Best of our wild blogs: 2 Nov 08

Your bird observations needed
for study on seed dispersal on the bird ecology study group blog

Marina Barrage opened, Marina East sealed up?
on the wonderful creation blog

Mangroves at the Marina Barrage
on the wild shores of singapore blog

Young seagrassers at Clean and Green Singapore Carnival
on the teamseagrass blog

Semakau low tide trip
on the manta blog and urban forest blog

Life History of the Ancyra Blue
on the Butterflies of Singapore blog

Guts and gory
on the annotated budak blog

Asia plans for extreme weather and rising seas
on the wild shores of singapore blog

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Coping with crazy weather in Malaysia

New Straits Times 2 Nov 08;

OUR forefathers knew. That's the reason for the quaint kampung houses on stilts, and houses built on higher ground away from the water-inundated padi fields and, during the monsoon season, the overflowing rivers.

They had cleared land for plantations and built roads up to the highlands with great respect for nature, the development having as minimal an impact as possible on the environment. But times have changed and times are changing.

Man's chase for money has been at the expense of the environment, and the collective sins of men have led to global warming that is affecting the climate, or as the CNN weatherman had declared earlier in the week, "The weather has gone crazy".

Malaysia is already experiencing this "crazy weather" since late 2005 and early 2006 when Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu in the peninsula experienced the worst flooding in 30 years, where even houses on stilts weren't spared. The northeast monsoon which comes in as regular as clockwork made a late arrival in 2006, when four days of continuous deluge in December and another four in January 2007 led to devastating floods in Pahang, Malacca, Negri Sembilan and especially Johor, displacing more than 110,000 and leaving 18 dead.

Climate change projections see more extreme weather events. And it has been noted that flood-prone areas are still under heavy development because there are no proper building guidelines. We have also experienced other geohazards: the 2004 tsunami and the 13 episodes of minor tremors between 2.5 and 3.5 on the Richter scale in Bukit Tinggi from November last year till January, an area previously classified as an inactive fault zone.

However, it is not all gloom and doom. The federal town and country planners, with the help of other government agencies, will be mapping out geohazards like floods, landslides and fires in all local council areas, looking at Kedah's tsunami-battered Kota Kuala Muda district and Johor's Kota Tinggi that suffers from serious flooding, for a start.

Areas marked "high", "medium" or "low risk" will show flood-prone land, or places which could be in danger of landslides or at risk of fire. More importantly, says Mohd Jamil Ahmad, who heads the department's research and development division, the geohazard map will help local authorities take remedial steps to reduce the risks faced in established towns and villages, and prevent unbridled development in risk areas.

A start is being made and we must all, citizen and government, work together to fight the degradation of our environment and prepare to face the consequences of global warming.

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10 households win energy-efficient appliances in Energy Challenge

938LIVE Channel NewsAsia 1 Nov 08;

SINGAPORE: Ten households successfully completed the National Environment Agency's 10% Energy Challenge and won for themselves energy-efficient prizes in a national lucky draw held on Saturday.

They were able to reduce their energy consumption by at least 10 per cent. The grand prize winner, Mr Wong Hwee Keat, won a fuel-efficient hybrid car.

34-year-old Sudipto Lahiry, a banker by profession, won the third prize, an energy-efficient refrigerator.

He and his family managed to reduce their household's energy consumption by 12.5 per cent, by "rational usage" of the water heater, dryer and the washer.

Mr Lahiry, who lives in a condominium, has always been a firm believer in saving energy wherever possible.

He said there are many ways for a society to adopt more energy-saving measures.

"I think a lot of things can be done to control that....to give you an example, the escalators in all the public buildings, they just keep running all the time...it doesn't take much to just install a sensor, so the escalator is stopped when nobody is using it. That alone can save a lot (of energy)."

To qualify for the nationwide lucky draw, Singaporeans were asked to submit their applications showing a reduction in their energy consumption from May to August this year, compared to the previous four months.

2,300 applications were submitted. Forty were selected from the applications in a pre-draw and 10 lucky households walked away with energy-efficient appliances such as air-conditioners and refrigerators.

In support of NEA's 10% Energy Challenge campaign, South East CDC will embark on various green projects to encourage its residents to actively take part in environmental efforts.

One such programme is the "South East eco-Heroes" initiative which aims to identify 'green' ambassadors to represent four key areas of environmental conservation.

They are Energy Conservation, Litter-free, Recycling and Creating a Green Environment.

These individuals will champion the cause of environmental conservation within the South East District and lead future eco-friendly projects in the community.

In addition, South East CDC, in collaboration with Philips Electronics Singapore, will sponsor 7,500 energy-saving light bulbs for needy residents within the district.

A total of 1,500 families living in one- and two-room households within the Marine Parade GRC have been pre-identified for this campaign titled "Bright Up Our Lives".

Both the "South East eco-Heroes" and "Bright Up Our Lives" campaigns will be launched by Mayor of South East District, Mr Matthias Yeo, on November 8 at Parkway Parade.

- 938LIVE.

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Go on, take a staycation

No time or money to travel overseas? You can stay put in Singapore and still get that holiday feeling
Tan Yi Hui, Straits Times 2 Nov 08;

The holiday season is round the corner, just when economic woes are putting the brakes on costly overseas breaks.

So be a tourist in your own country for a day, or a weekend, instead. Enter the 'staycation' - a vacation at home, away from home.

Holiday-makers are spoilt for choice when it comes to saying 'Aloha' to a chalet stay right on their own very tropical isle of Singapore.

Civil servant Susan Koh, a mother of a four-year-old boy, says her husband's extended family have a 'ritual' of booking a chalet either at Aloha Loyang or Sentosa every year.

The 37-year-old adds: 'Sometimes, I ask my extended family to join us, too - that's 30 people. You can have collective fun with so many people under one or two roofs at local chalets.'

Writer Cynthia Loh, 30, who has been to chalets and hotels here for short stays, points out: 'It's a good money-saver, especially since you're not flying so there are no airfares or transfers to worry about.'

Over at boutique hotels and hostels, a check shows that about 10 per cent of their guests are locals. In fact, Hangout@Mt Emily, a hip youth hostel with rooms and stylish dorms, has experienced a 40 per cent increase of local guests this year so far, compared to last year.

Postgraduate student Sin Harng Luh, 27, who has stayed at luxury boutique hotel The Scarlet near Chinatown with her husband, says: 'It's about doing something different from your usual routine when you don't have the time to go somewhere.'

She also explored shophouses along the Tanjong Pagar area near the hotel. 'It was interesting to find little nooks and crannies in Singapore you never realised existed.'

So leave that passport behind. LifeStyle helps you enjoy a holiday in the sun - at home.

If you want to just coast along...
Straits Times 2 Nov 08;

There is Sentosa and the southern islands for sun, sand and beach-bodies. But if you just want to coast, check out the Changi Village area and Pulau Ubin.

See and play

Changi Boardwalk: Scenic coastal boardwalk stretching 2.6km, with views of the sea and Ubin. Divided into various sections such as the Kelong Walk and Cliff Walk.

The starting point is at Changi Village. It is best to go in the morning or evening as it can get very hot during the day.

Ketam Mountain Bike Park, Pulau Ubin: The 45ha park, which opened this year, suits both competitive mountain bikers and leisure riders as there are three levels of difficulty. It has 10km of trails to cater to different users' needs.

Stay

Ubin Lodge: Located next to Ubin jetty with all units facing the sea and Changi coastline, this resort also offers a taste of rustic Singapore, kampung living and delectable seafood. Rates start from $100.

Tel: 6220-8623, www.ubinlodge.com.sg

Aloha Changi: Check into colonial-style bungalows and chalets, with accommodations ranging from hill terrace houses to seaview bungalows. They are nothing fancy but the chalets are great for a quiet stay with friends or a loved one over the weekend. Rates start from $100 a night.

Tel: 6545-2343, www.aloharesorts.com.sg

If you want a slice of the outdoors...
Straits Times 2 Nov 08;

Singapore is not called the Garden City for nothing. If you are sick of steel and concrete, the lush life is just a day-trip away.

See

Guided walks at parks and nature reserves

Take a walk on the wild side, commentary included. Call to find out the tour schedule. Otherwise, take in the sights at your own leisure.

Pasir Ris Mangrove tour ($4, tel:6465-3305), Lower Peirce Reservoir Park/Bukit Timah Nature Reserve/MacRitchie tour (free, tel: 6554-5127), HortPark tour (free, tel:6471-5601), Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve walk (free, tel:6794-1401), Pulau Ubin Sensory Trail ($60 for a group of up to 15, tel:6542-4108)

Trek and explore

Southern Ridges: Interconnecting trails, walkways and pedestrian bridges spanning 9km over the rolling hills from Mount Faber Park to West Coast Park.

HSBC Treetop Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir: Ideal for bird-watchers, and anyone with a head for heights who relishes fresh air and scenery 25m above ground. Set aside three to five hours and pack umbrellas, hats and water.

Labrador Park: Explore World War II bunkers or catch the sunset at the park's picturesque seaside path and jetty.

For details on all of the above, log on to www.nparks.gov.sg

Play and chill

Jacob Ballas Children's Garden: Part of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, this section for children has plenty of activities lined up for kids aged five to eight next month, such as educational tours and fun mathematical exercises with plants.

Prices range from $6 to $8.50 per child and $6 per adult. Registration required.

For details, call 6471-9961 or log on to www.sbg.org.sg

Forest Adventure at Bedok Reservoir Park: View the greenery from a flying fox, ladders, bridges, swings and trapezes. Rates are $28 for adults and $23 for those under 16 years old for the grand course, and $20 for the kids' course.

Call 8100-7420 to book or log on to www.forestadventure.com.sg

Villa Raintree Spa @ Labrador: This day-spa away from the city is converted from an old hilltop bungalow. It comes with a nice view and a range of massages to choose from.

30 Labrador Villa Road, Labrador Nature Reserve, tel:6532-1155

Eat

It may be a jungle out there but you can still get a bite to eat, even in the most far-flung places.

Sunset Grill & Pub: You need wheels for this place. For first-timers, it is best to go in broad daylight lest you get lost. Its speciality is spicy buffalo wings (from $17.50 for half dozen). Tuck in and watch the planes overhead.

140B Piccadilly Road, Seletar Airbase, tel:6482-0244

Riders Cafe: A quaint, countryside cafe in Bukit Timah with a mainly Western menu and a view of horses trotting by. Take a short drive round the other side to Turf City to the enclave of Horsecity (www.gallopstable.com), which comes with a spa and pony-rides for kids.

51 Fairways Drive, tel: 6466-9819

Stay

D'Kranji Farm Resort: This compound of 19 air-conditioned villas in Lim Chu Kang has a beer garden and seafood restaurant, surrounded by a herb and fruit farm. Rates start from $250 a night. You can also check out nearby attractions such as Bollywood Veggies and Jurong Frog Farm.

10 Neo Tiew Lane 2, tel: 6862-9717/ 6898-9228

City Beach Resort: It is no Banyan Tree, but this resort next to Labrador Park is good for a short getaway for couples looking to unwind. All the 105 rooms are furnished hotel-style. Facilities include a pool, beer garden and seafood restaurant. Rates start from $130 per room.

8 Port Road, tel: 6273-0030, www.citybeachresort.com.sg

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Malaysia's land grading plan to 'weather' the risks

New Straits Times 2 Nov 08;

KUALA LUMPUR: Is your house built on flood-prone land? Is your neighbourhood susceptible to landslides? Do you live in a fire-risk area? People could soon have the answers to those questions, thanks to a mammoth effort to identify and map geo-hazards like floods, landslides and fires in all local council areas in Pe-ninsular Malaysia.

The effort, to be carried out throughout the next Malaysia Plan, is helmed by the Federal Department of Town and Country Planning.

The department has started by drawing up local plans of two disaster-stricken areas: the tsunami-battered Kota Kuala Muda district in Kedah, and Kota Tinggi in Johor that suffers from serious flooding.

These local plans will contain chapters that propose appropriate uses for the land in existing and potential geo-hazard areas.

These chapters will contain maps that show which parts of the district are flood prone and categorise those areas according to how acute the risk is.

In the Kota Kuala Muda plan, for instance, the hazard map will show vulnerable areas and give suggestions for land use in the affected areas.

The Kota Tinggi plan will be opened for public viewing and objections by year end while the Kota Kuala Muda plan will be available early next year.

Mohd Jamil Ahmad, who heads the department's research and development division, said: "For the first time in history, in a local plan, we will have areas marked high, medium or low risk in relation to hazards like floods."

With the help of key government agencies, the department is putting this information together to help local governments avert disasters and minimise losses caused by the growing number of extreme weather events.

The data will help local authorities move development away from high-risk areas and people out of harm's way.

It will also enable them to improve drainage, carry out flood-mitigation works or redesign buildings to reduce the risk faced in towns and villages.

Eventually, Jamil said, all existing local and structure plans would be reviewed to include information on geo-hazards. The department expects to begin the review under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

The department may also recommend amending existing planning application procedures so that they included disaster risk-reduction elements, he said.

One example would be asking applicants to submit a list of previous floods in the area they planned to develop.

Putting risk-reduction elements into planning was a recommendation of the Hyogo Framework of Action, a global blueprint for disaster risk reduction over the coming de-cades, he said.

Malaysia is a signatory.

The department may also propose that future projects undergo a flood-modelling exercise to gauge how new land use will affect runoff and floods in surrounding areas.

The department was focusing on floods first, he said, because it was the most common and most destructive hazard the country faced.

Climate change models project a wetter Malaysia in the future and more extreme weather events.

Last year's large-scale flooding cost insurance firms here about RM100 million in claims. It cost the government close to RM2 billion.

Whole communities in Kota Tinggi and Kluang in Johor and along Sungai Kinabatangan in Sabah have been resettled because of floods.

And last month, more than 2,000 flood victims were evacuated to safe ground in Kedah.

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