The festival is back in 2014!
from Festival of Biodiversity 2012
Saving Changi Crabs
from Peiyan.Photography
Butterflies Galore! : Malayan Sunbeam
from Butterflies of Singapore
ICCS in Sep 2014: 3,131 volunteers, 64 organisations, 57 coastal sites – so far! from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore
Sharon See and Lin Yanqin Channel NewsAsia 2 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE: The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve will be closed to the public for at least six months from September 15 while it undergoes restoration works, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Monday (June 2). This is the first time the reserve will be closed to the public.
After the six-month period, there will be limited access to the nature reserve for another 18 months, while the Main Road trail leading to the summit will be reopened only on weekends.
NEED FOR RESTORATION
NParks said it has found damage to the forests and an erosion of the slopes and trails over the years. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was visited by 400,000 people last year - five times more than 20 years ago.
Said Dr Leong Chee Chiew, NParks' Commissioner of Parks and Recreation: "In recent years, we have also found that the constant trampling of trails has caused quite drastic erosion along our trees. And when this happens then trails become wider; the roots of trees become exposed. It weakens the trees and so we have seen some tree falls which is not good in a natural forest like this. But on top of that, we are also concerned that if we do not repair these trails, then when visitors walk they may trip and fall".
Nature Reserves Scientific Advisory Committee Chairman Joseph Koh said the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is particularly vulnerable because it is small and almost isolated, and may not have the resilience of a large forest to recover itself from the stress of excessive physical degradation.
RAILINGS, RAISED BOARDWALK IN THE WORKS
During the two-year period, it will be repairing over half, or more than 4.55 kilometres, of the reserve's trails, as well as stabilising slopes and restoring its flora and fauna. A 1.3km-long raised boardwalk will also be built, as well as railings installed along critical areas of trails to ensure visitors do not stray off the trails.
"A raised boardwalk simply allows you to walk on an elevated platform without actually impacting on the forest floor. The insects and the animals can actually coexist quite happily underneath those raised trails," said Dr Leong.
"NO IMMEDIATE DANGER": NPARKS
While NParks assures that there is no immediate danger currently, restorations have to be done to prevent further degradation or major landslides.
NParks will also be upgrading the reserve's visitor centre, which is more than 20 years old, and adding a new toilet block to house additional washroom facilities.
The Nature Reserves Scientific Advisory Committee is assured NParks will take the right steps to preserve the original character of the reserve.
"There was no need for us to tell NParks, you know, that 'You've got to be careful, bulldozers cannot go in' and so on. There can be a lot of collateral damage you know, if you find the cheapest way to do it, and the quickest way to do it. There was no need for the scientists to give NParks this lecture. They were actually (just) as concerned with protecting and being sensitive to the habitat," said Mr Koh.
Indeed, NParks can draw on its experience building the TreeTop Walk in MacRitchie Reservoir nearly 10 years ago.
"When we built the MacRitchie TreeTop Walk, we took great pains to ensure that we did not damage the forest in the process. So, the workers were instructed to be very careful. Many things were actually carried in rather than brought in with heavy machinery. We will exercise the same care and employ the same methods when we repair the trails," Dr Leong promised.
Those who want to explore alternative nature areas can consider the nearby Zhenghua Nature Park, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park and Bukit Batok Town Park, NParks said.
- CNA/cy
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to close for restoration
LOUISA TANG Today Online 3 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE — With forest damage and soil erosion from rainfall and thousands of hikers trampling over its trails and slopes over the years, the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve will be closed for about two years from Sept 15 so that the National Parks Board (NParks) can carry out restoration work.
It will reopen to the public the Main Road that leads to the summit on weekends in March next year, but the rest of the reserve will remain closed for another one-and-a-half years.
Announcing the move yesterday, NParks said it had started tracking the reserve’s slopes about three to four years ago after noticing some land was slipping on the slopes, and found that there was damage to forests and erosion of slopes and trails.
Apart from heavy rains, the boom in visitorship over the years had exacted its toll on the grounds — NParks said it estimated that the number of visitors to the 163ha reserve grew from 80,000 in 1992 to 400,000 last year.
When visitors stray from the trails, they trample undergrowth, which results in tree roots being exposed, making them a danger to hikers. At the same time, forest regeneration has been hindered, which affects the reserve’s ecosystem. Already, birdwatchers have observed that the Asian-Fairy Bluebird and Chestnut-bellied Malkoha have retreated away from the more heavily-used trails, NParks said.
“While there is no immediate danger, restoration work has to be done to prevent further degradation or major landslides,” said Dr Leong Chee Chiew, NParks deputy chief executive officer at a media briefing yesterday.
Mr Joseph Koh, chairman of the Nature Reserves Scientific Advisory Committee, added: “The reserve is particularly vulnerable because it is small and almost isolated, and may not have the resilience of a large forest to recover itself from the stress of excessive physical degradation.”
About half of the reserve’s 9km of trails will be repaired. NParks will also build a 1.3km-long raised boardwalk at Dairy Farm Loop and Summit Path for visitors to take in the repaired trails without trampling on the forest floor.
Sections of three slopes will be stabilised using micro piles, to be installed along the tarmac road to minimise impact on the forest.
NParks will also upgrade the reserve’s visitor centre, which is more than 20 years old, revamping its exhibition hall and function rooms. A toilet block to house additional washroom facilities will be added.
Mr Zulfadhli Amir, who cycles frequently at the reserve, said the 6km-long Mountain Bike Trail had just been repaired and he approved of NParks’ decision to perform similar repair works on the rest of the reserve.
“I love nature and we should preserve and improve it for the community, be it (for) hiking or mountain biking. It’s the best escape from our concrete forest,” said the 21-year-old full-time National Serviceman.
Nature reserve to close for 6 months
Audrey Tan MyPaper AsiaOne 3 Jun 14;
Singapore's most loved rainforest will, for the first time, be getting a much-needed reprieve from the hordes of people who traipse through it each day.
Come Sept 15, the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve will close its doors to the public for six months.
This is the first phase of a two-year plan to repair the 22-year-old reserve, which is showing signs of damage in some areas.
After this, nature enthusiasts can venture into the reserve, but access will be limited for the next 18 months or so.
It will be open only on weekends, and people will be allowed only on the Main Road stretching from the visitor centre to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill.
The National Parks Board (NParks) announced these plans yesterday, adding that the arrangements were made for the safety of visitors during ongoing works. The phased approach was also taken to "minimise inconvenience to visitors", it said.
Works are expected to be completed by the end of 2016.
The 163ha nature reserve, home to more than 40 per cent of Singapore's native flora and fauna, is one of Singapore's most popular nature spots, with over 400,000 visitors last year.
"We seek the understanding of the public for the need to limit access... so extensive enhancements can be carried out to stabilise slopes, repair trails, upgrade the visitor centre and restore the forest environment," said Dr Leong Chee Chiew, commissioner of parks and recreation and deputy chief executive of NParks.
The restoration comes after about five years of observations and discussions with external consultants, NParks said, and will be done in three main areas:
Three stretches of weakened slopes bordering pathways will be stabilised to prevent landslides. This will be done by piling concrete or wooden beams into the pathway. The beams form a wall that prevents soil movement.
NParks will upgrade amenities such as an exhibition hall for outreach and educational activities. More washroom facilities will also be built.
About 4.5km of trails damaged by constant visitor footfall will be restored. A 1.3km stretch of this will also be replaced by boardwalks - elevated platforms that prevent visitors from trampling on forest litter and top soil.
Dr Shawn Lum, president of the Nature Society (Singapore), a group that NParks consulted, said that the proposed works would not only improve public safety, but would also boost the forest ecosystem's long-term health.
5 things about Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
AUDREY TAN Straits Times 2 Jun 14;
The popular Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in central Singapore will be closed for six months from September for repair works. This is the first time that the 163ha reserve will be closed for repair, as trails, slopes and amenities in the park need to be repaired and upgraded. We look at five things about the only hill dipterocarp forest in Singapore.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve repair works map
1. When did the nature reserve open?
The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was officially opened in 1992, although the rich biodiversity within the reserve spans further back.
In 1822, Dr Nathaniel Wallich, Superintendent of the Calcutta Royal Gardens, was the first to collect plants at the reserve. Years later, in 1854, naturalist Alfred Wallace collected beetles.
In 1937, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was one of three forest reserves that were retained in a period where economic pressure for land development caused other reserves to be de-gazetted. The other two that were retained were in Pandan and Kranji.
2. What are the highlights at the reserve?
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is the only hill dipterocarp forest in Singapore. This is unique as such a forest type usually occurs in regions that are 300 metres to 762 metres above sea-level.
The Nature Reserve also contains Singapore’s tallest hill - the Bukit Timah Hill - that stands sentinel over the area at 163m.
It also contains at least 40 per cent of Singapore’s native flora and fauna even though it makes up less than 1 per cent (0.2 per cent) of the country’s area. It is home to animals such as the Plantain Squirrel, the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and the Singapore Freshwater Crab - a very rare species of crab that can only be found in Singapore.
3. What are the key milestones?
The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve once comprised a single forest fragment. They were separated when the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) was completed in late 1986.
A bridge to re-connect both reserves to aid in the dispersal of forest plant seeds was completed in late 2013.
In 2011, the reserve was designated as Singapore’s second Asean Heritage Park after meeting criteria such as ecological completeness, representativeness, naturalness, high conservation importance and being a legally gazetted area. The first Asean Heritage Park was the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in 2003.
4. Which are the areas which will have limited access while it undergoes repair works?
From September 15, the Nature Reserve will undergo a series of repair works to upgrade and restore its slopes, trails and amenities for about two years.
During the first six months, the reserve will be closed to the public as works commence on its Main Road leading from the Visitor Centre to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill.
After this, there will be limited access to the reserve for the next 18 months - nature enthusiasts will only be able to trek on its main route on weekends.
5. What will some of the new/improved features be after the facelift?
By the end of 2016, visitors to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve will be able to expect newer amenities such as an upgraded visitor centre and an enhanced exhibition hall for outreach and educational activities.
More washrooms will also be built for the growing number of visitors to the reserve.
Last year, it welcomed more than 400,000 visitors - a five-fold increase from the 80,000 visitors it saw in 1992, when it was officially opened.
Nature lovers will also get to enjoy new boardwalk trails and dirt trails lined with rope railings for visitor safety. Boardwalks will also help protect the precious layer of topsoil and forest litter that teem with insects and other tiny organisms.
With “enrichment planting” works that NParks will carry out during the two-year period, visitors can also expect to see more plants growing by the sides of reserve’s trails.
They will also get to enjoy an overall safer experience, as slopes will be reinforced to prevent landslides.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Restoration Works - Limited Access To Ensure Public Safety
NParks media release 2 Jun 14;
2 June 2014 Singapore – Public access to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) will be limited for about two years, with effect from 15 September 2014 as the National Parks Board (NParks) carries out repair and restoration works to the slopes, trails and forests in the reserve. NParks will also use the opportunity to upgrade its more than 20-year old visitor centre at the foot of BTNR.
Over the years, NParks found that there has been an erosion of the slopes and trails as well as the damaging of forests in the Reserve. To ensure public safety, NParks will be embarking on a journey to repair these slopes and trails. The forest habitat will also be restored.
NParks recognises that the BTNR is well-frequented by members of the public. To minimise inconvenience to visitors during the repair works, NParks will adopt a phased approach. For the first six months, the entire Reserve will be closed to public as slope stabilisation works are carried out. The Main Road trail leading to the Summit, however, will be reopened to visitors on weekends after six months, while the rest of the reserve remains closed for about another 18 months for rest of the repair works to be completed.
“We seek the understanding of the public for the need to limit access to BTNR so that extensive enhancements can be carried out to stabilise slopes, repair trails, upgrade the Visitor Centre, and restore the forest environment of the Nature Reserve. The slope stabilisations and trail repairs are necessary for public safety. The upgraded Visitor Centre will serve visitors better when reopened.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a unique forest within an urban setting. It contains at least 40% of Singapore's native flora and fauna even though it occupies only 0.2% of Singapore’s land area. The Reserve, which was declared an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2011, is home to rare and native species like the Singapore Freshwater Crab (Johora singaporensis), the Colugo (Galeopterus variegates) and the Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus). It is therefore imperative that we also restore its forest environment”, said Dr Leong Chee Chiew, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation and Deputy CEO, NParks.
He further shared: “During this period, visitors are encouraged to explore alternative nature areas such as the nearby Zhenghua Nature Park, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Batok Town Park, as well as Park Connectors in the vicinity. For public safety, please refrain from entering the Reserve when access is restricted."
“The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve safeguards one of the last vestiges of Singapore's primary tropical rainforest in the heart of the island. Much loved and cherished by Singaporeans, it has attracted a large number of visitors since the mid-1990s. Its popularity has ironically contributed to the degradation of parts of the forest environment. Along the many hiking trails that criss-cross the reserve, soil has become increasingly compacted, erosion has become more serious, and tree regeneration has been compromised. Straying from designated trails by some visitors has evidently caused a widening of footpaths into the adjoining forest. More worryingly, a number of new, unauthorised paths have intruded into the forest. If left unchecked, these changes can eventually add up to alter the character of a unique ecosystem that has hitherto allowed an amazingly rich variety of native flora and fauna to thrive in this scientifically significant rainforest.
BTNR is particularly vulnerable because it is small and almost isolated, and may not have the resilience of a large forest to recover itself from the stress of excessive physical degradation. There is therefore an urgent need to repair and rehabilitate its habitats, and give some time for the plants and animals to re-establish themselves, undisturbed. Not only will this help to enhance the experience of future visitors, it will also replenish the threatened biodiversity in BTNR, and ensure that future generations of Singaporeans will continue to enjoy the full splendour of this unique treasure among our natural heritage”, said Mr Joseph Koh, Chairman, Nature Reserves Scientific Advisory Committee (NRSAC).
Dr Shawn Lum, President of Nature Society (Singapore), said “The proposed slope stabilisation and trail restoration work will not only benefit public safety and an enhanced visitor experience, but will also be beneficial for the long-term health of Bukit Timah's forest ecosystem. Decreased erosion from slope and trail restoration, better protection of tree roots from boardwalks, and limiting future soil compaction will help tree survival and regeneration. This in turn will provide a more stable environment for the diverse animal life dependent on Bukit Timah's mature and very rich plant community. I look forward to the completion of the proposed infrastructure work, and envision a future where all of us - park management, researchers, reserve visitors, and a supportive public - can all work together as stewards as well as be beneficiaries of Singapore's glorious natural heritage at Bukit Timah.”
MEDIA FACTSHEET – SCOPE OF WORK
from NParks pdf
NParks will be stabilising the slopes, repairing the trails and restoring the forest environment within the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. To enhance visitor experience, the more than 20-year old visitor centre will also be upgraded.
Enhancing Visitor Safety
The slope stabilisation works is a pre-emptive measure taken by NParks to ensure public safety. Sections of three slopes have weakened in recent years. Slope failure could lead to a significant loss of the forest and compromise public safety. To minimise the potential of slope failure, the slopes will be stabilised using micro piles. The piles will be installed along the tarmac road, and there will be minimal impact on the forest.
Trail Repairs, Enrichment Planting and New Boardwalk
Hosting more than 400,000 visitors yearly has taken its toll on the hiking trails. The heavy usage and trampling have resulted in soil compaction, erosion and gully formation. Such conditions hinder forest regeneration as they expose tree roots (increasing the potential of tree falls), and damage young saplings before they can establish themselves. The exposed tree roots may also cause hikers to trip, fall and become injured. The compacted and widened trails have also resulted in a loss of space for vegetation and tree saplings to establish and grow. These have led to the declining condition of the Reserve’s ecosystem. For example, birdwatchers have observed that the Asian-fairy Bluebird and Chestnut-bellied Malkoha have retreated away from the heavily used trails at BTNR.
To mitigate the degradation, more than half of trails (over 4.5km) will be repaired. To enhance the forest habitat, enrichment planting efforts will take place alongside the trails. Native plants such as the Shorea curtisii, Parishia insignis, and Streblus elongates will be planted.
As part of a holistic plan to mitigate the impact of trampling and soil compaction, a 1.3 km raised boardwalk will also be installed sensitively. This will enable visitors to enjoy the repaired trails with minimal impact to the forest floor.
Upgrading of visitor amenities
Along with the restoration and repair works, NParks will also use the opportunity to enhance visitor experience by upgrading the more than 20-year old visitor centre. When reopened, it will feature a revamped exhibition area highlighting the habitats and conservation measures carried out at the Reserve. This will allow visitors to better
understand and appreciate the importance of this nature reserve. More spacious function rooms will be provided for educational workshops, talks, and outreach activities. More toilet facilities, wash areas and a kiosk will also be provided. (Please refer to Annex B for more information.)
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to shut for repairs
Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 3 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE's most loved rainforest will, for the first time, be getting a much-needed reprieve from the hordes of people who traipse through it each day.
Come Sept 15, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve will close its doors to the public for six months. This is the first phase of a two-year plan to repair the 22-year-old reserve, which is showing signs of damage in some areas.
After this, visitors can enter the reserve, but access will be limited for the next 18 months or so. It will be open only on weekends, and people will be allowed only on the Main Road stretching from the Visitor Centre to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill.
The National Parks Board (NParks) announced these plans yesterday, adding that the arrangements were made for the safety of visitors during ongoing works. The phased approach was also being taken to "minimise inconvenience to visitors", it said.
Works are expected to be completed by the end of 2016.
Home to more than 40 per cent of Singapore's native flora and fauna, the 163ha nature reserve is one of the nation's most popular nature spots, drawing more than 400,000 visitors last year.
"We seek the understanding of the public for the need to limit access... so extensive enhancements can be carried out to stabilise slopes, repair trails, upgrade the Visitor Centre and restore the forest environment," said Dr Leong Chee Chiew, commissioner of parks and recreation and deputy chief executive of NParks.
The restoration comes after about five years of observations and discussions with external consultants, NParks said. It will be done in three main areas:
- Three stretches of weakened slopes bordering pathways will be stabilised to prevent landslides, by piling concrete or wooden beams into the pathway to help prevent soil movement.
- Amenities such as an exhibition hall for outreach and educational activities will be upgraded. More washrooms will be built.
- About 4.5km of trails damaged by constant visitor footfall will be restored. A 1.3km stretch of this will be replaced by boardwalks - elevated platforms that prevent visitors from trampling on forest litter and top soil.
Dr Shawn Lum, president of the Nature Society (Singapore), a group NParks consulted, said the works would boost the forest ecosystem's long-term health.
"Decreased erosion from slope and trail restoration, better protection of tree roots from boardwalks, and limiting future soil compaction will help tree survival and regeneration," he said.
NParks said a tender for the works will be called this month.
Teacher Balasupramaniam Krishna, 68, a frequent visitor, strongly supports the renovation works. "I think it's very important that we do not compromise the safety of the park," he said.
"Within two years, we will have a very different heritage, a national park that everyone can be even more proud of."
Closure of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve a good call
VINITA RAMANI Today Online 4 Jun 14;
I refer to the report “Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to close for restoration” (June 3). I applaud the National Parks Board for closing this segment of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve for restoration work.
As an avid hiker and nature lover, I will miss my daily walks in the reserve. But as a nearby resident, I have noticed relentless human traffic, both hikers and bikers, along the trails over the past four years.
Though it is one of Singapore’s most beautiful and ecologically diverse areas, it is also the beating heart of the island.
The preservation of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve will also be critical as we combat haze-related problems.
With the closure, it is timely to ask what the Government’s vision is for our nature reserves in 2030. Are they places for the conservation of native flora and fauna or are they merely parks catering to a growing population’s recreational needs?
The value of the Central Catchment area is in its biodiversity and its native flora and fauna. This is also what makes Singapore unique.
Adrian Lim MyPaper AsiaOne 3 Jun 14;
Having seemingly reconciled the opposing demands of high-density living and sustaining a green environment, Singapore may be likened by some to be a paradise.
But when asked yesterday if the island was indeed one, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said that the Government's approach had been more practical.
"Paradise, like beauty, is in the eye of the mind of the beholder... We dare not promise paradise, but we try to make Singapore an endearing home for all Singaporeans," Mr Khaw said at the World Cities Summit.
Mr Khaw was responding to a question about Singapore's status as a paradise, put forth by Professor Tommy Koh, who was moderating a dialogue on the sustainable development of cities.
While he appeared to demur on the accolade, Mr Khaw said Singapore could be proud of its achievements after 50 years, but also noted that the country's development was always a "work in progress".
Pointing out the challenges Singapore faced, Mr Khaw noted that Singapore was both a city and a state, and if it failed as a city, it failed as a country as well.
This was unlike a bigger country like the United States, for example, where one city could go bankrupt but other cities could still prosper.
Mr Khaw said that the impact of globalisation also hit Singapore and Singaporeans more acutely.
In large or medium-sized countries, for example, citizens who wanted to seek a lower cost of living had alternatives, such as moving to villages or second-tier cities, but Singaporeans did not have this option.
Speaking on the second day of the four-day summit held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Mr Khaw highlighted four areas which had helped Singapore's growth.
In its fiscal policy, Singapore had always spent within its means and saved for a rainy day. Empirically, many cities have not been able to "walk the talk" in this area, Mr Khaw said.
Secondly, Singapore had kept the economy open, in terms of free trade, and attracting talent and ideas.
"Protectionism has no place, because Singapore's domestic market is too small," he added.
And while Singapore could not shield itself entirely from globalisation and competition, it could prepare its people through investing in education and skills training, to ensure they had good jobs and opportunities.
Lastly, it was important to keep politics honest, said Mr Khaw, adding that if every election was about political parties giving out as many goodies as they could, with as little taxation, this would spell trouble.
"Democracy of that manner must lead to insolvency and, eventually, political cynicism," he said.
Politics was a hot-button issue last week during the parliamentary debate on the President's Address.
The debate centred on the definition of constructive politics, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong saying that it should lead to effective policies being developed for Singaporeans and problems being solved.
Spending on infrastructure must be for benefit of all: Khaw
Saifulbahri Ismail Channel NewsAsia 2 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE: There is no shortage of money to finance the development of infrastructure – the problem is a lack of sustainable good ideas which will benefit all sectors in a country, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Monday (June 2).
Mr Khaw was responding to a question about the challenges of financing rapid urbanisation during a dialogue session at the joint World Cities Summit, Singapore International Water Week and CleanEnviro Summit.
As long as projects are bankable, there is no shortage of funding, he said. However, it is inevitable that governments may need to help finance some projects in order to help the poorer segments of the population.
In his opening remarks, Mr Khaw said that governments must spend within their means and save for rainy days.
Singapore faces additional challenges because of its size, he said. Citing the United States as an example, Mr Khaw said if a city like Detroit goes bankrupt, there are many other American cities which will continue to prosper, ensuring that the US remains a world power. But because Singapore is a city-state, if the city fails, the whole country will fail, he said.
- CNA/cy
Chang Ai-Lien The Straits Times AsiaOne 3 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE - Collectively, they make up the scientific brains of Singapore. Now the body which represents them wants more heft in shaping science policy, education, research and funding in Singapore, just like its counterparts the world over.
With more than 2,000 scientists in all areas of expertise, the Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS) feels it is well placed to provide informed, independent advice.
"With the rapid development of science and technology in Singapore, the time is ripe to expand the academy's role by taking on additional responsibilities such as administering research fellowships and selected grants, offering advice to the Government, and fostering international research contact and cooperation," said SNAS president Andrew Wee.
"Over the past two to three decades, the country has grown a generation of internationally recognised scientists, many of them citizens or permanent residents, who can be called upon for their scientific expertise and opinions."
Researchers here have long pointed out that in Singapore, decisions have been driven by international boards, whales (a term to describe top foreign scientists recruited here) and technocrats.
But to take science to the next level, local and Singapore-based scientists need a louder voice, they say.
Prof Wee pointed to various groups overseas which have a far bigger role. In the United States, for instance, its National Academy of Sciences gives independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology. Its experts volunteer their time to produce reports that have led to significant and lasting improvements in health, education and welfare, and the academy's service to the government has become so essential that Congress and the White House have issued legislation and executive orders over the years that reaffirm its unique role.
In Britain, the Royal Society supports researchers through its career, innovation and industry schemes, does independent policy work, promotes science education, and helps in communication with the public.
Closer to home, the Academy of Sciences Malaysia strives to be the "think-tank" of the nation for matters related to science, engineering, technology and innovation.
Prof Wee, who is also vice-president (university and global relations) at the National University of Singapore, added that SNAS, which has 20 fellows - outstanding Singapore-based scientists who have contributed to science and research education here - is expanding this pool of scientific leaders to 100.
So it has the experts to weigh in, whether Singapore is mulling over which form of alternative energy to pump money into, if a particular spot should be gazetted as a nature reserve, or who should be awarded the nation's top honour.
"We also need such local role models whom our students can relate to," he said.
He is talking to several agencies and government bodies about the possibility of funding SNAS to do selected policy or technical papers, which would help develop local expertise and could be more cost-effective than inviting international panels to do so, he added.
SNAS' past president, Professor Leo Tan, noted that the younger generation was often sceptical when it came to taking advice from the Government. "Since we came together in 1969, we have resisted being subsumed under a government agency because although funding would come easily, it would come at the cost of being an independent body," said Prof Tan, who is director of special projects at the NUS Faculty of Science.
With its independence intact, the academy can be a bridge between Government and civil society. "If a nature group is calling for the cross-island MRT to be scrapped, for instance, we can be the informed, neutral voice."
The dean of Nanyang Technological University's College of Science and SNAS vice-president, Professor Ling San, said areas in which the academy's members can contribute include science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, promotion and communication, as well as looking at how science can contribute to challenges in areas such as the environment, energy, food, health and security.
Science Centre Singapore's chief executive and SNAS' vice-president, Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, said: "We can advise on expert domain topics as well as relevant policy matters, education and manpower training, and safety and ethics issues arising from science advancement... Our scientific community has reached a stage where it can contribute constructively to Singapore."
NICHOLAS FANG AND CHUA CHIN WEI Today Online 3 Jun 14;
Recent warnings of a potential three-month prolonged haze crisis comparable to the severe episodes in 1997 and last year are worrying.
Earlier in the year, large numbers of hot spots were already noted in Sumatra. There is also a high possibility of the region entering into an extreme dry season from July to October, with very little rainfall expected, due to the El Nino effect. This increases the risks of runaway fires.
The haze is becoming a thorny issue for the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) and major companies that operate in land-based industries such as the palm oil, pulp and paper and rubber sectors.
Hot spots have typically been linked to their activities.
THE DYNAMICS IN ASEAN
In ASEAN, attention towards transboundary haze pollution has been institutionalised through the annual meeting among environment ministers. Occasionally, discussion on the haze has also involved foreign ministers and leaders of ASEAN states. Such engagement led to the launch of the ASEAN haze monitoring system (HMS) during the ASEAN Summit last November.
The initial excitement over the possibility of concession maps being shared openly between governments has given way to disappointment.
The HMS developed by Singapore is meant to collate information such as satellite imagery, hot spot coordinates and concession ownership.
This will allow governments to quickly identify which companies might be responsible for the fires that cause the regional haze.
This online system, paired with on-the-ground monitoring by non-governmental organisations and companies, aims to form a rapid response system where parties involved can be alerted to take immediate remedies for ground fires before they spin out of control.
Publicly, Indonesia and Malaysia governments have stated that they are unable to share the information on the maps due to legal constraints. Without the concession maps, the HMS cannot function as intended. Errant companies can continue to operate irresponsibly.
Another issue is the ASEAN Transboundary Haze Agreement, which Indonesia has yet to ratify. Over the years, Jakarta has expressed its intention to do so and recent comments by the Indonesian Foreign Minister and Environment Minister had revived hopes of ratification, although no specific timeline has been spelt out. In March, parties representing nearly 65 per cent of Indonesian lawmakers had agreed to ratify the treaty.
However, the desired outcome of such a ratification will not be realised unless there is sufficient ground-up support for better management of the agro-forestry resource sector, one that is driven by the fast-expanding palm oil sector.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Since 1997, palm oil plantations in the region have more than doubled in size. This growth momentum is likely to continue to 2020, on the back of growing demand for edible oil and the use of palm oil as biofuel within Indonesia. Power plants in Indonesia are starting to buy palm oil to generate electricity.
Industry stakeholders have attempted to encourage the sustainable development of the palm oil sector through the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil that was set up in 2004. However, to date only 16 per cent of the total volume of traded palm oil is certified to be sustainable.
It is critical for such standards to have a certain degree of harmonisation and, most importantly, for certification to be cost-effective and easily understood by the palm oil growers, such that more will want their production to be certified, and see a business advantage in doing so.
At the first Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs recently, industry leaders including Olam, Unilever, Wilmar, Sime Darby and Cargill gathered to share their vision and commitments towards sustainability.
The dialogue created a healthy exchange of ideas and experiences of how companies who have taken the lead in their own fields are working to become more sustainable.
Apart from the successes, challenges faced were also candidly shared. Such communication is likely to remain vital in the search for a long-term solution.
Singapore is in the process of finalising its Transboundary Haze Pollution Bill to penalise those responsible for the forest fires and the haze. It also convened the first International Advisory Panel meeting of legal experts to advise Singapore on options to deal with the haze.
However, finding a long-term solution to the haze cannot be the work of a single country or party. It requires companies and individual growers to cherish the environment and to not resort to fires to clear lands while working towards sustainable and pro-environment practices. It would also require them to consider putting in place good fire management practices.
There must also be ways for consumers to recognise companies that are employing good practices and for these firms to be rewarded. Unless consumers start making the right choice to buy sustainably sourced agro-forestry products, the haze is likely to be here to stay.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Nicholas Fang is Executive Director and Chua Chin Wei a deputy director of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. Highlights of the first Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources will be screened on Channel NewsAsia today (Tuesday) at 8.30pm with an encore telecast tomorrow (Wed) at 1.30am.
MING EN Today Online 3 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE — The hot weather may put off many from using the bicycle as a means of commuting, but it is possible to cycle in comfort even in the Republic’s tropical climate.
That is the view of Danish architect and urban design consultant Jan Gehl, one of those involved in a research project to make Singapore a more pedestrian- and bike-friendly city. The project’s initial findings were released at a press conference yesterday.
Mr Gehl said cycling here can be done across shorter distances before transferring to public transport.
“We are not going to talk about cycling over 10km or 15km or for one hour (at) high speed. We are going to talk about small trips of 1km or 2km, to the station especially, to the shops, the doctor, the library and school — and so that will be local biking,” he told reporters later.
Earlier, a Memorandum of Understanding was also renewed between two organisations involved in the project — the Urban Land Institute, a global non-profit education and research institute, and the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), a Singapore think-tank.
The project’s initial recommendations included integrating walking and cycling infrastructure with public transit, making cycling comfortable and attractive through street planting and sheltered walkways, as well as providing end-of-trip amenities such as bike parking, showers and laundromats at workplaces.
The full report is expected to be released later this year.
Earlier in March, two research workshops were organised, with one taking participants to Ang Mo Kio — a selected study area — to understand the issues faced by pedestrians and cyclists.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, CLC director Limin Hee said some of the observations made from the Ang Mo Kio case study found that the area had many overhead bridges, which could be converted to at-grade crossings — crossings at the same level — to be more pedestrian- and bike-friendly. Similarly, the area was shaded and had paths that were wide enough to include protected bike lanes.
These observations may be applicable to the new towns, she noted, where it is not difficult to implement such protected bicycle lanes and more at-grade crossings, for instance.
When asked about current efforts to make Singapore more bike-friendly, Dr Hee said the authorities had done an “excellent job” with the park connectors.
“What we do need to do is to provide linkages to the park connectors system and, perhaps, think of a way that we can make our cycling infrastructure more consistent so that people understand the rules and know how to use these better,” she said.
Mindsets also have to change, Dr Hee added, as some Singaporeans regard cycling as a less desirable form of travelling than driving a car.
NEO CHAI CHIN Today Online 2 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE — Ten per cent of its exports are “green”, and the country aims to be independent of energy from fossil fuels by 2050. Eco labelling makes it easy for consumers to make the right choices. And when thinking of solutions to tackle challenges such as more frequent and intense rainfall, policymakers think about solving other problems at the same time – for instance, by also creating water parks for recreation.
The Danish model of sustainable development was lauded today (June 2) at the World Cities Summit, Singapore International Water Week and CleanEnviro Summit — which are being held currently — but it did not happen overnight, said Denmark’s Minister for the Environment Kirsten Brosbol.
Denmark’s success in this area is the result of “brave political choices”, regulations, incentive-oriented policies and holistic planning, she said at two dialogue sessions. The global energy crisis in the 1970s served as a push factor towards renewable energy, and its Government has given businesses a stable framework oriented towards sustainability, Ms Brosbol added. Also, the Danes’ easy access to nature drives their willingness to protect it, she said.
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said that Singapore shares some of the same policies such as pricing water right to discourage wastage, but is likely to remain an importer of food, water and energy given its size and the lack of a hinterland.
“We are not a Denmark, which has a similar population to us but several times the size on us, with their own energy sources,” said Dr Balakrishnan at a CleanEnviro Summit plenary session. “I’m afraid the good news and bad news about Singapore, is that we will always remain on that existential edge. So there’s no room for complacency but ... we will always need innovative solutions.”
A key strategy is to be efficient, said Dr Balakrishnan, flagging food recycling as one area in which Singapore is “watching very closely”. Fish reared on fish farms may be one channel for food rejected by humans, he said, adding that incineration of food waste is not efficient as the bulk of food is made up of water. “I think we will have to look at other innovative solutions to recycle food,” he said.
Food waste is an issue that Denmark is looking to reduce, and Ms Brosbol said it is crucial to work with civil society and companies. Supermarket chains can look at how to prevent food waste through the design of products, for instance.
Panellists from Sri Lanka, China and the United Arab Emirates also shared how their countries are promoting sustainability and a cleaner environment at the plenary sessions yesterday. Sustainable development and a circular economy – one that decouples economic development from the use of natural resources – is not a luxury of wealthy countries, said Ms Helen Clark, administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. Countries must have a regard for nature’s balance if they want to eradicate poverty, she said.
Asked in another dialogue about financing of infrastructure for cities – where 70 per cent of the world’s population are expected to live by 2050 – Singapore’s National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said he sensed no shortage of money, but a shortage of sustainable good ideas that will benefit all sectors in a country. Political honesty is important as people tend to want more, but never want to pay more in taxes, Mr Khaw said.
Mr Angel Gurria, secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, however, felt that regulatory impediments could be a bigger factor hindering the financing of infrastructure than a lack of good ideas.
Kimberly Spykerman Channel NewsAsia 2 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE: Economic growth will be disproportionate in Asia compared to the rest of the world and so too the growth of its waste, said Singapore's Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
Issuing the warning at the CleanEnviro Summit Singapore on Monday, Dr Balakrishnan said that if cities do not manage their waste, it could be to their detriment.
"There are cities that will continue to grow and be attractive," he said.
But there are other cities, if they are not careful, which "will atrophy or stifle themselves under the load of their own pollution", he added.
"Whether your city is sustainable, attractive, vibrant, as opposed to stagnant, polluted and dangerous, people have a choice", depending on the model that is offered to them, Dr Balakrishnan said.
He said that Singapore has had the advantage of being so small that it has had no choice but to be environmentally conscious from the moment of its conception.
Dr Balakrishnan was speaking at the Clean Environment Leaders plenary session which looked at how countries can grow economically while remaining environmentally sustainable.
The panel included environment ministers from Denmark and the United Arab Emirates, as well as representatives from the United Nations and the World Resources Institutes.
Dr Balakrishnan also noted that long-term vision, detailed masterplans, and setting aside resources for infrastructural development are some areas that governments should focus on.
He cited the reclamation of the Marina Bay area, where efforts began nearly 40 years ago, as an example.
He said: "(It is) the ability to have a vision that goes beyond electoral cycles of five years, the willingness to spend precious money when a country is not rich, to build what some people would call a pipe dream.
"But without the ability to dream long-term, and to invest, you wouldn't have everything you see today. Everything that we have today we are harvesting from the fruits of an earlier generation."
Responding to a question on how Singapore manages its food waste, Dr Balakrishnan said that in the past, most of the nation's table-top waste went to the pig farms. But with pig farms long gone, Singapore is now looking at fish farms instead.
"The fish may be as efficient as pigs in reprocessing food which humans have rejected. I think we will have to look at other innovative solutions to recycle food (waste)," he added.
- CNA/al
Channel NewsAsia 2 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Monday (June 2) it has awarded a tender to M/s REMEX Mineralstoff (REMEX) to develop and operate a facility to recover metals from incineration ash.
The facility is part of NEA’s long-term strategy to manage solid waste in Singapore and also part of the Government’s plans to move towards a resource efficient society. It will recover ferrous and non-ferrous metals from incineration bottom ash (IBA) generated by the incineration plants, the agency said.
Currently, ferrous metals between 10mm and 300mm in size are being recovered from the ash using magnetic separators at the incineration plants, and the residual ash is sent to the Semakau Landfill for final disposal. This conventional treatment system leaves the non-ferrous metals, such as aluminium and copper, and the remaining smaller pieces of ferrous metals that are still of economic value, intact in the residual ash, NEA said.
“NEA is currently studying possibilities for ash reuse, which will help resource-scarce Singapore to further increase resource recovery, as well as extend the lifespan of Semakau Landfill,” said NEA Chief Executive Officer Ronnie Tay.
REMEX will invest about S$15 million in the facility, which will begin construction in October and is expected to start operations by mid-2015. It will be able to process up to 1,800 tonnes of IBA per day generated by the four incineration plants in Singapore.
- CNA/cy
The Star 3 Jun 14;
MALACCA: Industrial pollution, including diesel and petrol contamination, and waste from poultry farms have made Selangor River the most tainted waterway in the country for the last one decade.
Natural Resources and Environmental Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said: “The illegal dumping of waste and untreated effluents have turned Sungai Selangor, a major water source for the nation’s most densely populated belt, into a smelly and highly-polluted river.
“The river emits a pungent stench while a high concentration of micro-organisms spoils its aquatic environment.”
He added that diesel and petrol contamination was discovered recently at the river’s tributaries in Rawang which was a persistent occurrence over the past 10 years.
“We are studying the best measures to rehabilitate the river quickly before it becomes a serious threat to the availability of water resources,” Palanivel said after attending the International River Seminar held in conjunction with the Malacca River festival here yesterday. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron delivered the keynote address.
Selangor River is a major basin for the state and a main source of raw water.
In August 2013, an illegal factory in Rawang was purportedly responsible for the oil pollution in Sungai Selangor that triggered a water crisis affecting over one million people.
The oil from the factory, which manufactured roll-on/roll-off containers and compactors, was dumped into one of Sungai Gong’s tributaries which flows into Sungai Selangor.
The spill forced the closure of four treatment plants affecting over one million consumers. Palanivel also said his ministry was working closely with the Tourism Ministry to introduce a river related tourism package covering several rivers in Malaysia.
He said the success of the Malacca River package could be emulated for cruises to be conducted in Sungai Pahang and Sungai Perak, among others..
Palanivel said the Malacca River cruise catered to one million visitors last year, generating a revenue of RM8.1mil.
Maricar Cinco Inquirer Southern Luzon 2 Jun 14;
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The research arm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the damage left by Super Typhoon Yolanda to mangrove beach forests in Eastern Visayas was two to three times bigger than initial estimates.
According to the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), mangroves in a 206-hectare plantation in the villages of Campoyong and Bungtod in Guian, Eastern Samar, failed to grow back its leaves six months after the typhoon struck in November last year, an indication that the trees had died even if their roots were still attached to the ground.
Such was also the case at mangrove sites in three other towns of Eastern Samar, namely, Lawaan-Balangiga (150 ha), Giporlos (400 ha) and Quinapondan (940 ha), said the ERDB report, a copy of which was furnished the Inquirer on Thursday.
In Tacloban City, Leyte, the mangrove seedlings now stood at 83 to 195 per hectare, a number far lower than that in a “recovering natural mangrove stand” in Palo, Leyte, with 475 seedlings per hectare.
This condition, according to the ERDB, was observed specifically among Rhizophora, a mangrove species that normally grows closer to land. Aside from defoliation, the roots had grown fungi, an indication of rotting.
“The actual damage is two to three times bigger than perceived immediately after Yolanda struck,” said ERDB Director Dr. Portia Lapitan in a phone interview Thursday.
Lapitan, who is also a Tree Physiology professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), said the findings were based on a post-Yolanda mangrove assessment conducted from April 20 to May 3.
Two teams composed of 16 scientists and researchers conducted the study at six mangrove sites in Leyte and Samar. This was ERDB’s third assessment since last year.
Partial/minimal damage
In April, a group of scientists and civil society members released the results of an earlier four-month mangrove assessment in Leyte and Eastern Samar that found “partial/minimal to no damage at all” caused by the typhoon.
Early media reports quoted Dr. Jurgenne Primavera, a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation and cochair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Mangrove Specialist Group, as saying that only 100 to 200 hectares of mangroves in 13 towns and one city had suffered mortality.
“We wanted these (reports) clarified,” Lapitan said.
If the mangroves were to recover, they should have done so three months after the disaster, she added.
A P1-billion fund has been earmarked by the government for the rehabilitation of mangrove beach forests, the bulk of which would go to areas damaged by Yolanda. The amount is part of the P20 billion allotted by the national government for the reconstruction of areas hit by disasters last year, including those damaged by the earthquake in Bohol and the siege in Zamboanga.
The fund has yet to be released to the DENR.
Barbara Liston PlanetArk 2 Jun 14;
Florida has a new phone app to help cull the invasion of its waters by the spiked lionfish, a venomous species that is devouring other fish and harming reef ecosystems.
The state is home to more than 500 non-native species, but few as rampant in the wild as the marauding lionfish, which is fast-reproducing and has a voracious appetite. It preys on native fish such as yellowtail snapper, Nassau grouper and banded coral shrimp, and other crustaceans.
"The lionfish has no known natural predators in the Atlantic ... and the ability to spawn year-round," according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
With zebra-like stripes of red, brown and cream, they are native to the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Since their first sighting off Florida's Atlantic coast 25 years ago, the banded lionfish population has increased rapidly, according to the wildlife agency.
Popular aquarium fish, they have spread from Florida to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and to the Bahamas.
The Report Florida Lionfish app is designed to help the state collect data and raise awareness of the danger of invasive species, while encouraging people to report sightings so the fish can be removed from the state's waterways, says Amanda Nalley of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The first 250 successful users of the app will get a free Lionfish Control Team T-shirt with an inter-active logo which, via the free Aurasma app, can display a lionfish video.
Those who have no smart devices can report lionfish at MyFWC.com/fishing. Officials warn the lionfish spikes can deliver a painful, though non-fatal, sting to humans.
State wildlife officials have also invited public participation in the fight against other invasive species. A state-sponsored Burmese python hunt in the Florida Everglades in January 2013 helped collect data, raise awareness and remove some of the giant snakes there.
(Editing by David Adams and Gunna Dickson)
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