Best of our wild blogs: 8 Jul 13


Latest Green Jobs in Singapore [1 - 7 Jul 2013]
from Green Business Times

Sneak peek at the Festival of Biodiversity!
wild shores of singapore and More mascots for the Festival of Biodiversity!

Auntie Oscar’s Field Experience Tips for Chek Jawa Coastal Cleanups – perfected over a decade of TLC Part 2 from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore

Life History of the Chequered Lancer
from Butterflies of Singapore

Collared Kingfisher: Food for the young
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Failed nesting of grey-rumped treeswifts
from Life's Indulgences

Oriental River Prawn
from Monday Morgue


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Bringing Bt Brown's history to life for the young

Efforts by volunteers, educators help students appreciate historical site
Amelia Teng Straits Times 8 Jul 13;

ONCE upon a time, it was only heritage and nature buffs who visited. But in recent years, Bukit Brown cemetery has been attracting a younger crowd.

The historical site popped up on the public radar after plans to build a highway cutting through it were announced in 2011.

Since then, more than 20 secondary schools, junior colleges and polytechnics have organised trips for students, guided by tomb explorer Raymond Goh and other volunteers.

In March, 450 Raffles Girls' School students visited the cemetery. "We wanted them to experience Bukit Brown, rather than hear and read about it," said teacher Regina Lee, 46.

Student Angelia Lau, 16, who was there for the first time, said: "The number of enthusiasts in Singapore who would go out of their way to educate others about what they are passionate about heartens me."

Temasek Junior College took 54 young people to the cemetery in May. Vice-principal Samuell Ang said the tour was an opportunity for students to "see the connections between issues discussed in lessons and the on-going preservation efforts of Bukit Brown".

In language arts and humanities classes, students learn about the effects of urbanisation on the environment through literary texts. After the tour, they are encouraged to write poems about history and memories.

"The learning journey really taught me how to appreciate our culture and roots as I never knew there was so much significance behind every tombstone," said student Caleb Chia, 16.

The cemetery has also attracted people from outside Singapore. Last month, Mr Goh gave a tour to 30 students who were here for a three-week summer programme at the Future Cities Laboratory, which researches urban planning.

Among them was 30-year-old Tomas Janusas, an architecture and city planning graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, who is doing his master's in the same subject in September. "It is one of the most emotionally, spiritually and historically charged places in Singapore I have visited so far," he said.

Some students have chosen to "document" the cemetery through projects.

For instance, Mr Goh was one of the interviewees in an 18-minute documentary produced last year by three former Nanyang Technological University students from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information - Mr Pedro Shiu, Ms Janie Chee and Ms Siti Nurbaya Rameh.

Mr Goh, 49, a regional director of a health-care company, has been conducting tours at the cemetery for the public since 2007.

He said he is glad younger people are showing an interest in the site. "It is where they learn things in an authentic setting, things that history textbooks don't say."

Schools interested in arranging tours can e-mail a.t.bukitbrown@gmail.com


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Why PM2.5 matters when measuring air pollution

Grace Chua Straits Times 8 Jul 13;

EVEN after the dust from this year's great haze settles, a more insidious matter will remain: the issue of fine particles.

Whether in hazy periods or in normal times, one of the main culprits driving Singapore's air quality down is fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in size, or PM2.5 for short.

In a haze episode, the PM2.5 lingering in Singapore's air comes from burning plant matter; in non-haze periods, it is from diesel engines and industry. PM2.5, more than larger particles, can have long-term health effects.

When Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said last month that Sars is infectious but haze is not, and so Sars can kill while haze will not, he was right - mostly. These fine particles are not some virus passed from one person to the next, causing them to fall very ill.

But that does not mean they have no effect on your health. PM2.5 is fine enough to enter the bloodstream, and being exposed to PM2.5 increases the risk of death in general and from heart and lung illnesses - and for every 10-microgram increase in annual PM2.5 concentrations, the added risk of dying from overall causes, cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer goes up 4 per cent, 6 per cent and 8 per cent respectively over a 16-year period.

Newer studies suggest that fine and very fine particles can also reach the brain. The cognitive performance in people exposed to such particles is lower than in those less exposed. The smaller particles may also increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Worse, they can be a vehicle for other toxic substances, ferrying these into the bloodstream and across the protective blood- brain barrier into the brain.

But PM2.5 doesn't directly infect people like the Sars virus. Instead, your experience will vary depending on who you are and how long you were exposed.

Most studies and health advisories are based on annual PM2.5, a measure of long-term exposure; the World Health Organisation's short-term PM2.5 guidelines are based on studies of short-term PM10 exposure.

The most vulnerable include young children whose bodies are still developing; the elderly; pregnant women; and those with chronic heart and lung diseases.

Singapore should pay close attention to fine particulate matter - its air quality on this front could be much better. Since 2002, the annual PM2.5 has ranged from 16 to 23 micrograms per cubic metre - double its long-range targets. In non-haze years since 2005, the 24-hour PM2.5 has been 30 to 42 micrograms per cubic metre. In contrast, the annual level in Australia's Sydney is seven micrograms per cubic metre, and in Los Angeles, US, it is 14.8.

Some of these fine particles are emitted by vehicles or industry, others are formed by chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

To its credit, Singapore has tightened its vehicle emissions standards. By 2014, new diesel vehicles must meet the Euro V diesel standards, which will have particulate matter emissions standards of a maximum 0.005 g per km.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has stepped up its booking of smoky vehicles, even installing video cameras in some of the vans to catch them in the act. And off-road diesel engines used in construction must also meet emissions standards.

Will this cost more? It depends. There are some 38,000 old diesel commercial vehicles on the roads, belching smoke. Any incentive scheme to switch to the new Euro standard would conflict directly with a different measure announced in this year's Budget, which allows commercial vehicle owners to extend their COEs for five years to manage rising costs.

But SMRT, for instance, upgraded some of its buses to Euro V five years ago, while SMRT and ComfortDelGro cab companies have also made the upgrade. So consumers may already have accepted these direct costs.

In any case, residents will have to decide what price they are willing to pay for cleaner air - if commercial vehicle owners use the best available technology, this will be a one-off cost for at least some years.

Should the country go further, imposing more stringent guidelines or publishing more data? It depends on what's practical and for whom. The World Health Organisation says that as each person's exposure and experience may vary, each country should do what it needs to achieve the lowest PM2.5 concentration it can.

Even the United States doesn't always meet its own standards. An American Heart Association review found that "at the end of 2008, 211 US counties (or portions of counties) were in non-attainment of the 2006 daily PM2.5 national ambient air quality standards". More stringent guidelines, then, would be useless if they were not achieved.

However, PM2.5 and its hazards could be better communicated. While the Pollutant Standards Index does include PM2.5 as a subset of PM10, or all particles smaller than 10 microns in size, the fraction of PM2.5 within PM10 may vary. Two PM10 readings may both be "100 micrograms per cubic metre" and produce the same PSI value. But one may be 90 per cent PM2.5, while the other 20 per cent PM2.5 - with very different health effects.

During the haze, NEA put out the 24-hour average PM2.5 readings in micrograms per cubic metre every hour. Last year, it began giving the 24-hour PM2.5 readings thrice a day. Previously, it gave just the annual average.

During the worst of the haze last month, there were calls for the PSI to be changed to include PM2.5, but the PSI can't be changed to do this in the middle of a crisis. It would be too confusing. Instead, the NEA added more information on PM 2.5, and issued its health advisories based on the more unhealthy of the 24-hour PM2.5 reading and PSI values.

In future, it should go further and either colour-code the PM2.5 reading, or convert it into an individual PSI value, using the same sort of charts used for other pollutants. In the long term, researchers are keen to work with the NEA to study in more detail how particulate matter is formed and dispersed in Singapore's tropical urban context, and where it goes.

The bottom line? PM2.5 matters - even after the haze is over.


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NUS conducts study on permeable road surface

Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 7 Jul 13;

SINGAPORE: Porous surfaces could be another means of controlling flash flooding in Singapore.

For instance, concrete slabs with hole in neighbourhood carparks is among the many methods adopted by urbanised countries like Singapore to mitigate flooding after heavy rains. The little grass patches in them absorb rainwater.

Channel NewsAsia understood the National University of Singapore has been studying the concept of permeable surfaces for minor roads and pavements in a bid to slow down the flow of water into drains after heavy rainfall.

When it rains, the water will be absorbed through a layer of porous concrete and flow through a layer of gravel to store water temporarily.

The gravel has about 30 to 40 per cent space in between to store water.

An overflow channel will drain water from the gravel layer during heavy storms or long periods of rain.

Below the gravel, a layer of geotextiles, or permeable fabrics, filters the water further into the ground.

Weep holes are present throughout the subsoil layer for water to seep through to the drains.

This whole process could result in holding up to a few hours of rainfall and take up to 24 hours to slowly seep into the ground.

However, an engineering expert said challenges could still exist.

Associate Professor Tan Soon Keat, deputy executive director at Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institution, elaborated: "Maintenance will be an issue. If water can go through, it also means debris will be trapped between the pebbles. This type of practice coupled with proper design of base layer, can be used in pedestrian walkways or perhaps pathways in parks, or pedestrian malls."

Prof Tan said such porous surfaces would be most feasible in areas that don't carry heavy loads such as trucks and cars.

The national water agency PUB recently imposed stricter flood prevention requirements on new developments.

From June this year, developers will need to implement on-site measures to slow down the flow of stormwater into public drains.

This rule will apply to new projects that are of size 0.2 hectares or more.

Green roof is one of such on-site measures designed to control stormwater runoff.

Made up of plants and green spaces, these popular features on top of commercial and residential developments serve two functions - treating water for it to be reused and slowing the release of water into drains after a heavy downpour.

Experts said it makes sense for developments to play their part.

Chong Kee Sen, vice president of The Institution of Engineers in Singapore, said: "In Singapore, what we experience is short duration, high intensity rainfall. We are designed for that situation that happens once in every 10 years. It would be relatively costly for us to have storm drainage for public drains to be sized to cater to such situations. In land scarce Singapore, this may not be a viable solution.

"What could be a good solution in this case, where each small little development plays their part in reducing the maximum rainfall into the drainage system, thereby preventing a flood situation and at the same time, reducing the cost in terms of construction of public drains."

- CNA/fa

A flood prevention idea ... using porous road surfaces
Monica Kotwani Today Online 8 Jul 13;

SINGAPORE — The National University of Singapore is studying the idea of using permeable surfaces for minor roads and pavements, which could help prevent floods by slowing down the flow of water into drains after heavy rainfall.

These surfaces would allow water to be absorbed into a layer of porous concrete and flow through a layer of gravel, to be stored temporarily.

About 30 to 40 per cent of the space in between the gravel is used to store the water, which will then flow through a layer of geotextiles, or permeable fabrics, before it exits through small openings into the drain.

The whole process could hold up to a few hours of rainfall.

However, an engineering expert said challenges still exist.

Associate Professor Tan Soon Keat, Deputy Executive Director at Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, said: “Maintenance will be an issue. If water can go through, it also means debris will be trapped between the pebbles.

“This ... practice, coupled with proper design of the base layer, can be used in pedestrian walkways or perhaps pathways in parks, or pedestrian malls.”

Assoc Prof Tan added that such porous surfaces would be most feasible in areas that do not carry heavy loads such as trucks and cars.

National water agency PUB recently imposed stricter flood prevention requirements on new developments.

From last month, developers are required to implement on-site measures to slow down the flow of stormwater into public drains. This rule will apply to new projects with land sizes of 0.2 hectares and above.

A green roof is one such on-site measure. Made up of plants and green spaces, these popular features on top of commercial and residential developments serve two functions — treating water for it to be reused and slowing the release of water into drains after a heavy downpour.

Experts said it makes sense for developers to play their part.

Mr Chong Kee Sen, Vice-President of the Institution of Engineers Singapore, said: “What we experience is short-duration, high-intensity rainfall. It would be relatively costly for us to have public drains to be sized to cater to such situations. In land-scarce Singapore, this may not be a viable solution.

“What could be a good solution will be for each developer to play its part (in slowing the release of water into drains), thereby preventing a flood and, at the same time, reducing the cost of the construction of public drains.”


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Indonesia: Sumatran Tigers Kill One, Trap Five Others in Aceh National Park

Nurdin Hasan Jakarta Globe 7 Jul 13;

Banda Aceh. Search and rescue crews began the long trek into the depths of the Gunung Leuser National Park on Saturday to rescue five men who spent the last three days trapped in a tree after Sumatran tigers killed and ate a sixth member of their party, police said.

A 30-member team entered the 7,927 square-kilometer national park on Saturday after villagers’ attempts to rescue the men were thwarted by the site of four Sumatran tigers near the base of the tree, Aceh Tamiang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Dicky Sondani said on Sunday.

“It might need two or three days to walk on foot to the depths of Leuser jungle,” Dicky said. “If the tigers are still under the tree, we will have to shoot and anesthetize them so that we can rescue the five [men].”

The men, all residents of Simpang Kiri village in Aceh Tamiang district, entered the dense national forest in search of the agarwood — known locally as gaharu — a rare and extremely expensive type of heartwood used in the production of aromatic oils and incense. Resin-infused agarwood is the result of a mold that infects the alim tree (aquilaria malaccensis), an endangered tropical evergreen found in the jungles of Southeast Asia.

A kilogram of agarwood can fetch some Rp 5 million ($505), Dicky said, but the jungles of the Gunung Leuser National Park house dangerous tigers and elephants. The police recently had to rescue another group of men trapped in the park, he said.

“It’s worse this time because there are tigers waiting for the villagers,” Dicky said. “People keep entering the jungle to look for alim wood because it’s very expensive; up to Rp 5 million ($505) per kilogram. But, well, that’s the risk; there are many tigers and elephants in Gunung Leuser’s jungle.”

The men were attacked by tigers on Thursday after they caught and killed a tiger cub in a snare meant to catch a deer, police said. Nearby tigers drawn to the scene of the injured cub and pounced on the men, killing and eating 28-year-old David as the five others climbed a tree to safety.

The residents of Simpang Kiri village entered the national park after the men called for help on their cell phones. But as the villagers neared the tree, the site of four large tigers and David’s partially eaten remains kept the rescue party at bay.

They have remained in the tree for three days.

Tiger attacks have become increasingly common in Sumatra, where palm oil and pulp plantations have destroyed much of the rainforest, shrinking animal habitats and putting the endangered tigers in contact with local residents. More than a hundred Sumatran tigers are believed to roam the grounds of the Gunung Leuser National Park, according to reports.

Aceh Loggers Saved After Five-Day Standoff With Pack of Tigers
Nurdin Hasan Jakarta Globe 9 Jul 13;

Banda Aceh. Five men were rescued from a tree in the depths of Sumatra’s Gunung Leuser National Park on Monday, ending a five-day standoff with seven Sumatran tigers who had been circling the tree’s base, prepared to pounce.

Deliverance came when courageous tiger tamers shooed the carnivorous cats away.

The men, loggers from the village of Simpang Kiri in the Aceh Tamiang district, had occupied the tree since last Thursday.

A sixth member of the logging party identified as David, 28, failed to climb a tree. The tigers mauled and ate him.

The confrontation began when a snare set by the loggers to catch deer instead trapped a tiger cub, killing it.

The five remaining loggers took refuge in a tree and contacted relatives via cell phone; however, a rescue party sent from their village was deterred by the sight of four tigers waiting at the tree’s base. After requesting help from police, a 30-member team of police officers and Army soldiers was dispatched on Saturday.

“I just got a report several minutes ago from the team on location that [the five men] have been rescued after tiger tamers lured the tigers away, deeper into the jungle,” Aceh Tamiang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Dicky Sondani told the Jakarta Globe on Monday afternoon, adding that the team and the five villagers were expected to arrive in Simpang Kiri on late Monday evening.

“The rescue team will also evacuate what’s left of the victim eaten by tigers, and hand the remains over to his family.”

Dicky said the rescue team had planned to use guns to anesthetize the tigers if they could not get the animals to leave, but decided against it, as they were afraid the protected animals would be injured or even killed.

There was also a worry that other tigers in the area could begin attacking villages in retaliation.

The team attempted to shoot firecrackers to scare the tigers away, but it drew the animals toward them instead, searching for the source of the sound.

After consulting with villagers, the team decided to hire the help of tiger tamers. By this time, the pack of tigers waiting at the tree’s base had grown from four to seven.

The tamers arrived on location on Monday and managed to induce the tigers away with “special chants,” Dicky said.

The police chief declined to offer any details of the chants used.

The men were in very weak condition, Dicky said, because they did not have anything to eat or drink for the past five days.

According to the tiger tamers, the tree in which the loggers sought refuge was located near a cave inhabited by a tiger pack.

“The area is in fact called Tiger Hill because it is inhabited by many of the protected animals,” Dicky said.

He blamed the six villagers for entering the protected area to search for a rare and extremely expensive type of heartwood referred to by locals as “alim wood.”

“Those alim wood hunters appeared to have entered a tiger’s den. It’s their own fault: entering a protected forest because they have been tempted with expensive alim wood.”

Dicky said police would not charge the five loggers.

He said the incident would hopefully serve as a lesson for other villagers planning to enter the forest.

“We’re calling on villagers not to enter the protected forests of the Gunung Lesuer National Park because it is very dangerous.”


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