Terumbu Hantu: beginnings of bleaching?
from wild shores of singapore
Night Walk At Venus Drive (28 Jun 2013)
from Beetles@SG BLOG
Zone Captains recce Tanah Merah beaches in May
from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore
Indonesia NGOs call on govt to investigate 117 companies for alleged involvement in forest fires from Mongabay.com news by Rhett Butler
Sumatran tiger density lower than previously thought from Mongabay.com news by Rhett Butler
Antara 28 Jun 13;
Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - The number of hot spots that cause forest fires in several locations in Riau Province has been decreasing from 50 last week to only 19, spokesman to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Agus Wibowo said here on Friday.
According to a recent survey by the agency, most of the existing hot spots are located in Pelalawan District and Dumai.
"Our focus now is on extinguishing forest fires in the two areas. Today four choppers will be deployed to Pelalawan district and Dumai city to initiate water bomb above the area," he said.
A total of Rp100 billion has been allocated for making rain, procuring materials and providing planes to conduct water bombing to fight forest and land fires in Riau province.
"The government would lease planes from Korea and Russia that are able to carry 4,000 to 5,000 liters of water for water bombing operations," Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said after a coordination meeting to discuss the problem here on last Thursday (June 27).
The meeting at the Forestry Ministry was attended by Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI)`s Commander Admiral Agus Suhartono, Environmental Affairs Minister Balthazar Kambuaya, Deputy Foreign Minister Wardana, and officials from the police force, the Attorney General Office.
Also the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the national development planning board (Bappnenas), the Agency for Technology Assessment and Application (BPPT), the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Lapan), the ministry of research and technology, the ministry of agriculture and from Jambi, South Sumatra and South Kalimantan provincial administrations.
Agung said the meeting did not only discuss fires in Riau but also anticipatory measures in eight other provinces.
Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan meanwhile said 14 people were currently being questioned with regard to the fires. They consist of 11 persons from plantation companies and three from local communities.
"If proven guilty they could be jailed for five years and have their permits revoked," he said.
He said the government is now still focusing on fighting the fires and is expecting support from all parties.
"We need support from all parties and all companies must protect their forests from fires," he said.
(Uu.A051/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Forest fires in Riau reach 16,500 hectares
Antara 28 jun 13;
Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - Forest fires in Riau Province from the period of June 1 to 26 reached 16,500 hectares of area, Riau Province`s Chief of Forestry Office Zulkufki Yusuf said here on Friday.
"We have kept updating the data. The number of forest area on fire maybe increasing," he said.
According to recent data from the local forestry service, there are six areas which have the most number of its forest area on fire namely Bengkalis District (6,300 hectares), Rokan Hilir (6,195 hectares), Rokan Hulu (900 hectares), Siak (892 hectares), Indragiri Hulu (510 hectares) and Pelalawan (250 hectares).
Apart from that, Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau Province, is also experiencing forest fires with four hectares of its area being burnt.
Earlier spokesman to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Agus Wibowo said the number of hot spots that caused forest fires in several locations in Riau Province has been decreasing from 50 last week to only 19.
According to a recent survey by the agency, most of the existing hot spots are located in Pelalawan District and Dumai.
"Our focus now is on extinguishing forest fires in the two areas. Today four choppers will be deployed to Pelalawan district and Dumai city to initiate water bomb above the area," he said.
The government has allocated Rp100 billion for making artificial rains, procuring materials and providing planes to conduct water bombing to fight forest and land fires in Riau Province.
(Reporting by FB Anggoro/translating and editing by Amie Fenia Arimbi/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Riau remains on alert as sky gets clearer
Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post 29 Jun 13;
The Riau Haze Task Force claimed on Friday that the land and aerial fire-fighting operation had begun showing positive results.
Task force commander Brig. Gen. Teguh Rahardjo said the success was measured by the reduction in the number of hot spots, improving air quality indexes and improved visibility at the worst-hit haze locations.
Speaking at the Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base, Teguh said air quality indexes in a number of cities had also dropped and shown further reduction in airborne pollutants. In Dumai, the air quality index, which reached 688 pollutant standards index (PSI) previously, dropped to 236 PSI on Thursday.
In Duri, Bengkalis regency, the index, which exceeded 1,000 PSI on June 20, has since dropped to 149 PSI.
“Visibility in Dumai, which was less than 100 meters on June 20, has gradually improved to 900 meters and the farthest at 10 kilometers,” said Teguh.
Despite the improving situation, he added that the fire-fighting operation was still ongoing. Besides deploying three helicopters for water bombing and surveillance missions, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and the Technology Application and Assessment Agency (BPPT) have continued cloud seeding by making two sorties over Kuantan Singingi, Indragiri Hulu, Siak and Bengkalis regencies.
On Friday, however, there were six hot spots compared to Thursday’s two.
Riau Forestry Agency head Zulkifli Yusuf said the razed area in Riau had reached more than 16,000 hectares since June 1.
The worst condition was reported in Rokan Hilir and Bengkalis at 6,195 hectares and 6,300 hectares, respectively.
“This is just temporary data that is still being updated by the forestry agency, Natural Resources and Conservation Center and the Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency,” said Zulkifli.
He declined to elaborate on whether the razed areas were state-owned land, production forests, former forest concession areas or oil palm plantations.
He only mentioned that 502 hot spots detected in Riau since June 1 were located in non-forest areas, while 993 other hot spots were in forested areas, including 114 detected in conservation areas such as protected forests and natural preserves.
18 suspects detained over forest fires
Antara 28 Jun 13;
Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - Police have arrested 18 suspects in connection with forest and land fires in the Sumatran province of Riau.
"Four of them were arrested on Thursday while others days before," Riau Police Command spokesman Adjunct Senior Commissioner Hermansyah said to Antara here on Friday.
Police arrested two suspects in Bengkalis, 11 in Rokan Hilir, two in Pelalawan and one in Siak.
"The latest two arrests were made in Dumai town," he said.
They were all arrested for allegedly clearing land by burning for plantations.
Hermansyah said their cases were still being processed in their respective police regions, adding that the number of suspects could still increases.
"Efforts would continue to be done to arrest those found clearing land by burning that has caused fires and haze blanketing Riau and also Singapore and Malaysia," he said.
(H-YH/F001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Singapore supports approach outlined by Indonesian president on tackling haze: Shanmugam
Olivia Siong Channel NewsAsia 28 Jun 13;
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said the country fully supports the approach outlined by the Indonesian president to tackle the haze.
This comes as Singapore awaits clarification on whether Singapore-linked companies are involved in the Sumatra fires, causing the bad air.
Mr Shanmugam said he and the Attorney-General have an outline on what can be done to take Singapore-linked firms to task, if they are found to be responsible.
But he said this will be contingent on whether Singapore-linked companies are involved.
So far, he said what has been said by Indonesian officials has been contradictory. He said evidence will also need to be shown.
He said: "We don't have any updates. We have sent a formal diplomatic note through the Indonesian ambassador in Singapore, to let us know, this is simply for us to find out whether indeed any Singapore-linked companies are involved.
"The primary consideration for Indonesia is really to put out the fires. You heard what the president said. And also the Indonesian president has said that the actions are taking place in Indonesia. It doesn't matter where the companies are from, Indonesia must take action, and we fully support the approach outlined by the Indonesian president."
Mr Shanmugam added that beyond the haze, foreign affairs ministers will discuss how ASEAN can work better together to cope with natural disasters in the region.
He said: "It's not just the haze. Countries in this region suffer from a wide variety of natural disasters and it really is in all of our interests. Even the haze, if you look at it, it's not just one country, people in Indonesia suffer, they probably suffer the most, and Malaysia, Singapore.
“Indonesian authorities are aware. You saw what the president has said. They want to do what is right, and the idea is how we can all work together. How can ASEAN as a community… is there something we can do together? And that needs to be discussed and we will be discussing that. I have indicated that I will be raising it.”
- CNA/xq
A regional look at haze issue needed: Shanmugam
Today Online 29 Jun 13;
SINGAPORE — The first and most important step in dealing with the haze is to put out the fires in Indonesia, even though Singapore’s Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will also need to discuss the frameworks that can be put in place to address future environment issues — such as floods and other natural disasters — that may arise.
Speaking to the BBC ahead of this weekend’s ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brunei, Mr Shanmugam noted that while Singapore has enjoyed “a few clear days” this week, areas in Malaysia and in Indonesia remain in “a state of emergency”.
“And when the winds shift, we could easily be engulfed again,” he added in the interview, which was aired yesterday.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s “very statesman-like” apology and statement on Monday sent a clear message to his own officials and also gave indications of “substantially increased resources to deal with the fires”, said Mr Shanmugam, who added that both Singapore and Malaysia have also offered their assistance.
“That is the first step — (the) most important — to see,” he said.
Next, the region will need to ensure that the haze will not be happening “every year or once in five years”.
“We really need a sort of a regional look at this because it is not just an Indonesia issue, a Singapore issue or a Malaysia issue. It affects the region and, indeed, the world in terms of CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions,” said Mr Shanmugam, who added that he would hold talks with his counterparts from Indonesia and Malaysia, with the issue also to be discussed by ASEAN.
Discussions, however, have to be conducted in “a constructive, problem-solving way, rather than looking specifically at individual countries”.
“We’ll have to see how, in what appropriate forum, this can be discussed, what sort of mechanisms can be put in place. This is really a question of trying to work on regional issues. It’s not just the haze — there are floods, there are other natural disasters. How do we handle all these? This is a matter of interest, not just to the three countries but other countries as well,” said Mr Shanmugam.
The minister said Singapore would press Indonesia for evidence concerning the companies which are involved in starting the fires. First, Singapore would like to know who owns the land, which Mr Shanmugam said only the Indonesian authorities would know. Second, it would like to receive evidence, based on eye-witness accounts, as to who was responsible for starting the fires.
“We need these two, and with that, I think we can do something,” Mr Shanmugam said.
When asked specifically about the steps Singapore will take to try to address these issues and go after the companies at fault, Mr Shanmugam replied: “I do not want to go into that right now, but we have worked out with the Attorney-General a set of steps that we can take. If and when we get the evidence, then we will look at it.”
Haze to be hot topic at Asean meeting
S'pore focus: Put out fires, prevent recurrence, tackle firms involved
Leonard Lim And Esther Teo In Bandar Seri Begawan
THE haze afflicting Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and parts of Thailand is expected to be a major discussion topic when Asean foreign ministers convene in Brunei this weekend.
Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam leads a Singapore delegation to Bandar Seri Begawan today for a series of meetings that includes the 20th Asean Regional Forum.
Later today, he will attend a trilateral meeting with his Indonesia and Malaysia counterparts over the haze, a week after the Pollutant Standards Index in Singapore soared to a record 401.
Tomorrow, the group convenes for the Asean Ministerial Meeting, and ways to tackle the haze will once again be on the agenda.
"The idea is, how can we all work together?" Mr Shanmugam told local reporters yesterday.
"How can Asean as a community - and Asean acts by consensus - is there something we can do together? And if so, what?"
There are three issues Singapore will focus on regarding the haze, he told the BBC separately in an interview aired yesterday ahead of his four-day trip.
These are stopping the burning, preventing a recurrence and taking action on any companies with Singapore links which are involved in the burning of land.
The first, most important and urgent step is to put out the fires in Indonesia and make sure no new ones start, said Mr Shanmugam, who is also Law Minister.
"We have had a few clear days. But areas in Malaysia, areas in Indonesia, are still in a state of emergency. And when the winds shift, we could easily be engulfed again," he said.
The second focus is to take a regional look at the haze to prevent the problem - which has plagued not just Singapore, but the region and the rest of the world for over a decade - from recurring.
Finally, he pledged that the Government would be "very firm" in looking at what it could do if there was proof that companies based out of Singapore or with Singapore links had been involved in the fires.
The Attorney-General has "worked out some steps" on what could be done, and has spoken to him, the minister said.
Mr Shanmugam told reporters: "It really depends on, first of all, whether there are Singapore-linked companies. The point on that has been contradictory."
Singapore conveyed a diplomatic note on Monday to Indonesia seeking clarifications. Singapore is also asking Indonesia for evidence of the firms' involvement.
"In terms of due process, we need that kind of evidence," said Mr Shanmugam, who declined to go into the steps that could be taken as the companies had not been identified.
Apart from the haze, the 10 Asean ministers will discuss the grouping's direction and external relations, and the evolving regional architecture, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday.
Asean ministers will also jointly meet each of their 10 dialogue partners - including Japan, the United States and China - to review ties and ongoing cooperation.
They will engage their counterparts at the Asean Plus Three and the East Asia Summit meetings, and track progress in the Asean Community-building goals.
On Tuesday, ministers from the 26-member Asean Regional Forum, including US Secretary of State John Kerry, will exchange views on regional developments.
Mr Shanmugam will be accompanied by Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Grace Fu, who is also Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, and Foreign Affairs.
Additional reporting by Rachel Chang
New Straits Times 28 Jun 13;
RAUB: The proposed cable car project on Fraser's Hill will not lead to environmental degradation and the hill will be maintained as an idyllic destination.
State Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin said the project was timely, as it would attract more tourists to enjoy the panoramic view at one of the last hill stations in Malaysia.
He said since no major infrastructure projects could be approved on Fraser's Hill, a cable car was the most suitable mode of transport for shuttling tourists or visitors to and from the resort.
"There are no plans to build new hotels and resorts on Fraser's Hill.
"Instead, we will refurbish the existing English colonial buildings, which have been the main attraction for the town."
He added that once the project was completed, tourists could park their vehicles at the foot of the hill before travelling up Fraser's Hill in cable cars.
He said this would eventually help reduce traffic congestion at the hill resort.
Dong assemblyman Datuk Shahiruddin Ab Moin said a feasibility study for the project must include the types of attractions along the route for people to view, the total distance involved and ways to attract people to use the service.
He expressed hope that the ministry would submit a proposal for the cable car project soon.
Shahiruddin, who is also Raub Umno division chief, said if the cable car project materialised, residents in Raub would enjoy a positive spillover in terms of economic gains.
Pahang Tourism Action Council general manager Idrus Yahya said proper planning should be done before the project was introduced as it would involve a huge cost.
"However, I believe if the project is given the nod (to continue) it will help reduce pollution at the resort."
A spokesperson from the state Environment Department said building the cable car system and routes might require clearing some trees, but it would have minimal impact on the environment.
On Sunday, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the ministry would review the suggestion from Shahiruddin.
Nazri, who had earlier presented prizes to winners of the Fraser's Hill Bird Spotting Contest 2013, promised to turn the proposal into reality and said that he would discuss the matter with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The Star 28 Jun 13;
PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Plantations says haze-causing fires in Sumatra were not from areas planted by its subsidiary.
It said in a statement Friday that between June 11 and 19, five hot spots were found on land within the concession area of PT Bhumireksa Nusa Sejati (PT BNS), a company owned by PT Minamas Gemilang, a subsidiary of Sime Darby Plantation.
However, examination of satellite data and on ground assessment teams established that these fires were not in areas planted by the company.
Sime Darby Plantation managing director Datuk Franki Anthony Dass said to address the current issue of haze from fires in Riau Province in Sumatra, Indonesia, and its causes, PT Minamas Gemilang called on all other stakeholders to enter into constructive dialogue to find a sustainable solution to the problem.
“It is time for all stakeholders to work together to find a way to address what has become an annual problem of the haze, and the tremendous toll it takes on the environment and the health of affected communities on both sides of the Straits of Malacca,” he said.
“On our part, PT Minamas would be happy to assist and participate in any constructive discussion on this matter.
"Local communities, civil society groups, academics and other companies operating in affected areas should offer technical assistance and support to the Government of Indonesia to study the issues and address the root causes of the problem,” Dass added.
Sime Darby said among the issues that would need to be addressed include:
(1) the responsibilities of different stakeholders;
(2) how various stakeholder groups can work together to prevent future occurrences;
(3) legal issues pertaining to land use and occupation;
(4) best agricultural management practices.
The statement said fires in the Riau Province have resulted in a hazardous smog blanketing Singapore, parts of Malaysia and southern Thailand and the Indonesian authorities have long sought a solution to this annual problem.
Local communities plant a variety of cash crops such as corn and sugar cane, the statement said.
Under current regulations and conventions dealing with local communities and the preservation of traditional farming methods, concession holders are unable to control or influence the practices and activities of these communities.
“PT Minamas has conducted awareness programmes on the negative impact of slash and burn activities on local communities in the peat areas.
"It intends to intensify this awareness programme together with other plantation companies and local authorities,” Dass said.
Sime Darby Plantation, the world's largest producer of certified sustainable palm oil, has had a zero burning policy since 1985.
In Indonesia, 20 of the company's 25 mills under PT Minamas have been certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
The RSPO is a voluntary certification body, whose members include civil society groups and players along the entire palm oil value chain.
“There are several companies within the palm oil industry who observe high agricultural standards.
"As an industry, we could contribute significantly to discussions on how to solve this problem,” Dass said.
For its part, Sime Darby Plantation and PT Minamas would bring to the table, more than 100 years of expertise in best agricultural practices backed by cutting edge R&D capabilities, experience in establishing responsible and successful outgrowers' schemes and experience in the management of land, on both peat and non-peat soil.
Sime Darby Plantation has studied two other areas, one where the company is managing an area cultivated on peat land by local communities under the plasma, or outgrowers' scheme, and another where it had acquired a plantation established on peat soil.
In the first area in Jambi, South Sumatra, local farmers, under the plasma scheme, plant oil palm but are exposed to and educated in the company's best agricultural policies.
In the other area in Lavang, Sarawak, Malaysia, Sime Darby Plantation manages a small estate in which no fires have been recorded since the inception of planting in the mid 1990s as a result of efficient water table management, encouraging beneficial vegetation to protect the soil and strict adherence to the company's policies.
“Out in Riau, our officials and fire fighting teams are already assisting the local authorities and communities to spot and put out fires,” Dass said.
“However, for the longer term, sustainable solutions that do not undermine the rights of local communities and traditional farming methods need to be found. For this to be effective, we need multi-stakeholder discussions.”
In 2008, Sime Darby Plantation implemented a strict policy prohibiting the clearing of peat areas. Existing areas that were cleared before the implementation of policy are carefully managed to ensure that there is minimal environmental impact.
Fires started by locals within concession areas, says Sime Darby
The Star 30 Jun 13;
KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Plantation has confirmed that five hotspots were detected from June 11 to 19 in concession areas of PT Bhumireksa Nusa Sejati, a company owned by PT Minamas Gemilang, in Riau province, Sumatra.
However, it said based on satellite data and on-the-ground assessment, the fires were not in areas planted by the company.
“Local communities in these areas plant a variety of cash crops such as corn and sugar cane.
“Under current regulations and conventions dealing with local communities and the preservation of traditional farming methods, concession holders are unable to control or influence the practices and activities of these communities,” Sime Darby Plantation managing director Datuk Franki Anthony Dass said.
PT Minamas is a subsidiary of Sime Darby Plantation and is one of the largest players in the Indonesian plantation industry.
Dass said officials and fire-fighting teams were already assisting local authorities and communities to spot and put out the fires.
He said PT Minamas had conducted awareness programmes with local communities on the negative impact of slash-and-burn activities in peat areas and would intensify these together with other plantation companies and local authorities.
“However, for the longer term, sustainable solutions that do not undermine the rights of local communities and traditional farming methods need to be found. For this to be effective, we need multi-stakeholder discussions,’’ he added.
Dass said PT Minamas had called on all other stakeholders to enter constructive dialogue to find a sustainable solution to address the haze issue proactively.
“It is time for all stakeholders to work together to find a way to address what has become an annual affair and the tremendous toll it takes on the environment and the health of the affected communities on both sides of the Straits of Malacca,’’ he added.
He said local communities, civil society groups, academics and other companies operating in the affected areas should offer technical assistance and support to the Indonesian Government to address the root causes of the problem, but added that these solutions should not undermine the rights of local communities and traditional farming methods.
Dass said 20 of the company’s mills under PT Minamas were certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) as businesses that observed high agricultural standards.
Sime Darby Plantation, the world’s largest producer of certified sustainable palm oil, has maintained a zero-burning policy since 1985.
'Work together to tackle haze problem'
New Straits Times 28 Jun 13;
KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Plantation has urged all stakeholders to enter into constructive dialogue to find a solution to the haze problem from fires in Riau, Sumatra, Indonesia.
Its managing director, Datuk Franki Anthony Dass, said: "It is time for all stakeholders to work together to find a way to address what has become an annual problem."
PT Minamas, a subsidiary of Sime Darby Plantation, is one of the largest palm oil players in Indonesia, with operations in Riau.
"On our part, PT Minamas will be happy to assist and participate in any constructive discussion on the matter. Local communities, civil society groups, academicians and other companies operating in the affected areas should offer their technical assistance and support to address the root causes of the problem."
He said among the issues needed to be addressed were:
THE responsibilities of different stakeholders;
HOW various stakeholder groups could work together to prevent future occurrences;
LEGAL issues pertaining to land use and occupation; and,
BEST agricultural management practices.
Fires in Riau had resulted in haze engulfing Singapore, parts of Malaysia and southern Thailand.
Between June 11 and 19, five hot spots were detected in the concession area of PT Bhumireksa Nusa Sejati (PT BNS), a company owned by PT Minamas.
Satellite data examination and ground assessment teams had established that the fires were not in the company's plantations.
Local communities in these areas plant a variety of cash crops, such as corn and sugar cane. Under the current regulations and conventions, concession holders are unable to control or influence the practices and activities of these communities.
"PT Minamas has conducted awareness programmes on the negative impact of slash and burn activities by local communities in peat areas. It intends to intensify such programmes together with other companies and the local authorities."
He said company officials and fire fighting teams in Riau were assisting the local authorities to spot and put out fires.
Read more: 'Work together to tackle haze problem' - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/work-together-to-tackle-haze-problem-1.309859#ixzz2XYoibwv7
Sustainable Palm Oil Project in Kalimantan
Jakarta Globe 28 Jun 13;
An international climate change think tank has teamed up with an Indonesian university to continue sustainable palm oil projects in Central Kalimantan.
The focus of the initiative will be on evidence-based reporting in order to quantify the success of sustainable palm oil projects.
In a statement released on Friday, the Climate Policy Initiative and the University of Palangka Raya announced the analytical program, which will support the “production and protection program” through an initial three-year, $1.6 million grant from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.
Earlier this year palm oil planters denounced a two-year, forest-clearing moratorium, extended in May, saying it had throttled palm oil production and urged the government against its extension.
The moratorium, which went into force in May 2011, was imposed as part of a deal with the Norwegian government in which Norway would provide $1 billion to Indonesia for programs to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD).
This new initiative builds on the work of Central Kalimantan’s action plan for green house gases, the REDD strategy, the province’s ground-breaking regulations on sustainable palm oil, and the governor’s own policies.
“CPI and UNPAR will use the funds in partnership with local stakeholders to support the government of Central Kalimantan’s vision for strong green growth underpinned by a high-yield, low environmental-impact oil palm sector,” the think tank’s statement said.
Yusurum Jagau, the dean of UNPAR’s School of Agriculture, said the university hoped to “develop a model for achieving Central Kalimantan’s goals of strong economic growth for businesses and communities, while protecting valuable natural resources, that can be used for a model for other regions in Indonesia.”
“We look forward to working with CPI to provide robust analysis that will support Central Kalimantan’s Green Growth Strategy, increase output of its most important agricultural product, palm oil, relocate palm oil production onto suitable low-carbon lands, and maintain critical natural resources necessary for future economic development,” he said.
Under the initiative, research will be conducted locally by teams at a new Center of Excellence, based in the agriculture school, in close consultation with communities, businesses and government decision makers, to identify options that increase agricultural productivity, expand the use of degraded lands, and protect high conservation value areas.
“The right policies and programs are essential to drive investment in ways that optimize Indonesia’s natural resources and underpin long-term growth and prosperity,” said Thomas C. Heller, the CPI executive director.
“The governor of Central Kalimantan has created a working group consisting of government, business, academia, and civil society representatives who will advise the local government on policy to achieve green growth with palm oil,” it said.
Kadin asks research, technology ministry to study Riau`s haze
Antara 28 Jun 13;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has asked the Ministry of Research and Technology to study land fires producing haze in eight districts in Riau.
"Riau is a province which has peat lands. Its topographic characters show that the thickness of its peat land can reach tens of meters which enable the ember to stay dormant underneath," Muhammad Herwan, executive director of Kadin for Riau, said here on Friday.
He said that this condition enabled the ember of land and forest fires in previous years to stay and could not be put out at the bottom of the peat land.
Muhammad said artificial rain made to extinguish the fires could only put out fires on the land surface. But the source of fire under the surface some tens of meters of peat land is still there which could easily come to the surface during the dry season.
"There are no deliberate efforts to burn lands, particularly domestic and foreign investors. The fire came to the surface due to hot weather and was ignited by strong winds, just like fires that burn chaff," he said.
He said that this should be study closely by the ministry of research and technology and the palm oil plantations to prove this analysis.
"If it is true, technology that could prevent it or overcome it should be found so that the ember that often stay could really be fought in the bud and forest fires would no longer recur when the dry season takes place," the Kadin official said.
Riau Deputy Governor HR Mambang Mit said last week that about 3,700 hectares of land in Riau Province had been burnt. The worst fires took place in three districts sharing direct borders with Singapore and Malaysia.
"The worst land fires took place in the districts of Rokan Hilir, Kota Dumai and Bengkalis," the deputy governor said.
In efforts to put out forest fires in Riau Province, the government has set a total of Rp100 billion to be allocated for making rain, procuring materials and providing planes to conduct water bombing.
"The government would lease planes from Korea and Russia that are able to carry 4,000 to 5,000 liters of water for water bombing operations," Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said after a coordination meeting to discuss the problem here on Thursday.
In the meantime, Minister Agung Laksono said that whoever was proven involved in oil palm land fires in Raiu Province would be taken to court and punished.
"Guilty companies, regardless of whether their owners come from Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore, will be acted upon and taken to court," Agung Laksono said on Thursday.
He said that if they were proven to have burned forests, the companies and their owners were to be acted upon. The companies could have their permits revoked and their owners were charged with crime. The punishment would be meted out by the court based facts found in the fields.
Agung said that now investigation in the field was still going on. Police were also still working hard to investigate the problem based on the request of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"I heard this morning that the team in the field had found several pieces of evidence and data such as burning tools in the locations. They will all become evidence in the court. But I could not yet reveal details about it," the coordinating minister said.
Therefore, he could not yet explain the kind of violations that had been taking place in the field. However, if fires were found on lands which would be transformed into palm oil plantations there must be parties who should be responsible.(*)
Editor: Heru
Science Daily 28 Jun 13;
June 28, 2013 — To prevent coral reefs around the world from dying off, deep cuts in carbon dioxide emissions are required, says a new study from Carnegie's Katharine Ricke and Ken Caldeira. They find that all existing coral reefs will be engulfed in inhospitable ocean chemistry conditions by the end of the century if civilization continues along its current emissions trajectory.
Their work will be published July 3 by Environmental Research Letters.
Coral reefs are havens for marine biodiversity and underpin the economies of many coastal communities. But they are very sensitive to changes in ocean chemistry resulting from greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to coastal pollution, warming waters, overdevelopment, and overfishing.
Ricke and Caldeira, along with colleagues from Institut Pierre Simon Laplace and Stanford University, focused on the acidification of open ocean water surrounding coral reefs and how it affects a reef's ability to survive.
Coral reefs use a mineral called aragonite to make their skeletons. It is a naturally occurring form of calcium carbonate, CaCO3. When carbon dioxide, CO2, from the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean, it forms carbonic acid (the same thing that makes soda fizz), making the ocean more acidic and decreasing the ocean's pH. This increase in acidity makes it more difficult for many marine organisms to grow their shells and skeletons, and threatens coral reefs the world over.
Using results from simulations conducted using an ensemble of sophisticated models, Ricke, Caldeira, and their co-authors calculated ocean chemical conditions that would occur under different future scenarios and determined whether these chemical conditions could sustain coral reef growth.
Ricke said: "Our results show that if we continue on our current emissions path, by the end of the century there will be no water left in the ocean with the chemical properties that have supported coral reef growth in the past. We can't say with 100% certainty that all shallow-water coral reefs will die, but it is a pretty good bet."
Deep cuts in emissions are necessary in order to save even a fraction of existing reefs, according to the team's results. Chemical conditions that can support coral reef growth can be sustained only with very aggressive cuts in carbon dioxide emissions.
"To save coral reefs, we need to transform our energy system into one that does not use the atmosphere and oceans as waste dumps for carbon dioxide pollution. The decisions we make in the next years and decades are likely to determine whether or not coral reefs survive the rest of this century," Caldeira said.
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