaranews.com/news/131744/greenpeace-raises-concerns-over-capital-city-relocation-to-kalimantan">Antara</a> 28 Aug 19;<br />
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Jakarta (ANTARA) - Greenpeace Indonesia raised environmental and governance concerns regarding a plan to develop a new capital city in East Kalimantan, as it will necessitate forest and land conversion for urban development, thereby definitely impacting the environment.<br />
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“The plan to relocate our capital to East Kalimantan, if executed without prioritizing environmental protection, can carry risks of creating fresh environmental problems in the new capital, just as Jakarta suffers from environmental crises today. Jakarta’s air is polluted not only by a poorly planned transportation sector but also from the many coal-fired power plants in the area around it. If Indonesia’s new capital city also relies on coal power as Jakarta does, then do not expect the move to a new capital to bring a breath of fresh air," Country Director of Greenpeace Indonesia Leonard Simanjuntak noted in a statement on Wednesday.<br />
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The concerns were raised following President Joko Widodo’s Monday announcement on the relocation of the Indonesian capital to an area straddling the districts of North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan.<br />
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He was apprehensive of history repeating itself, particularly if the government were to proceed and build “mine-mouth” coal-fired power plants, as currently planned in several locations in East Kalimantan.<br />
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Related news: Capital city concept to entail environmental restoration: minister<br />
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Construction of these mine-mouth coal-fired power plants will wholly undermine the smart, green city concept promoted for the nation’s new capital. They must be stopped, and clean, renewable energy should be provided as the city’s energy source. These coal mines will not only cause air pollution but also have other environmental impacts. Deforestation for mines can lead to floods and reduce clean water supply leading to shortages, as had taken place in nearby Samarinda, he noted.<br />
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“The threat posed by the global climate crisis, combined with environmental mismanagement of Jakarta, should not be a reason to cut and run by moving the capital. However, it must be a wake-up call and become a major consideration in Indonesia’s development strategy going forward," he remarked.<br />
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Currently, the rate of land subsidence in Jakarta is between one and 15 centimeters (cm) annually and combined with the rising sea level reaching 8.5 cm, it translates to most of North Jakarta being submerged by 2050.<br />
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"The relocation of our capital will only displace environmental problems or even create new ones if we do not take full stock of the unfolding climate crisis. A very strong government commitment is called for to ensure no excessive land conversion and additional deforestation takes place at the new capital city site. The way to achieve this is to apply a ‘compact city’ concept, deploying electricity-based mass public transportation, with the city’s primary energy source being renewables, and with waste management geared towards a zero-waste city. Only by planning with these in mind can a new capital city not exacerbate the current environmental and climate crisis,” he stated.<br />
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Greenpeace has raised concerns over the proposed area being susceptible to forest fires. During the 2015 fires crisis, a total of 3,487 fire hotspots were recorded in Kutai Kartanegara District. This year, some 105 fire hotspots had already been found, and the fire season has not yet run its course. Analysis by Greenpeace indicates a "burn scar" area affected by forest fires totaling 35,785 hectares during the 2015-2018 period.<br />
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The environmental harm caused by fires and the subsequent air pollution impacts residents living in proximity and far. It is a problem recently brought up by a successful citizen lawsuit – and it is one that Jokowi’s government must address head-on if it is to move the capital city to Kalimantan.<br />
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Greenpeace emphasizes that the development of the new capital must not impinge on protected areas or nature reserves, as that would certainly cause additional deforestation and threaten endangered endemic species, such as the Bornean orangutan.<br />
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“Environmental concerns must once again be underlined as a fundamental consideration in relocating the capital city. It is unfortunate that this process is being carried out in a hurry and without an adequate public consultation process. In democracies, open discussions to listen to the aspirations of the public, including ensuring the consent of local indigenous people, must be an integral part of important public decision-making. This must be an important note for President Jokowi,” Leonard emphasized.<br />
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In the meantime, Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya has made assurance of the new capital city development not harming the environment and actually improving the environment in East Kalimantan. Related news: Public Works Ministry ready to build capital city in East Kalimantan<br />
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Reporter: Fardah<br />
Editor: Azizah FitriyantiRia Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-89919937437391631782019-08-26T07:40:00.001+08:002019-08-26T08:24:12.232+08:00Sharks and rays to be given new international protections<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-49466717">BBC</a> 25 Aug 19;<br />
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Countries have agreed to strengthen protections for 18 threatened species of sharks and rays, including those hunted for their meat and fins.<br />
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The proposal was passed at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) on Sunday.<br />
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The newly protected species include mako sharks, wedgefishes and guitarfishes.<br />
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A demand for shark fin soup is one of the driving factors in the depleting numbers of sharks in the ocean.<br />
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The proposal, which was tabled by Mexico and requires ratification this week, means that the species can no longer be traded unless it can be proven that their fishing will not impact the possibility of their survival.<br />
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The number of sharks killed each year in commercial fisheries is estimated at 100 million, with a range between 63 million and 273 million, according to The Pew Trust.<br />
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Makos, the fastest shark species, have almost disappeared completely from the Mediterranean and numbers are diminishing rapidly in the Atlantic, Northern Pacific and Indian oceans.<br />
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Although 102 countries voted in favour of the move, 40 - including China, Iceland, Japan, Malaysia and New Zealand - opposed it.<br />
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Some argued that there was not enough evidence to show that mako sharks were disappearing as a result of fishing.<br />
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Sharks and rays: The facts on the "rhinos of the seas"<br />
A group of 16 very unusual animals called wedgefish and guitarfish, together known as rhino rays<br />
They are assessed as the most threatened family of marine fish - all bar one is critically endangered<br />
Two of the wedgefish species may already have been driven to extinction by commercial fisheries<br />
Wedgefish have two large dorsal fins and a large tail lobe, prized for use in soup.<br />
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Ali Hood, director of conservation at Shark Trust, welcomed the move.<br />
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"Mako are highly valued for their meat and fins. Decades of unrestricted overfishing, particularly on the high seas, has led to significant population declines," Ms Hood told the BBC.<br />
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The "listing would be critical for ensuring that international trade is held to sustainable levels, prompting urgently needed catch limits and improving traceability", she added.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-61927773254795972222019-08-26T07:30:00.000+08:002019-08-26T08:24:11.855+08:00Thailand: Second dugong calf washed ashore diesTan Hui Yee <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/second-dugong-calf-washed-ashore-dies-in-thailand">Straits Times</a> 23 Aug 19;<br />
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BANGKOK - An orphaned dugong under the care of Thai veterinarians died on Thursday (Aug 22), less than a week after the loss of another calf which became a social media darling for its human-friendly antics.<br />
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Jamil, a three-month-old male dugong, was found washed ashore in the southern province of Krabi on July 1 with abrasions on his body, and had been kept under close watch in an enclosed pond at the Phuket Marine Biological Center.<br />
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Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) announced on its Facebook page that the mammal had been sent for surgery to Vachira Phuket Hospital on Thursday evening to remove seagrass that had clogged his stomach after his intestines stopped working.<br />
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That had caused a build-up of gas in his intestines and was putting pressure on his lungs, making breathing difficult.<br />
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But Jamil stopped breathing after he was returned to the nursery pond.<br />
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"The medical team tried to save him with CPR, but couldn't bring him back. Jamil died peacefully at 21.43 hours," the DMCR wrote in its Facebook post.<br />
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Just five days ago, another orphaned dugong about twice his age died in another nursery tank in Trang province. Mariam was found ashore, also in Krabi, in April, and became the darling of the nation after marine officials decided to broadcast online their efforts to nurture her in the protected waters off Koh Libong in Trang.<br />
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Get exclusive insights into Asia from our network of correspondents<br />
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She formed a close bond with her human carers, who gave her milk and seagrass every day while monitoring her health closely. Pictures of her cuddling her carers were circulated widely on the Internet, transforming her to a lovable icon of marine conservation. Tens of thousands of people watched Live Facebook videos of her, sparking public interest that was later shared with Jamil when he was discovered.<br />
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Mariam, however, was attacked by an adult dugong and suffered from muscle trauma that eventually worsened to an infection. She was moved to a tank for her protection, but stopped eating and became dehydrated.<br />
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After Mariam died on Aug 17, a necropsy revealed that her intestines had been clogged by eight pieces of plastic.<br />
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Mariam's death sparked soul-searching in Thailand, where wide-spread use of disposable plastic items has made it one of the world's largest sources of plastic trash in the ocean.<br />
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Last year, a small male pilot whale was found near death in a canal near Thailand's border with Malaysia. A necropsy later revealed 80 plastic bags weighing up to eight kg in his stomach.<br />
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The announcement of Jamil's death was shared over 9,000 times within two hours.<br />
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"My tears have not dried yet," wrote Facebook user Tarn Areeya. "Go to a good place. Please send my regards to Mariam too."Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-53030042307203165962019-08-22T09:42:00.002+08:002019-08-22T10:16:20.437+08:00150 hatchlings born last year at Singapore's only turtle hatchery: NParksAbout 150 baby turtles were hatched last year at Singapore's first and only hatchery for these marine creatures, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Wednesday (Aug 21), nearly a year since its official launch in September 2018. Junn Loh reports.<br />
Junn Loh <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-turtle-hatchery-baby-hatchlings-11829126">Channel NewsAsia</a> 21 Aug 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE: About 150 baby turtles were hatched last year at Singapore's first and only hatchery for these marine creatures, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Wednesday (Aug 21), nearly a year since its official launch in September 2018. <br />
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The turtle hatchery at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park was built as part of efforts to provide a safe space for incubating eggs, which faces threats caused by human traffic, light pollution and predators such as monitor lizards.<br />
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Singapore is home to two species of turtles: the hawksbill turtle and the green turtle, both of which are critically endangered.<br />
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The turtles visit various shores around Singapore to lay eggs during the nesting season from May to October. Each nest contains between 100 and 200 eggs.<br />
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When CNA visited a hawksbill turtle nest along East Coast Beach on Wednesday morning, a clutch of 152 eggs were recorded.<br />
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Of those, 98 eggs were relocated to NParks's hatchery on Small Sister's Island. The rest of the eggs were not relocated as they had not developed.<br />
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NParks said the decision to move the eggs was due to its close proximity to a construction site, which is brightly lit at night. Volunteers patrolling the shores have also reported sightings of hatchlings near the area.<br />
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Baby turtles instinctively move toward the sea, guided by lights from the horizon when they hatch. Light sources from urban environment could confuse the hatchlings, which may attract them to crawl inland instead of out into the waters.<br />
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In contrast, the hatchery at the protected Small Sisters’ Island is off-limits to the public and free from excessive light pollution.<br />
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The rescued eggs will be left to incubate and monitored within cages on the island until the baby turtles emerge. They will also be protected against predators such as monitor lizards, increasing hatching success.<br />
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Members of the public have been roped in to help with the cause. Volunteers from a team called the Biodiversity Beach Patrol are trained on how to protect nesting turtles, and how to spot turtle tracks on the shores, for example.<br />
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"We spend the entire night as a group combing the different areas that we're allocated to,” said volunteer Bernard Seah. <br />
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The group typically splits into teams of two or three, working in alternating six-hour shifts during nesting season.<br />
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“If we see turtle tracks, we just report it. But if we see turtle activities, we see a female turtle nesting, or we see hatchlings, we call NParks straight away, and we will activate them to come down to the site to take over,” Mr Seah said.<br />
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There were 62 reported turtle sightings and 10 successful nests of hatchlings recorded across Singapore in 2018.<br />
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But even as conservation efforts to protect native rare sea turtles bear fruit, Senior Manager of the NParks Coastal and Marine Team Collin Tong said threats caused by marine pollution and human activities remain even after the turtles find their way into the sea.<br />
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“Things like plastic bags, especially the translucent ones. They look like jelly fishes to the turtles.” Mr Tong said.<br />
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"So it will be good if people try to be more aware. Make sure things don’t fly into the sea, and don’t intentionally drop things into the waters. That will help conserve the marine habitats which all these critically endangered turtles live in,” he added.<br />
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Source: CNA/nh(aj)<br />
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<b>Moving turtle eggs a labour of love as hundreds of volunteers help find nests in Singapore</b><br />
WONG PEI TING <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/wild-turtle-numbers-rising-singapores-conservation-efforts-succeed">Today Online</a> 21 Aug 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE — Two trails across the sand, half-dug holes and a pile of loose sand.<br />
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They may not look like much to a casual observer, but to the trained eye, they are all tell-tale signs that the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle or endangered Green sea turtle has freshly nested.<br />
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As many as 200 volunteers with the National Parks Board (NParks) have been busy trying to spot signs of these creatures since nesting season started in June.<br />
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And partly because so many volunteers are now patrolling Singapore’s coast into the wee hours of the night, recorded turtle activity has seen an encouraging uptick. Some of these volunteers have even been camping overnight on the Southern Islands that are accessible only by boat. <br />
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From 2005 to 2016, only 66 turtle sightings were recorded in Singapore. Although not a directly comparable figure, last year alone, there were 62 nest-related sightings.<br />
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This suggests that more turtles than previously thought — Hawksbills in greater numbers than Green sea turtles — treat Singapore’s shores as safe havens.<br />
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Historically, turtles have been slaughtered for their meat, skin and shells. More recently, the busy waters that serve as their habitat have been made perilous through large-scale fishing equipment and potentially lethal plastic waste.<br />
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Sightings of the creatures in Singapore also bring opportunities to witness baby turtles emerging from their shells during nesting season.<br />
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Last year, conservationists from NParks were able to monitor births from nine clutches of eggs — all of them turned out to be Hawksbill eggs — and to help orientate the hatchlings back into the sea.<br />
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As mother turtles sometimes nest on parts of Singapore’s coastline which see significant human traffic, three of these nine clutches had to be dug out of their chambers and shifted to Sisters’ Islands to increase the hatchlings’ chances of survival. Typically, each clutch has more than 100 eggs.<br />
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The smaller of the two Sisters’ Islands — out of bounds to the general public — is where Singapore’s first turtle hatchery is located. It was launched in September last year within the wider Sisters’ Islands Marine Park.<br />
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These figures were given by the authorities as TODAY tagged along on the second of this year’s relocation efforts on Wednesday (Aug 21). The event saw close to 100 eggs being dug up and transplanted from East Coast Park onto Sisters’ Islands.<br />
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Estimated to be 51 days old, the eggs are due to hatch this Sunday. Turtle eggs usually hatch on the 55th to 60th day.<br />
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This particular clutch was discovered by a student researcher from the National University of Singapore who volunteers with NParks, and the agency made the call to move it because it was located near a construction site. Over the last two months, volunteers had found hatchlings getting lost there.<br />
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Mr Collin Tong Hor Yee, senior manager of the coastal and marine branch at NParks’ National Biodiversity Centre, said that the newborn turtles could have been disoriented by the bright lights from the site’s equipment at night.<br />
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Baby turtles rely on moonlight reflected off the ocean’s surface to find their way into the sea.<br />
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HOW THE EGG SHIFTING IS DONE<br />
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Relocation is tedious, exacting work where one false move can destroy the life within an egg. Work for the crew started at 7.30am and ended after noon.<br />
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Mr Tong and his team first removed a metal netting that had been placed on top of the nest to protect the eggs from predators such as monitor lizards, ghost crabs or monkeys since the “smell of (the mother turtle’s) mucus” would be strong in the first few days.<br />
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The mesh cannot be magnetic, Mr Tong pointed out, because the turtles take cues from the earth’s magnetic field to navigate themselves as they enter the water. It is "like a compass" so that they recognise how to return to their birthplace to mate and lay their own eggs. <br />
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The Hawksbill turtle’s egg chamber that was excavated on Wednesday was 42cm deep, but Mr Tong’s team could not use tools to dig in case they accidentally hurt the eggs.<br />
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Using their bare hands, they scooped out the dry grainy sand little by little to uncover the clutch, which held 152 eggs, of which 44 appeared to have already hatched and 10 appeared deflated or under-developed.<br />
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Six eggs were suspected to be unhealthy, possibly fungal-infected, and were placed in a pail lined with damp sand. The rest of the 92 “good” eggs were put in another pail.<br />
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Mr Tong explained that when the eggs are lifted from the chamber to be placed in the pail, they cannot be rotated because that can kill the embryos, which are attached to the top of the shells. When they are moved, they must be placed on the same side as when they were found in the nest.<br />
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His team delayed the transplanting effort because the eggs are best left alone for the first three weeks after they were laid.<br />
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Over at the hatchery on Sisters’ Islands, Mr Tong’s team created a 42cm-deep hole similar to the chamber that the mother turtle had dug, and started gently placing the eggs back into the sand — again observing the same crucial rule of not rotating the eggs.<br />
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The hole was dug within one of the hatchery’s three purpose-built metal cages by the beach to protect the hatchlings and eggs from predators, such as monkeys living on the island.<br />
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A temperature logger is used to ensure the eggs are kept in a 29°C environment, which is ideal to ensure a mix of male and female hatchlings. Too cold, and all the hatchlings will turn out male. Too hot, and all of them will be female, research found.<br />
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As the hatchery is not manned round the clock, a motion sensor is attached to the cage to detect any activity and will alert someone once hatchlings emerge, so that the turtles can be returned to the ocean.<br />
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Apart from the newly relocated batch of eggs, the remote Sisters’ Islands are home to two other clutches of identified nests which are being monitored, with the eggs left where they were laid. The eggs are due to hatch on Sept 4 and 18.<br />
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A TURTLE’S FAILED ATTEMPT<br />
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Just as the relocation work was about to be completed on Wednesday, an excited Dr Karenne Tun, NParks’ director of the coastal and marine branch, hurried over, exclaiming that fresh tracks were spotted on an adjacent beach.<br />
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It was 11am, and Dr Tun said: “The turtle just left two hours ago. The fellow spent six hours on land instead of two hours.”<br />
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She and other NParks personnel gauged the turtle's time spent onshore based on the tide and tracks that are still visible on the sand. Another indicator was that the points of entry and exit were far apart.<br />
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She held high hopes that the turtle had laid some eggs, noting that she had seen tracks like this only twice over the last three years when her department had ramped up work on turtle conservation. “She spent a long time on land, so hopefully there is a nest.”<br />
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But on closer inspection, it appeared that the turtle had walked a long way inland, dug two holes along the way and made more uncommitted attempts, before waddling back into the sea disappointed. The team could not find any deposit of eggs despite running their fingers through the loosened sand.<br />
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How do they know? It was clear that there was a “disturbance” in the area, Dr Tun remarked, tracing the turtle’s path by its tracks on the sand, and loose sand where its flippers had ruffled. The turtle possibly deemed the two holes it dug unsuitable: One had big roots which may have grown into the eggs, and it couldn’t dig deeper with the other.<br />
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“She (the turtle) might try again tomorrow,” Dr Tun said, still hopeful. Nesting season does not end until the start of October.<br />
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<b>NParks moves 152 critically endangered sea turtle eggs from East Coast beach to hatchery</b><br />
Audrey Tan <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/nparks-moves-152-critically-endangered-sea-turtle-eggs-from-east-coast-beach">Straits Times</a> 21 Aug 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE - As dawn broke over a stretch of beach along East Coast Park on Wednesday morning (Aug 21), a group of people were huddled over a hole in the ground.<br />
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Slowly, carefully, they extracted what looked like ping pong balls from the sand, placing them in a bucket filled with moist sand.<br />
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But they were no sportsmen on a treasure hunt. They were staff and volunteers with the National Parks Board (NParks), on a mission to rescue a clutch of 152 eggs laid by a hawksbill turtle, a species of sea turtle that is critically endangered around the world.<br />
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After the eggs were retrieved, they were moved to the turtle hatchery on Sisters' Islands Marine Park, where they are likely to hatch within the next few days, according to estimates by NParks researchers.<br />
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Removing the eggs was a laborious process, taking the NParks staff and volunteers about an hour to complete the task.<br />
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The removal had to be done by hand and without any tools, as rescuers were afraid the use of equipment could damage the eggs.<br />
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Scientists also took care not to change the rotation of the eggs, placing them in moist sand so they would not move around.<br />
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At the Sisters' Islands hatchery, the eggs were reburied 42cm deep in sand - the same depth they were found at in East Coast Park.<br />
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Other than installing motion sensors and temperature gauges around the eggs, a large cage was also placed around them to keep away predators such as long-tailed macaques and monitor lizards.<br />
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The nest had been spotted about 50 days ago by a National University of Singapore student researcher who then informed NParks.<br />
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After NParks verified the sighting as a nest, a decision was made to move the eggs, as the site was deemed risky for the baby turtles, said Mr Collin Tong, senior manager for the coastal and marine branch of NParks' National Biodiversity Centre.<br />
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He told reporters on Wednesday morning: "The nest site is next to a construction site, which is brightly lit at night. We have been told by our volunteers that hatchlings have been spotted hanging out in the waters near the site."<br />
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Turtle hatchlings use environmental cues to make their way from sand to sea, including light from the moon.<br />
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Light from other sources could confuse the young turtles. But there is no light pollution at the offshore Sisters' Islands, said Mr Tong.<br />
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The hope is that when the baby turtles emerge from the hatchery, the females would "imprint" on the Sisters' Islands beach - orienting themselves using Earth's magnetic field to return to Singapore's southern islands to nest when they become sexually mature in 25 years or so.<br />
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The hatchery, launched by NParks in September last year, aims to provide a conducive environment for turtle hatchlings to incubate, hatch safely and make it out to sea.<br />
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There are two species of sea turtles in Singapore: the hawksbill and green turtles. These reptiles can be directly affected by climate change, as their sexes are influenced by temperatures.<br />
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Female turtles hatch in warmer temperatures, whereas males hatch in cooler environments. In a warming world, this could skew the ratio of the sexes.<br />
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Mr Tong said NParks is able to control temperatures at the hatchery, maintaining sand temperatures at about 29 deg C, so it is more likely that a mix of male and female turtles would hatch from the clutch.<br />
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Hawksbill turtle nests have been spotted along Singapore's eastern coast, from Changi to the beaches along East Coast Park.<br />
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However, their nesting grounds may be under threat, if land reclamation works take place along Singapore's eastern coast.<br />
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In his National Day Rally speech on Sunday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that over the long term, Singapore is looking into major engineering feats to tackle the issue of sea level rise - a symptom of climate change that Singapore, an island state, is especially vulnerable to.<br />
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Among the strategies being considered are empoldering, a land reclamation technique, along Singapore's eastern coast, as well as reclaiming a series of offshore islands there. He said all options will be carefully considered before a decision is made.<br />
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Asked how the potential reclamation of the area could affect turtle nesting grounds, NParks said: "Agencies are still studying the options for coastal protection measures along the eastern coast to determine the best way forward."<br />
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Naturalist Bernard Seah, 50, noted that East Coast Park is currently located on reclaimed land. Turtles are adaptable, he said, and would return to sea if it deems an area unsuitable for nesting.<br />
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The NParks volunteer told The Straits Times: "I have mixed thoughts about the possibility that East Coast might be reclaimed further. Singapore needs more land, but we're not sure about how it will affect the turtles.<br />
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"But if the development eventually goes ahead and is done in a careful way, such as if it is done in segments, turtles will still have room to nest. This way, a balance can be struck," he said.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-30083020946907229232019-08-22T09:38:00.000+08:002019-08-22T09:43:18.546+08:00‘Calamity may come’ if Singapore doesn’t take care of its coastlines now: Masagos ZulkifliThe Minister for the Environment and Water Resources also shared more on the citizens’ workgroup, saying one problem it will look at is how to increase the recyclability of items in neighbourhood blue bins.<br />
Kevin Kwang <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/calamity-may-come-if-singapore-doesn-t-take-care-of-its-11829060">Channel NewsAsia</a> 21 Aug 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE: Calamity could befall Singapore if it does not start dealing with the climate change threat to its coastlines today and leaves it until it is too late, warned Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli on Wednesday (Aug 21).<br />
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In an interview with CNA938, Mr Masagos reiterated the threat of rising sea levels to Singapore that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had spoken about in his National Day Rally speech on Sunday.<br />
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Mr Masagos said that scientists have concluded that sea levels will rise by 1m by the end of the century, and when faced together with high tide and heavy rain, will become a “very difficult problem to overcome”.<br />
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The long-term impact will not just be on the environment, but also on Singapore’s economy and jobs, said Mr Masagos, adding that this is precisely why Singapore has to take immediate and long-term measures to ensure its coastlines are well protected.<br />
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“This problem is going to come upon us slowly over the next century, over the decades,” he said.<br />
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“If we start now, we can certainly build over time. If we start too late, then calamity may just come over us.”<br />
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Mr Lee had said Singapore is especially vulnerable to rising sea levels and the country should treat climate change defences with “utmost seriousness”.<br />
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He also estimated it would cost at least S$100 billion to protect the country from this threat.<br />
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GOING BACK TO BASICS<br />
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Beyond big infrastructure-level investments to address the issue, Mr Masagos also touched on national-level initiatives to reduce waste production and increase recycling efforts.<br />
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He spoke about Singapore’s first Zero Waste Masterplan and how its focus on food waste, packaging waste and electronic waste is aimed at moving back to a circular economic system.<br />
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Using the example of water, Mr Masagos said: “We consume our water, and then we recycle it back into the system, our used water, and then we put it back into the system again and again.<br />
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“That’s how we should also use every other resource that we have.”<br />
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READ: Zero Waste Masterplan to focus on electronics, packaging, food waste, says Masagos<br />
Mr Masagos also brought up how a circular economy was present in times past, but has been largely forgotten today.<br />
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“I remember my mum every day will put away waste food and container, and someone will come and give her eggs in exchange for food waste,” Mr Masagos recounted.<br />
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“And this food waste is then fed to maybe pigs, chickens … and well, that’s the best way to get rid of food waste.”<br />
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He said it’s become “too easy” for people to throw their waste away because there’s a “backstop” solution – everything thrown will be incinerated away – but this is not sustainable.<br />
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“We have to stop that," said Mr Masagos. "At the rate we are increasing our waste and dumping into our landfill, we will run out by 2035,” the minister said.<br />
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BLUE BINS BLUES<br />
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During the interview, Mr Masagos also spoke of how some people commingle waste, saying that doing so renders any recycled waste useless.<br />
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“That’s the problem with our blue bins today. When we throw food into our recyclable bins, the blue bins, it becomes something you have to throw away,” he said.<br />
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To improve this state of affairs, he called on people to just rinse out the containers before recycling and not to throw food into these bins.<br />
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This problem of the blue bins will, in fact, be one of those that a group of 50 Singaporeans in a yet-to-be-formed citizens’ workgroup will look at.<br />
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Mr Masagos said: “Should we legislate? How do we educate? How do we make sure that we can increase the recyclability of our blue bins from 40 per cent to 60 per cent, even 100 per cent?<br />
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“I think this is something that if we can get the process right, then we can start to look at even more difficult problems in future,” he added.<br />
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The citizens' workgroup was first revealed on Jul 17 by Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor, who said that participants will be able to consult experts and be given access to policy-relevant information such as household recycling surveys to come up with solutions.<br />
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Source: CNA/kk(aj)Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-12022426400335857812019-08-21T11:04:00.002+08:002019-08-21T11:09:56.472+08:00Engineering solutions to tackle rising sea levels important but more research vital: ExpertsMatthew Mohan <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/climate-change-rising-sea-levels-research-poldering-ndr2019-11822204">Channel NewsAsia</a> 19 Aug 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE: Experts on Monday (Aug 19) welcomed the possibility of implementing engineering solutions such as land reclamation to tackle rising sea levels but stressed the need for more research into the impact of climate change. <br />
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This follows Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 18), during which he highlighted that Singapore is susceptible to the effects of climate change and vulnerable to rising sea levels. <br />
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As part of strengthening the Republic's coastal defences, Mr Lee explained that one solution could be a reclamation method known as empoldering.<br />
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Polders are created by first building a seawall in the water, before pumping out the water behind the seawall to create dry land. This land can be lower than the sea level, but water has to be continually pumped out.<br />
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Another alternative would be to reclaim a series of islands offshore, from Marina East to Changi, said Mr Lee. In addition, there are also plans to build a second pump house at Marina Barrage, he added.<br />
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Speaking to CNA, Associate Professor Adam Switzer of Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) said that "carefully engineered reclamations and flood defences including polders" could be the "best option" for Singapore.<br />
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"Land reclamation has a long history in Singapore and no doubt more reclamations will be needed in the future as Singapore grows," said Dr Switzer. <br />
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"Future reclamations need to be carefully planned and based on the upper bounds of projections for future sea levels and careful evaluation of the ecological impacts to our vulnerable coasts."<br />
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In his speech, Mr Lee had cited the example of the Netherlands using polders. Professor Benjamin Horton, a leading expert on climate change and rising sea levels, said that the European nation has set a positive example on how it tackles climate change.<br />
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He said: "The PM specifically cited the Netherlands as an example country in dealing with the threat of sea level rise. The Dutch do not view climate change as a threat, but rather as an opportunity to make the country more resilient, more attractive and economically stronger.<br />
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"Sea level rise adaptation is a window of opportunity to upgrade infrastructure, increase biodiversity and more meaningfully engage citizens in city life. I agree with PM that this is the mindset Singaporeans should follow."<br />
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There are also other risks that rising sea levels could bring about, Singapore University of Technology and Design's Assistant Professor Lynette Cheah told CNA.<br />
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These include the threat of water scarcity in the region and as well as possible disruption to food supplies. <br />
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"Much of the low-lying deltas in South and Southeast Asia that produce most of the world’s rice supply are vulnerable to rising sea levels," explained Prof Cheah.<br />
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"The impacts of global warming on food production and food security in Asia will likely lead to a decline in crop yield and productivity. Building resilience to these potential impacts would also be important."<br />
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SCIENCE FIRST, ADAPTION FOLLOWS<br />
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The Centre for Climate Research Singapore's (CCRS) National Sea Level Programme was set up earlier this year to better study how a rise in sea levels could impact Singapore.<br />
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But experts pointed out that there remain other research areas which need to be further addressed.<br />
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Dr Switzer said rising sea levels are "not the only impact of climate change we face".<br />
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"We will likely need parallel programs with groups like CCRS to examine the impacts on our local ecosystems like coral reefs, our human health and our local and regional food resources," he added.<br />
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"The recently announced National Sea Level Research Programme is a great new step but it also clear that assessing climate change impacts is also a key new research need in Singapore."<br />
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This will tackle questions such as what natural landscapes in Singapore will be affected by sea levels rising or the building of polders, as well as identifying the important places that should be valued in terms of economic value and cultural heritage, he said.<br />
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"In other words, interdisciplinary research giving us not only the raw numbers of sea level rise, but also the benefits of telling us what’s at stake and what can be done to protect and minimise the losses from sea level rise would be critical for future policy," said Prof Chow.<br />
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Ultimately, Singapore will need a "robust" and "accurate" local projection of sea level rise, said Prof Horton, who is also from NTU's EOS.<br />
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He said: "Singapore must invest in the science of sea level rise before it spends up to S$100 billion on adaptation measures. <br />
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"Science first, (and then) responsible, cost-effective adaptation follows."<br />
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TACKLING CO2 EMISSIONS<br />
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In a Facebook post on Monday, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam described climate change as "the gravest threat to humanity", and that it would "progressively impact" people in Singapore and the region.<br />
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He focused attention on tackling CO2 emissions, and said that there needs to be "significant changes" in lifestyles and Singapore's economy in the years to come.<br />
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He said: "To begin with, recycling must become a way of life, like it has become in Japan for example. It wasn’t always that way in Japan, which shows how much can be achieved.<br />
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"Many Singaporeans have ideas on what needs to be done, and the younger generation especially is taking the initiative. With innovation, changed habits and a restructured economy over time, we can tackle CO2 emissions without lowering Singaporeans’ standards of living."<br />
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Source: CNA/mt(mi)Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-80217215420900953082019-08-19T10:51:00.002+08:002019-08-19T10:57:35.415+08:00NDR 2019: It could cost S$100 billion or more to protect Singapore against rising sea levels, PM Lee saysMatthew Mohan <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ndr-2019-singapore-climate-change-costs-rising-sea-levels-11819402">Channel NewsAsia</a> 18 Aug 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE: Tackling the “50 to 100-year problem” of rising sea levels could cost Singapore around S$100 billion or more, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Aug 18).<br />
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In his English National Day Rally speech, Mr Lee highlighted that Singapore is susceptible to the effects of climate change and especially vulnerable to rising sea levels. <br />
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“How much will it cost, to protect ourselves against rising sea levels? My guess is probably S$100 billion over 100 years, quite possibly more,” said Mr Lee.<br />
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“If we only have 10 years to solve the problem, we won’t have have the time or resources to do it. But because this is a 50 to 100-year problem, we can implement a 50 to 100-year solution.”<br />
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Climate change defences should be treated with utmost seriousness, just like the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), said Mr Lee.<br />
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He said there is a need to “work steadily at it, maintain a stable budget year after year, keep your eye on the target and do it over many years and several generations”.<br />
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INSPIRATION FROM ABROAD<br />
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While Singapore has implemented localised measures to protect individual buildings and developments – new developments are required to be built at least 4m above sea level, and this requirement is even higher for critical infrastructure – these solutions will not be enough, said Mr Lee.<br />
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“We have many older buildings. These cannot be lifted up, or transported to higher ground,” explained Mr Lee.<br />
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“In fact, large parts of Singapore are low-lying, and we need to protect these low-lying areas as a whole.”<br />
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As such, coastal defences need to be built, said Mr Lee.<br />
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“We have studied our whole coastline in detail, and we've divided it into different segments,” he said. <br />
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Work will be prioritised for more "critical" areas such as the City-East Coast and Jurong Island segments.<br />
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In the city area for instance, there are plans to build a second pump house at the Marina Barrage. The current pump house contains seven giant pumps, said Mr Lee.<br />
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“We built the Marina Reservoir and Marina Barrage, to protect the city area from flooding,” added Mr Lee. He said that when it rains heavily during high tide, the pumps take water out ofMarina Reservoir and deliver it into the sea, so that rain falling in the city area can drain into the reservoir. "When sea levels rise, one pump house will not be enough,” Mr Lee pointed out.<br />
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Other solutions are required for the eastern coastline of Singapore, pointed out Mr Lee.<br />
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One option – implemented by the Netherlands – is the construction of what the Dutch call “polders”, which is land that is reclaimed from the sea.<br />
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Polders are created by first building a seawall in the water, before pumping out the water behind the seawall to create dry land. This land can be lower than sea level, but water has to continually pumped out.<br />
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This is a “serious option” for the Republic, said Mr Lee. <br />
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A small polder is currently being built at Pulau Tekong, added Mr Lee, to gain some “experience” operating one. The new land will be used for SAF training.<br />
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Another alternative is to reclaim a series of islands offshore, from Marina East to Changi, said Mr Lee.<br />
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They can be connected by barrages, and a freshwater reservoir similar to Marina Reservoir could be created, he explained.<br />
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“We will examine all the options carefully, and when the time comes, we will decide what is the best way to do it,” said Mr Lee. “This problem has good engineering solutions, although they will all cost money.”<br />
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What matters is that Singapore’s climate change plans must be implemented “progressively” and kept “flexible”, emphasised Mr Lee. <br />
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“But we must start now and sustain the effort, as the Dutch have done over centuries, and as we have done with the SAF,” he said. “We must make this effort. Otherwise one day, our children and grandchildren will be ashamed of what our generation did not do.”<br />
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Source: CNA/mt<br />
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<b>It will cost S$100b or more over next 50 to 100 years to protect Singapore against rising sea levels: PM Lee</b><br />
WONG PEI TING <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/it-will-cost-s100b-or-more-over-next-50-to-100-years-protect-singapore-against-rising-sea-levels-pm-lee">Today Online</a> 18 Aug 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE — It will cost Singapore S$100 billion or more over the next 50 to 100 years to protect itself against rising sea levels, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday (Aug 18), stressing that the country should treat climate change defences like it treats the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) — “with utmost seriousness”.<br />
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In his English speech at the National Day Rally, Mr Lee noted that both represent matters of "life and death".<br />
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“Everything else must bend at the knee to safeguard the existence of our island nation,” Mr Lee said.<br />
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But he warned that there is one difference between the SAF and climate change: With the SAF, the country can deter threats and hopes never to go to war. But with climate change, it is known for sure that sea levels will rise — the uncertainty is whether they rise a few decades sooner or later.<br />
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HOW WOULD THE S$100 BILLION BE SPENT?<br />
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The S$100 billion will mainly be spent on coastal defences, Mr Lee said, because significant areas of Singapore are 4m above mean sea level or lower, and will be increasingly at risk of going underwater when sea levels rise.<br />
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One critical segment stretches from East Coast to the city. Currently, Marina Reservoir and Marina Barrage protect the city area from flooding. The Pump House at the Barrage pumps water out of Marina Reservoir into the sea when it rains heavily, so that rain falling in the city area can then drain into Marina Reservoir.<br />
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But this will not be enough when sea levels rise and a second pump house will need to be built at the opposite end of the Barrage, he said.<br />
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For the eastern coastline, Singapore will need other solutions and has looked at other countries for inspiration, such as the Netherlands, which uses “polders” — land that has been reclaimed from the sea — and dykes to keep the land dry, he added.<br />
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Another alternative, Mr Lee said, is to reclaim a series of islands offshore from Marina East to Changi, connect them up with barrages and create a reservoir, similar to Marina Reservoir.<br />
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Singapore is still examining the options carefully and will decide what to do when the time comes, he added.<br />
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“This problem does have good engineering solutions, though they will all cost money.”<br />
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Singapore’s climate change plans will be implemented progressively and kept flexible, Mr Lee said.<br />
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“But we must start now and sustain the effort, as the Dutch have done over centuries and as we have done with the SAF.”<br />
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HOW WILL SINGAPORE RAISE THE FUNDS?<br />
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Singapore must “work steadily at it, maintain a stable budget year after year, keep your eye on the target, and do it over many years and several generations”, Mr Lee said.<br />
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“That way we can afford it, and when we need it, we will be ready.”<br />
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He added: “If we only have 10 years to solve the problem, we won’t have enough time or resources to do it. But because this is a 50- to 100-year problem, we can implement a 50- to 100-year solution to this problem. <br />
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“In Singapore, long-term problems, we can make long-term solutions. Not everywhere. But in Singapore, yes, we can.”<br />
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MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE<br />
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Efforts must not be spared to mitigate climate change, and Singapore must do its part to reduce carbon emissions, Mr Lee said.<br />
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One way this can be done is to reduce waste, he said, remarking that Singapore generates “a huge amount of waste” from excessive packaging, food waste, or electronic waste.<br />
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They produce carbon dioxide when incinerated, and while the Pulau Semakau landfill handles trash and incinerated ash, it will eventually fill up, then Singapore will need a “Bukit Semakau” or “Gunung Semakau”, he quipped, referring to how the landfill will become a hill or mountain.<br />
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“We must make this effort. Otherwise, one day, our children and grandchildren will be ashamed of what our generation did not do,” Mr Lee said.<br />
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<b>Rising sea levels to affect property values? Not if the Govt has solutions planned, say analysts</b><br />
WONG PEI TING <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/rising-sea-levels-to-affect-property-values-not-if-government-has-solutions-say-analysts">Today Online</a> 18 Aug 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE — When sea levels rise, the low-lying areas of Singapore that will increasingly be at risk include a long stretch on the East Coast from Changi to the city centre, but property analysts said that this will unlikely affect the value of real estate in these areas.<br />
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This is because the Government has already indicated that it is going to tackle the problems, they said.<br />
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Stressing the importance of investing in climate change defence at the National Day Rally held at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central on Sunday (Aug 18), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that property values, safety and liveability in those areas will be affected by rising sea levels if mitigating measures are not in place.<br />
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To protect the coastline, the Government will likely need to spend S$100 billion or more on solutions over the next 50 to 100 years.<br />
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From a map that Mr Lee showed at the rally, the areas most susceptible to sea-level rise include Tanjong Rhu and Marine Parade, and places hugging the Singapore River and Kallang Basin.<br />
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Some of them happen to be prime real estate that is centrally located, sea-facing or offering riverfront living.<br />
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These areas are 4m above mean sea level or lower — and this is not much because water can surge as high as 2m above the mean sea level during high tide.<br />
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Mr Chris Koh, director of property consultancy Chris International, said that property prices in this eastern stretch will be pulled down only “if there are no solutions”, and if rising sea levels remain a “worrying situation”.<br />
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“Now, it is clear that the Government will do something, so property values will remain sustainable. Developers won’t be deterred.”<br />
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Furthermore, in 50 to 100 years’ time, 99-year lease properties in at-risk areas — even Mandarin Gardens along the Marine Parade Road stretch or the newest ones that are being built right now — would be returned to the Government to be redeveloped or be sold in an en-bloc sale, Mr Koh said.<br />
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In time, property developers should also know to construct buildings to sit at least 4m above sea level in at-risk areas, he said, noting that it is “not difficult” for developers to raise the foundation by 1m.<br />
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At the rally, Mr Lee said that a buffer is needed to cope with heavy rains while sea levels are projected to rise by up to 1m by the end of the century — just 80 years from now.<br />
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A video illustration he used showed that rising sea levels will first impact Pulau Tekong and the cluster of islands south of Singapore.<br />
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Then they will next hit Jurong Island and the city to East Coast stretch — both of which had been identified by Mr Lee as “critical segments” where work is to be prioritised.<br />
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While he emphasised that these segments will not be submerged under water yet, they will be at risk like how Chinatown used to be in the old days — “high tide, rain, trouble”, he said.<br />
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VALUE OF RECLAIMED LAND<br />
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One solution is to build “polders” and dykes as the Dutch have done, which will include reclaiming new land from the sea and keeping the land dry.<br />
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Another alternative is to reclaim a series of islands offshore from Marina East to Changi, connect them up with barrages and create a reservoir — similar to Marina Reservoir that is formed with the Marina Barrage.<br />
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A small polder is already being built at Pulau Tekong to gain some experience operating one, Mr Lee said, adding that the reclaimed land there will be used for Singapore Armed Forces training.<br />
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As for the eastern coastline, polders are also a “serious option” and the reclaimed land can be used for “housing and other purposes”, Mr Lee added.<br />
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Mr Koh said that these new parcels of land that might be introduced to the 17km eastern coastline could become prime land if opened for residential development, since they would likely enjoy more of a sea view.<br />
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Agreeing, Mr Alan Cheong, executive director of research and consultancy at property firm Savills Singapore, noted that if the new land comes to be considered as “much more valuable”, it will boost the values of sites inland because prices in the same area are “correlated”.<br />
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ERA Realty’s head of research Nicholas Mak said that the Government’s plans should “give some comfort” instead of riling up the market.<br />
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“Property prices won’t go down if there is confidence in the Government to fix the issue,” he said.<br />
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‘ASSURANCES’ FROM GOVERNMENT, EFFORTS FROM INDIVIDUALS <br />
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Speaking to TODAY at (ITE) College Central in Ang Mo Kio after the rally, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Member of Parliament (MP) in the East Coast Group Representative Constituency (GRC), said that Mr Lee’s suggestions will hopefully “give some assurances that measures will be put in place”.<br />
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Noting that the younger generation is concerned about environmental issues, he added: “I am glad young people are very aware that this is the future for them because they are going to be the ones inheriting the places.”<br />
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Nee Soon GRC MP Louis Ng, who often champions environmental causes in Parliament, said that while the Government can make adaptations to retain property value along the East Coast Road area, climate change efforts do not stop there.<br />
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“I think what PM Lee covered was very important, but it is not just about what the Government can do. It is about what individuals can do…<br />
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“We need people to reduce, reuse and — as I keep stressing as the very last resort — recycle… Everybody can do it,” he said. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY NABILAH AWANG AND LOUISA TANGRia Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-22207092656334236782019-08-19T10:48:00.003+08:002019-08-19T10:57:35.041+08:00NDR 2019: Climate change one of the 'gravest challenges facing mankind', impact on Singapore to worsen, says PM LeeMatthew Mohan <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ndr-2019-climate-change-impact-singapore-greatest-threat-sea-11819382">Channel NewsAsia</a> 18 Aug 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE: Climate change is one of the gravest challenges the human race faces and Singapore is already feeling its impact - which is likely to worsen over the next few decades, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Aug 18).<br />
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“Climate change may seem abstract and distant for many of us, but it is one of the gravest challenges facing humankind,” said Mr Lee in his National Day Rally speech.<br />
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The Earth’s average temperature has increased by 1 degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial times over 100 years ago, pointed out Mr Lee. <br />
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This is a result of more carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere due to of human activity. The gas builds up, traps heat from the sun, causing the planet to warm up.<br />
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“One degree Celsius doesn’t sound like much, but it is very significant,” Mr Lee said. “Furthermore, temperatures are continuing to rise, faster and faster.”<br />
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Global warming has resulted in the weather becoming more extreme, added Mr Lee, with droughts getting more severe and prolonged. At the other end of the spectrum, rainfall and storms are becoming more intense.<br />
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He explained: “Singapore is already feeling the impact. Our weather is palpably hotter. Rainstorms are heavier and this will very likely worsen over the next few decades, within the lifetimes of many of us.” <br />
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According to a recent Swiss study, by 2050, several cities in the world will experience “unprecedented” climate shifts, added Mr Lee. <br />
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Singapore is one of these cities.<br />
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THE GRAVE THREAT OF RISING SEA LEVELS<br />
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Rising temperatures are also causing ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica to melt – leading to rising sea levels. Singapore is “especially vulnerable” to this given that it is a low-lying island, said Mr Lee.<br />
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The United Nations currently projects that sea levels will rise by up to 1m by the end of the century, but scientists’ estimates have been going up, and sea levels may quite possibly rise higher and faster than that, added Mr Lee.<br />
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Singapore used to face floods in the 1960s and 1970s, especially during the rainy season but these flooding problems are now “largely resolved”, said Mr Lee.<br />
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This is because the drainage system has been improved and buildings were required to be built on higher platforms, at least 3m above mean sea level.<br />
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As the water can be as high as 2m above sea level during high tide, this leaves a 1m buffer to cope with weather events like heavy rain.<br />
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But with global warming, if sea levels rise by 1m, and when it is high tide, there will be no buffer, said Mr Lee. <br />
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He added: “If the heavy rain coincides with a high tide, the water will have nowhere to go. We will be, literally, in deep water.”<br />
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A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH <br />
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In order to understand what climate change means for Singapore, the Government has set up the Centre for Climate Research Singapore (CCRS), said Mr Lee.<br />
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“CCRS is cooperating with their counterparts in neighbouring countries to study in more detail how climate change is affecting Southeast Asia,” he explained. “They are finding that Singapore, being near the equator, is more vulnerable to climate change than the global model suggests.”<br />
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In order to mitigate climate change, Singapore has and will continue to do its part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, added PM Lee.<br />
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For example, Singapore is part of the Paris Climate Agreement and has committed to slow down as well as cap carbon dioxide emissions by around 2030.<br />
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Individual Singaporeans also have a role to play by reducing waste and being sustainable in their daily habits, stressed PM Lee.<br />
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“Although Singapore may not be able to stop climate change by ourselves, we can contribute to solutions, and we must do our fair share,” he added.<br />
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Singapore will also need to adapt to climate change – localised measures have been put in place to protect individual buildings and developments.<br />
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For one, new developments are required to be built at least 4m above mean sea level, and this requirement is even higher for critical infrastructure as Tuas Port and Changi Airport terminal 5, said Mr Lee.<br />
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The building of a second pump house at the Marina Barrage has also been planned, while the options to reclaim a series of islands from Marina East to Changi as well as build polders will be considered. <br />
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Ultimately, Singapore should treat climate change defences with “utmost seriousness” said Mr Lee.<br />
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“Both the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) and climate change defences are existential for us. These are life and death matters,” he stressed. “Everything else must bend at the knee to safeguard the existence of our island nation.<br />
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“With the SAF, we hope never to go to war ... But with climate change, we know for sure sea levels will rise. And the only uncertainty is whether they rise a few decades earlier, or a few decades later.”<br />
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Source: CNA/mt<br />
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<b>Explainer: Why climate change should matter to Singaporeans and what the Govt is doing about it</b><br />
NAVENE ELANGOVAN <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/explainer-why-climate-change-should-matter-singaporeans-and-what-government-doing-about-it">Today Online</a> 18 Aug 19;<br />
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SINGAPORE — Describing climate change as “one of the gravest challenges facing humankind”, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday (Aug 18) that Singapore must understand what it means for the country and take steps to mitigate and adapt to it.<br />
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He also took pains to outline just how vulnerable Singapore is to the effects of climate change, particularly rising sea levels, and what the Government is doing to prepare the Republic.<br />
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TODAY takes a closer look at the issue.<br />
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SO JUST HOW DIRE IS THE SITUATION?<br />
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Dire enough that Mr Lee said the Government expects to spend S$100 billion or more over the next 100 years to invest in engineering solutions to protect Singapore's coastlines from rising sea levels.<br />
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With global warming and melting ice sheets, the United Nations has projected that sea levels will rise by 1m by the end of this century. But scientists’ estimates have been going up and sea levels may rise higher and faster than that, he noted.<br />
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Global warming has also led to more extreme weather and this has had an impact on Singapore, which has experienced hotter weather and heavier rainstorms, he said.<br />
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“This will very likely worsen over the next few decades, within the lifetimes of many of us,” he warned.<br />
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Mr Lee quoted a recent study by Swiss-based research group Crowther Lab, which had found that Singapore would be one of several cities experiencing unprecedented climate shifts by 2050.<br />
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He said Singapore should think of climate change the same way it thinks about national defence and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) — with utmost seriousness.<br />
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Both represent existential issues and life and death matters, he noted, with one difference: “With the SAF, we hope never to go to war, and if you have a strong SAF you may deter threats and avoid having to go to war. But with climate change, we know for sure sea levels will rise and the only uncertainty is whether they rise a few decades earlier, or a few decades later.”<br />
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WHY IS SINGAPORE SO VULNERABLE TO RISING SEA LEVELS?<br />
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Aside from being an island nation, Singapore is also a low-lying island, making it “especially vulnerable” to rising sea levels, Mr Lee said.<br />
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Indeed, flooding was a common problem in Singapore back in the 1960s and 1970s, but these had been resolved by improvements in the drainage system and requirements for buildings to be built on higher platforms that are at least 3m above the mean sea level.<br />
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However, Mr Lee emphasised that 3m “is not actually that high” because at high tide, water can be as high as 2m above sea level, leaving only a 1m buffer to cope with other factors such as heavy rain.<br />
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However, with sea levels set to rise by another 1m, there will no longer be a buffer during high tide, warned Mr Lee.<br />
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“If heavy rain coincides with a high tide, the water will have nowhere to go. We will literally be in deep water!”<br />
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WHICH ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE PARTS OF SINGAPORE?<br />
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The Government has studied Singapore's coastline in detail, Mr Lee said, and divided it into different segments. The more critical ones are a stretch of land between East Coast and the City, and Jurong Island.<br />
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When sea levels rise, Mr Lee said, not only will property values in these areas be affected, but safety and liveability will too.<br />
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The impact will then spread across the whole island, he added, because roads and trains run through these low-lying areas, and they also contain hospitals, schools and workplaces.<br />
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"We cannot lose a big chunk of our city and expect the rest of Singapore to carry on as usual," Mr Lee said.<br />
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WHAT HAS THE GOVERNMENT DONE SO FAR TO PREPARE FOR RISING SEA LEVELS?<br />
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For one, it has set up the Centre for Climate Research Singapore in 2013 to study the impact of climate change on Singapore and the region. The centre’s team is cooperating with its counterparts in neighbouring countries, said Mr Lee, and they are finding that Singapore, being near the equator, is more vulnerable to climate change than the global model suggests.<br />
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Singapore is also mitigating climate change by joining international efforts to reduce its carbon emissions. For instance, Singapore is part of the Paris Climate Agreement and is committed to slowing down and capping carbon dioxide emissions by 2030.<br />
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To reach this goal, the Government introduced a carbon tax of S$5 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions, which came into force this year. The government will review the rate by 2023, and plans to increase it to between S$10 and S$15 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.<br />
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Singapore has also been building its infrastructure at higher levels. That is why, for example, MRT stations are built with elevated entrances, Mr Lee noted. <br />
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New developments are also required to be at least 4m above mean sea level, instead of 3m like before, while critical infrastructure such as Changi Airport Terminal 5 and Tuas Port will be built at least 5m above mean sea level.<br />
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WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE?<br />
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The Government will start building defences against rising sea levels in the most critical segments that it has identified — Jurong Island and the area stretching from East Coast to the city area.<br />
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In the city area, which covers Marina Reservoir and Marina Barrage, Mr Lee said that the PUB has plans to build a second pump house, in addition to the current one at Marina Barrage. The current pump house has seven giant pumps which pump water out of Marina Reservoir into the sea during periods of heavy rain at high tide to protect the city from flooding.<br />
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The second pump house will be located at the opposite end of Marina Barrage. <br />
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Along the eastern coastline, the Government is considering several options to shore up its defence against rising sea levels. One of these, drawn from studying what the Netherlands has done, is to build dykes and polders along the coastline.<br />
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Mr Lee explained that polders are land that the Dutch have reclaimed from the sea by first building a dyke. Water is then pumped out from behind the dyke to create dry land which can even be lower than sea level.<br />
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“Polders are a serious option for us,” said Mr Lee, adding that with them, low-lying areas can be protected and the Government can reclaim new land from the sea which can be used for housing and other purposes.<br />
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He also revealed that Singapore is currently building a small one on Pulau Tekong to gain some experience operating one. The new land will be used for SAF training.<br />
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Another option to counter rising sea levels is to reclaim a series of islands from Marina East to Changi, and then connect them up with barrages and create a reservoir similar to Marina Reservoir, said Mr Lee.<br />
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“We will examine all the options carefully and when the time comes, decide what to do,” he said.<br />
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On a more optimistic note, Mr Lee said that the problem has good engineering solutions, but they will all cost money — likely to the tune of S$100 billion, perhaps more.<br />
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However, he said, this is a problem to be solved over the next 50 to 100 years, and so the cost will be spread over that time period.<br />
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Still, he added that Singapore must start now and sustain the effort just as the Dutch have done over centuries.<br />
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HOW WILL SINGAPORE RAISE THIS MONEY?<br />
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As with the SAF, Singapore has to work steadily at it, maintain a stable budget year after year, keep its eye on the target and do it over many years and several generations, Mr Lee said.<br />
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"That way we can afford it, and when we need it, we will have it ready," he said.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-7987681624680805992019-08-19T10:14:00.001+08:002019-08-19T10:57:35.392+08:00Malaysia: Sipadan closure 'a good start'Avila Geraldine <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/512829/sipadan-closure-good-start">New Straits Times</a> 14 Aug 19;<br />
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KOTA KINABALU: A Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) reef expert has welcomed the one-month closure of popular Sipadan Island to give way for marine recovery effort.<br />
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Marine ecology lecturer Muhammad Ali Syed Hussein said the decision by Sabah Parks to temporarily close the island was a good start to reduce and remove stress from the coral reefs.<br />
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“As Sipadan is popular (for scuba diving activities), it would be difficult to close it for a long period of time. A one-month closure is a good start.<br />
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“It will help control the quota (of divers) while ensuring the reefs are maintained in good condition,” he said.<br />
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The one-month closure of the renowned Sipadan will only begin in December next year.<br />
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The directive from Sabah Parks was made at the request of dive operators.<br />
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December was picked as it is the low season in terms of diver arrivals.<br />
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Ali believed that Sabah Parks was committed to ensuring the protection of corals and marine life, and the body had been monitoring reefs particularly<br />
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within the protected marine park.<br />
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The number of visitors to Sipadan is set at a maximum of 156 divers per day.<br />
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Snorkellers are allowed to go to Sipadan only if they have special<br />
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permits, and not more than 20 are allowed per day.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-59028598285586660482019-08-19T10:10:00.003+08:002019-08-19T10:57:35.273+08:00Malaysia: Whale sharks surprise scuba divers in Lankayan watersAvila Geraldine <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/513006/whale-sharks-surprise-scuba-divers-lankayan-waters">New Straits Times</a> 15 Aug 19;<br />
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KOTA KINABALU: A recent diving trip turned extra special for a group of divers near Pulau Lankayan off Sandakan when they received a surprise visit from two protected juvenile whale sharks.<br />
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The slow-moving and filter-feeding sharks were sighted at a reef, 2.5km away from the island. The pair appeared around midday on Aug 11 when seven scuba divers were on a leisure dive.<br />
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Their presence brought the total number of whale shark sightings at Lankayan to seven this year. The surprise encounter was also documented on video and shared on Reef Guardian's Facebook page.<br />
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The 56-second footage shows a lone whale shark swimming near a boat, just below the surface.<br />
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Reef Guardian representative Davies Austin Spiji, said the weather was bright and sunny while the waves were a slightly choppy at the time of the sighting.<br />
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"The sharks were first sighted by the dive centre team of Lankayan Island Dive Resort. They then informed us (Reef Guardian) about the encounter but by the time we got there, we only sighted one. It circled around our boat.<br />
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"The other shark descended into deeper waters following the bubbles produced by scuba divers as they dived around the reef," he said, adding the sharks were about 3.5m long.<br />
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Spiji said planktons were present within the area, but he could not be sure whether there was an abundance of them.<br />
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He, however, noted the sharks were not seen to be feeding at that time but there were suspended particles in the water column around Lankayan.<br />
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This, he said, could either be sand, silt, algae, plankton or a mixture of them.<br />
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The encounter was also reported by Reef Guardian to Wildbook for Whale Sharks at https://www.whaleshark.org, which is a site that collects data from the public to assist researchers in whale shark study.<br />
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Reef Guardian is a non-profit company appointed by the state government in 2004 to manage Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA), with close cooperation from the Sabah Wildlife Department.<br />
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Lankayan, which is described as a tiny jewel-shaped island surrounded by coral reefs, is part of the conservation area.<br />
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According to Spiji, whale shark sightings in Lankayan waters is generally rare and from the records, it is usually sighted between March and July.<br />
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"As of Aug 14, this year, seven sightings have been recorded. There are two whale shark sightings in April, but we believed it to be the same shark, which appears to be about 4.5m in length.<br />
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"Five sightings, including the recent encounter, were reported this month. The shark in the first sighting (in August) was estimated to be eight metres long and it had appeared to be feeding some krills," he said.<br />
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Most sightings were reported to Reef Guardian by the dive centre team when they conducted recreational activities with diving tourists. Last year, there was only one reported sighting in Lankayan waters which was in June.<br />
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Prior to that, the last sighting was recorded in May 2014.<br />
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Meanwhile, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) marine expert Dr Mabel Manjaji Matsumoto said whale sharks appear in Sabah waters all year long but reports of sightings were lacking before as there was no social media platform to disseminate information.<br />
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Matsumoto, who headed the Endangered Marine Species Research Unit of UMS's Borneo Marine Research Institute, said the unit collaborates with the Philippine's Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute executive director Dr Gonzalo Araujo on whale sharks in Sabah.<br />
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She said that Araujo's tagging research showed that whale sharks swam down all the way to Semporna from Palawan in the Philippines, where the tagging was conducted.<br />
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In Malaysia, whale sharks are listed as threatened under the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999, Fisheries Act 1985.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-72742498687653820062019-08-19T09:55:00.001+08:002019-08-19T10:57:35.345+08:00Indonesia: Police thwart alleged attempt to smuggle thousands of turtle eggs<a href="https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/08/15/police-thwart-alleged-attempt-to-smuggle-thousands-of-turtle-eggs.html">The Jakarta Post</a> 15 Aug 19;<br />
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Semparuk Police in Sambas regency, West Kalimantan, confiscated 1,340 turtle eggs allegedly being smuggled by a passenger of the KM Sabuk Nusantara 38 vessel during an operation in Sintete Port in the regency. <br />
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The turtle eggs were carried by a passenger identified as N, a resident of Sedau subdistrict in the province’s Singkawang city, Semparuk Police chief First Insp. Aswin Mahwan said on Thursday. <br />
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Authorities launched the operation on Wednesday after they received information from local people that the KM Sabuk Nusantara 38 would arrive in the port and one of the vessel’s passengers was bringing turtle eggs. <br />
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The police waited for the passenger accused of carrying the eggs and officers from both the Semparuk Police and the Sambas Police searched his belongings, Aswin said. <br />
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“[We] found thousands of turtle eggs packed in boxes, plastic containers and plastic bags,” Aswin said as quoted by Antara news agency.<br />
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Article 21 point 2 of Law No. 5/1990 on conservation stipulates that anyone is forbidden from taking, damaging, destroying, trading and possessing eggs or nests of protected animals.<br />
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“The suspect is facing a possible five years’ imprisonment,” Aswin said. <br />
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Despite the country’s efforts to protect turtles, their eggs are often stolen and sold as food. Turtle eggs are traditionally consumed as a tonic because they are considered to have higher amounts of protein than chicken or duck eggs. (tru)Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-23035609604836487032019-08-19T09:30:00.000+08:002019-08-19T10:57:35.064+08:00Thailand: Beloved baby dugong 'Mariam' dies with plastic in stomach<a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/dugong-mariam-thailand-dies-plastic-conservation-11817332">Channel NewsAsia</a> 17 Aug 19;<br />
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BANGKOK: A sick baby dugong whose fight for recovery won hearts in Thailand and cast a spotlight on ocean conservation has died from an infection exacerbated by bits of plastic lining her stomach, officials said on Saturday (Aug 17).<br />
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Mariam washed up in shallow waters off southwestern Thailand months ago and photos of her nuzzling playfully next to rescuers quickly went viral.<br />
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The discovery soon after of another orphaned dugong brought the sea cows celebrity status, the attention of a Thai princess - who named the second one "Jamil" - and round-the-clock webcasts giving viewers a front-row seat to feedings and treatment.<br />
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But Mariam died just after midnight after going into shock and efforts to resuscitate her failed, Chaiyapruk Werawong, head of Trang province marine park, told AFP.<br />
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"She died from a blood infection and pus in her stomach," he said, adding they found small amounts of plastic waste in her intestinal tract.<br />
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An autopsy showed the plastic had caused obstructions in the animal's stomach, leading to inflammation and gas build-up, veterinarian Nantarika Chansue posted on Facebook.<br />
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"We could partially treat the respiratory infection but the obstruction of plastic rubbish ... could not be cured," she said in the post, calling for her death to serve as a lesson.<br />
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"She taught us how to love and then went away as if saying please tell everyone to look after us and conserve her species."<br />
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The dugongs are the latest marine creatures to make headlines in Thailand, whose plastic-choked waters are also a threat to habitats.<br />
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Both the animals were found in southern Thailand, home to about 250 of the sea cows, which are closely related to the manatee and classified as vulnerable.<br />
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Jamil, whose name translates to "handsome sea prince", is being cared for separately in Phuket.<br />
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Mariam's death was also announced on the Facebook page of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.<br />
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The post quickly garnered more than 11,000 shares and thousands of comments mourning the loss, while a meme with a picture of Mariam and "RIP" circulated online.<br />
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"It's a pity for those who fed her milk and collected sea grass for their little daughter that we have to lose Mariam because of plastic waste," one commenter said.<br />
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Source: AFP/jtRia Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322865532175731446.post-9804381718984548622019-08-10T20:22:00.001+08:002019-08-10T20:36:35.083+08:00Malaysia: Damaged reefs in marine park off KK are recoveringAvila Geraldine <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/511426/damaged-reefs-marine-park-kk-are-recovering">New Straits Times</a> 9 Aug 19;<br />
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KOTA KINABALU: Damaged reefs within the protected marine park off the state capital are regenerating.<br />
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A large flat reef at the Midreef diving point near Pulau Manukan Island, in particular, has seen new coral growth aided by artificial reefs. This was after the area’s corals were wiped out by Tropical Storm Greg in 1996.<br />
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Manukan is one of the five islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP), a protected marine area. The other islands are Sapi, Mamutik, Sulug and Gaya.<br />
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Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) reef ecologist Dr Zarinah Waheed said Sabah Parks had initiated reef restoration work by placing artificial reef balls in some of the damaged areas.<br />
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She said this established solid substrate for new corals to migrate and attach themselves.<br />
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“The problem with damaged reef is that, when coral or any hard limestone structures are destroyed, it will become small loose pieces and these move with the water current.<br />
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“Corals will not be able to attach themselves onto the reef and that is why it is important to have solid substrate,” she said.<br />
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Zarinah said when she first dove at Midreef in 1998 there were very few living corals left.<br />
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“I never saw the reef when it was alive and intact (prior to Tropical Storm Greg), but I remember diving six months after the deployment (of reef balls). There was not much growth yet.<br />
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“I didn’t dive there until 2017 and (the coral recovery) was amazing.<br />
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“There’s large acropora (table corals) covering the reef balls and many established corals have begun to spread to the natural bottom substrate.”<br />
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She said there were many fishes now and UMS undergraduate students were documenting subjects growing on the reef.<br />
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She said UMS was looking into doing a write-up on the progress of Sabah Park’s initiative reef restoration work.<br />
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Speaking further on coral reproduction in Sabah waters, Zarinah said the outlook was promising with the discovery of lots of juvenile corals settling into the reef.<br />
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“This indicates that there is recruitment taking place... We have data of mass spawning, which means various coral species are releasing eggs and sperm into the water column.<br />
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“We can actually see the eggs covering the water.<br />
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“They are usually pinkish or brownish in colour.<br />
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“We have observed this happening at Pulau Mabul (Semporna) and Pulau Langkayan (Sandakan).<br />
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“In the northern hemisphere. spawning is reported between March and May with its peak in April.<br />
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“Based on direct observation in the state’s east coast, our coral reproduction is active, but I’ve not seen it in the west coast or heard reports from dive operators seeing water turning pink or brown in April.<br />
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“Although we don’t have information on mass spawning in the west coast of Sabah, what we do see are juvenile corals, which is very promising and indicates that corals are reproducing,” she said.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com