Reconnecting children with Nature- TedxYouth Singapore
from My Nature Experiences
Butterflies Galore! : Common Snow Flat
from Butterflies of Singapore
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Best of our wild blogs: 31 Jan 14
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Shark fin demand down in Singapore amid extinction threat
Melissa Chong Channel NewsAsia 30 Jan 14;
SNGAPORE: The demand for shark fin soup has been declining in recent years, according to restaurants, hotels and suppliers in Singapore.
But observers say that sharks could still face extinction in the next 10 years, and traders have already begun stockpiling fins.
To the Chinese, serving shark fins is a sign of prestige and wealth.
Once a rare delicacy only affordable to the elite, rising affluence among Chinese communities has placed shark fins within reach for hundreds of millions across Asia.
The dish's popularity has led to global shark populations falling by up to 98 per cent in the last 15 years, with many species hunted close to extinction.
“Currently, all our shark fins… are a bit smaller. The larger ones are also very hard to find,” said Tam Su Yi, sales manager at Tam Kah Shark’s Fin Trading, one of Singapore’s largest shark fin suppliers.
“Because of government regulations in other countries, they (shark catchers)… stop. If it is too big, then they don't want to capture it."
Jonn Lu, director of Shark Savers Asia Pacific, said: “A lot of case studies have told us from around the world that when sharks disappear, it's not just sharks but also a lot of other marine species. The loss of marine biodiversity, fish biomass is a big problem in the ocean.
“When sharks stop playing a role as top predators within the system, then we see a tropic cascade, and that's something scientists refer to as the ‘cascading effect of top predator loss.’
“In many places around the world where sharks used to thrive, we've seen declines of anywhere from 80-100 per cent. There used to be a lot of Singaporean sharks, and Malaysian sharks and Thai sharks. And now in a couple of decades, they're just completely wiped out."
Sharks play a key role in the marine ecosystem as the top predator, keeping other species in check. Reducing their numbers drastically can throw the marine environment out of balance.
But there are signs that shark fins are fast losing popularity.
In October 2011, Cold Storage removed shark fins and other shark products from all its outlets nationwide. A few months later in January 2012, NTUC Fairprice followed suit.
By 2013, 11 hotels have removed shark fin soup from their banquet menus. The latest to join the movement is Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, which made an announcement in May 2013. The other hotels include Shangri-La, Swissotel The Stamford, The Westin and The Fullerton.
More hotels around the world are expected to join their ranks, but the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says it is not yet ready to make a public announcement. The WWF hopes to get five new hotels or restaurants to join in the movement every year.
Official data in Singapore from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), also shows that consumption levels are falling steadily.
Restaurants still serving shark fin say their orders are smaller this year as more corporate diners and wedding couples opt for other delicacies like abalone and fish maw soup instead.
“We see a tremendous drop in corporate or MNC companies who are entertaining their clients or staff during the Chinese New Year period; they prefer menus without shark fin,” said Patrick Ng, manager at Man Fu Yuan.
“We will definitely need to find a substitute ingredient which is similar in pricing or higher in pricing, to substitute the shark fin. Easily… 50 per cent or even more people would opt without sharks fin."
But suppliers say demand is still strong from restaurants.
Mr Tam said: “Even though the hotel sales decrease, the restaurants have increased… significantly. They order in very large quantities. Our factory is having difficulty pushing out our stocks as well --a few hundred kilogrammes per hotel."
Conservationists say traders have revealed in undercover interviews that they believe only 10 years are left to save the sharks before they go extinct.
Singapore remains the second highest consumer of shark fins per capita and this Lunar New Year, a new campaign is being launched to change this.
The largest celebrity-led campaign in the region aims to save sharks before it is too late and Singaporean stars are also joining hands in this single cause.
The "Nian Nian You Yu" campaign started on social media in 2012, but this marks the first year the campaign is going on mainstream media. In a few weeks, the public messages will air on MioTV, National Geographic and possibly on MediaCorp's free-to-air channels.
WWF also says it plans to organise the first-ever Sustainable Seafood Festival in 2014, to raise awareness about the pressing need to protect sharks and other marine life that is vulnerable to overfishing and unsustainable trade.
After years of lobbying, the Hong Kong government made the decision in September last year to ban shark fin soup at all state banquets. A year before, China made a similar announcement. WWF says it wants to see the Singapore government take the same proactive step to declare that Singapore too, is finished with fins.
In May 2013, Singapore registered a negative vote during an international discussion in Bangkok to add new species of sharks to a protection list.
Currently, only the basking shark, whale shark and great white shark are protected under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). But the extended list received majority votes from 178 member countries.
From 14 September 2014, new species of sharks will be protected under CITES -- the Oceanic White-tip Shark, three species of Hammerhead sharks and the Porbeagle shark.
This means that the import and export of these sharks will require permits by authorities from CITES. The AVA says that traders which circumvent this law will be fined up to S$50,000 and jailed for up to two years.
- CNA/ec
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UN Security Council targets poaching and wildlife trade with DRC sanctions
WWF 30 Jan 14;
The UN Security Council votes to target illicit wildlife trade in a resolution on the Central African Republic. © UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras30 January 2014 – The United Nations Security Council took a critical step today in tackling elephant poaching and illicit ivory trade by addressing the link between instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo and wildlife trafficking.
In renewing the DRC sanctions regime, the resolution targets individuals and entities illegally supporting armed groups through the illicit trade of natural resources, including wildlife and wildlife products, such as elephant ivory.
Over 20,000 elephants are killed each year for their ivory tusks, with much of the killing occurring in conflict zones in Central Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.
"Individuals involved in poaching and trafficking of wildlife are now singled out for sanctions where the proceeds of their activities have been used to finance conflict," said Wendy Elliott, species programme manager at WWF.
"This is a huge step forward for reducing human suffering, improving peace and security and strengthening wildlife conservation."
On Tuesday, the council further underscored the link between wildlife crime and conflict through the adoption of a separate sanctions regime for the Central African Republic. That resolution also targets individuals involved in the illicit exploitation of wildlife and wildlife products.
"The DRC and CAR resolutions are critical. They illustrate the high priority that the Security Council places on ending the human pain and regional instability that accompany these environmental crimes," said Elliott.
With mounting evidence that the proceeds of wildlife poaching and trafficking are being used to finance armed groups, the resolutions on DRC and CAR designate wildlife trade as a factor to be considered when targeting future sanctions.
The resolutions come in advance of other global efforts to end illicit wildlife trafficking, including a high-level meeting to be hosted by the British government in February.
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Best of our wild blogs: 30 Jan 14
The Tropical Marine Science Institute – a starting point that may soon be coming to an end? from Nature rambles
Two collisions with oil spills near Southern Islands in Jan 2014
from wild shores of singapore
Singapore Green Landscape 2014
from Green Future Solutions
Butterflies Galore! : Large Snow Flat
from Butterflies of Singapore
Little Egret Defaecation
from Bird Ecology Study Group
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Container ship and barge collide, no injuries reported
Channel NewsAsia 30 Jan 14;
SINGAPORE: A Panama-flagged container ship, NYK Themis, has collided into a barge AZ Fuzhou, at East Keppel Fairway at about 4km south of Marina South.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said it was informed at about 4am on Thursday.
Prior to the incident, MPA's Port Operations Control Centre had informed NYK Themis of the presence of AZ Fuzhou in the fairway.
NYK Themis said one of its bunker tanks sustained damage, resulting in some spillage of bunker fuel.
MPA said it dispatched four of its craft to deal with the spill. Oil spill response companies were also activated to support the clean up efforts.
The two vessels involved in the collision are currently safely anchored and in stable condition.
MPA said no injuries were reported, and port operations remain unaffected. It is investigating the cause of the collision.
- CNA/ac
Two vessels collide near Jurong Island
Channel NewsAsia 29 Jan 14;
SINGAPORE: A Hong Kong-flagged chemical tanker, Lime Galaxy, has collided with China-flagged container ship, Feihe, at about 2.7 kilometres south of Jurong Island.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it was informed about the incident at about 6.30pm on Wednesday.
One of Feihe's bunker tanks sustained damage, resulting in some spillage of bunker fuel.
MPA said it dispatched three patrol craft to deal with the spill.
It added that the two vessels involved in the collision are currently safely anchored.
No injuries were reported and MPA said traffic in the port and the Strait of Singapore remains unaffected.
MPA is investigating the cause of the collision.
- CNA/ms
Oil spillage contained after vessel collision near Jurong Island
Channel NewsAsia 30 Jan 14;
SINGAPORE: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said good progress has been made in containing and cleaning up the oil spillage resulting from Wednesday's collision between Hong Kong-flagged chemical tanker Lime Galaxy and the China-flagged container ship Feihe at about 2.7km south of Jurong Island.
It said there has been no further spillage of bunker fuel from Feihe.
However as a precautionary measure, oil booms and an oil spill response craft have been deployed around the vessel.
In total, 10 craft from MPA and oil spill response companies have been deployed as part of the containment and clean up efforts.
- CNA/ac
"Good progress" made in containing oil spillage after recent collisions
Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 30 Jan 14;
SINGAPORE: Two incidents of ship collisions within 24 hours have resulted in oil spills around Singapore waters, but the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said "good progress" has been made in coordinating containment and clean-up efforts.
The first incident occurred on Wednesday evening, between a Hong Kong-flagged chemical tanker and a China-flagged container ship.
Lime Galaxy collided with Feihe about 2.7 kilometres south of Jurong Island at 6.30pm on Wednesday.
The Chinese vessel sustained damage to a bunker tank, resulting in some spillage of its bunker fuel. MPA said there has been no further spillage of bunker fuel from Feihe.
Another oil spill occurred early Thursday morning when Panama-flagged container ship NYK Themis collided into a barge, AZ Fuzhou, at the East Keppel Fairway, about 4 kilometres away from Marina South.
MPA said it was informed of the collision at about 4am on Thursday.
The NYK Themis said one of its bunker tanks was damaged, resulting in some spillage of bunker fuel.
MPA said it has deployed 20 craft and sent oil spill response companies to deal with the spill.
Containment booms were used to contain and prevent oil patches from hitting the coastlines.
MPA has advised the public not to be alarmed if patches of oil are spotted around the Southern Islands.
Meanwhile, the four vessels involved in the collisions have been safely anchored.
No injuries have been reported.
- CNA/ms
Collision between Lime Galaxy and Feihe
MPA 29 Jan 14
On 29 January 2014, at about 1830hrs (Singapore Time), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) received a report that the departing Hong Kong-flagged chemical tanker, "Lime Galaxy" had collided with the arriving China-flagged containership, "Feihe" at about 2.7 km, south of Jurong Island.
Feihe reported that one of her bunker tanks sustained damage, resulting in some spillage of bunker fuel. Upon notification, MPA immediately dispatched three patrol craft to deal with the spill. Oil spill response companies were also activated to support the clean up efforts.
The two vessels involved in the collision are currently safely anchored and in stable condition. MPA has issued navigational broadcasts to ships to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site. There is no report of injury, and traffic in the port and the Strait of Singapore remain unaffected.
MPA is investigating the cause of the collision.
Collision between Lime Galaxy and Feihe - Update 1
MPA 30 Jan 14;
On 29 January 2014, at about 1830hrs (Singapore Time), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) received a report that a Hong Kong-flagged chemical tanker, "Lime Galaxy" had collided with the arriving China-flagged containership, "Feihe" at about 2.7 km, south of Jurong Island. Prior to the incident, MPA's Port Operations Control Centre attempted to alert the two vessels of their converging courses.
Good progress has been made in containing and cleaning up the oil spillage resulting from the collision. There has been no further spillage of bunker fuel from Feihe. As a precautionary measure, oil booms and an oil spill response craft have been deployed around the vessel. In total, 10 craft from MPA and oil spill response companies have been deployed as part of the containment and clean up efforts.
Vessel traffic in the Strait of Singapore and port waters remain unaffected. Port operations are also not affected.
Members of the public can contact MPA's 24-hour Marine Safety Control Centre at 6325-2488/9 to report any sighting of oil slick in our waters or coastlines.
Contact between vessels NYK Themis and AZ Fuzhou
MPA 30 Jan 14
At about 0410hrs on 30 January 2014 (Singapore time), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) received a report that a Panama-flagged containership, "NYK Themis", had collided into a barge "AZ Fuzhou" , at East Keppel Fairway at about 4 km south of Marina South. The barge was being towed by tug "AZ Carnation" at the time. Prior to the incident, MPA's Port Operations Control Centre informed NYK Themis of the presence of AZ Fuzhou in the fairway.
NYK Themis reported that one of her bunker tanks sustained damage, resulting in some spillage of bunker fuel. Upon notification, MPA immediately dispatched four MPA craft to deal with the spill. Oil spill response companies were also activated to support the clean up efforts.
The two vessels involved in the collision are currently safely anchored and in stable condition. There is no report of injury, and port operations remain unaffected.
MPA is investigating the cause of the collision.
Oil spillage clean-up and containment efforts continue
MPA 30 Jan 14;
Following the oil spillage from two collisions south of Jurong Island and off Marina South on 29 and 30 January 2014 respectively, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has been co-ordinating the containment and clean-up efforts. Good progress has been made since the start of the operations.
A total of 20 craft from MPA and oil spill response companies have been deployed for the clean-up efforts. Containment booms were used to contain and prevent the oil patches from hitting the coastlines and approved oil dispersants are being used to break up the oil patches into smaller globules.
Patches of oil may be spotted in the vicinity of the Southern Islands but the public is advised not to be alarmed. Members of the public who spot any oil patches in our waters or coastlines can also contact MPA's 24-hour Marine Safety Control Centre at 6325-2488/9.
The four vessels involved in the collisions are currently safely anchored and in stable condition. There is no report of injury, and port operations remain unaffected.
Investigations are currently on-going.
Oil spillage clean-up and containment efforts continue - Update 2
MPA 31 Jan 14;
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) continued to coordinate the containment and clean-up of the oil spillage in Singapore's waters following two collisions south of Jurong Island and off Marina South on 29 and 30 January 2014 respectively.
A total of 24 craft and 120 personnel from MPA and oil spill response companies were involved in the effort. Most of the affected areas have been cleaned up, except for minor oil patches in the vicinity of the Southern Islands.
MPA is still monitoring the situation in case there are undetected patches of oil. Response craft and personnel will remain on site in the interim.
Members of the public who spot any oil patches in our waters or coastlines can also contact MPA's 24-hour Marine Safety Control Centre at 6325-2488/9.
Vessel traffic in the Strait of Singapore and port waters remain unaffected. Port operations are also not affected.
Photos of craft from MPA and oil spill response companies carrying out clean-up operations in affected areas, such as the waters off Pulau Seringat.
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Dry and breezy weather expected to continue for next 1-2 weeks
Channel NewsAsia 29 Jan 14;
SINGAPORE: The current dry and occasionally breezy weather is expected to continue for the next one to two weeks.
In a statement on Wednesday, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said slight haze may occur under light wind conditions on a few mornings.
The cool daily minimum temperature is expected to increase slightly to around 23.5 degrees Celsius, which is the long-term average for January and February.
NEA said Singapore is currently in the dry phase of the Northeast Monsoon season, typically characterised by drier and cooler weather and generally windy conditions.
This dry phase has set in earlier than usual this year, leading to fewer rain days and significantly lower rainfall this month.
The last few weeks have also been marked by a spell of cooler-than-normal minimum temperatures.
Since January 14 this year, daily minimum temperatures of between 21 and 22 degrees Celsius were recorded in various parts of the island.
The cooler-than-normal temperatures are due to a surge of cold winds from a high pressure system over China, blowing towards Singapore and the region.
Singapore last experienced a similar spell of cool minimum temperatures during the Northeast Monsoon in early 2009.
The rainfall total for this month so far has ranged from 40 to 125 millimetres across the island, which is 45 to 80 per cent below the long-term average.
At the Changi climate station, 75.4 millimetres of rainfall and five rain days were recorded over this period, compared to the long-term average rainfall of 242.3 millimetres and 15 rain days for January.
For the Lunar New Year holiday period, the weather is expected to be fair and occasionally windy, with the daily temperature ranging between 23 and 31 degrees Celsius.
- CNA/ms
Malaysia: It will be a cool CNY
The Star 31 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: There will be no rain in most parts of the country, making it a cooler than usual Chinese New Year, according to the Meteorological Department.
Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said he expected the weather to persist until early March.
The north-easterly winds from China is contributing to this cooler than usual weather.
This weather is apparently normal during this time of the year.
Che Gayah said that the haze was making the days drier – pollutants from factories and cars are trapped in the air, particularly true in urban areas, creating localised haze.
“There will be no rain for at least five days. Only when it rains will these pollutants be washed away,” said Che Gayah.
The department has issued warnings of strong winds and rough seas for Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor, Pahang, Sarawak, Labuan, and Sabah.
Frost on Mount Kinabalu
Ruben Sario The Star 30 Jan 14;
KOTA KINABALU: The unusually low temperatures in Sabah has sprinkled a layer of frost on the plants on Mount Kinabalu, especially near Panar Laban and Laban Rata at an altitude of just over 3,000m.
In addition, the cold has frozen the water droplets in the mist shrouding the mountain.
“It’s like tiny ice crystals in the air that melt when they touch your skin. It’s magical,” said seasoned tour guide Tham Yau Kong.
Trekkers and staff of the Laban Rata rest house have noticed the frost and ice crystals for the past three to four days.
Tham, who reckons he has trekked up the mountain about 500 times, said he has noticed frost at the peak about 20 times.
“It’s not a new phenomena.
“‘’I am sure the frost is due to the cooler than normal temperatures that we have been experiencing in Sabah for the past two weeks or so,” he said on Thursday.
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Malaysia: Sun bear carcass and snares found
Isabelle Lai The Star 30 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: A Malayan sun bear carcass and several snares were found near the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex (BTFC).
Experts have described the find as clear proof that poaching there continues unabated.
The discovery was made last Thursday by a WWF-Malaysia researcher, who stumbled upon the carcass and snares after checking the jungle trail close to the Gerik-Jeli Highway.
In a joint statement, WWF-Malaysia and Traffic South-East Asia said the carcass was found with a limb still caught in a snare and the animal died “a slow and agonising death”.
Traffic South-East Asia regional director Dr Chris R. Shepherd said poaching for trade was the most chronic threat to Malaysia’s wildlife and questioned the effectiveness of the Belum-Temengor Joint Enforcement Task Force set up in 2010.
The wildlife-rich forest complex has long posed an enforcement challenge as it is a magnet for poachers and wildlife traffickers.
“The rising incidences close to the highway should be warning enough that poachers enjoy easy access to the animals,” he said.
Dr Shepherd called for more frequent joint enforcement patrols which alone could have an impact on the poaching rate.
He called upon the Perak Mentri Besar and state officials to address the problem.
The latest discovery is the third involving sun bears in recent years.
WWF-Malaysia executive director and chief executive officer Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma said snares do not discriminate the choice of victim.
“This time it was a sun bear. Next, it could be a tiger.
“This does not bode well for the BTFC, which is one of three priority sites for tigers in Malaysia,” he said.
Dr Sharma said this was why WWF-Malaysia was strongly advocating a National Tiger Task Force that would ensure better coordinated enforcement.
Between 2008 and 2010, 142 snares were discovered and deactivated in the BTFC by a WWF-Malaysia monitoring unit working with the authorities.
In the same period, Traffic South-East Asia recorded the loss of over 400 animals, including tigers.
Sun Bear carcass and snare find point to relentless poaching in Belum-Temengor Forest Complex.
WWF 28 Jan 14;
28 January 2014, Gerik: The carcass of a Malayan Sun Bear and several snares have been found in jungles near the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex (BTFC) underscoring poaching’s incessant pressure on endangered species in the area.
On Thursday a WWF-Malaysia researcher in the area stumbled upon the Sun Bear carcass and snares after checking the jungle trail close to the Gerik-Jeli Highway, from which several men on motorcycles had been seen emerging earlier.
The rotting Sun Bear carcass was found with a limb still caught in a snare (see photo), where it would have died a slow and agonising death. Four other snares were also found nearby.
WWF-Malaysia and TRAFFIC Southeast Asia reported the matter to authorities for further investigation and action.
This is the third discovery involving Sun Bears in recent years. Four weeks ago, researchers found another Sun Bear in a snare just 250 meters off the Gerik-Jeli highway and it was freed in a two-hour operation by Perhilitan. In 2011, a camera trap in the area captured the image of a Sun Bear without a forelimb, likely lost to a snare.
The wildlife rich forest complex has long been a magnet for poachers and wildlife traffickers and a challenge for enforcement authorities.
From 2008 to 2010, 142 snares were discovered and de-activated in the BTFC by a WWF-Malaysia wildlife monitoring unit working with authorities. In the same period TRAFFIC recorded the loss of over 400 animals including tigers; one of which was famously rescued after several days in a snare in 2009, but later died from its injuries. WWF-Malaysia and TRAFFIC have continued to make such finds in the area including one case in August 2011 involving a dozen snares targeted at large mammals.
The most recent discovery is clear proof that the poaching and illegal wildlife trade in the BTFC has not abated and demands a stronger, more consistent and better co-ordinated response from all authorities in the area.
“A snare does not discriminate in its choice of victim. This time it was a sun bear. Next, it could be a tiger. This does not bode well for BTFC which is one of three priority sites for tigers in Malaysia. It is why we strongly advocate for a National Tiger Task Force that will ensure better coordinated enforcement nationwide. If no urgency is shown in this matter, we will soon have empty forests,” said WWF-Malaysia's Executive Director/CEO, Dato' Dr Dionysius Sharma.
“Poaching for trade is clearly the most chronic threat to Malaysia’s wildlife. The rising incidences close to the highway should be warning enough that poachers enjoy easy access to the animals,” said Regional Director for TRAFFIC in Southeast Asia, Dr Chris R. Shepherd.
“The effectiveness of the Belum-Temengor Joint Enforcement Task Force, set-up in 2010 to tackle poaching and trafficking here, has been questionable. More frequent joint enforcement patrols alone could have an impact on the poaching rate, yet this has not been put in place. We urge the Perak Menteri Besar and other state officials to address the problem,” Shepherd said.
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Indonesia: Environmental Groups Question April Promises of Sustainable Pulp Practices
Ethan Harfenist Jakarta Globe 29 Jan 14;
Jakarta. Indonesia’s second-largest pulp and paper producer Asia Pacific Resources International Ltd. (April) announced a renewed pledge to sustainable practices this week, promising to stop expanding its plantation holdings by the end of this year and halt forest clearing entirely by 2019 in a move greeted with both cautious optimism and disbelief by environmental groups.
“This policy means that within five years April’s mill will be running entirely on renewable, sustainable plantation fiber,” April president Praveen Singhavi said at a press briefing in Jakarta. “We will reach the goal progressively over the next five years — and hopefully before the deadline.”
The Singapore-based April — which runs the region’s largest pulp mill under its Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) subsidiary — announced the move on Tuesday, detailing an ambitious sustainability plan after more than a decade of criticism from environmental and animal rights groups over the company’s activities in the heavily deforested province of Riau, Sumatra.
Under the sustainability plan, April has committed to halting any efforts to establish new plantations by the end of 2014. During this time the company will also double its forest restoration program to 40,000 hectares. Five years later, April has committed to only using plantation wood in its mill, putting to an end more than a decade of relying predominately on mixed tropical hardwood harvested from the province’s existing forests.
The pulp and paper company and its affiliates currently own some 817,000 hectares of land throughout the country, 51 percent of which is suitable for planting. Nearly half of the company’s concession areas lie in Sumatra’s Riau province, an area that witnessed one of fastest rates of deforestation in the world. More than 4 million hectares of forest have vanished in Riau since 1982 — laying waste to vast tracts of forest, destroying valuable carbon-rich peatland and pushing several indigenous species to the brink of extinction.
Much of the blame has been placed on Royal Golden Eagle Group (RGE) and Sinar Mas — two companies with deep ties to the Suharto regime and a host of affiliated companies operating in the pulp and paper and palm oil industry in Indonesia and abroad. Sinar Mas owns one of the largest pulp companies in the world, Asia Pacific Pulp and Paper, and has made a similar pledge to sustainable practices last year. The company’s announcement began with the immediate suspension of all land clearing activities and a promise to only expand on open land and scrubland in future operations.
April was criticized at the time for sticking to its existing policies which, despite corporate claims that they are in the “tree planting” business, resulted in annual clearing of existing forests. In 2012, the company planned to clear some 60,000 hectares of rainforest, according to confidential reports leaked to Greenpeace. RAPP’s massive 1,750 hectare manufacturing complex in Kerinci, Riau, produces some 2.8 million tons of pulp and 820,000 tons of paper per year. Historically more than half of the wood used came from existing forests, not acacia plantations, according to reports by the Center on International Forestry Research (Cifor).
Now, a little over a year later, April has made a similar pledge to ending destructive practices in Indonesia. The move was met with “cautious” optimism by the Wold Wildlife Fund, which applauded the company’s plan to establish an independent advisory board to oversee the progress of the sustainability pledge.
“Given WWF’s longstanding calls for an end to the environmental abuses associated with the pulp and paper industry, April’s Sustainable Forest Management Policy would seem to be demonstrating willingness on the part of the company to transforming its operations,” said Efransjah, CEO of WWF-Indonesia. “If April truly fulfills the entire commitment in the policy, it will lead to a positive contribution to Indonesia’s forests, biodiversity, emission reductions and people.”
But the details of the plan, and the reticence to immediately suspend all land clearing activities in Indonesia, left some wondering what the coming year holds for Riau’s forests. The privately held company declined to detail the status of the nearly 417,000 hectares of plantable land it owns. Environmental groups like Greenpeace worry that April will rapidly expand its land holdings in the coming year only to spend the next five years chewing through wood harvested from existing forests in an ironic preparation for its sustainability goals.
“April’s carefully orchestrated policy announcement is essentially a license to continue forest clearance,” Zulfahmi, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Forest Campaigner, said in a press release. “A glaring weakness is that it would allow its current suppliers to continue to destroy forest and peatlands for nearly a year, and give it another six more years until it would stop using rainforest fiber at its mill.”
The company’s announcement also left out any mention of RGE-owned subsidiaries like Asian Agri and Toba Pulp Lestari — two companies also implicated in destructive practices like the kind of slash-and-burn land clearing that left Singapore choking on haze last year. Under the Ministry of Forestry’s regulations, companies that own both palm oil and pulp divisions can use wood cleared from new palm plantations to feed their pulp mills in an effort to reduce pulp deficits at the nation’s mills. Environmental groups have called for similar sustainability promises to be made by April’s sister companies.
Greenpeace called the move an eleventh-hour effort to retain its membership in the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The company’s membership was on the line unless it demonstrated a serious commitment to ending deforestation following a complaint by Greenpeace. But the environmental group criticized April’s response for not going far enough, explaining that a serious commitment to ending deforestation would be the immediate suspension of forest clearing.
“If April were serious about cutting forest destruction from their supply chains then it would look to more progressive players in the forestry sector that have put an immediate moratorium on all forest clearance and peatland development,” Zulfahmi said.
The Pekanbaru-based Forest Rescue Network Riau (Jikalahari) said the company had made and broken similar promises in the past.
“I don’t buy the pledge,” Muslim Rasyid, of Jikalahari, said on Wednesday. “They commit to ceasing using raw materials from nature by 2019 and lower their production so it can match the normal capacity, but I think they’ll break their promise again. They made similar pledges back in 2009 and 2012, but still, nothing’s changed. The pledge is only an act of green washing. The company just wants to create a good image of themselves and save their place in the network of sustainable companies.”
Previous efforts to establish a “greener” image by April have been met with similar criticism. Environmental groups accused the company of using a $17 million peatland restoration project in Riau’s heavily degraded Kampar Peninsula to “greenwash” the continued cutting of old-growth forests. The project, which aimed to restore more than 20,000 hectares of damaged peatland, was drafted in association with Fauna & Flora International (FFI). But April’s continued cutting of forests at the time, as well as the company’s seemingly cozy relationship with the forest ministry, left environmental groups doubting the true impact of the project.
The Ministry of Forestry claims that demand for Indonesian pulp remains strong. The success of April’s sustainability pledge depends on its ability meet demand, ministry spokesman Sumarto explained.
“The market demand for wood is still huge, so Indonesia has the potential to improve,” he said.
The ministry announced plans in 2012 to significantly expand the nation’s pulp capacity in the next decade. The expansion would include the construction of seven new pulp mills and the awarding of concessions in previously untouched forests in eastern Indonesia, according to the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). When asked about the status of this plan, Sumarto instead spoke on the importance of involving local residents in the cultivation of pulp plantations.
Some 70 percent of the nation’s pulp production comes from small farmers, not multinational companies, Sumarto said.
“The forest [ministry] will establish a wood industry with a focus on planted forests,” he said. “This included forests planted by the people. The conditions now show that forests planted by the people have a role [in the nation's pulp industry].”
Nationwide some 40 percent of Indonesia’s forest cover has been converted into plantations that feed a $26 billion a year industry. On average, 6.2 million acres — an area roughly the size of Vermont — of tropical forests disappear annually.
— Additional reporting by Muhamad Al Azhari and Josua Gantan
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Best of our wild blogs: 29 Jan 14
In the news – ‘Extinct’ orchid resurfaces in Bukit Timah reserve from Raffles Museum News
Cuttlefish Couple
from Pulau Hantu
Butterflies Galore! : Ultra Snow Flat
from Butterflies of Singapore
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Palm oil: WWF name and shame top global buyers
With certified palm oil so easy to source, why are many large companies still failing to hit their own targets for sustainability?
Oliver Balch Guardian Professional 28 Jan 14;
Industry's main players were to protect rainforests and threatened species, but large buyers still buying unsustainable palm oil. Photograph: Anup Shah/Getty Images
It wasn't supposed to be this way. With commercial palm plantations running rampant, the industry's main players would group together and usher in a more sustainable form of palm oil production. Destruction of the rainforests would then slow, threatened species such as the orangutan would be protected, and consumers could shop with a clear conscience.
More than a decade on and the picture is a lot less rosy. Palm oil continues to proliferate in everything from ice cream to shampoo but sustainable palm oil has failed to catch on, as a punchy short film by the environment group, WWF, demonstrates.
The film comes on the back of a recent report by WWF that finds "disappointing" levels of uptake of certified palm oil by the world's largest retailers, food companies and consumer goods producers. "Palm oil buyers have increased their use of sustainable palm oil," says WWF's 2013 Scorecard, "but are still not doing enough to support responsible growers and reduce the effects of growing this popular oil in some of the world's most vulnerable tropical habitats."
Of the 130 companies surveyed, fewer than half purchase palm oil that meets the social and environmental standards set by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a voluntary scheme that now covers about 40% of palm oil production.
The result is an inexcusable supply glut. Collective demand among the surveyed companies comes to almost 7m tonnes of palm oil per year – a volume that could "easily" be met by current certified stocks, according to WWF. On average, certified producers collect a sustainability premium for only about half their production. The remainder gets thrown in with non-certified palm oil and is priced accordingly.
When WWF carried out its previous survey two years ago, it concluded that there was "absolutely no reason" why palm oil buyers should not be purchasing 100% certified palm oil. That's even truer today. "Since then [2011] supply has almost doubled, but still overall less than half the palm oil the companies we looked at were using was certified," says WWF.
Some buyers have already joined the 100% club. Unilever, for instance, one of the largest palm oil buyers in the world and a founding member of RSPO, buys all its palm oil from certified providers. Two dozen of the 78 manufacturers in the study do likewise, including the cleaning brand Ecover and beauty products firm L'Oréal. UK supermarket brands Sainsbury, Tesco, Waitrose, M&S, Asda and the Co-operative group feature in a similar leading list of 21 retailers that buy 100% certified.
WWF identifies a second tier of companies that are travelling at a far slower pace. Procter & Gamble and McDonald's buy just 13% of their palm oil from certified sources. At 17%, PepsiCo is another big name on the laggard list. This sluggishness comes despite a pledge by many large buyers to go 100% certified by the end of next year – a target for which there is "no certainty" that many will reach, says WWF.
Switching to fully certified purchasing is relatively painless, so why aren't more companies doing it? According to WWF, it all comes down to simple foot-dragging by large buyers.
Almost one third (31%) of the companies surveyed have made only vague commitments to buying sustainable palm oil or none whatsoever. WWF's report subsequently concludes with a schoolmasterly "must work harder" message for the world's big palm oil buyers, an argument echoed by RSPO's secretary general Darrel Webber.
That's all well and good, but will remonstrating with the buyers work? Naming and shaming, as the Scorecard does, will certainly chivvy some reputation-conscious companies along. But there are more fundamental issues at play. One is the question of price: some buyers are clearly reluctant to pay the small premium that comes with certification. Other might claim to be confused. The Indonesian government, for instance, now runs its own rival certification scheme.
The thorniest issue of all revolves around integrity. Under the current RSPO structure, buyers can purchase certificates from sustainable producers under what's known as the GreenPalm scheme or Book and Claim. This avoids the more costly option of segregating certified palm oil in the distribution chain, but it means that the physical palm oil that certificate buyers receive is very possibly unsustainable. That raises questions in consumers' minds about the true sustainability of the product in their hand with a RSPO label.
Over the years, environment groups have also called into question the strictness of the RSPO criteria and the exactitude with which they are monitored and enforced. Greenpeace, for instance, maintains that forest destruction has continued apace despite the RSPO's introduction 12 years ago. The campaign group is pushing for a moratorium on converting forest and peatland into oil palm plantations.
WWF has a lot is riding on the "multi-stakeholder" roundtable model as an exemplar of a market-based solution to a sustainability challenge. As co-founder of RSPO, it has helped establish similar solutions in other global commodity chains, from beef and soya beans to sugar and biofuels.
WWF would like to see certified growers rewarded. But certification is a free-market game and, unlike in the movies, the good guys don't always win.
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Best of our wild blogs: 28 Jan 14
Brown-throated Sunbird dealing with Costus spicatus flower
from Bird Ecology Study Group
Butterflies Galore! : Malayan Snow Flat
from Butterflies of Singapore
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AVA: Why items were marked
Shaffiq Alkhatib The New Paper 26 Jan 14;
SINGAPORE- The mark was to identify loose items on the fish farms that may prove to be a safety hazard or end up as floating debris.
The figure is part of a unique identification number each farm has. That was what the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said when we contacted it to find out why its officers had spray-painted items on the fish farm.
An AVA spokesman said on Wednesday that in July last year, it conducted a briefing for offshore fish farmers to inform them that as part of its inspection, its officers will be visiting the farms to conduct inventory checks of loose or moveable items and structures. These included container drums, sofas, television sets and refrigerators.
Its spokesman added that any loose items or structures on farms would be marked for identification purposes and to ensure traceability.
These items tend to fall in the sea, forming unsightly floating debris. The marking will help the AVA know where they came from. The AVA recently changed the method of marking loose material.
UNIQUE FARM NUMBER
Now, the unique farm number will be stencilled on the loose items or structures.
It also said that under licensing conditions, farmers are required to ensure farms are clean, tidy and safe. It had received public complaints that items from coastal fish farms had been drifting in the sea or washed up ashore as litter.
The AVA also said it revoked the men's farming licence in October last year.
To date, the licences of six coastal fish farms have been revoked for very low to zero production.
Five of them, including the men's farm, were in a dilapidated condition and their partially collapsed and loose structures were a safety hazard to neighbouring farms and seafarers.
PRODUCTIVITY TARGET
The men's farm did not meet the productivity target of 17 tonnes of fish a year. There was "barely any fish farming activities" during its inspections, said the AVA.
It pointed out that the farm produced below its target between 2008 and last year.
The AVA's group director of its agri establishment regulation group, Dr Wong Hon Mun, said the minimum production of 17 tonnes per annum per 5,000 sq m of sea area has been a condition of licensing for more than 30 years.
The AVA added that for the past years, it has sent "numerous reminders" to the men to seek their compliance with licensing conditions.
Last year, it issued three reminder letters to them to take immediate action to rectify the situation.
The farm was given an ultimatum in June last year to produce at least 2.5 tonnes of fish in three months to show that the farm was seriously committed to active production.
The AVA said: "As there was no indication of active or improved production by the given deadline and the farm was continued to be left in a dilapidated condition, the AVA was left with no option other than to revoke (the farm's) licence."
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Malaysia: Trapped air pollutants cause of haze says Environment Ministry
The Star 28 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: The haze that has been hovering over Klang Valley is actually fine particles from air pollutants that are unable to disperse due to dry weather conditions, said the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.
It said in a statement yesterday that the air pollutants were released into the atmosphere from various human activities, including vehicle fumes, land development and construction activities.
“There have been no cases of open burning that could jeopardise the air quality in the Klang Valley. The current haze is a weather phenomenon and will not affect the public’s health,” it said.
The ministry said based on a report by the Meteorological Depart-ment, wind flow in Peninsular Malaysia over the past few days had been slow at around 10kph.
The department also reported that several areas in the Klang Valley, including Hulu Selangor, Klang, Kuala Selangor, Petaling Jaya and Sepang had not received rainfall for five consecutive days since Jan 22.
“Weather factors and Klang Valley’s topography caused the fine particles to be caught in the air space and were unable to disperse quickly,” it said.
The ministry also assured the public that the Department of Environment (DOE) was keeping a close eye on the air quality readings throughout the country, and had activated its plan to prevent open burning in all states.
It said DOE was also increasing its efforts to prevent peat fires, so it could ensure that no local sources were causing the worsening air quality and haze.
The Star had reported that visibility readings worsened in various parts of the country on Sunday, with Petaling Jaya and Kuala Pilah in Negri Sembilan recording visibility readings of up to 4km.
Normal visibility levels are from a range of 10km and further.
Members of the public have also been reminded not to carry out open burning because of the current dry weather and northeasterly winds and to put out any small fires besides reporting any cases of open burning.
The Fire and Rescue Department’s hotline is 999 while DOE’s hotline is 1-800-88-2727.
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China: Inside the world's biggest shark abattoir: shocking pictures show scale of slaughter
Zhejiang plant 'processing hundreds of endangered specimens a year'
Darren Wee South China Morning Post 27 Jan 14;
A Hong Kong-based conservation group claims a Zhejiang company is running the world's largest shark abattoir, processing hundreds of endangered specimens a year to produce health supplements and meat for restaurants.
The factory on the southeastern coast of the province processes more than 600 endangered whale sharks a year, as well as dealing in two other threatened species of shark, according to a four-year investigation by the marine conservation group WildLifeRisk.
"We went there three times in the past three years and each time the scale of the slaughter was truly staggering," directors Paul Hilton and Alex Hofford wrote in a report. "It's even more incredible that this carnage is all for the sake of non-essential lifestyle props, such as lipsticks, face creams, health supplements and shark's fin soup."
Hilton said WildLifeRisk was tipped off about the factory by a local wildlife conservation group in 2010.
"We went undercover, posing as an international seafood trading company looking for new products," he said. "The general manager of the plant was filmed saying more than 600 whale sharks were processed there each year."
DNA testing of oil samples given by the manager, who also owns a wholesaler of shark products, confirmed traces of basking and great white sharks, which he said were processed in lesser quantities.
The investigation found that whale shark skin was sold as leather to the bag trade, the meat went to Chinese restaurants in France and Italy, and dried fins were sold to restaurants in Guangzhou.
But the real money-maker is shark's liver oil, according to WildLifeRisk. It is used in skincare products, lipstick and Omega-3 health supplements.
Hilton said the oil was taken to a factory in Hainan where it was blended, turned into capsules and exported to the United States and Canada as fish oil.
The investigation found the sharks were caught, either targeted or as by-catch, in the South China Sea, the Pacific Ocean and in waters off the Philippines, Indonesia and Mexico.
Hilton said there were probably other factories along the mainland coast.
Mainland media have reported that a whale shark can sell for up to 200,000 yuan (HK$254,000).
"There's nothing like this on this scale," said Hilton. "The amount of fins on the floor in the courtyard was phenomenal."
He said when he first visited the plant, there were at least 30 fins on the floor and more hidden under tarpaulins.
"It is legal to have a shark-processing plant, but the species they are actually processing are protected internationally and in China," Hilton said.
Whale sharks are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. China is a signatory and bans the export of products that come from endangered species.
WildLifeRisk is calling on mainland authorities to close the factory and investigate the company.
Hilton said it was a positive time for conservation on the mainland, citing as examples the crushing of six tonnes of ivory earlier this month and a ban on shark fin soup at official banquets.
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India: Hundreds of dead turtles washed ashore
T. Appala Naidu The Hindu 28 Jan 14;
115 kilometre coast of the Krishna district is an ideal nesting ground for turtles
Hundreds of dead Olive Ridley Turtles are getting washed ashore along the Krishna district coastline of Bay of Bengal after getting trapped in the nets of fishermen.
The 115-km coast of the district serves as an ideal nesting ground for turtles. The dead turtles can be found in large numbers between Gilakaladindi Harbour and Manginapudi.
Unsafe practices
Unfriendly fishing practices are posing a major threat to Olive Ridley Turtles, which are classified as ‘vulnerable’ according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Around 250 boats, including 150 small engine boats, are operating from Gilakaladindi harbour and not even 10 per cent of them are equipped with Turtle Excluder Device (TED), despite repeated appeals by the authorities.
The TED allows the turtle that get trapped in the fishing net to escape safely.
Appeals to use the TED is falling on deaf ears of boat operators, leading to sharp rise in death toll of turtles.
No data
The Fisheries Department officials are not bothered about turtles and never insisted on use of TED by the boat operators, operating from Gilakaladindi harbour.
When asked about the number of boats equipped with TED, Harbour Fisheries Development Officer B. Raj Kumar told The Hindu that the department had no data and did not moot the issue with fishermen till date. Many boat operators said that they were releasing the turtles into sea when they were found in their nets .
Rookeries
The Wildlife Management Division, Eluru, in support of Yanadi tribal people set up four rookeries for the conservation of the turtles at Jinakapalem, Sangameswaram, Lighthouse area and Eelachetladibba, which is heart of the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, in Krishna district.
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Biologists investigate deaths of 25 whales off Florida's coast
Kevin Gray and Zachary Fagenson PlanetArk 28 Jan 14;
Biologists on Friday examined the carcasses of 25 dead pilot whales found off the coast of southwest Florida, collecting samples from the animals to try to determine the cause of a recent spike in whale deaths.
Wildlife officials completed necropsies on six whales among the group of 16 females and 9 males a day after they were spotted by boaters near Kice Island, Florida, said Kim Amendola, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The whales were part of a pod originally seen swimming in shallow waters near the city of Naples on Sunday, prompting a team of wildlife officials concerned about a spate of stranded whales, to mark the animals to better identify them.
Earlier this week, eight other whales were found dead after they swam into shallow waters near Fort Myers, Florida.
The group of 25 whales were found to be thin and showed no signs of having interacted with humans, Amendola said.
Biologists have said the whales' close-knit social structure may be playing a role in the deaths. Pilot whales are a social, deep-water species. They live in pods of 20 to 90 whales and typically will not leave ailing or dead members behind.
The bonds are so strong that dead whales have to be cleared from beaches before others swimming in shallow waters can be guided out to sea.
(Editing by Toni Reinhold)
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Best of our wild blogs: 27 Jan 14
My love for TMSI-SJI
from Peiyan.Photography
CMBS Dive at Lazarus & Tekukor
from Pulau Hantu
lone otter at breakfast @ SBWR 26Jan2014
from sgbeachbum
My First Outing in 2014
from Beauty of Fauna and Flora in Nature
Red Junglefowl eggs
from Bird Ecology Study Group
Oriental Whip Snake
from Monday Morgue
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Many things unchanged on quiet St John's
Janice Tai And Melody Zaccheus The Straits Times AsiaOne 26 Jan 14
BORN, bred and wed on St John's Island, 67-year-old Mohamed Sulih and his wife make up half the villagers left on this haven south of Singapore.
And over the years, he has seen the island transform from a kampung of 150 villagers, to a holding area for political detainees and later, a rehabilitation centre for opium addicts.
"I feel lucky to be able to see all these changes up front," said Mr Sulih, the island's former caretaker who has stayed on even though most other villagers had left for the mainland by 1975.
The other two villagers are the current caretaker and his spouse.
There was also a reclamation project started in 2000 to build a causeway to the neighbouring Lazarus Island, and then a $120 million effort to bring water, electricity, gas and phone services from Sentosa to the Southern Islands.
More change is coming for the 39ha island with the only marine station for academic research, located in the south-eastern corner of St John's, possibly slashing operations by March next year.
The National University of Singapore's Tropical Marine Science Institute's (TMSI) coastal facilities, which opened in 2002, has been beset by high operating costs - driven by the diesel needed for generators, the boats to transport employees and security.
Its impending closure has drawn several visitors, including writer Alex Yang, to the island.
"I wanted to see the work they do as it is one of a kind," he said of his trip on Wednesday.
But plenty of things on the island have not changed, and that is why it continues to reel in a small but steady stream of nature lovers.
They include tourists, picnicking migrant workers from the Philippines and Bangladesh, Indian and Myanmar expatriates, and fishing enthusiasts.
Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), which manages the island, said it averages 28,000 visitors every year.
Kusu Island, in comparison, gets 104,000 visitors annually.
Visitors have the option of chartering their own boats or taking a public ferry from Marina South Pier.
The service, run by operator Singapore Island Cruise, costs $18 for a two-way trip (for adults, and $12 for children), including a stopover at nearby Kusu Island.
On weekdays, the island can get as few as two visitors, said SDC's executive officer on the island, Mr Eddy Ali. But it wakes up during weekends, the island's busiest period.
More than 170 people, for instance, made a trip down to the island last Sunday.
The allure of the hilly island lies in its pristine swimming lagoons, pockets of mangroves and stretches of natural rocky shores ringed by coral reefs.
Shoals of dolphins are sometimes spotted off the island's jetty in June and August, while bird watchers go to observe the majestic dives of birds of prey such as Brahminy kites.
Said TMSI director Peter Ng: "Jumping in the water, chasing after crabs, is something you can do here, unlike a more manicured place, and you can see a lot of different animals that used to be there along mainland shorelines such as Changi."
It is also a popular camping ground for students and church groups, as well as cyclists or joggers willing to rough it out on the island's rugged slopes.
"The landscape is less organised and quite raw, and I really enjoyed the breeze and blue waters," said undergraduate Timothy Ng, 23, who cycled around the island for the first time on Wednesday.
Anglers Keano Chua, 34, and Raymond Chua, 27, went home with a haul of 13 squid after five hours of fishing on Wednesday.
"The catch is much better than on the mainland," said Mr Keano Chua, who goes to St John's to fish every week.
Other anglers such as Mr Ng Teck Seng even stay overnight by pitching makeshift tents along the coastline.
"You don't have to rush for the last ferry, which leaves at 2.45pm, and the groupers are more active at night," said the music researcher, 54.
History buffs are also enamoured by the island's past.
Naval architect and heritage enthusiast Jerome Lim, 49, who enjoyed exploring a now-exhumed graveyard there as a young boy, said: "There was always that air of mystery about the place, and as a schoolboy, it always felt like an adventure."
TMSI's Professor Ng hopes the place will retain its rustic vibe in years to come.
The authorities said there are no immediate plans for St John's Island, and it will remain accessible to the public for recreational use.
It is the quiet life there that keeps Mr Sulih, who retired in 2010, on the island - mending nets in the day, catching squid along the jetty at night, and surrounded by a clutch of free-roaming chickens and cats.
"It is peaceful and not busy like on the mainland," said Mr Sulih, whose three grown-up sons live on the mainland.
"It is like my own secret place."
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Malaysia: Cold weather may not cause rain
New Straits Times 27 Jan 14;
KUALA LUMPUR: The ongoing cold weather that has caused shivers among Malaysians in some parts of the country may not result in heavy rains.
Malaysian Meteorological Department director-general Che Gayah Ismail said there was no indication of heavy rain in the next few days.
"The department is closely monitoring the weather changes and if there is an indicator, we will issue an advisory," she told The New Straits Times.
She said the standard operating procedure was to issue an advisory between 24 and 48 hours before such an event.
"We are still in the northeast monsoon period and it is normal to experience a few episodes of heavy rain."
On the possibility of heavy rains causing floods, she said it depended on the monsoon surge.
On the changes in temperature, she said Kuala Krai in Kelantan broke the record with its temperature dropping significantly from the 32oC on Jan 7 to 17.2oC on Jan 22.
Several countries in the region were also experiencing colder weather, with northern Vietnam snowing last month and Thailand's capital, Bangkok, hitting 15oC.
A local daily reported an oceanographer had advised Malaysians to watch out for heavy rain that could cause floods in the next few days following the cooler weather.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's Institute of Geospatial Science and Technology Associate Professor Dr Maged Mahmoud Marghany said the cold monsoon wind could get trapped in the warm atmospheric front once it hit the land mass in the east coast, Sabah and Sarawak.
He said in June 2006 forest fires in Indonesia resulted in increased humidity and heat in the atmosphere and due to the slow, weak wind above Johor, the heat hovered in the area during the monsoon season.
When the cold northeast monsoon wind converged with the heat, it resulted in heavy rain and floods in Johor, the state nearest to the forest fire, he said.
According to a statement in the Meteorological Department's website, January and February are when the minimum temperatures are relatively low compared with that of the other months.
The cooler than normal temperature in most areas, especially in the eastern and northern areas of the peninsula, was due to the strong north-easterly winds from mainland China, which was currently experiencing winter.
In addition, less cloud coverage throughout the peninsula this week also helped to lower the temperature at night and in the early morning.
Based on the weather conditions and wind direction for the next few days, the cooler weather was expected to continue until early this week.
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Best of our wild blogs: 25 Jan 14
Gotta Love Muck Diving
from Pulau Hantu
Night Walk At Venus Drive (24 Jan 2014)
from Beetles@SG BLOG
Territorial call of the Lesser Coucal
from Bird Ecology Study Group
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Slighty hazy skies this weekend: NEA
Channel NewsAsia 25 Jan 14;
SINGAPORE: Slightly hazy conditions are expected this weekend, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).
NEA said the slight haze can be expected mainly in the mornings. Partly cloudy and occasional windy conditions are also expected.
NEA added the air quality is likely to remain within the good band.
In a statement, NEA said Singapore is currently in the dry phase of the Northeast Monsoon season which is characterised by generally windy conditions and drier conditions.
The dry phase is expected to last till end February/early March.
- CNA/fa
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Best of our wild blogs: 25 Jan 14
New Record of a 4th Prosotas species
from Butterflies of Singapore
New Articles in Nature in Singapore and Singapore Biodiversity Records from Raffles Museum News
Tiger Shrike eats Bridelia tomentosa fruit
from Bird Ecology Study Group
A stroll in Pasir Ris Park
from Rojak Librarian
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Licences of 6 offshore fish farms discontinued
Channel NewsAsia 21 Jan 14;
Six offshore fish farms in Singapore had their licences discontinued as their annual production fell short of the target set by authorities. Even though all the farms appealed with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, only one succeeded in keeping its licence.
Transcript from the video:
Six offshore fish farms in Singapore had their licences discontinued as their annual production fell short of the target set by authorities. Even though all the farms appealed with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, only one succeeded in keeping its licence.
The owner of this farm managed to keep his licence until July. He said he invested about $200,000 in his farm. But the other farms were demolished today.
Since the 1980's AVA has required all fish farms to meet the minimum production target of 17 tonnes of fish annually. But this fish farm has only produced about 1.1 tonne of fish annually since 2008. Its owner had lodged a police report. He was upset that authorities had come to his farm to spray paint on this property to ensure that it is disposed properly.
"Is very stressful lah. Firstly, you lost everything. Nothing is you going to have anything back. You invested everything, you don't get anything back. For us small farmer, of course I am very sad about it," said Sheik Zaini, Affected Fish Farmer.
"This farm is start since 1980. From a fisherman village we have developed to a world-class country, but it's not like a machine, you put in ingredients, tomorrow you have fish. You need patience, you need a lot of love, you need a lot of sweat and blood." said Philip Lim, Chairman, Singapore Marine Aquaculture Cooperative.
Also in the Chinese media
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Why did AVA mark my items with paint?
Shaffiq Alkhatib The New Paper 24 Jan 14;
TNP PHOTO: GARY GOH
He returned to his kelong after a trip to the mainland and found many of his items marked with paint.
Mr Salim Sarjo, 52, said even though he did not see any Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) officers painting them, he saw a boat from the agency leaving the kelong. He recalled there were about four AVA officers on it.
His friend and business partner, Mr Sheikh Zaini Shahar, 49, filed a police report to take action against the AVA.
Responding to TNP’s queries as to why its officers had spray-painted items on the farm, the AVA said it had received public complaints that items from coastal fish farms were found drifting in the sea or washed up ashore. It added that any loose items and structures on farms were marked for identification purposes to ensure traceability.
Fish farmer files police report against AVA
Shaffiq Alkhatib The New Paper AsiaOne 26 Jan 14;
SINGAPORE- He had just attended a briefing on local farming by the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) at its Veterinary Public Health Centre at Perahu Road off Lim Chu Kang Road.
And when he returned to his kelong, which is a 10-minute speedboat ride from Changi Point, he found many of his items marked with paint.
Mr Salim Sarjo, 52, told The New Paper on Jan 10 that even though he did not see any AVA officers painting them, he saw a boat from the agency leaving the farm at the Pulau Ubin Coastal Area at around 12.30pm on Oct 23 last year.
He recalled there were about four AVA officers on it.
Mr Salim, who also works as a senior technician for an aviation company, added: "I did not suspect anything at first. But I went up to the kelong and was shocked to see many items there defaced with spray paint.
"Things like barrels, my fridge, cabinet and some pieces of furniture were marked with silver paint. They are now marked with the number '90'.
"I think this is because we are fish farm number 'FC90E'."
The father of three boys and two girls aged between 13 and 25 years old also said the ends of some wooden planks were marked with orange paint.
His friend and business partner, Mr Sheikh Zaini Shahar, 49, filed a police report on Jan 1 to take action against the AVA. The police confirmed with TNP that a report was made and investigations were ongoing.
Speaking in Malay, Mr Sheikh Zaini, who is the father of two boys and four girls aged between nine and 35 years old, said he has known Mr Salim for 18 years through fishing. Both of them had decided to run a fish farm together as an investment for their old age.
RECEIVED LICENCE
In 2004, the two men received their licence to run the 5,000 sq m farm, about the size of a football field. Since then, he claims that they have invested a total of more than $300,000 on the venture.
Mr Sheikh Zaini, who also works as a production supervisor, added: "The items that had been spray painted cost us about $20,000 in all plus transportation costs. It costs money to take them from the mainland."
He said two days later, they received a letter from the AVA stating that it had revoked their licence to run the fish farm.
Among other things, it stated that the farm was not properly maintained and that it had not attained the minimum production of at least 17 tonnes of fish per annum per 5,000 sq m of sea space - a licensing condition of fish culture farms.
In the same letter, the AVA also said the men had to completely remove the farm from its allocated site by Dec 25 last year and that all of its structures have to be removed and properly disposed of on land.
Responding to TNP's queries as to why its officers had spray-painted items on the farm, the AVA said it had received public complaints that items from coastal fish farms were found drifting in the sea or washed up ashore.
It added that any loose items and structures on farms were then marked for identification purposes to ensure traceability. (See report on facing page.)
Mr Sheikh Zaini said that after an appeal, they were granted an extension to remove the entire fish farm structure by the end of this month. If they fail to do so, their security bond of $5,000 will be forfeited.
He added that even before they received the letter informing them of the licence revocation, the men had worked hard to repair the farm and had even bought new planks to replace old ones.
But he said it was challenging to produce at least 17 tonnes of fish a year.
He said: "Fish are living things. We can start with lots of fish fry at first, but not all can survive... We have problems to even break even now.
"It will take about a month to dismantle our kelong. But all we want is our licence back."
POOR CATCH
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said that between 2008 and last year, the men's farm produced less than its minimum production target of 17 tonnes of fish per year.
2008 : 0
2009 : About 600kg
2010 : 0
2011 : 0
2012 : About 1.1 tonnes
2013 : About 900 kg
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Public dialogues on environment to be held
Today Online 25 Jan 14;
SINGAPORE — A series of dialogues aimed at crafting a common vision for the environment will take place over the next two months, as part of a national exercise to review Singapore’s approach towards the environment.
The Singapore Environment Council (SEC), a non-governmental organisation, intends to hold at least 10 dialogue sessions and reach out to about 800 people.
Mr Jose Raymond, the council’s Executive Director, said a ground-up approach is needed to allow Singaporeans to come forward and take more ownership of the space in which they live.
“You can’t have a vision or a blueprint which does not incorporate what the people want or what they hope as their vision for the future.
“It’s something which they need to feel very strongly for. It’s something which they need to really take ownership of,” he told reporters yesterday.
Earlier this month, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan announced that Singapore would embark on a national exercise to review how the country takes care of its environment.
The findings will be shaped into plans in the second half of the year, before being used to revise the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint, which outlines strategies to achieve the twin objectives of economic growth and a good living environment.
The SEC hopes to reach out to a wide range of people, including those in other NGOs, schools, as well as members of the public and the businesses community in its dialogues.
This will allow many more issues and challenges that are relevant to each sector to be raised, Mr Raymond said.
The SEC hopes to consolidate the feedback in April and submit a report to the Government in May. Those who wish to participate in the dialogue sessions can sign up through the SEC’s website from Feb 3.
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Malaysia: Give a clearer explanation for cold spell, Met Dept told
Rashvinjeet S. Bedi The Star 25 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: An environmentalist has demanded for a better explanation from the Meteorological Department for the cold spell that is engulfing the country.
Centre for Environment, Development and Technology Malaysia chairman Gurmit Singh said that while there was a possibility that cold winds from China could be causing the current cold spell, he believed climate change also played a part.
“They have not made it clear why the winds are blowing here from China. I have never heard of this in the past,” he said adding that the current cold weather in China was abnormal.
“The Meteorological Department have to come up with better explanations,” he added.
The department reportedly said that many parts of the east coast, northern and central regions of Malaysa are experiencing cold weather due to the north-easterly winds from China. The cold spell can be expected to last over the next few weeks.
One of the lowest temperatures recorded for a lowland area was in Kuala Krai, Kelantan when temperatures dropped to 17.2°C on Thursday.
Elsewhere, Malaysians have been talking about the colder weather.
Gurmit said in the past, the weather during the Chinese New Year period has usually been hot.
“The weather changes could be due to climate change. China’s extreme cold weather is related to climate change,” he said.
He explained that climate change was related to the increase in frequency of weather extremes, whether dry or wet.
Elsewhere, unusual weather has occurred in Washington where snowstorms are hitting the American capital with floods hitting parts of United Kingdom.
In Thailand, it was reported that the cold spell in the north, northeast and central regions has killed 63 people in the past three months. Bangkok itself suffered its coldest night in three decades with temperatures of 15.6°C on Thursday night.
In December last year, Egypt and Northern Vietnam experienced rare snowfall.
Don’t blame climate change for cooler weather
The Star 25 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: The current cooler weather in Malaysia cannot be blamed solely on climate change, said the Metrological Department.
Its National Weather Forecast Centre director Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said natural climate variability was also a huge factor.
“Extreme weather events could be caused by climate change. However, it is hard to attribute any one weather event to just climate change,” he said.
Many Malaysians believe that the current weather is a result of climate change.
Helmi explained that the weather currently experienced by Malaysia was caused by the cold and dry northeasterlies from China and Siberia, where it is winter at the moment.
These dry winds and cloudless nights have contributed to the cooler weather at night and in the early mornings, he said.
One of the lowest temperatures recorded for a lowland area was in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, where temperatures dropped to 17.2°C on Thursday.
He said the earth has its own natural weather cycle that was not due to human activities.
He cited the El Nino and La Nina phenomena as natural climate variabilities that cause extreme weather patterns.
“These natural patterns can occur every few years and have nothing to do with human activity,” he said.
Did it snow on the summit of Mount Kinabalu?
The Star 25 Jan 14;
KOTA KINABALU: Did it snow at Mount Kinabalu just before dawn on Jan 17 when temperatures dipped to -3°C?
A report submitted to Sabah Parks by their head ranger Martin Mogurin indicated that there were signs of snow at the summit area of the 4,101m-high mountain along the Crocker Range around 4am.
Martin said guides at the mountain submitted a report but were unable to back it up with pictures as it was dark. Sabah Parks officials are trying to verify the report.
Sabah Parks chairman Tengku Zainal Adlin, who has climbed every face of Mount Kinabalu in the last five decades, is not surprised over the snow report.
Zainal said that ice on the mountain was common, especially in the early hours of the morning.
Sabah Parks director Paul Basintal said he was gathering information but he has his doubts about the snow.
Sabah meteorologists, however, are firm in dismissing any possibility of snow on Mount Kinabalu as it was too close to the Equator.
“Ice occurrence, yes, but snow? Not possible,’’ said Sabah Meteorological Department director Abdul Malik Tussin.
He said Sabah has been experiencing cold weather due to the annual Siberian winds coupled with high amount of rain due to the usually wet northeast monsoon season and a low atmospheric pressure over Sabah.
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Malaysia Met Department: Colder days ahead
New Straits Times 24 Jan 14;
DRASTIC WEATHER CHANGE: Condition caused by dry winds from China
THE country is experiencing record low temperatures in several areas, with meteorological experts forecasting colder days ahead. Kuala Krai in Kelantan broke the record yesterday with its temperature dropping significantly from the 32oC recorded on Jan 7, to 17.2oC on Wednesday. It was 17.5oC yesterday.
Several countries in the region are also getting increasingly colder, with northern Vietnam snowing last month and Thailand's capital, Bangkok, hitting 15oC. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) is expecting this drastic weather change, attributed to cold dry winds from China which is currently experiencing winter, to gradually pass on sometime next month.
Its central forecast division director, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah, poured cold water on speculations that it could snow in Malaysia, a nation that sits on the equator.
"The months of January and February will usually record the lowest temperatures in the country every year because of the cold and dry air from the Northeast monsoon.
"However, over the last few days the temperatures recorded were below the average minimum temperature we had recorded in the past," he told the New Straits Times yesterday, adding that the huge drop in temperature was especially significant in some areas of the east coast and the north.
The department has also attributed the dip in temperature to the cloudless nights in recent days, which, otherwise, would serve to trap heat on the ground.
In Perlis, MMD's weather station in Chuping recorded the temperature in the district at 32oC on Wednesday. It recorded a 10oC drop yesterday.
The state, known as the hottest spot in the country where temperature can soar to 40oC, is expected to get colder in the next few days.
Earlier this month, the state recorded a temperature of 19.8oC. However, its record of 17.8oC was on Feb 26, 1994.
Drastic plunges in temperature within several hours were also recorded in Alor Star, Kedah and Besut in Terengganu.
Just on Wednesday, the temperature in Alor Star was 32oC. Yesterday, it dipped to 22oC.
Besut's temperature two days ago was 22oC. It was 30oC on Jan 7.
The department has cautioned those staying in areas, which are experiencing sudden dips in temperatures, to take precautionary measures to keep their health in check.
From observation, those staying in the affected areas were mostly wrapped in thicker clothing.
In Kuala Krai, locals wore socks at home and extra layers of clothing to stave off the cold.
Their blankets were also stored away as they had to rely on duvets to keep themselves warm at night.
Villager Rosmanita Zainal Abidin, 42, from Kampung Sungai Dala in Jalan Tualang here, said she had been boiling large pots of water every morning to bathe her children.
"Water from the tap has become too cold for bathing.
"Even during mid-day, water from the pipes feels like it is coming from the fridge."
Mohamed Mustapha Baharum, 62, said he had stopped his regular morning walk as it was too cold.
"Now, I prefer to snuggle under the blanket as it is too cold outside, not only in the morning but also in the late afternoon and night."
In Arau, food stall operators Mohd Suhail Safini, 18, and Sharul Azuan Kamarol, 28, said as the state experienced low temperatures especially at night, it would be too chilly to wear just a T-shirt.
The hawkers, who were wearing jackets while attending to customers, were not complaining as their income had spiked in recent days.
"People tend to get hungry faster and eat more during cold weather."
Meanwhile, Perlis Menteri Besar Azlan Man, when contacted yesterday, said the change in weather would not effect the state's signature export -- the Harumanis mangoes.
"The change in weather has not affected the Harumanis industry.
"We are lucky that this is happening after the flowering period and that there is no heavy and consistent rain, as that would have affected it.
"Right now, 90 per cent of the mangoes are ready for harvest and this should augur well for the impending Harumanis Festival, which is a tourist attraction," he said, adding that Perlis would be able to sustain its 10-tonne export of the fruit to Japan and Singapore.
Across the South China Sea in Kota Kinabalu, a temperature of 22.1oC was recorded yesterday.
The temperature here is expected to be between 20oC and 27oC until next week.
Keningau had recorded 17oC, even lower than Kundasang's highland temperature of 20oC.
It has been 19oC for Ranau since last week.
"The highlands will be colder and it is not impossible for Mount Kinabalu to reach 15oC," said state MMD director Abdul Malik Tussin.
The department also said the video of snow falling in Indonesia was fake.
"Snow only happens in places with moderate climate and regions with four seasons."
Cities, districts experiencing cold weather conditions
T. Avineshwaran The Star 23 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: Many cities and districts in Malaysia are experiencing cold weather thanks to the cold winds from the Northeast monsoon.
Cities and towns like Subang Jaya, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Kota Bharu, Kuantan and Petaling Jaya are experiencing conditions below 25 °C similar to that of Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands.
The minimum temperatures were recorded since New Year’s Day and it is expected to continue for the next few weeks.
MMD reported on Thursday that from Jan 1-22, the lowest recorded temperature for Kuantan was 21.0°C, Kota Kinabalu 22.1°C, Petaling Jaya 23.6 °C, Kota Bharu 23°C, Kuching 22.0°C while Northern districts like Alor Setar, Kedah and Chuping, Perlis recorded 22.4°C and 23.3 °C respectively.
“Based on our information, among all the months, January will always record the lowest temperature every year,”
According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD), the dip in temperature is due to the cold winds from Northeast monsoon and this is not the first time such a phenomenon has occurred.
“The temperature fluctuates from time-to-time and during the Northeast monsoon, such minimum recordings is usual and has happened many times during the season,”
“Cold temperatures are usually recorded in East Coast and Northern region of peninsular Malaysia because of the Northeast monsoon wind which is pretty strong.
“The wind comes from Mainland China, which is experiencing snow right now.
“Also, good weather and non-cloudy conditions in Malaysia this week helped reduce the temperatures in the early morning and night.
“Atmosphere without clouds is similar to a situation where there is no blanket to keep us warm. The blanket is the cloud and our body is earth,” said MMD.
MMD also dispelled rumours that it snowed in Indonesia as they said it’s impossible for a tropical country to experience such a phenomenon.
Cooler days ahead in Malaysia
T. Avineshwaran, P. Aruna, and Julia Khaw The Star 24 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: It’s going to be a chilly Chinese New Year with the cold north-easterly wind forecast to continue for the next few weeks.
Many parts of the east coast and northern and central regions are experiencing cold weather because of the wind, according to the Meteorological Department.
It said that cities and towns like Subang Jaya, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Kota Baru, Kuantan and Petaling Jaya are experiencing temperatures of below 25°C similar to conditions in Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands.
Yesterday, Kuala Krai recorded a temperature of 17.2°C – the lowest for a lowland area.
From Jan 1 to 2, the lowest recorded temperatures were 21°C for Kuantan, 22.1°C for Kota Kinabalu, 23.6°C for Petaling Jaya, 23°C for Kota Baru and 22°C for Kuching. Alor Setar and Chuping in Perlis experienced temperatures of 22.4°C and 23.3 °C, respectively.
Meteorological Department deputy director Alui Bahari dismissed speculation that the drop in temperatures was due to the lack of activity in the sun, or what is called the “sleeping sun” phenomenon.
“Based on our records, January is always the coldest month,” he said.
According to Alui, the dip in temperatures is due to the cold north-easterly winds, and this is not the first time that such a drop has occurred.
He added: “Temperatures fluctuate from time to time. Such low recordings are usual and have happened many times during the season.
“The north-easterly wind which is pretty strong comes from mainland China, which is experiencing cold weather right now.
“Also, good weather and non-cloudy conditions in Malaysia this week helped reduce the temperatures in the early morning and night.
“Atmosphere without clouds is similar to a situation where there is no blanket to keep us warm. The blanket is the cloud and our body is earth.”
'Sleeping sun' phenomenon partly cause of chilly weather
The Star 24 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: The weather usually gets colder at this time of the year but temperatures seem to be dropping lower than usual.
Faizal Parish, an expert in biodiversity and the climate, said the sudden change is related to the extreme weather conditions in other parts of the region, as well as in Europe and the United States.
Scientists are saying that the causes are global climate change and a reported drop in activity on the surface of the sun, called the “sleeping sun” phenomenon.
“The scientists are seeing lower sunspot activity now compared to the past 10 years,” explained Faizal, who is director of the Global Environment Centre here.
“There is now less radiation from the sun reaching us but that alone does not cause a drastic drop in temperature.
“It is the cold mass of air coming from Russia and China that is lowering temperatures.”
He said that while this cold air would usually remain in China, it is now coming further south due to a change in the high-altitude wind flows.
Scientists in Europe have warned that the lack of sunspot activity could lead to a new mini ice-age there, similar to one that happened in the 17th century.
Named the Maunder Minimum, it was a period of drastically reduced sunspot activity that occurred between 1645 and 1715. It also caused London’s River Thames to freeze over.
Faizal also explained that the switch in wind patterns was due to global climate change.
“The impact of climate change is not just global warming. It can lead to extreme weather, such as heatwaves, cold snaps or droughts,” he said.
“Melting sea ice in the Arctic and changing weather patterns are both possible drivers of the new winter weather trends.”
He pointed out that there have been dramatic weather changes in other countries in the region, such as in northern Vietnam where it snowed for the first time in many years, and parts of Thailand were declared disaster zones after the mercury dipped below 5°C last month.
Solar activity is expected to return to normal in the future.
Farmers feel the pressure of cold spell
The Star 24 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: If you noticed that the weather is slightly cooler these few days, you are not alone.
The Meteorological Department said it is normal for it to be cooler this time of the year, but many remember that it was warmer around this period in 2013 and before that.
Farmers in Cameron Highlands have been complaining of extra low temperatures that are extending the maturity period of their crops.
Chai Kok Leong, 45, the owner of a vegetable farming business in Brinchang, watched in frustration as his crops took longer to grow.
“For example, when the minimum temperature was 18°C, we harvested cabbages in three months.
“Now that the temperature has declined to 12°C, we are forced to wait an extra half a month before we can sell them,” he said.
Another farmer, Tan Ching Long, said he waited patiently for his Cameron apples to grow, but saw many of them wither.
“The apples that survived were not as big as before,” he said.
Not all vegetable farmers were alarmed.
Lim Hock Ling, 43, believed that the phenomenon will only affect fruits and vegetables temporarily.
On a scale of 10, two would describe the extent to which his vegetables were affected, said Lim.
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