Baby sharks at Cyrene!
from wild shores of singapore
Cyrene Reef (25 Mar 2011)
from teamseagrass
Uncowed
from The annotated budak
Call and behaviour of the Collared Kingfisher
from Bird Ecology Study Group
Andie Ang regales TEDxNUS with tales of the Banded Leaf Monkey in Singapore from The Biodiversity Crew @ NUS
Why We Should Have The Green Corridor
from EcoWalkthetalk
Straits Times Life Mailbag 26 Mar 11;
I am writing in to express my views about Kampong Lorong Buangkok.
As we know, it is the last kampung on the main island of Singapore. I believe that urbanisation and modernisation are inevitable for Singapore.
However, we should not urbanise our country to the point that only Pulau Ubin is left unscathed for future generations.
Perhaps, even Pulau Ubin will be urbanised, leaving us to recreate the old kampung lifestyle in our museums.
I am a resident of Hougang and have been living in the north-eastern part of Singapore for more than a decade. I believe there is still plenty of empty land in this part of Singapore, particularly in Sengkang and Punggol.
I urge the relevant authorities to consider the utilisation of currently empty plots of land in Sengkang and Punggol first before thinking about urbanisation plans for Kampong Lorong Buangkok.
We have heritage places such as Katong, Joo Chiat, Tiong Bahru, Chinatown, Little India, Geylang, Kampong Glam and Holland Village. Why not preserve Kampong Lorong Buangkok as well?
Quek Peh Jia
Play with water and take in the sights of nature ecosystems at the Alexandra Canal
tay suan chiang Straits Times 26 Mar 11;
Housewife Marie Tan used to look out of her four- room HDB flat in Tanglin Road onto a canal. But since the beginning of the year, that view has changed.
Instead of the utilitarian, dull-looking Alexandra Canal, she now sees a waterway decked out with lush planting. 'The view is much prettier now,' says Mrs Tan, 36.
The new Alexandra Canal was officially opened by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew last Saturday. Its transformation is the latest project to be completed under PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters programme, which was introduced in 2007.
PUB is the authority in charge of Singapore's waterways. Under the scheme, utilitarian drains, canals and reservoirs are turned into beautiful and clean streams and lakes.
So far, 14 such projects have been completed. Five are underway and will be completed by 2013 (see other story below). PUB will implement more than 100 such projects islandwide in the next 15 to 20 years.
Mr Yap Kheng Guan, a senior director with PUB, says the programme encourages people to 'think about water sustainability and the importance of keeping water clean'.
By bringing people closer to the water, he hopes that they will better appreciate this resource.
Completed projects include improvement works at Bedok Reservoir, where new facilities such as floating decks at the reservoir bank were added.
In the Kolam Ayer housing estate, a 250m stretch of Kallang River was transformed with improved landscaping along the river banks and the addition of a floating deck and a water wheel.
It took PUB 23 months and $34 million to transform the 1.2km stretch of Alexandra Canal, which stretches from Tanglin Road to Delta Road.
A 200m-long portion of the canal near Tanglin Road has been decked over to create a water cascade and water play area. The area also has a bird's-eye view of the revitalised waterway.
'We chose to leave parts of the canal undecked so that visitors can still see the water, which has a calming effect,' says Mr Yap.
The play area lets families dip their toes in the shallow water. 'The water here is constantly kept clean,' says Mr Yap.
In addition, a series of wetlands has been built on the deck area where the public can learn about different wetland systems and plants.
Special plants such as the papyrus reed, cattail and the water lily are grown in the wetlands. These help purify the water that is pumped from the canal - by filtering out sediment and taking in nitrogen and phosphorus - before it is returned to the canal.
Sharp-eyed visitors may even spot dragonflies and damselflies flitting among the plants. 'Their appearance indicates that the water is clean,' says Mr Yap.
Other additions include lookout decks to bring visitors closer to the water. Old metal railings which used to run along the canal's banks have been replaced by more aesthetically pleasing wooden ones.
Near the Delta Road end, a new plaza provides space for gatherings and shelter from the weather.
Barely a week after its official opening, the spruced-up canal looks to be a hit with visitors.
Despite an impending shower on Tuesday evening when Life! visited, joggers were out and about and families were walking their dogs or pushing strollers.
'The waterway is so beautiful, it is hard to believe that it is just a canal,' says retiree Ang Meng Seng, 70, who was there for a jog.
Three Waters projects to enjoy
Three ABC Waters projects were completed in the last nine months.
Lorong Halus Wetland
It is hard to imagine that the Lorong Halus Wetland, with its reed beds and ponds, used to be a landfill.
Part of the landfill, which has not been in use since 1999, was turned into a $45-million wetland that took three years to complete. It opened earlier this month.
The wetland collects and treats water passing through the former landfill, preventing it from flowing into Serangoon Reservoir which is adjacent to it.
Visitors can get close to the reed beds, which help purify the water, along a specially constructed rustic trail.
Sengkang Floating Wetland
Opened last November, the $7.5-million Sengkang Floating Wetland consists of 2,400 sq m of wetland in Punggol Reservoir, near Anchorvale Community Club.
Special plants such as rushes and sedges are grown on the floating structure, and their roots penetrate deep into the water to absorb nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates.
A bridge connecting the community club with Sengkang Riverside Park lets visitors get close to the floating wetland.
Lower Seletar Reservoir
Before its $10-million transformation, which was completed last June, the Lower Seletar Reservoir along Yishun Avenue 1 was off- limits to visitors.
Now, they can walk over the water on a 200m-long bridge that extends over the reservoir.
A new play area was also built along the reservoir banks. There is a fountain and a wading stream for kids to play in. The water for these comes from treated rainwater.
Two to come
Two more projects under the ABC Waters programme will be completed by the end of the year.
Kallang River-Bishan Park
The ugly concrete canal that runs through Bishan Park will be a thing of the past when this project is completed by end of the year.
A $76-million transformation will see a beautiful, meandering river that is seamlessly integrated with the park.
During dry weather, water flow will be confined to a narrow stream in the middle of the river. Park users will be able to walk along the water's edge, bringing people closer to water.
Other additions include a river promenade that can be used for events. There will be three playgrounds, each with a distinctive theme.
The park will also be home to diverse wildlife with habitats created to encourage certain species to settle and thrive. For example, reed beds will promote dragonfly communities and seasonal nectar-producing flowers will entice butterflies, providing a site of rich biodiversity.
PhaseTwo of MacRitchie Reservoir Makeover
Visitors will soon be able to walk on water, when the second phase of a makeover at MacRitchie Reservoir is completed.
Under the $4.5-million phase, a 40m-long submerged boardwalk will connect one bank of the reservoir to another. Visitors can walk through shallow waters, see plants growing alongside the boardwalk and be in close contact with tadpoles, fish, snails and other aquatic life.
Other new features include a hilltop F&B outlet with a view of lush greenery.
A new building is also being constructed at the current Paddle Lodge to cater to those who want to canoe and kayak.
The first phase, completed in 2009, saw the addition of a multi-storey carpark, an amenities centre and an improved floating pontoon.
Ronnie Lim Business Times 26 Mar 11;
AS Asian markets brace themselves for increased coal demand, Tuas Power (TP) said yesterday that it has no supply issues, having already secured all the coal it needs from Indonesian mines under 15-year long-term deals.
'We have no supply concerns,' TP president and CEO Lim Kong Puay said yesterday. Once China Huaneng-owned TP's new Jurong Island facility starts up in the middle of next year, it will be Singapore's only coal-fired utilities plant.
But other power plants in the region, especially those in Japan following the Fukushima nuclear accident, are expected to increase their demand for coal.
Japanese utilities are expected this week to resume their annual negotiations with Australian coal producers for thermal coal contracts starting April 1, after this was delayed by the earthquake there.
Reports said that the two sides are likely to settle on annual prices higher than the record US$125 a tonne agreed in 2008-2009, with some traders and analysts citing a figure of around US$130 a tonne.
London's Financial Times quoted a coal analyst at Macquarie as saying that 'lower nuclear plant utilisation in Japan has proven to be bullish for thermal coal . . . which is likely to have to take up the slack from nuclear'. He estimates that the country could buy an additional 20-30 million tonnes this year, on top of the expected 110-120 million tonnes. 'This provides upside to the ongoing thermal contract negotiations,' he added.
The price negotiations are based on the globalCOAL Newcastle index, which is the same index which TP's Indonesian coal supply deals are pegged to. This means that if the index goes up, the Singapore generating company will also have to pay more for its coal.
'But just like other fuel costs here, if there is a price increase for coal, this will be passed through (to users),' TP's Mr Lim said. 'In the short term, we do see higher (coal) prices.'
Fitch Ratings said this week that 'while electricity capacity shortfalls at Japan's nuclear plants will be met in the short term by coal and fuel oil-fired generation . . . in the medium term, additional gas-fired capacity is the natural substitute for nuclear power'.
Just last month, TP announced that it had struck long-term supply deals, including with Jakarta-listed PT Bayan Resources and South Korea's Samtam Co Ltd for low-sulphur, low-ash coal from Kalimantan.
It said that PT Bayan Resources would supply TP's S$2 billion Tembusu Multi-Utilities Complex with 13.36 million tonnes for 15 years starting next year, but did not give details of its deal with Samtan.
When fully operational, TMUC will produce about 1,000 tonnes of steam per hour and 160 megawatts of electricity. It will also provide chilled water and treat industrial waste for petrochemical customers.
Mr Lim told BT yesterday that TP has also concluded its negotiations with a barge operator in Kalimantan to transport the Indonesia coal via covered, self-propelled barges to Jurong Island.
'We also expect to conclude a deal soon for our palm kernel,' he said, referring to the 20 per cent biomass portion of TMUC's feedstock, with the remainder comprising coal.
Like the other gencos here, TP - which currently operates the 2,670 MW Tuas Power station - relies mainly on piped natural gas from Indonesia and Malaysia to power its plant. To diversify supplies, Singapore gencos have also contracted to buy an initial two million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas feedstock, with the first LNG expected here in early-2013.
Just one hour, don't make it your last
Shutting down your electronics during Earth Hour may not be enough to save the world, but it's a start
Peter Yeo Today Online 26 Mar 11;
At 8.30pm this Saturday, there will be a blackout - a voluntary one. Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative which wants individuals, businesses, governments and communities to do their part for the environment by powering down all energy, including shutting down at power points, turning off personal devices and leaving the car at home.
Last year, the event, held annually in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), saw its largest voluntary action, with 2 million people participating globally over 128 countries. Besides corporations and individuals, tourist attractions, natural wonders and man-made marvels such as the Eiffel Tower shut off their lights for 60 minutes. For that one hour, much of the world lived by candlelight.
The mission for this year goes beyond the hour-long observance; WWF is encouraging followers of this movement to share their pledge to cut down their carbon footprint online. Individuals as well as corporations can share their pledges on www.earthhour.org/beyondthehour.
Earth Hour executive director Andy Ridley - who helped co-found the event which kicked off in Sydney in 2007 - said: "The Beyond the Hour platform has been built with social media at its core. Social media will play a crucial role for Earth Hour 2011, allowing us to connect with millions of people who are committed to taking lasting action for the planet."
The online platform is translated into 11 languages and integrated with most major social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Mi xi, RenRen, Maktoob, Skyrock, Xing, Zing and more. To date, more than 1,000 actions have been shared on this dynamic platform.
But can events such as Earth Hour really change attitudes? Ms Carine Seror, director of corporate engagement and Earth Hour campaign manager for WWF Singapore, gave an illustration to suggest that such initiatives could have long-term repercussions.
"The first Coral Triangle Business Summit in Manila that was organised by WWF in conjunction with the Philippines government, was held early last year. It was attended by more than 160 participants, with more than half representing the region's business and industry," she said.
"At the summit, Ms Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines, announced the signing of four private-public partnerships with the tuna sector and the national adoption of circle hooks to reduce turtle by-catch. It is estimated that the use of circle hooks could prevent the deaths of between 800 to 1,500 turtles annually."
Other laudable achievements held early this year included a gala dinner where more than 600 Indonesian government officials and business leaders joined former American Vice-President and Nobel laureate Al Gore and WWF Indonesia's CEO, Dr Efransiah, in celebrating the United Nation's International Year of the Forest. A discussion to realise how businesses can find forest solutions to combat climate change also took place at this forum.
On March 3, fisheries ministers from Denmark, France, Germany and the United Kingdom signed a declaration in which they committed to an ambitious reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This four-country declaration promises a sustainable use of fisheries resources based on the best available scientific knowledge and an ambitious reform of the CFP with integrated conservation objectives.
Mr Tony Long from the WWF European Policy Office said of the declaration: "The choice is clear: It is either smart fishing or no fishing. If we go on overfishing, there will simply be no commercially viable stocks left."
Ms Seror added: "It is not about stopping the production of commodities and other resources but, rather, on producing them sustainably to ensure that we can feed the needs of a growing population without depleting our planet's resources.
"Overfishing is the single biggest threat to ocean life. As the number, size and power of fishing boats grow, an increasing number of commercial fisheries are pushed to the point of collapse. Destructive fishing methods, such as bottom trawling, are damaging and destroying sensitive marine habitats. And millions of non-target fish are caught and killed daily.
"This has pushed the largest living space on Earth to its limits, threatening not just marine habitats and species but the livelihoods of coastal communities, human health and food security.
"An average of 100,000 tons of seafood is consumed annually in Singapore. Besides being one of the biggest seafood consumers in the Asia-Pacific, we are also an important seafood hub. Almost all of our seafood is imported from the Coral Triangle. In the past, most of us have been unaware of where our fish stocks come from or how they are caught. Much of the seafood in Singapore may be from areas that have been overfished for years."
Ms Seror also said humanity is already using nearly 30 per cent more natural resources than the Earth can replenish. Singapore uses the equivalent of the resources of three planets. She added: "Under a business-as-usual scenario, it is predicted that people will use twice as much of the natural resources than the Earth can replenish. If this happens, a large-scale ecosystem collapse becomes increasingly likely, as does severe climate change.
"We need to find ways to maintain a high standard of living while using far fewer natural resources if we are to prevent this from happening."
According to Ms Seror, it will take the collective efforts of every individual to save our planet, starting with the food we eat, the clothes we buy, the way we travel. To lighten the load on the planet, first understand the impact you place on the earth. By cutting down waste, using renewable energy and supporting sustainable agriculture and fishing practices, we can stave off the execution of our planet, she said.
Peter Yeo is deputy digital media editor at Today.
Keeping the lights out past 60 minutes
Firms heed the call to extend green initiatives beyond today's Earth Hour
Jermain Ng and Hoon Yi Shyuan Business Times 26 Mar 11;
AT 8.30 PM today, do not be alarmed if you find yourself in the dark, as lights around the world will be switched off for 60 minutes in a global display of climate action known as Earth Hour.
Earth Hour kicked off in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, before becoming a global sustainability movement the next year. Singapore, along with more than 80 other countries, joined the green initiative in 2009.
This year's event sees a 15 to 20 per cent increase in business supporters, up from 500 last year. Those that participated previously are also stepping up their efforts this year.
One such place is Changi Airport. Not only will passengers departing from Changi Airport's Terminal 3 find lights at the Departure Hall and Transit Mall dimmed by 80 per cent, those arriving and departing from the Budget Terminal will also see lights at the Arrival and Departure corridors dimmed by as much as 50 per cent.
Singapore's newly established integrated resorts will also be playing a part. At Marina Bay Sands, non-essential lights such as the aesthetic lighting on the roof of the Sands Expo and Convention Centre will be turned off. Furthermore, outdoor lighting across the property would also be dimmed by 20 per cent.
'With the Marina Bay Sands towers so prominent in the Singapore skyline, we hope switching off our facade lighting will help to rally further support,' said George Tanasijevich, interim chief executive officer of Marina Bay Sands and managing director of global development for Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Across hotels in Singapore, many will also follow suit. At the newly opened Park Regis Singapore, lights of the facade logo lighting, driveway and running lights will be turned off while bars will have their lights dimmed. Over at Pan Pacific Orchard, the team is going a step further with Happy Earth Hour to 'encourage hotel guests to leave their rooms to join us in the candle-lit Lobby Lounge to celebrate Earth Hour with everyone'.
Interesting spin
Keppel Group, one of Singapore's largest conglomerates, is also moving towards green initiatives. Through Keppel Land, over 32 commercial and residential properties, as well as hotel developments across Asia in Singapore, China, Indonesia and Vietnam, will switch off non-essential lights during Earth Hour.
Even schools have followed suit with ten in the North West District pledging to turn off their lights for 15 to 30 minutes every day during school hours for the month of March, in support of North West Community Development Council's commitment to Earth Hour 2011. These schools include Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School, St Margaret's Secondary School and Hwa Chong Institution.
The logo for the yearly event has taken on a plus sign this year to become '60+', to encourage people to go 'beyond the hour' - that is, continuing their green initiatives even after the effort to raise awareness is over.
It seems that companies are latching on to the wave. Earlier this year, a call for air-conditioning temperatures to be set at 24 deg C or higher to maximise energy efficiency and cost savings was answered by Resorts World Sentosa, and more than 50 malls, hotels and retailers under the Orchard Road Business Association.
Some have taken this concept and put an interesting spin on it. At CapitaLand properties, not only were non-essential lights turned off, the company also organised a 'Wear Less Day' yesterday, where staff and participating office tenants were encouraged to dress down while the air-conditioning temperatures at their workplaces were turned up.
Of course, cost savings are a positive by-product of being environmentally friendly. 'Achieving energy efficiency makes good business sense as it lowers operating costs for our businesses,' said a Keppel Group spokesman.
At Royal Plaza on Scotts, the 2 deg C increase in temperature can save the hotel between $35,000 and $45,000 per year in energy costs.
'It is gratifying to see the awareness spreading across all pockets of Singapore and people actively seeking to reduce their energy consumption in one way or another,' said Amy Ho, managing director of World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore.
Millions of Indonesians Ready To Switch Off for Earth Hour
Jakarta Globe 26 Mar 11;
From regular citizens who are conscious of environmental issues to tourist spots and malls, more and more Indonesians are participating in Earth Hour celebrations.
Governor Fauzi Bowo, in his role as the country’s Earth Hour ambassador, will kick off the campaign at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday at City Hall, alongside representatives from around 700 community and civil society groups.
Among the state structures expected to be plunged into darkness for an hour for the event are the iconic National Monument, or Monas, City Hall, the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and several government buildings.
Verena Puspawardani, from Earth Hour organizer WWF Indonesia, said in addition to the gathering at City Hall, there would also be a bicycle convoy around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle during the lights out.
“We’re also organizing candlelight dinners at several warung [roadside food stalls] in certain areas of the city,” she said.
“So if you’re not doing anything at home, come on out to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle or City Hall and join us.”
However, Verena said anyone considering coming to any of the events should bike it or take public transportation. Driving a motor vehicle, she pointed out, would be counterproductive.
With other cities also getting in on the act, Earth Hour activities will not just be limited to Jakarta this year.
Daniel Giovani, 22, a Jakarta parkour practitioner, said he was switching off at his cousin’s home in Bandung.
“I went to Bandung the past two years [for Earth Hour] and each time I asked my cousin to switch off everything, including mobile phones, and just hang out and talk,” he said.
In that city, the lights will go out at the iconic provincial legislature, popularly known as Gedung Sate, and at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).
In Yogyakarta, one of the key participating venues will be Prambanan Temple complex.
Felix Krisnugraha, a member of the Earth Hour Yogyakarta committee, said lights at other landmarks such as the Tugu Monument, Jalan Mangkubumi and Adipura Fountain would also be switched off.
“Three hotels — Santika, Hyatt and Sheraton — will also turn off their lights for an hour,” he said.
Earth Hour celebrations there will be focused around the Tugu Monument and will feature art performances by community and student groups.
“And when the lights go out, we’re going to light up candles to create the Earth Hour 60+ logo,” Felix said.
Lia Damayanti, another committee member, said the event was not just about turning off lights for an hour, but about educating the public on the importance of using electricity sparingly.
“We hope that during Earth Hour, people will turn off not only their lights, but also other electrical appliances,” she said.
“We hope people can adopt the habit of conserving energy to save the earth.”
She added the theme of Earth Hour 2011 was “After an Hour, Make This a Lifestyle.”
In Makassar, all municipal agencies and bureaus have been ordered to participate by turning off their lights and electrical appliances, according to city spokesman Mukhtar Tahir.
“It’s an effort to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and hence try to slow global climate change,” he said.
“All the lights around City Hall will be switched off, along with half of all streetlights.”
One of the city’s main malls, GTC Makassar, is also getting into the spirit by turning off half of its lights. Widya Syadzwina, the mall’s marketing and communications manager, said they were already carrying out an Earth Week campaign under the theme of “Go Green & Save Our Earth.”
The campaign includes acoustic musical and dance performances, illuminated not by electrical lamps but by candlelight.
The East Nusa Tenggara office of state utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara said the campaign there could save up to Rp 300 million [$34,500] worth of electricity.
Andre Koreh, head of the provincial public works office, said it would be “an amazing saving” if households and malls across the region participated in the hour-long event.
“Obviously we’ll have to keep the streetlights on because of the high crime rate,” he added.
But in neighboring West Nusa Tenggara, the provincial administration said it had no plans to mark Earth Hour.
“We get rolling blackouts every day, so why should we have a special day to celebrate something that won’t be any different?” said M. Faozal, the provincial spokesman.
Reporting by Ulma Haryanto, Dofa Fasila, Rahmat, Yuli Krisna, Fitri, Amir Tejo, Eras Poke, Putri Fitria and Aidi Yursal
Malaysia: The hour has raised awareness
Evangeline Majawat New Straits Times 26 Mar 11;
KUALA LUMPUR: Earth Hour has been accused of being a "green token" or worse, a publicity stunt. Four years after World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) started the Earth Hour initiative, activists are divided over the effectiveness of this effort.
So called "true-blue greenies" have rubbished Earth Hour as useless because of how insignificant energy consumption is reduced. Some go as far as claiming that energy consumption actually spikes during that one hour.
There are even anti-Earth Hour blogs which encourages the people to keep their lights on.
One anonymous blogger wrote: "Earth Hour celebrates ignorance, poverty and backwardness. By repudiating the greatest engine of liberation, it is nothing more than an hour devoted to anti-humanism."
A commentator said it was "symbolism at its worst... a gimmick".
It all started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.
A year later, cities and different countries emulated Sydney, making Earth Hour a global movement.
In the face of mounting criticism, WWF stressed that Earth Hour is not just about that one hour.
"Many are critical that Earth Hour is a public relations stunt. Indeed, it is a PR exercise," said an unapologetic WWF (Malaysia) executive director Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma.
"Through this, we arrest the public's attention to form a global collective voice to strongly call for action for our governments to act with regards to climate change."
Sharma acknowledged that Earth Hour should move away from the one hour concept.
"Now we've got people's attention, how do we move on from here?"
Climate change activist Adrian Yeo said Earth Hour as a symbolism was crucial because it was a first step into behavioural changes.
"It is something simple that everyone can do. Let's face it. Overnight changes (to energy consumption) aren't going to happen overnight ... it's impossible.
"Earth Hour is simple but important for that societal shift," he said.
Yeo rebutted criticism that the event was futile, quoting the Selangor government's No Plastic Bag campaign as an example.
He said the campaign which urged the people and businesses to avoid using plastic bag for one day of the week -- on Saturday -- had been key to make people aware of waste management issues.
"Not using plastic bag on that one day won't solve our current waste management issue. But what we see now is that there are more conversations about the environment," he said.
But fellow environmentalist Andrew Sebastian strongly felt that Earth Day, which is celebrated worldwide on April 22, should take precedence.
"Earth Hour would have greater value if (WWF) was to develop it. That one hour of switching our lights off is a harsh reminder of how dependent we are. We should now think how we can go beyond to honour Mother Earth. Ironically, there is already Earth Day which is more significant."
Reef reality
The Star 26 Mar 11;
Reef Check Malaysia’s latest annual report paints a bleak picture of the coral ecosystem.
The 2010 annual report, the fourth since Reef Check started operations in the country, rates Malaysia’s live coral cover as “fair” (scoring 44.3%) as opposed to “good” or “excellent”.
The low percentage is of concern, given the rise in pollution from increased tourist development in the east coast of the Peninsula.
Reef Check’s work is largely survey-based, and the accompanying annual survey report’s Nutrient Indicator Algae Growth showed algae growth had risen from 1.2% to 4.7%, attributable mainly to sewage pollution.
Reef Check’s general manager, Julian Hyde, points out that many resorts rely on individual septic tanks that need regular maintenance (also known as “de-sludging”) but do not do so.
“As far as they know, they’ve never maintained them (the septic tanks). That pollution is not going somewhere, it’s going into the sea.”
The report also states that blast and cyanide fishing methods are widespread around Sabah and have ruined formerly pristine reefs, like those surrounding the islands off Semporna.
Hyde adds his concerns that coral reefs under pressure from climate change are struggling to recover due to added pressure from both threats.
“If we could reduce all of these other problems, we could withstand the impact of coral bleaching,” he concludes.
For more information on Reef Check Malaysia’s Annual Survey Report and the Annual Summary Report 2010, visit www.reefcheck.org.my
Help is at hand
Michael D’Oliveiro The Star 26 Mar 11;
Damaged coral? How about transplants to revive them?
Some would say it’s amazing that one of Malaysia’s most visited islands isn’t given marine park status. We’re talking about Pulau Pangkor here.
The fact of the matter is that the coral reefs of Pulau Pangkor, an island that is host to many resorts, suffer from poorly supervised snorkellers, careless boatmen and, in general, unchecked pollution from sewage.
Despite regular media attention, its popular snorkelling sites are steadily losing their vibrant fish life. Recently, Pangkor Laut Resort and the Malaysian arm of the NGO Reef Check joined forces for another reef clean-up — this time with a unique approach to restoring one of the affected sites.
Pulau Giam is a tiny isle barely the width of a tennis court but popular for snorkelling. Unscrupulous operators have left a legacy of damaged corals, no thanks to poor supervision of snorkellers and wanton anchor drops (outlawed in a marine parks, in case you’re wondering). Reports are claiming that fish have also started abandoning Pulau Giam.
Pangkor Laut and Reef Check’s solution? Coral transplants.
The concept isn’t new in Malaysia. However, bad experiences with other methods like concrete-based artificial reefs have accelerated its use. To both resort and NGO, the notion of taking living specimens to populate distressed sites seemed a viable alternative.
General manager of Reef Check, Julian Hyde, says, “Deploying artificial reef units doesn’t really encourage coral growth. It takes forever for corals to start to grow on new substrate. Just look at Tioman, for example. Transplanting corals enhances the rate at which a new reef can start to grow.”
I missed the first day along with the initial briefings, but my subsequent days with the team were eye-opening. Hyde had brought along Coral Ecologist Kee Alfian (of University Kebangsaan Malaysia). Add their able wives and a few volunteer divers (from YTL staff and the media), and we had a project team.
The first step was to harvest coral nubbins (or tips of the many “limbs” from hard corals) from a donor site. This was done just off the resort’s Spa Villas beachside location. It felt strange observing divers snipping off perfectly healthy corals. In most countries, you’d get a jail term for doing that. However, they were to be the “donors” for Giam, and careful handling ensured there would be no adverse affect on the “parent” corals.
The dive on the second day involved the more intricate task of preparing and affixing the nubbins onto a nursery matrix that would later be transported to Giam. The matrix was assembled and placed a few metres down from the resort’s main beach. It didn’t help that we faced Pangkor’s notorious pea-soup visibility; nonetheless, I felt a tad amateurish looking at the speed and precision the team showed in putting the nubbins in place.
Hyde was nonchalant about my concern with the nubbins.
“They are hardier than many people think. The poor visibility means that physically moving around in the water is difficult, for one thing. For another, it does mean that the corals will stress more easily when moved, so extra care is needed to ensure the highest possible survival rate,” he explained.
While coral transplanting was the main focus of the weekend, staff presentations by YTL Hotels, owner of Pangkor Laut, were also held. Local school talks were part of the programme with the aim of inculcating marine awareness among the local children. The final day itself ended with certificates of attendance being handed out to participating staff, followed by some entertaining skits and even a fashion show!
Weeks later, the results are still being monitored. Hyde seems upbeat about the project’s future.
“We have not made significant progress at Pulau Giam, but it is too early for that anyway. The corals are still residing off the beach at Pangkor Laut, and we are leaving them there for a good long time to be sure they are healthy and growing before moving them again, which just causes a load more stress. So the healthier they are, the more ‘relaxed’ they are and the greater the chances of survival when we do move them to their final resting place,” he says.
Hyde notes that coral transplanting alone wouldn’t solve Pangkor’s problems.
“The last step is to get Tourism (Malaysia) involved,” he says, no doubt referring to the marine park status. “Their support is vital. This is as much a tourism product as it is a scientific project, and there are huge opportunities to educate the local population and tourists visiting the area,” he concludes.
IUCN 25 Mar 11;
The destruction of coastal carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrasses and tidal marshes, is leading to rapid and long-lasting emissions of CO2 into the ocean and atmosphere, according to 32 of the world’s leading marine scientists.
That key conclusion highlights a series of warnings and recommendations developed by the new International Working Group on Coastal “Blue” Carbon, which convened its first meeting in Paris last month. The Working Group was created as an initial step in advancing the scientific, management and policy goals of the Blue Carbon Initiative, whose founding members include Conservation International (CI), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.
Much of the carbon emitted when mangroves, seagrasses or tidal marshes are destroyed is estimated to be thousands of years old because the CO2 stored in these ecosystems is found not only in the plants, but in layer upon layer of soil underneath. Total carbon deposits per square kilometer in these coastal systems may be up to five times the carbon stored in tropical forests, due to their ability to absorb, or sequester, carbon at rates up to 50 times those of the same area of tropical forest. The management of coastal ecosystems can supplement efforts to reduce emissions from tropical forest degradation.
According to recommendations from scientists in the Blue Carbon Working Group, whose collaboration pools expertise from 11 countries on five different continents, the existing knowledge of carbon stocks and emissions from degraded or converted coastal ecosystems is “sufficient to warrant enhanced management actions now.”
“The capacity of coastal wetlands to reduce climate change by capturing and storing carbon dioxide is considerable, but has been overlooked” says Jerker Tamelander, Oceans and Climate Change Manager for IUCN. “If valued and managed properly, coastal ecosystems can help many countries meet their mitigation targets, while supporting adaptation in vulnerable coastal areas.”
Draining a typical coastal wetland, such as a mangrove or marsh, releases 0.25 million tons of carbon dioxide per square kilometer for every meter of soil that’s lost. Global data shows that seagrasses, tidal marshes, and mangroves are being degraded or destroyed along the world’s coastlines at a rapid pace. In fact, between 1980 and 2005, 35,000 square kilometers of mangroves were removed globally – an area the size of the nation of Belgium. This degraded area still continues to release up to 0.175 gigatons of carbon dioxide each year – equivalent to the annual emissions of countries such as the Netherlands or Venezuela.
“We have known for some time the importance of coastal ecosystems for fisheries and for coastal protection from storms and tsunamis. We are now learning that, if destroyed or degraded, these coastal ecosystems become major emitters of CO2 for years after the plants are removed. In the simplest terms, it’s like a long slow bleed that is difficult to clot. So we need to urgently halt the loss of these high carbon ecosystems, to slow the progression of climate change, ”says Dr. Emily Pidgeon, Marine Climate Change Director at Conservation International.
“Scientific studies have shown that although mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes account for less than 1% of the total plant biomass on land and forests, they cycle almost the same amount of carbon as the remaining 99%. So the decline of these carbon-efficient ecosystems is a valid cause of concern, ” adds IOC Assistant Director-General and Executive Secretary Wendy Watson-Wright.
The working group will meet next in August, and continue their collaborative scientific study. Funding for the group has been provided by the Waterloo Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Villagers take matters into their own hands after state-funded efforts to save the dolphin struggle to make headway
Kunlayawee Waewkraihong Bangkok Post 26 Mar 11;
Dolphin conservation by private groups looks to be a lost cause as more of the rare aquatic mammals turn up dead on beaches.
Last year more than 100 dolphins were wounded or killed by fishing nets laid by fishermen along Thailand's coastline, according to statistics.
To conservation groups in coastal provinces, these figures are alarming. However, the main problem has been not being able to attract the attention of state agencies, according to environmental advocates.
Some groups are frustrated that state agencies are not doing enough to answer urgent calls to rescue and protect the animals.
They say some environmental officials on inspection trips simply jot down numbers of dolphins and send reports to their superiors.
In the past 15 months, up to 41 dolphins have been found dead in Trat province on beaches in Muang district's Ban Laem Klad and Khlong Yai district's tambon Mai Rood.
The areas are under the supervision of the Provincial Office for Natural Resources and Environment and the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre.
As more and more dolphins are dying without serious protection measures being implemented by the state, villagers are taking matters into their own hands.
"We cannot wait for the province or fisheries officials to take action," said Thad Jitsapaporn, head of a dolphin conservation group in Ban Laem Klad.
He says villagers have set up an improvised dolphin protection zone in front of their seaside village to bar fishermen from entering the area where dolphins feed.
His group has waited in vain for two months after a formal request was submitted to government offices to declare a conservation zone. "We've decided to place buoys attached with flags near the beach to declare the zone," said Mr Thad.
Since the zone was put in place, the group has received some help from the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, which has ordered its officials to be on the lookout for fishing in prohibited areas.
Mr Thad says his group is not satisfied with the outcome of its campaign because there were still reports of dead dolphins.
"But we will carry on the conservation efforts with or without help from state agencies," he said.
The dolphins are essential for the ecology and the sea is not the same without them, say villagers.
The designation of dolphin safety zones can protect the mammals from becoming trapped in fishing gear.
In Trat, many dolphins have been killed because their feeding grounds overlap with fishing areas, said Phuchong Saritdichaikul, director of the marine and coastal resources centre for the east of the Gulf of Thailand.
In the southern province of Songkhla, 13 dolphins were found beached last year, taking the number of beached dolphins in the province to 81 in the past 20 years.
'There are only about 40 dolphins left in the area of Songkhla Lake," said Santi Nilawat of the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre.
The most dramatic discovery was of two dead Irrawaddy dolphins _ a mother and her calf _ that were trapped in a fishing net in August last year.
Officials believe the pregnant dolphin, which needed more food than usual, swam into the lake where many fishermen had placed their fishing gear.
Dolphins have also been illegally caught and sold to private buyers and zoos. Many dolphins have been taken from the southern province of Trang on the Andaman coast.
In August last year, highway police stopped a suspicious vehicle for inspection in tambon Bun Krating in Chumphon's Muang district. They found two female humpback dolphins in the pickup truck.
Three men admitted they were hired by the owner of a zoo in Chon Buri to catch the dolphins off Trang's coast.
It was not the first time dolphins have been seized in Trang, said Tawan Tuiuan, head of a dolphin conservation group in Ban Ta Se in Trang's Hat Samran district.
In the past, some villagers were happy to be paid to catch dolphins.
"They left the dolphins in a shrimp pond. The animals were to be sent to a businessman at a price of 5,000 baht each," said Mr Tawan. "Luckily, the dolphins were found by other villagers first."
Many conservation groups are campaigning against dolphin trafficking.
They also serve as guards against fishing in prohibited areas and the use of fishing gear deemed harmful to dolphins.
However, despite the conservation efforts, the number of dolphin deaths has risen.
"Conservation groups alone cannot ensure 100% safety for dolphins," said Phisit Charnsano, chairman of the Yard Fon Foundation, a Trang-based environmental group.
He said conservation campaigns would be futile without help from state offices.
Some officials even colluded with gangs that traded dolphins, he claimed.
Dolphins are a member of a complex marine ecosystem where various aquatic species depend on one another to exist.
The loss of many dolphins will disrupt the balance of nature.
"When one animal is affected, it will have knock-on effects on other creatures," said Mr Phisit.
If the duty to protect dolphins is mainly shouldered by villagers without state support, the future of the dolphins looks bleak, say conservationists.
They say the government should do its bit to help.
Deccan Chronicle 26 Mar 11;
In one of the worst disasters, around 150 Olive Ridley turtles got trapped in a single net and found dead on Kothapeta beach under Vajrapukotturu mandal in Srikakulam district on Friday.
The village sarpanch, Mr Ambati Raju, said he never saw so many dead turtles in his life and blamed the fishermen from Visakhapatnam for not taking preventive measures.
He defended that the local fishermen never used such nets in which the turtles get trapped and dead.
The founder chairman of Visakha society for prevention and care of animals, Mr Pradeep Nath, said the disaster took place as the mechanised boats and trawlers did not using turtle excluding devices.
Fishing net spells doom for 200 rare turtles
Times of India 17 Mar 11;
VAJRAPUKOTTURU (SRIKAKULAM): About 200 carcasses of Olive Ridley turtles entangled in a fishing net were washed ashore at Kotttapet coast in the mandal, 100 km from Srikakulam, on Saturday.
Along with the carcasses, turtle eggs were also found trapped in the fishing net. Sources said the animals might have been making their way to the shore for nesting when they got caught in the net.
This is the first time that such a large number of dead Olive Ridley turtles were washed ashore in the entire coastal region of the state.
The turtles face threat from trawlers and nets in the eastern shore of the country, from Orissa to the Andhra coast. "I have never seen so many turtles trapped in one go," said 70-year-old fisherman Chodipalli Nookaraju.
Each turtle weighed about 10 to 15 kilos. Local fisherfolk blamed the big trawlers of Visakhapatnam fishing harbour for the incident.
The turtles travel thousands of kilometres from the deep sea to the coastline of the Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam every year to lay eggs.
They mate in the deep sea waters after which the females journey ashore for the mass nesting.
Redempto Anda Inquirer Southern Luzon 25 Mar 11;
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—A Philippine law enforcement team onboard two slow outrigger boats caught six Vietnam nationals poaching inside Palawan waters using a speedboat fitted with three 60 horsepower engines.
Superintendent Rodel Garcia Lota, police chief of Balabac, said the Vietnamese fishers, who were arrested at around 6:30 p.m on Thursday while in the act of poaching in the reef area near the coastline of Balabac, Palawan’s southernmost municipality, fell into the trap set up by the team who posed as local fishermen.
Lota said the Vietnamese were fishing in the area just about 300 meters from the shoreline of Sitio Timbayan, Barangay Ramos, when Philippine authorities approached and outflanked them.
Outmaneuvered
He added the Vietnamese tried to break through the blockade but was outmaneuvered by the law enforcers from the Philippine Navy, Marines, maritime police and environment department and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
“They tried to escape but gave up when they realized we’ve outmaneuvered them,” Lota told the Inquirer.
Recovered from the unmarked Vietnamese speed boat believed to be operating in tandem with a mother ship were seven live sea turtles, two shells of dead marine turtles, nets and chemicals suspected to be used for stuffing dead marine animals.
Lota said authorities were unable to get the names of the Vietnamese and determine their exact origin because none of them spoke English.
Authorities are expected to bring the Vietnam nationals to Puerto Princesa City for filing of illegal entry and illegal fishing charges.
Untouchable Chinese
Conservation International Philippines (CIP) has identified the Balabac Strait Marine Biodiversity Conservation Corridor as a priority site for marine conservation because of its significance as a major passageway for tuna, sea turtles and marine mammals.
“This is a place where biodiversity faces destruction and exploitation on a daily basis.” said Romy Trono, country director of CIP.
Most poaching cases involving Chinese nationals caught in Palawan waters in the last 10 years have either been dismissed before reaching trial or downgraded to allow for lesser penalties of the convicted parties, said court records and monitoring reports by conservation groups.
Strong influence
CIP cited a most recent case involving Chinese nationals (Huang Pu et. al.) who were arrested in Balabac in November last year.
The case was left hanging when the suspects, who were allowed to post bail, disappeared and never showed up for their scheduled hearing.
A group of environmental NGO advocates, the Palawan NGO Network, claimed that former Justice secretary Alberto Agra sought the dismissal of the charges against the Chinese at the behest of the Chinese embassy.
Yahoo News 25 Mar 11;
HANOI (AFP) – The owner of a private zoo in Vietnam has been jailed for three years for selling the endangered tigers that he was supposed to protect, a conservation group and officials said Friday.
Huynh Van Hai, of Thanh Canh Tourism Park in Binh Duong province, near Ho Chi Minh City, was sentenced on March 10, Education for Nature -- Vietnam (ENV) said in a statement.
Fourteen other people linked to his operation, including his son, received sentences ranging from probation to 30 months' jail, it said.
An official at Thuan An district court of Binh Duong province confirmed the sentence.
"We feel that Binh Duong authorities have taken a vital first step in ending illegal farming and trade of tigers in Vietnam," ENV founder Vu Thi Quyen said in the statement.
ENV said it conducted its own investigation last year into the alleged illegal trade of tigers born at Thanh Canh park. The probe indicated at least two other major tiger farmers were also involved in the illegal trade, it said.
ENV added that tigers have essentially disappeared from the wild in Vietnam but 100 are known to be in captivity, mostly on eight private farms.
Older Vietnamese people believe that the bones of tigers, boiled down to make glue, can help treat arthritis, the group said.
In 2007, the communist government allowed some private tiger farms in southern Vietnam to keep dozens of the endangered animals as they were better equipped than state zoos.
Major tiger trader behind bars as global tiger meet opens
WWF 27 Mar 11;
A tiger farmer suspected of being a major figure in Vietnam’s illegal tiger trade has been arrested and sentenced to three years in prison, dealing a blow to the global tiger parts commerce that is pushing the species to the brink of extinction.
The arrest comes as experts and policymakers from the tiger range countries meet for a status check on ongoing efforts to save the iconic species.
According to Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV), Huynh Van Hai, the owner of the Thanh Canh Tourism Park in Binh Duong Province, was arrested by local police for selling tigers out of the back door of his park. Fourteen others, including Hai’s son, were also arrested and sentenced this month, with Hai and two associates also receiving a fine of US $70,000, ENV said on their website.
The International Conference on Tiger Conservation, to be held in New Delhi, India starting Monday, will bring together the 13 countries that still contain tigers, including Vietnam, to further cooperation and international efforts to save the tiger from extinction.
“This is the kind of news we need to hear more of as tiger range countries intensify their efforts to save the world’s remaining population,” stated Mike Baltzer, Head of WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative. “If we are to not only save tigers from disappearing, but also increase their numbers, we need work together to improve law enforcement capacities and spur the authorities into action. We congratulate the Vietnamese authorities and their partners for this major success, and we look for stronger law enforcement to be on the agenda for this week’s conference.”
The New Delhi conference is the first international follow up to the Global Tiger Recovery Programme (GTRP), a groundbreaking agreement forged in November 2010 by the tiger countries and the international community at a Tiger summit hosted by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia. It is expected to tackle GTRP implementation and monitoring, as well as reveal new tiger population estimates for India, which contains around half of world’s remaining tiger population, estimated to be as low as 3,200 individuals. The GTRP has set a goal of doubling the world’s tiger population by 2022.
The demand for tigers and their parts is in part fueling the tiger’s recent rapid decline. According to ENV, the bones from one tiger have a value of USD $20,000. Since 2005, there have been 24 reported seizures of tigers, their parts and bones in Vietnam.
As the New Delhi conference convenes, the tiger population is at an all time low. Estimated to be around 100,000 just 100 years ago, tigers have declined 97 percent, losing more than 94 percent of their home range. In addition to poaching and the illegal trade, the remaining pockets of tigers are beset by conflict with an increasing human population, habitat loss and prey loss.
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