Sat 07 Aug 2010: The National Day coastal cleanup @ Lim Chu Kang mangrove from Toddycats!
31 Jul (Sat): Talk on "Hornbill Nesting - The 'Intelligent' Nest"
from Celebrating Singapore's BioDiversity!
New seashore guidebook for Sungai Pulai
from wild shores of singapore
GSS02 - No, 'tis not the Great Singapore Sale
from ashira
Due to coral bleaching 12 Malaysian travel sites temporarily closed to tourists from Bleach Watch Singapore
Admiralty Park
from Singapore Nature
Bettina Wassener New York Times blog 21 Jul 10;
Citibank’s Web site in Singapore still advertises an offer for a 15 percent discount at the Imperial Court Shark’s Fin Restaurant that has also been criticized by participants in the Facebook discussion group. (Despite its name, the restaurant offers plenty of nonshark dishes.) Godwin Chellam, a Citibank spokesman, said on Wednesday that the bank had received no complaints about that promotion, but that the company would monitor the situation.
Citibank has gotten itself into a stew over fish soup — specifically, shark’s fin soup.
The soup is considered a delicacy and, because of its priciness, a status symbol in many parts of Asia. But environmentalists have criticized consumption, saying that soaring demand for the fins, mainly from China, has caused a sharp decline in shark populations over the last two decades.
Environmental advocates in Hong Kong say that opposition gathered steam this year amid rising awareness of how many sharks are being killed — 100 million a year — and of how their prized fins are harvested. Usually the fins are cut off a living fish that is then thrown back into the water to die.
Citibank’s Hong Kong branch recently learned about this growing sensitivity. This month it ran a special promotion offering Citibank credit card holders 15 percent off a ‘‘shark’s fin and garoupa’’ dinner at Maxim’s Chinese Cuisine outlets. ‘‘An ample quantity of shark’s fin is given,’’ a July 11 newspaper ad assured readers.
The promotion drew swift condemnation, with a lively discussion group created on Facebook and an e-mail campaign aimed at Citibank’s marketing manager.
Last week, Citibank Hong Kong withdrew the promotion, which was to have run until the end of the month, in response to feedback. ‘‘Citibank is committed to managing our business in a manner that benefits the society and the environment,’’ it said in a statement.
Citibank’s Web site in Singapore still advertises an offer for a 15 percent discount at the Imperial Court Shark’s Fin Restaurant that has also been criticized by participants in the Facebook discussion group. (Despite its name, the restaurant offers plenty of nonshark dishes.) Godwin Chellam, a Citibank spokesman, said on Wednesday that the bank had received no complaints about that promotion, but that the company would monitor the situation.
Still, the episode has highlighted how rapidly public opinion has shifted on the issue, especially in Hong Kong, where much of the world’s trade in the fins takes place.
‘‘A few years ago, there may have been no reaction to Citibank ads promoting shark fin soup,” Michael Skoletsky, executive director at Shark Savers in New York, said in an e-mail message. “Now, Citibank’s fast response shows that companies can’t fall behind an informed public on important environmental problems like shark fin soup.’’
A teaser for a film on which Shark Savers is working has just been released and has already proved highly popular, he added.
Homeowners worried property values in flood prone areas could fall
Esther Ng Today Online 22 Jul 10;
SINGAPORE - The floodwaters have receded, and the worry now on the minds of some homeowners in low-lying areas is that property and rental prices will follow.
Real estate experts have mixed views on whether values will dip or if this is just a premature, knee-jerk reaction.
"It's already clear in people's minds which areas are flood-prone. This could dampen demand and prices for these places," said ERA's Asia-Pacific associate director Eugene Lim, who reckoned that both residential and commercial premises could take a hit of 10 to 15 per cent.
While it is unlikely that homeowners will rush to sell their property, "potential rental values" in these areas, which include Telok Kurau, Opera Estate and Thomson, "could possibly be affected", he added.
Ngee Ann Polytechnic lecturer Nicholas Mak agreed: "There's always a risk that flooding will damage cars, paintwork, plants or cause the electrical system to short circuit, something which tenants will bear in mind."
Mr Faiek Peck, a tenant at one of the townhouses on Gentle Road, off Dunearn Road, told MediaCorp on Tuesday that he planned to move out. "We're discussing with the owner whether we can get out of the contract or not ... If he's not willing to improve the situation to do something to prevent it again, we've got to see what we can do, get lawyers involved and get out of here," he said.
While some homeowners may want out, buyers may not want to buy, said Mr Mak.
This was on the mind of a homeowner at the Gentle Reflections development, who has been staying at a hotel with her family of four since last Saturday's flood.
Declining to be named, she said: "Who's going to buy now after the bad publicity?"
Yet, in the past few days, Knight Frank's head of business unit Daniel Leong has received a few calls from buyers interested in Tessarina, a development along Wilby Road which has been hit twice by the floods, the first in November last year.
"They're hoping the owners would give up and sell at rock-bottom prices," said Mr Leong. "But these owners are not moving. If they have to sell, it's because they need a quick sale, but homeowners in Bukit Timah are solid financially."
While property consultants agree that property values in flood-prone areas may head south if flooding becomes a regular occurrence and flood-alleviating solutions prove ineffective, it is "too early to see long-lasting change in buying and renting preferences", said Mr Karamjit Singh, managing director of real estate consultancy Credo.
He described the three floods in the last month as "the exception" - a sentiment shared by property firm Cushman & Wakefield's managing director Donald Han.
"Bukit Timah is famous for flooding, yet districts 10 and 11 are the preferred location for prestigious living - people buy with their eyes open," he said.
Property value in flood-prone areas could suffer if problem not fixed
Zu Wee Ling, Alvina Soh Channel NewsAsia 21 Jul 10;
SINGAPORE : Property watchers have warned that the value of developments in flood-prone areas could suffer if the problem of flooding is not fixed.
They said prices and rental rates for residential and commercial properties could fluctuate if the problem continues for another three months. This may force businesses to move out.
Landlords may have to lower rent or take measures to prevent flooding to attract tenants.
Some buyers are now asking about the risk of flooding when they check out a property, including those that are not directly hit.
Executive director of Residential Projects, Orange Tee, Steven Tan, said: "In the past, this was never an issue. Now we can see that they are starting to have a concern whether the condominium or house that they want to buy will encounter this problem."
Nicholas Mak, Real Estate lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, said: "Even if the property is not prone to flooding, but just because it is near another property that often suffers flooding whenever it rains, it could be guilty by association and its value could also be adversely affected."
- CNA/al
Victoria Vaughan Straits Times 22 Jul 10;
BRACE yourselves for more wet weather.
Heavy rain may hit Singapore from as early as today and last until Sunday, the result of two weather systems in the area, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said yesterday.
But the grim weather forecast does not necessarily mean that there will be more flooding, the agency said.
A moderate Sumatra squall - which develops at night over Sumatra or the Malacca Straits - may bring thunderstorms and heavy rain, lasting from one to two hours, either today or tomorrow morning.
A typical squall is accompanied by gusty winds of between 40kmh and 80kmh. Occasionally, such gusts are strong enough to uproot trees.
Separately, the effects of tropical storm Chanthu hitting southern China today may also result in short showers with thunder from late morning and this afternoon to Sunday.
Singapore is not directly affected by tropical storms - but they do influence local weather patterns, bringing more rain or unstable weather due to winds converging in the area.
For example, the June 16 flooding of Orchard Road was caused by such a convergence of winds.
Last Saturday's heavy rain, with 194mm recorded in the eastern part of Singapore, could be traced to typhoon Conson moving over China's Hainan Island.
Much of the current weather in the region can be attributed to the La Nina effect.
Unlike the El Nino weather phenomenon - which spells hot, dry weather - La Nina is associated with wetter weather as it exacerbates storms, droughts and cyclones.
Typically, Singapore's wettest month is December when the north-east monsoon brings spells of heavy rain that can last for up to a week at a time. They can be caused by wind 'surges' originating from as far away as Siberia.
Such surges, caused by a pressure difference between freezing Central Asia and the warmer tropics, mean north-east monsoon winds blowing across the South China Sea pick up plenty of moisture, which is deposited as rain in the tropics.
More than half the yearly rainfall here comes in the second half of the year.
To keep the public informed about the weather, there are updates on Weather@SG, which can be accessed online and via mobile phones at http://weather.nea.gov.sg
The forecast is updated every five minutes and is shown as a colour-coded graphic layered over Singapore, which allows people to zoom in to town level and check for rain.
It also issues heavy-rain warnings and features three-hour, 12-hour and three-day forecasts, rain locations over Singapore as well as temperature and humidity information.
This information is also available at the NEA website at http://www.nea.gov.sg, Twitter at http://twitter.com/neasg and via the hotline 6542-7788.
Additional reporting by Amresh Gunasingham
100mm: Expect floods if this much rain falls in an hour
Victoria Vaughan Straits Times 22 Jul 10;
IF MORE than 100mm of rain falls in an hour, expect flooding.
National water agency PUB said yesterday that in the last 10 occasions when rain of that intensity fell, it had resulted in floods eight times.
Of those past 10 rainstorms, two happened last year, three the year before, two in 2007 and three in 2006.
Every year, Singapore gets, on average, two storms dumping that much rain in an hour, and nine storms in which the 100mm is spread over three hours.
PUB, responding to questions from reporters after the recent floods, explained that besides the intensity of a storm, the following factors also work together to set up perfect conditions for flooding:
# The type of developments in the area; that is, whether it is built up.
# The kind of surfaces there; that is, whether they are paved or porous.
# The distribution and movement of the rainfall.
# The ground level in relation to the water levels in the drains.
# The capacity of the drains to channel away the storm water.
# Whether there is a blockage in the drains.
Of the last 10 most intense rainstorms here, the heaviest happened on July 19, 2007. The monitoring station at the Ulu Pandan water treatment plant recorded 137mm in an hour that day, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).
The recent downpours have not topped that. The June 16 storm which put Orchard Road under water sent down 101.6mm in two hours.
Orchard Road was not even the wettest place that day: Sentosa logged 115mm of rain.
Another recent storm, that on July 17 from Typhoon Conson, brought 114mm of rain to the Lower Peirce Reservoir in one hour.
But a high of 194mm that day was recorded at Poole Road in Tanjong Katong.
The second heaviest of the last 10 intense rainstorms came on April 3, 2008, when 126mm was dumped on Jurong Pier Road. This burst led to flash floods in Dunearn Road near Swiss Club Road, Upper Paya Lebar Road near Bartley Road and Commonwealth Avenue. The storm lasted from 4.20pm to 6pm.
The third heaviest downpour happened on Nov 19 last year, when 121mm was recorded at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic station. The Bukit Timah canal burst its banks and knee-deep water brought traffic to a standstill along several stretches of Bukit Timah - Coronation Road to Third Avenue, Wilby Road to Blackmore Drive and the Sixth Avenue junction.
The downpour took place between 12.50pm and 3.20pm.
From the history books, Dec 2, 1978, still holds the record for the highest amount of rainfall in a day in the last 60 years. That day, 512 mm fell.
Seven people died, including five who drowned, and about 1,000 people were rescued and evacuated by the Singapore Armed Forces and the police in one of the biggest rescue and evacuation operations here, according to the Defence Ministry website.
The highest one-hour rainfall, at 148mm, was recorded on Nov 2, 1995.
What will be done to improve drainage
Straits Times 22 Jul 10;
STEPS are being taken to address the shortcomings of the drainage system in seven areas hit by the recent floods.
Singapore's water agency PUB said work will include raising roads as well as widening and deepening drains; where possible, the works will be expedited.
# Jalan Besar and Little India: Work on the Kelantan Road outlet drain will start by year's end; tenders will be called then for works to improve the drains in Syed Alwi Road.
# Bedok and Telok Kurau: Three low-lying roads in these areas will be raised - Bedok Garden, Bedok Lane and Lorong G Telok Kurau.
# Bukit Timah Canal: Tenders for improvement works will be called this month for the stretch between Wilby Road and Maple Avenue. Next year, tenders will be called to improve the canal at Dunearn Road near Swiss Club Link. Balmoral Road, near its junction with Bukit Timah Road, will be raised.
# Farrer Park, Newton, Kampung Java and Novena: Tenders for improvements to Rochor Canal between Jalan Besar and Crawford Street are expected to be called in October or November. Work by the Land Transport Authority has begun on the canal between Java Road and Jalan Besar. Improvements are also being made to the drains along Thomson Road from Moulmein Road to Bukit Timah Canal and Norfolk Road.
# Jalan Haji Alias: The work to widen and deepen the upstream stretch of the Jalan Haji Alias outlet drain at Sixth Avenue to Coronation Road West is expected to be done by February.
# Paya Lebar and MacPherson: Tenders will be out by year's end to improve the Happy Avenue outlet drain. At Siang Kuang Avenue, improvements to the MacPherson Road outlet drain are under way. At the AZ Building and Cisco Building, tenders to upgrade the downstream stretch of Geylang River from Dunman Road to Guillemard Road closed last month. Work is expected to begin by October.
# Jurong: The upgrading of the drain along Enterprise Road is expected to be completed by year's end.
PUB also announced yesterday its other plans to alleviate flooding:
# Sensors: It will make the data from its 32 water-level sensors public through its website by early next month.
It will also increase the number of these sensors to 90 by the end of the year so that all major waterways, flood-prone areas and hot spots will have them.
Those with property near such sensors have been invited to subscribe to SMS alerts, which they will receive when the water hits certain levels.
# Warning system: PUB and the National Environment Agency are looking into an integrated system which can give the public earlier warning of heavy rain and rising water levels in canals. This will be completed in the next few months.
VICTORIA VAUGHAN
More wet weather in Singapore for the week: NEA
Imelda Saad Channel NewsAsia 21 Jul 10;
SINGAPORE : Expect more wet weather in Singapore for the rest of the week.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said Tropical Storm Chanthu is expected to make landfall in Southern China on Thursday.
This may bring wet conditions to the region, including Singapore.
Short duration showers with thunder are expected, mostly between the late morning and afternoon.
A moderate Sumatra squall is also likely to affect Singapore either on Thursday or Friday morning.
NEA said heavy rain warnings may not lead to floods.
There are many factors leading to floods, including rainfall intensity, flood water runoff, location and the capacity of drains.
Still, the public can be prepared.
The public can obtain the latest weather reports, including heavy rain warnings.
They can also tune in to radio broadcasts, call NEA's weather forecast hotline at 6542-7788, access the mobile weather service which is available at Weather@SG (weather.nea.gov.sg), or visit the NEA website at www.nea.gov.sg.
To alleviate the flooding problem, the PUB has installed more than 30 sensors in key canals to track water levels.
This information will be made available on PUB's website by early August.
The number of sensors will be increased to 90 by year's end to cover all major waterways and flood-prone areas.
An integrated early warning system will be completed within the next few months.
Drainage improvement works in flood-prone areas are also being brought forward.
Meanwhile, the authorities are working with businesses affected by the spate of recent floodings in Singapore.
Sandbags have been placed at these premises as a temporary measure, while building owners have been advised to look into installing permanent structure to alleviate flooding within their premises. - CNA /ls
More greenery, better drainage system
Esther Ng Today Online 22 Jul 10;
If global weather patterns bring more rain - and flooding occurs regularly - developers will need to relook the design of their developments, which could include building multi-storey car parks, architects told MediaCorp.
"It can be aesthetically pleasing with greenery and landscaping, blending in with communal areas," Singapore Institute of Architects president Ashvinkumar Kantilal said. But this is not always possible to build multi-storey carparks when there are height restrictions. Developers also need to look at the topography of the land, said architect Dean Zhou, 34. "At the moment there's too much 'hardscape'. There needs to be more green turf and spaces to absorb the water," he said.
Improving the drainage system and installing more pumps in a basement carpark are other options. Building a hump of 15cm above the minimum platform level before the entrance of a basement carpark would also help, Mr Ashvinkumar said. ESTHER NG
Limited space for run-offs for canals, says MM Lee
Jeremy Au Yong Straits Times 22 Jul 10;
THE Government's best efforts are no match for Mother Nature.
That was Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's take yesterday, as he said that little could have been done to avoid flooding after the recent bouts of 'extraordinary rainfall'.
Asked if he thought the Government's response to the flooding had been sufficient, he replied: 'How can you say the response is sufficient?
'But at the same time, whatever we do, when we get extraordinary rainfall like we had recently, no amount of engineering can prevent flooding.
'There is a limited amount of space that you can dig underground, limited amount of space that you can have run-offs for canals.'
He was speaking to reporters after visiting a development project along the Kolam Ayer section of the Kallang River.
The remarks were his first since three floods hit Singapore in the past month, and two days after a 45-minute session in Parliament which saw several MPs raising questions.
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim had told MPs that flood-prone areas in Singapore had been reduced from 3,178ha in the 1970s to 66ha today.
Despite that improvement, Mr Lee noted yesterday, Singaporeans would always expect more.
'Of course, Singaporeans expect everything to be perfect - which we try to do, but there are some things which are beyond (that).
'It is (an) act of God. Unless you want to lose half the roads and have canals,' he said.
He dismissed the notion that the Government might have neglected the country's drainage systems as it focused on issues like the economy.
'The living environment needs to be improved. The economy must be good, and society must be safe so that people can live happily and peacefully. It is not just one issue; all the issues have to be well taken care of,' he said.
During his visit to Kolam Ayer, Mr Lee was shown a section of the Kallang River redeveloped under the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme, which aims to freshen up Singapore's reservoirs and rivers and turn them into recreational spaces.
He also visited The River Vista@Kallang, a new cluster of Housing Board (HDB) flats built on the banks of the river.
Dr Yaacob hosted the visit, with officials from HDB, National Parks Board and national water agency PUB also present.
Separately yesterday, PUB and the National Environment Agency said in a statement that they had begun engaging people affected by last weekend's flash floods.
The PUB said it met affected residents and businesses, advised them on ways to protect their premises and provided them with sandbags as a temporary protection measure.
It also advised building owners on permanent measures they could take to keep flood waters out.
The management of Lucky Plaza at Orchard Road has already engaged an architect to install such measures.
PUB officials will continue to meet MPs and grassroots leaders to see what further assistance to provide.
In Joo Chiat and Whampoa, residents hit by floods have told their MPs they want the PUB to give them practical suggestions on how to protect themselves and their property against the next flood.
That would be useful while awaiting improvements to drains, canals and other infrastructure announced in Parliament on Monday.
'There is no doubt that all this is being done in great earnest,' said Jalan Besar GRC MP Heng Chee How, referring to the upgrading coming up.
'But from the perspective of those affected, they just want to know what practical measures they can take to reduce the risk.'
In his ward, about 50 homes were flooded last Saturday. The Jalan Besar Town Council has been helping some residents to pump water out of their terrace houses.
Like Mr Heng, MPs Chan Soo Sen (Joo Chiat) and Hri Kumar Nair (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) said they want to organise dialogues with PUB for flood-affected residents.
'I would like the PUB to tell residents what happened in Joo Chiat, will it happen again, what the PUB will be doing, and what measures residents can take to minimise damage next time,' said Mr Chan, who plans to hold a dialogue this weekend.
Marine Parade GRC MP Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim has set up a flood task force comprising about 15 grassroots leaders, residents and shop owners.
Ten of them will act as a watch group. When heavy rain or flood occurs, they will send out warnings by SMS and spread the word so that residents will know to avoid the area.
Said Dr Faishal: 'I am very fortunate that the residents have responded so positively. Instead of throwing tantrums, they have tried to solve the problem together.'
Additional reporting by Andrea Ong
MM Lee says no amount of engineering can prevent flooding
S Ramesh Channel NewsAsia 21 Jul 10;
SINGAPORE : Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has said no amount of engineering can prevent flooding.
He was speaking to reporters after touring the waterfront development at the Kallang and Kolam Ayer areas.
The Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme is a long-term initiative which transforms Singapore's reservoirs and waterways into vibrant, aesthetically-pleasing rivers and lakes.
Mr Lee was given an update on the developments in the area which included a 250-metre stretch of the Kallang River.
But the river's condition caught Mr Lee's attention.
He said: "The pity is with the recent rains, the water is a bit murky. But if we can find some way to prevent the silt from getting into the river, it will be bluer and cleaner at most times. You have to wait for two days (with) no rain for the silt to settle."
"But it is very beautiful. It adds to the ambience of the whole place, rather than have a dirty river, no broad walks. It shows a well cultivated and well-tended river side."
Mr Lee was asked if he thought the response from the various agencies to the recent spate of floods in Singapore was sufficient.
He replied: "How can you say that the response is sufficient? At the same time, whatever we do when we get extraordinary rains like we had recently, no amount of engineering can prevent flooding.
"There's a limited amount of space that's been dug underground, limited amount of space you can run off for canals and if you have an extraordinary rainfall, well you got to prepare for it."
Singaporeans have reacted strongly to the last three incidents of floods in different parts of the country.
The Minister Mentor acknowledged that Singapore and Singaporeans expect everything to be perfect in the country and he said the leaders tried their best to do just that.
Mr Lee added: "Somethings are beyond (that); it's an act of God unless you want to lose half the roads and have canals."
Today's visit also gave Mr Lee a glimpse of some activities like kayaking that take place along the Kallang River.
Mr Lee was accompanied by the Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim and grassroots leaders.
- CNA/al
Surely there's a way?
Letter to Today Online 23 Jul 10;
Singapore has always overcome the odds - why not a flooding problem?
Letter from James Ang
I refer to the article "No way to prevent floods: MM Lee" (June 22). Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said that "whatever we do when we get extraordinary rains like we had recently, no amount of engineering can prevent flooding".
With all due respect to Mr Lee, his remark is disappointing, coming from an inspirational leader who has taken a 600-sq-km island with squatters and swamps to a 700-sq-km First World nation with an unmatched infrastructure in this region.
I was expecting a "never-say-die" attitude, challenging PUB's engineers to come up with an innovative solution.
The official cause of the floods has changed from a "once-in-50 years" event, to a culvert in Tanglin, to a by-product of Typhoon Conson, to the Stamford canal - and I am not confident if PUB has really nailed the root cause or causes to be able to develop a holistic solution.
Mr Lee's view also seems in contrast to the PUB CEO's statement that the flood in Orchard Road was "unacceptable".
Singapore has overcome so many insurmountable obstacles over the years. Citizens have always backed the authorities when a tough but practical decision has to be made to solve a problem, and I expect more challenges ahead - but a defeatist attitude is surely not the way forward.
A solution above ground?
Letter from Dr Huen Yeong Kong
As a retired engineer, I think it is premature to announce that there is no engineering solution to the repeated flooding problems.
It is true we have no space at ground level to widen all the drains. But a well designed, above-ground canal network would intercept at least 25 per cent of the heavy downpour and save Singapore from most flooding.
Yes, it is expensive, but it is not impossible because these superstructures would also support solar panels and provide shade that would save air-conditioning energy cost. This is a win-win situation, so why have our civil engineers not pointed this out?
Pumps and water tanks
Letter from Gilbert Tan Hee Khian
The MRT line and many new commercial buildings and high-rise apartments in and around Orchard Road have reduced much of the land surface and underground area for water to run off.
To address this, new developments could be required to build storm drains beneath the buildings, with mechanised devices to pump water in the event of heavy rainstorms. Additional water tanks can be constructed in between or on top of buildings to alleviate flooding; water from the tanks can be released in a coordinated manner when the storm blows over.
Imelda Saad Aziz Today Online 22 Jun 10;
SINGAPORE - The National Parks Board or NParks says it has stepped up inspection and pruning of trees across Singapore following the recent spate of intense weather conditions.
A 32-year-old man was killed on Tuesday when a tree fell onto his car during a storm. Residents at Thomson Hills say they've seen their fair share of uprooted trees over the years.
Ms Chloe Chiang said: "There was a tree that fell near my house, just down the road from here, couple of weeks ago during heavy rains. It was kind of lucky because it fell on the pavement, it almost hit a car."
Mr Chua Loong Wai was not as lucky. He was killed after a tree crashed onto his car.
NParks said the tree was healthy. It was uprooted due to a weather condition called a "microburst" - localised strong columns of very-rapidly descending air.
The wind speed at the time of the accident was as high as 65 kilometres per hour.
A day after the accident, workers were seen inspecting trees in the area. Trees lining the road seemed to have been trimmed.
Residents in the area said trees were pruned early this year when drainage works were carried out.
Still, they're hoping for more regular inspections but they also acknowledge that no one could have anticipated the freak accident.
NParks said it has over the past two months, stepped up inspection and pruning of trees, focusing on mature trees and where vehicular traffic is high.
On top of routine operations, 2,000 more large mature trees have been inspected and crown reduction carried out.
NParks director of Streetscape Simon Longman explained: "Crown reduction pruning is this method of bringing in the side branches and reducing the weight of the trees to get a more compact crown."
This way when trees do fall, they hit a smaller surface area and hopefully will do less damage.
Separately at Mr Chua's wake, friends and family members were seen quietly grieving. Mr Chua left behind his wife and his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
It's understood that Mr Chua's wife may consult a lawyer to see if any action should be taken against relevant authorities. Imelda Saad
Sudden wind gusts have wreaked havoc before
Amresh Gunasingham Straits Times 22 Jul 10;
THE freak gust of wind that is believed to have brought down a tree that killed a motorist on Tuesday is a regular weather phenomenon in Singapore, experts say.
Called a microburst, it can strike several times a month, especially during wetter ones. As the name suggests, microbursts are short and last for just five to 15 minutes. They can be devastating, however, producing winds of up to 160kmh.
According to the National Parks Board (NParks), one such microburst generated winds of 65kmh in the Upper Thomson area on Tuesday afternoon, and it could have brought down the 30-year-old rain tree that killed Mr Chua Loong Wai, 32, along the junction of Thomson Hills Drive and Yio Chu Kang Road.
A microburst results when a localised and very intense downdraft descends to the ground during a heavy rainstorm.
Professor Lim Hock, founding director of Temasek Laboratories, explained: 'The heavy rain of a severe storm cools a whole column of air and drags it down. The cold air spreads out on hitting ground, creating a local region of very strong wind.'
Experts say other factors, such as hilly terrain and certain building designs, can also contribute to a strengthening of winds during a heavy rainstorm, bringing about a microburst.
The powerful gusts of air have wreaked havoc around the world, and have even been blamed for plane crashes.
Prof Lim said: 'They are a threat to aircraft taking off or landing, and have been found to be responsible for crashes...they are also quite capable of uprooting trees or snapping thick branches.'
In 2007, for example, a powerful wind surge was blamed for causing the crash of a jet belonging to budget airline One-Two-Go in Phuket, killing 90 of the 128 people on board. Many airports around the world are thus equipped with wind shear sensors that can detect microbursts and forewarn pilots.
In Singapore, the phenomenon has been known to wreak havoc on at least two other occasions.
The first was in 2002, when two people were injured and three cars damaged when seven trees were uprooted along the Central Expressway by a powerful microburst.
The other incident occurred in Holland Village in March last year, when six vehicles and some property were damaged by falling trees.
Meteorologists say microbursts can occur several times a month in Singapore because of the tropical monsoonal weather here, which is characterised by thunder and heavy rain.
Such bursts of wind are commonly associated with the north-east monsoon season, which occurs between December and March, and during Sumatra squalls, which can bring up to two hours of thundery showers and are usually accompanied by gusty winds packing speeds of up to 80kmh.
International firms invited to discuss how to further develop island
Tessa Wong Straits Times 22 Jul 10;
SENTOSA is looking at the possibility of adding to its list of attractions, even as visitors have been pouring in to check out new features such as the Resorts World Sentosa integrated resort.
Some 60 international companies have been sought out by the Sentosa Development Corporation in recent months for discussions on how to further develop the island, which already boasts close to 30 attractions.
At least two areas have been earmarked for further transformation, with Sentosa tendering for developers.
One is Palawan Beach, which already received a makeover in 2006. The upcoming revamp will feature an 800m landscaped walkway to incorporate the current stretch of bars, restaurants and a foodcourt along the area.
The new walkway, Palawan Link, will have additional restaurants and cafes, and will also feature a pirate-themed splashing zone for young children.
Sentosa is also exploring the idea of building a family entertainment centre in this area.
Also in line for development is the grassy 30ha slope bordered by the Images of Singapore attraction, the Merlion Tower and Siloso Beach. To be called Imbiah Garden Link, the area will be turned into a visitor attraction that will, at the same time, connect pedestrians to other attractions in the Imbiah and Siloso area.
It will have a garden theme and can host flower shows and garden events, and will also have space for public art displays and interactive exhibits.
On top of these two projects, Sentosa's management is currently mulling over several ideas, including building a massive artificial lagoon.
Chilean company Crystal Lagoon has proposed building a 12ha, 2m-deep pool along Siloso and Palawan beaches. This would be bounded by the small islets that lie off those beaches.
This pool would be bigger than Crystal Lagoon's most famous achievement, an 8ha pool at the southern Chilean resort of San Alfonso del Mar which, in 2008, earned the Guinness Book of Records title for the world's biggest swimming pool.
Like that pool, the proposed Sentosa lagoon would be filled with sea water that is treated and filtered to become clear blue salt water. It would also feature an artificial beach constructed around it, filled with white sand made from ground quartz.
Sentosa Development Corporation chief executive Mike Barclay said that while nothing has been signed yet, the company is definitely looking into the idea. 'There is nothing like this in our part of the world,' he said.
However, he stressed that it is just one of many ideas under consideration.
Any future developments are likely to cost Sentosa millions of dollars, if the $11 million bill for the 2006 makeover of Palawan Beach is anything to go by.
Estimates given to The Straits Times by Crystal Lagoon suggest that building the artificial lagoon could cost Sentosa US$4.2 million (S$5.8 million), while maintaining it would require a further US$504,000 per year.
The corporation, which is a government statutory board, appears to be in good financial health. According to its latest financial statement, it has $2.7 billion in total capital and reserves.
Future infrastructure developments such as Palawan Link and Imbiah Garden Link are likely to receive additional government funding.
The number of visitors to the island has grown steadily, with 6.2 million last year, a 50 per cent increase from 2003.
In that period, the island saw the upgrading of its beaches, the development of Sentosa Cove and the construction of new attractions such as the Sentosa Luge and the Sky Tower.
All of them were part of an $8 billion masterplan started in 2002 to rejuvenate the island. More private businesses have since gone in, with the opening of the integrated resort, a wave simulation attraction and a watersports centre all in the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, workers have been busy constructing a large boardwalk between the mainland and the island, the new Movenpick Hotel and a skydiving simulator, all due in coming months.
When asked why it was considering even more attractions such as the lagoon, spokesman Suzanne Ho said: 'To increase Sentosa's appeal as a choice leisure destination, we continually seek interesting ideas to refresh our existing island offerings and introduce innovative attractions.'
Vanes Devindran The Star 21 Jul 10;
SARAWAK looks set to achieve its target of one million hectares of totally protected areas (TPAs) in the near future.
So far, it has 750,000ha of land-based and water-based TPAs comprising 31 national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, nature reserves and marine parks.
The latest gazetted TPAs include the Maludam National Park at Saratok, Bengoh Range, Krian Mangrove in Bau, Sedilu Forest Reserve and Pelagus.
“Our target is to secure one million hectares of TPAs which constitutes about 8% of the state’s land mass and we intend to achieve this in the near future,” Sarawak Forestry Corporation managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Len Talif Salleh told reporters during a media familiarisation trip at Tanjung Datu National Park near Kuching.
However, Len said that conservation was not cheap.
While the state was working on securing more areas, they did not generate good economic returns, he added.
On the Tanjung Datu National Park, Len said that Sarawak Forestry would begin intensifying its promotions once its customer service centre at the park became operational by the end of the year.
He said the centre, which cost RM4mil, was to be completed by the end of this month and would serve as an information and research base for the park.
He believed that Tanjung Datu would be an interesting place to visit for researchers and students since it was known to among the most beautiful national parks in Sarawak.
Located at the western-most tip of Sarawak, the park offered an abundance of biodiversity on land and sea, he said.
Tanjung Datu had seven of the eight hornbill species, including the rhinoceros hornbill, he said.
WWF Indonesia 21 Jul 10;
On Saturday, June 17, 2010 a police unit detained two people involved in an illegal trading syndicate focused on the Sumatran tiger in Pekanbaru, Riau Province of Sumatra, Indonesia. Yoga Rusdiansyah (26) and Hidayat Saldi (45) are under investigation after Yoga was caught in possession of six decapitated tiger heads, five tiger pelts and seven kilograms of tiger bones. The tiger body parts were set to be exported to Malaysia.
According to Sapta Marpaung from the Pekanbaru Police Department, Yoga has become the main suspect after being caught in possession of the evidence, while Hidayat’s role is still under further investigation. The tiger body parts were sent from the Northern Sumatran city of Medan. Yoga was to hand over the package to a middleman for cleaning of the parts and shipping to Malaysia. The whereabouts of the middleman are currently unknown.
Yoga confessed to trading in tiger parts for the past three years, with up to five packages shipped every month. The body parts were sent through land and sea transportation. Trisnu Danisworo, Head of Nature Conservation Agency Riau, said that due to the vast and hard to patrol border areas between Indonesia and Malaysia, body parts are often sent this way, as they are harder to track than being sent by air.
According to Osmantri, Tiger Protection Unit and Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Coordinator, the body parts might be from Medan, as it is well known as a shelter for illegal wildlife traffic.
It is estimated that there were 192 Sumatran tigers in Riau in 2007. According to Syamsidar, Communications Staff for WWF Indonesia’s Riau office, 46 tigers were killed in the region between 1998 and 2009. “If it is proven that the tiger carcasses obtained by the police originated from Riau, then, sadly, we must add them to the current numbers. The tiger is protected by law in Indonesia, and the Government, business sector, communities – basically everyone – should bear the responsibility to protect this species and its habitat.”
Chairul Saleh, Species and Conservation Expert from WWF Indonesia, said that the investigation should not stop there. “This case should be taken to the court, but it is not enough if we only detain the courier. The investigation must unravel these illegal wildlife trafficking syndicates and ensure the culprits receive heavy sentences.”
If proven guilty, the suspect can receive a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of 100 million rupiah (35,400 US dollars) based on Indonesia’s Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems law.
The illegal trade in tigers and tiger parts is currently one of the focal issues of the 13 countries that still have wild tiger populations in this Year of the Tiger on the Chinese calendar. A groundbreaking Declaration on Tiger Conservation drafted by all 13 countries last week in Bali, Indonesia, proposed concrete steps the governments can take in order to reduce this trade. The Declaration is due to be signed by the countries at a global tiger conservation summit held in St. Petersburg, Russia in September this year.
PlanetArk 22 Jul 10;
A quarter of villagers living near orangutans in Indonesia's Kalimantan province are not aware the rare primates are protected and say orangutans have been killed in their village, said a new survey released on Wednesday.
Only a handful of orangutans are left in the wild, mostly in forests on Indonesian provinces of Sumatra and Kalimantan, where activists say logging and palm oil expansion have driven the primates close to extinction.
However, many living close to remaining orangutan communities do not know it is against Indonesian law to harm them, according to a survey of Kalimantan villagers conducted by the Indonesian Primates Association and The Nature Conservancy.
"More than a quarter of respondents said that they were not aware that the orangutan is categorized as a protected species by the Indonesian government and more than 50 percent of respondents said that the orangutan is not a protected species," said a statement released by The Nature Conservancy.
The survey collected responses from 6,872 people in 725 villages near suspected orangutan communities in western, central and eastern Kalimantan.
It found 24.8 percent of respondents knew of orangutans being killed in or near their villages, with most in Central Kalimantan saying the animals were killed for the meat.
"Other respondents claimed that they killed the animal for no specific reason. A small number of other reasons for killing orangutans are for medicine, hunting, orangutan trade and non-intentional reasons" such as being caught in wild boar traps, the statement said.
Damayanti Buchori, conservation director at The Nature Conservancy, said the survey results showed a need for "translating the national policies into a local context, (so) the community will understand and support orangutan conservation efforts in Indonesia".
Bernama 21 Jul 10;
LANGKAWI, July 21 (Bernama) -- Nine marine park islands and three islands off Langkawi, Terengganu and Pahang are closed to tourists from July 2 to Oct 31 due to coral bleaching.
Marine Parks Department director-general Abdul Jamal Mydin said the coral degradation, which was caused by global warming, was worse than in 1998.
He said in Langkawi, the authorities decided to close Teluk Wangi, Pantai Damai, and Coral Garden in Pulau Payar while in Terengganu - Pulau Redang, Teluk Bakau, Pulau Tenggol, Teluk Air Tawar, Pulau Perhentian Besar and Teluk Dalam.
There other islands are in Pahang, namely Pulau Rengis, Pulau Tumok and Pulau Soyak, he told a news conference after attending a meeting on the quagmire on Wednesday.
Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab was present.
He said the department had set up a committee comprising the Tourism Malaysia, the Public Works Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaya and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to look into the problem.
Abdul Jamal said more than 500,000 local and foreign tourists visited the marine parks every year.
On Pulau Payar, he said visitors to island would be reduced by 50 per cent to 200 as a controlled measure and to reduce stress on the coral reef.
Only three locations on Pulau Payar are closed to visitors, he said, adding that restriction on other islands had yet to be decided.
-- BERNAMA
Coral bleaching forces closure of islands
New Straits Times 22 Jul 10;
KUALA LUMPUR: Numerous islands in marine parks in three states have been closed due to coral bleaching.
The Department of Marine Park Malaysia said the closure will take place until Oct 31.
All recreational activities, including snorkelling and scuba-diving, are prohibited. The affected areas are:
• Kedah: Teluk Wangi, Pantai Damai and Coral Garden; Pulau Payar
• Terengganu: Teluk Bakau, Pulau Tenggol, Teluk Air Tawar at Pulau Redang; Teluk Dalam, Pulau Perhentian Besar, Tanjung Tukas Darat and Tanjung Tukas Laut at Pulau Perhentian
• Pahang: Pulau Chebeh, Batu Malang and the areas around Pulau Tioman. Three other affected islands — Pulau Rengis, Pulau Tumok and Pulau Soyak — are also off-limits.
In a statement, the department said coral bleaching were found to have occurred between 60 and 90 per cent of the corals.
“Coral bleaching happened before worldwide in 1998 and 2006 due to the El Nino phenomena.
“It is a condition where the coral changes colour from greenish brown to pale white.
“The death of a symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) inside the corals, which gives it nutrients and produces the colour pigments, would cause the corals to become white.
“This time, it is more significant and widespread due to global warming. It happened when the sea water temperature rose by 2ºC to 28-29ºCand remained for four weeks.
“After being continuously exposed to high temperatures, the corals started to die off,” the department said. Director-general Abd Jamal Mydin said the department swung into action after receiving reports of coral bleaching in early May by coming up with a plan to arrest the problem.
It has set up an action committee comprising members of the department, Tourism Ministry, Public Works Department, local universities such as Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, as well as non-governmental organisations.
The Marine Park Department had conducted checks on the status of coral bleaching in Pulau Tioman, Pulau Redang, Pulau Payar and Pulau Tinggi between June 4 and July 19.
As a result, it decided to close off areas which recorded coral bleaching of between 51 and 100 per cent.
Top dive spots closed due to coral bleaching
Embun Majid, The Star 22 Jul 10;
ALOR SETAR: Several dive sites at two of the top diving destinations in the world — the Pulau Tioman marine park in Pahang and Pulau Redang marine park in Terengganu — are temporarily off-limits to divers and snorkellers until end-October.
They are among three marine parks — the other being Pulau Payar in Kedah — which are affected by coral bleaching, a phenomenon caused by global warming that has increased sea water temperature by 2°C to between 28°C and 29°C.
Marine Park Department director-general Abd Jamal Mydin said the affected dive sites in Terengganu were Teluk Dalam, Tanjung Tukas Darat, Tanjung Tukas Laut, Teluk Air Tawar, Pulau Tenggol and Teluk Bakau; and in Pahang they were Pulau Chebeh and Batu Malang.
In Kedah the affected sites are Teluk Wangi, Pantai Damai and Coral Garden.
Three islands in the vicinity of the Tioman marine park that have been temporarily closed are Pulau Regis, Pulau Soyak and Pulau Tumok in Pahang.
“The closure means that no diving and snorkelling activities will be allowed at the sites.
“In Pulau Payar alone, the damage to coral is estimated at between 60% and 90%,” he told a press conference in Langkawi yesterday.
The department said it would limit the number of visitors to Pulau Payar from 400 to 200 daily during the closure.
Abd Jamal said it was necessary to close marine parks and islands to protect the coral reefs which had turned white.
“We are monitoring the extent of coral bleaching at all marine parks in the country. In the meantime, we are building artificial reefs and coral transplants,” he said.
Each year about 500,000 tourists, including foreigners, visit each of the marine parks.
Reef Check Malaysia general manager Julian Hyde welcomed the temporary closure of the marine parks, saying the corals needed time to recover.
“Corals are like the human body, Although the body can recover from a disease, it still needs time to rest,” he said.
Current climatic conditions have caused water temperatures to rise, thus affecting the corals, making them vulnerable to predators and disease, he said.
“Human activities will also have an impact on the reefs,” he added.
Malaysian Nature Society’s head of conservation Yeap Chin Aik said the department should actively get local universities and experts involved in saving the reefs.
Malaysia closes dive spots to save corals
Rising temperatures causing bleaching; 12 spots off limits until Oct 31 to allow recovery
Straits Times 23 Jul 10;
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has closed several popular dive sites to save its fragile corals, which have already been damaged by high water temperatures this year, an official said yesterday.
Twelve out of 83 spots around the popular islands of Perhentian, Redang and Tioman - all popular dive spots with Singaporeans - in the east and Payar in the west have been off-limits to divers and snorkellers since early this month, said Mr Abdul Jamal Mydin, director-general of the Department of Marine Parks.
He said virtually all the corals in the areas have been damaged - some as much as 90 per cent - by rising sea temperatures.
Most have started to turn white - a condition known as coral bleaching, which causes coral to lose colour and even eventually die.
Officials say divers tend to dredge sand from the seabed, which settles on coral and damages it further. There is also the fear divers will bump into the corals. Some 500,000 tourists visit the areas each year.
The sites are expected to stay closed until Oct 31, giving the corals enough time to recover without the additional disturbances of boats, divers and snorkellers, Mr Abdul Jamal said.
'We expect them to recover or at least improve,' he said, adding that Malaysia risked losing tourists and its rich marine life if its corals - one of its main attractions - died.
However, tourists can still dive at other sites that are less fragile around the islands off Terengganu, Pahang and Kedah, so tourism overall would not take a hit, Mr Abdul Jamal said.
Singapore dive operators contacted agreed. They said that although the affected sites are popular with divers here, there are many alternatives.
In fact, some even welcomed the move to close the sites as they have seen first-hand the effects of coral bleaching.
Mr Ricky Koh, who owns Deep Blue Scuba, said: 'I do not think my customers will be unhappy if I tell them that the site that they want to go to has been closed to allow the corals to recover. Most divers care about the environment.'
Mr Abdul Jamal said water temperatures in the affected areas have risen to 30 deg C to 31 deg C in recent months, up 2 deg C from their normal level.
But with the coming rain, temperatures are expected to drop again, he said.
He said Malaysian corals were previously threatened with bleaching in 1998 and 2006 as part of a worldwide cyclical weather pattern, but no sites were closed because it was not as severe.
Environmentalists have long complained that the authorities should protect the country's corals and marine life more vigorously.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Giving corals a breather
Evangeline Majawat New Straits Times 23 Jul 10;
KUALA LUMPUR: The closure of 17 dive sites in Peninsular Malaysia is necessary to give surviving corals a chance to recover.
Marine Park Department director-general Abd Jamal Mydin said the situation was critical with 50 per cent of the corals in some reefs dead after prolonged coral bleaching.
This is the first time the department is forced to shut down dive sites in nine marine parks after a two-degree Celsius rise in ocean temperature.
"The coral is already sick. We do not want snorkellers to step or touch the corals.
"It'll only increase the stress," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Diving and snorkelling are banned from these sites including the famed Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Redang to prevent added stress to the reefs.
The ban, which came into effect early this month until October, was put in place after widespread reports of coral bleaching in May.
Sixty to 90 per cent of the reefs in the 17 sites are bleached.
"Half of the reefs have died. We hope the remaining will recover soon," he said.
Malaysia is not the only one hit. Neighbouring Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines have also reported mass coral bleaching in April this year due to rising temperatures in Southeast Asian waters.
A similiar event was reported during the 1998 El Nino episode.
University Kebangsaan Malaysia Research Centre for Tropical Climate Change System head Professor Dr Fredolin Tangang said the situation worsened with the onset of La Nina.0
Beginning April this year, easterly winds from the cooler waters of the Pacific Ocean have been pushing warmer waters into the Southeast Asian region.
This has caused significantly warmer waters, between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius. The situation is expected to worsen with climate change.
About 70 per cent of corals at diving areas in Phang Nga and Phuket provinces and Similan islands in Thailand are bleached.
"The ocean temperature has been steadily increasing due to anthropogenic climate change since the early 1950s. It is associated with global warming.
"The situation doesn't look good," said Fredolin who is also the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group 1 vice-chair.
He said coral bleaching and ocean acidification were just some of the effects of global warming which would impact the marine ecosystems and their services especially fisheries in the years to come.
Coral bleaching happens when the colourful algae that gives coral its colour and food dies, turning it into a bone white colour.
It is thought that a temperature increase of more than one degree Celsius and excessive sunlight trigger the single-celled algae zooxanthellae to attack the corals.
In defence, the corals expels the algae, making it vulnerable.
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu marine biologist Associate Professor Liew Hock Chark said depending on the period of exposure, the corals will either recover or die.
"Yes (the process is reversible). Not all the algae is exuded during bleaching. Some will survive.
"Hopefully, these will multiply and the corals will recover," he said.
It takes months to years for corals to recover from mass bleaching.
Only some dive sites off-limits
Shaun Ho, The Star 23 Jul 10
PETALING JAYA: Divers and operators can still dive at certain areas around dive sites located in the Pulau Tioman and Pulau Redang marine parks.
“Only some areas have been closed to protect the coral,” said Reef Check Malaysia general manager Julian Hyde.
Hyde said he had received many calls from divers and operators asking whether they would still be able to dive at their favourite dive sites around the islands.
Yesterday, The Star reported that several dive sites in Tioman and Redang were temporarily marked off-limits to divers until the end of October.
Marine Park Department director-general Abd Jamal Mydin said this was done to protect the coral reefs which had turned white, adding that the department would continue to monitor popular dive sites affected by coral bleaching.
Hyde also said the reefs were being closely monitored by the department and the restricted areas could change subject to the health of the coral.
He said Reef Check was working with dive operators on the islands to identify sites that were more likely to withstand bleaching.
“The more resilient sites will serve as a source to replenish the bleached sites,” he said.
He added that Reef Check would propose that the department close those areas to minimise stress to the coral.
Samad Rahim, 58, who frequently dives at Tioman and Redang, said he was initially worried that his regular dive sites would be closed.
“After I checked with some friends, I found it was only certain areas that are off-limits.
“If the dive sites are completely closed, this will cripple the industry and the livelihood of the locals will be affected,” said Samad, who works as a business consultant.
WWF Malaysia 22 Jul 10;
Coral bleaching occurs when coral reefs are stressed. At a local scale the causes of stress may include disease, pollution, sedimentation, cyanide fishing, changes in salinity and temperature, and storms. Mass bleaching events such as the one Malaysia is currently experiencing is primarily due to increased sea temperatures. Temperature increases of 1-2ºC above the long term average maximum can already trigger mass bleaching. In severe bleaching events, the mortality rate can be quite high.
Corals can recover from bleaching events, but they must have support for factors that promote coral resiliency. Studies show that the recovery success of healthy coral systems is much higher than the degraded ones. Good water quality, high coral cover and an abundant and diverse community of herbivorous fishes are important conditions to promote coral recovery.
The closure of affected dive sites is a temporary measure to minimize further stresses to the bleached corals. However, it is important to take pre emptive measures against events like this by putting more resources into marine protected area management, preventing coastal and marine pollution and promoting sustainable fisheries. WWF-Malaysia hopes that the Malaysian Government will adopt and implement Ecosystem Based Management of Fisheries and strengthen Marine Protected Area Management and Integration.
WWF-Malaysia also hopes that the government would stand by its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in response to global efforts to minimize the impacts of climate change.
Comment by Dr Pola Singh, The Star 19 Jul 10;
I wonder how many of us know that approximately 70% of Malaysians live along coastal areas. In fact, 99% of Malaysians live within 100km of the sea! The people of Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak, namely the coastal communities, most notably rely heavily on the seas for their economic activities.
We are both surrounded and separated by the oceans and seas and many of us are unaware that they are critical sources of food and nutrition and economic prosperity.
About 20% of our protein consumption comes from the sea.
The tribal communities value the seas and coasts for social and spiritual reasons.
In short, from time immemorial, the seas have played an immense socio-economic role to enhance our lifestyles.
Malaysia’s 4,800 km of coastline also harbours a very rich ecosystem and biodiversity.
Our ecosystem consists of untold riches such as the coral reefs (among the oldest and largest in the world), mangroves, sea grasses, seaweeds, mudflats, estuaries and marine biodiversity.
Humans have close relationship with the marine ecosystem which also generates various economic activities. Coral reefs are important for marine tourism, shoreline protection, nursery and feeding grounds for fishes and potential sources of medicine.
In fact fisheries, shipping, oil and gas industry, tourism, aquaculture/mariculture, residential and industrial developments are vital economic sources and contributors to Malaysia’s growth.
Our biggest income earner is oil and gas. Interestingly, nearly all our oil and gas fields are located offshore.
As of January 2009, the Oil and Gas Journal reported that Malaysia has proven oil reserves of four billion barrels.
The oil reserves can last us for another ten years.
Our natural gas reserves was 89 trillion cubic feet and based on current consumption patterns, gas reserves can last for another 36 years.
Malaysia is the second largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) after Qatar.
In addition to offshore activities, the ocean and seas also offer renewable energy generation potential, transportation corridors and recreational opportunities.
More than 90% of Malaysia’s international trade is sea borne and passes through many seaports dotted along the nation’s coast.
Marine transport remains crucial for growth as seaborne trade has traditionally been our lifeblood.
Tourism is among Malaysia’s highest revenue earners after manufacturing and services.
The designation of Labuan Island as a prominent international offshore financial centre reflects the tremendous prospects of offshore economic activities.
However, our ecosystem and marine resources face great danger. Reefs suffer from dynamite fishing, overfishing, and harmful effects of coastal development, sedimentation, and coral bleaching.
The growing human population and density, pollution and unchecked coastal developments add to this misfortune.
Indiscriminate disposal of industrial, agricultural and domestic wastes leads to pollution. Adding to these woes are rising temperatures and sea levels
The Maritime Institute of Malaysia (Mima) has taken the lead to address our environmental woes and safeguard our maritime interests.
The Institute actively promotes sustainable management and protection of our marine and coastal biological resources through its research and related activities.
Although at the macro level, the government has initiated many efforts in the areas of coastal management, biodiversity conservation, pollution prevention and resource management, we as individuals have a very important role to play to protect our sea resources and natural habitats through sustainable development.
There has to be constant engagement and cooperation from the public in efforts to protect the seas and the marine environment.
It is crucial for private citizens to be concerned over the threats faced by our natural maritime resources and take actions to counter them by inculcating good habits and adopting an environmentally friendly outlook in life, such as reducing use of plastic bags, stop buying eggs of endangered turtles and end destruction to our coral reefs by practising responsible diving and not polluting our ocean.
Inculcating public awareness on the threats to our marine environment and appreciation of the importance of the seas are keys to protecting our maritime assets.
Damages can be minimised and in certain cases reversed if the public is aware of the multiple roles of the seas in helping to manage resources in an ecologically sustainable manner.
The natural environment is dynamic and ever changing but the impact of human influence on marine environment can be managed.
It is therefore crucial for us to modify our behaviours and attitudes towards the seas and protect the fragile marine environment and ecosystems.
The “No Plastic Bag Day” campaign on certain days of the week is a step in the right direction.
Studies showed most plastics dumped end up in the oceans, adversely affecting nearly 200 different species of sea life. Bags find their way into the sea via drains and sewage pipes.
Fish and turtles die from ingesting the bags, mistaking them for food.
As consumers, we have the power to change things.
We can practise sustainable living through our own small efforts such as recycling plastic containers and bottles and purchasing reusable bags for shopping.
Mima celebrated the World Oceans day on 8 June 2010 with a series of activities aimed at increasing public awareness on the vital roles of the oceans and the marine environment in the daily lives of people.
We drew public attention and support to promote sustainable use of coastal and marine resources as well as sustainable development of the ocean.
The quest to save the oceans should no longer be delayed.
■ Dr Pola Singh is the director-general of Maritime Institute of Malaysia
'Significant improvements' in UK's seas, but litter, pollution, climate change and greater acidity are cause for concern
Adam Vaughan The Guardian 21 Jul 10;
Thousands of holidaymakers heading to British beaches this summer will be cheered by a major government report into the state of the UK's seas. Coastal waters are getting cleaner, fish stocks are improving and species diversity in estuaries is increasing, according to the most authoritative examination ever carried out of UK seas.
But while the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs study boasts of "significant improvements" since the last such report in 2005, it also paints a picture of an environment being rapidly affected by a warming world. Seas around the British Isles are higher, warmer and more acid, it says, and coastal litter levels are at a record high.
The sea surface temperature of UK waters has risen on average by between 0.5 and 1C since the 1870s, which could affect the fish that appear on our plates in future. Of the 330 species found around the UK, cold-water species such as cod are in retreat, while warm-water fish including red-mullet, seabass and John Dory are spreading rapidly.
Fish stocks are improving overall, partly due to fishing reductions brought about by European Union quotas, despite criticism from marine conservation groups that the quotas are set too high to maintain fish stocks. The proportion of fin-fish stocks in UK waters being harvested sustainably has risen from 10% in the early 1990s to 25% in 2007.
However, the report notes that a large majority of stocks are still being fished at unsustainable levels. Fish are simultaneously being hit by warming waters, which are causing the cold and warm water zooplankton that fish feed on to move north. The warm water zooplankton tend to be smaller and less nutritious, affecting fish larvae and stocks.
Climate change is also causing sea levels to rise, with the mean sea level rising by 1.4mm per year in the 20th century. While slower than global growth of 1.7mm per year in the same period, the rise has not always been steady - in the 1990s, it was going up by 3-4mm each year. More coastal erosion and more flooding are likely to occur as a result, says the report, with the Humber estuary and Norfolk coast particularly at risk.
UK waters are also not exempt from the global trend of ocean acidifiation due to higher levels of dissolved CO2. This leads to harmful effects for marine life that rely on calcification, such as crustacea and molluscs. But the authors of the report admit the lack of a baseline for pH levels makes it hard to measure the rate of our acidifying seas.
Levels of pollution continue to drop since Defra's research in 2005, including heavy metals such as lead and mercury. However, there are still some localised problems such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which, while stabilising nationally, are still found in places at levels that affect wildlife, including harbour porpoises. Litter levels doubled, though, between 1994 and 2007, with 2,000 items per kilometre of coastline. Litter was even found at a depth of 1,000 metres.
The picture for waterbirds and seabirds is mixed. Waterbird numbers are largely healthy, with the 2006/2007 population numbers 85% above levels in the 1970s. But seabirds have seen a 9% decrease in numbers since 2005, with herring gull numbers down over 50% since 1969. Seabirds are suffering particularly badly in north and north-west Scotland, due to the arrival of invasive species such as rat and mink, which affect nesting sites.
The evidence in the report was gathered from peer-reviewed science provided by universities, government agencies, NGOs and industry.
Marine environment minister Richard Benyon said: "The report's findings show that we are moving in the right direction, but there is more work that needs to be done, especially to protect the UK's seabirds. I am committed to improving our marine environment by delivering the conservation measures in the Marine and Coastal Access Act and hope to see further improvements in the next report as we gain the benefits from Marine Conservation Zones." In January, Lundy Island off the north Devon coast became England's first Marine Conservation Zone.
Gerard Wynn Reuters 21 Jul 10;
LONDON (Reuters) - The U.N.'s climate agency has for the first time detailed contingency options if the world cannot agree a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, whose present round expires in 2012 with no new deal in sight.
The document reflects the stuttering pace of U.N. talks to extend or replace the Kyoto pact and disappointment at the outcome of a summit in Copenhagen last December.
Countries which are party to the Kyoto Protocol in June asked the U.N. climate secretariat to report on legal options to avoid a political vacuum or gap.
Kyoto placed carbon emissions caps on nearly 40 developed countries from 2008-2012. Under existing rules, a new round of targets needs the agreement of at least 143 countries -- or three quarters of all parties to the Protocol.
But a new deal appears months or years off, and even after an agreement its implementation would require ratification by the national parliaments or relevant bodies of more than 100 countries. The process of national ratification of the original Protocol took eight years.
"Domestic ratification processes are likely to involve ... national legislative bodies, a process that may involve a considerable amount of time," said the U.N. paper, published online and dated July 20.
Ratifying a successor agreement should be quicker, focused mostly on amending the targets in the existing text.
"A delay in the entry into force beyond 1 January 2013 would result in a gap between the end of the first commitment period and the beginning of the subsequent commitment period (of emissions targets)," the paper added.
CARBON MARKET
Legal remedies to avoiding a gap focused on tweaks to the treaty, such as cutting the number of countries required to approve any new targets or extending the existing caps to 2013 or 2014, the U.N. document said.
U.N. talks are now in their third year to agree a new deal, having missed a deadline in Copenhagen, with the next major conference due to start in November in Cancun, Mexico.
With so little time to agree a complex climate deal, which will shift the way the world supplies and consumes energy away from fossil fuels, attention is shifting to how countries could soften that legal requirement.
However, such changes to the treaty would have to be made "provisional," to avoid relying on lengthy, national approval, which would defeat their purpose.
Such an approach would leave uncertainty over the final form of any deal, the paper acknowledged, doubt which investors say is mounting in particular for the carbon market.
Without a deal by the end of 2012, the future of a $20.6 billion trade in carbon emissions rights under Kyoto was unsure, said the paper, titled "Legal considerations relating to a possible gap between the first and subsequent commitment periods."
The full paper http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2010/awg13/eng/10.pdf
(Reporting by Gerard Wynn, Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Factbox: What next for the Kyoto Protocol?
Reuters 21 Jul 10;
LONDON (Reuters) - Uncertainty is growing over the future of the Kyoto Protocol, the first legally binding treaty to cut emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for heating up the planet.
Nearly 40 industrialized nations -- all except the United States -- are supposed to meet agreed emissions targets during the pact's 2008-2012 first phase. Many countries are on track to meet their targets.
But agreement appears months or years off on a new round of targets for developed countries from 2013.
The complex talks have seen a stand-off where developed countries want emerging economies, and especially top carbon emitter China, to shoulder more responsibility in the fight against climate change.
The U.N.'s climate agency has for the first time detailed contingency options if the world cannot agree a new round to the pact in time before 2013.
Here are some questions and concerns about Kyoto:
* WHAT IS THE KYOTO PROTOCOL?
It is a pact agreed by governments at a 1997 U.N. conference in Kyoto, Japan, to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by developed countries by an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels during 2008-2012.
A total of about 190 nations have ratified the pact. Developing nations do not have binding emissions targets under Kyoto but are encouraged to take voluntary steps to curb the growth of carbon dioxide pollution from power stations, cars and industry.
* IS IT LEGALLY BINDING?
Kyoto has legal force from February 16, 2005. It represents more than 60 percent of developed nations' total emissions.
The United States, the world's second largest carbon emitter after China, decided against implementing Kyoto in 2001, reckoning it would be too expensive and wrongly omitted developing nations from a first round of targets to 2012.
* HOW IS IT ENFORCED?
Countries overshooting their targets in 2012 will have to make both the promised cuts and 30 percent more in a second period from 2013.
* WILL ALL COUNTRIES MEET THEIR TARGETS?
Unlikely. Canada has said it will miss its targets by a wide margin, despite the threat of penalties. This has led to criticism that Kyoto is a failure, raising doubts nations will meet much tougher targets for the second compliance period from 2013.
* SO WILL KYOTO FADE AWAY?
There's a real chance of that happening. Negotiators remain far apart on deciding the shape of a future, broader, climate pact that extends the fight against climate change.
One idea is to extend Kyoto into a second period and create another climate treaty, perhaps based on an Accord agreed in Copenhagen in December which is not legally binding.
Big developing nations India and China, while broadly supporting the Accord, firmly back Kyoto and the current U.N. talks to try to extend it and do not want to turn the Accord into a legal text. The United States refusal to join Kyoto and the failure of the U.S. Congress to pass emissions targets is another big uncertainty.
(Compiled by Alister Doyle, David Fogarty and Gerard Wynn; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
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