Best of our wild blogs: 13 Jul 14



Festival of Biodiversity 2014!
from Butterflies of Singapore and Otterman speaks and sgbeachbum

Near death at Cyrene!
from wild shores of singapore

Morning Walk At Venus Drive (12 Jul 2014)
from Beetles@SG BLOG

Awesome day out to Chek Jawa Boardwalk
from Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

Starling and bulbul feeding of mango fruit
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Bats Roosting in my porch: 4. Success with early morning arrivals
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Low tide
from The annotated budak


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Singapore to have its first Marine Park on Sisters' Islands

Loke Kok Fai Channel NewsAsia 12 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: A Marine Park, the first of its kind in Singapore, will be set up by the National Parks Board (NParks).

Called the Sisters' Islands Marine Park, it will serve as a platform for outreach, education, conservation and research activities related to Singapore's native marine life.

This is the latest marine biodiversity conservation initiative by NParks.

The 40-hectare park encompasses the land and waters surrounding the islands, and also covers the western coasts of both St John's Island and Pulau Tekukor, the site of a former ammunition dump.

Managed by NParks, its development will involve several non-governmental organisations (NGO), universities, schools and other marine nature groups.

So apart from featuring amenities such as educational storyboards, it will also host programmes such as workshops, guided walks and dives.

NParks also plans to charter boats from the mainland for participants of the guided tours it plans to conduct.

Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee said: "Collectively, as a society, we are contributing to the protection of our shared heritage. The park will not just be an outdoor classroom, but an underwater one as well."

The activities aim to engage and educate visitors so that they will gain an appreciation for the hundreds of marine life species Singapore plays host to.

Those include over 350 species of reef fish and hard corals, as well as the rare Neptune's Cup Sponge which have only been found live in Singapore's waters.

Dr Lena Chan, director of National Biodiversity Centre, said: "With marine biodiversity, you can't see. And what you can't see, you can't love. We need to involve everybody in this very great effort in the conservation, in learning more about our marine biodiversity."

NGOs agreed with Dr Chan. Ria Tan, founder of WildSingapore, said Sisters' Island was a good, accessible first step in improving appreciation for marine biodiversity.

"Once people see it and they appreciate it, they will know this belongs to Singapore. You don't have to go to Australia or Indonesia to see it. It is our marine life. It is something we can appreciate and enjoy," she said.

Though the park is only slated to be completed in 2015, NParks and other nature groups will be organising twice monthly group visits to the islands starting next month.

Members of the public can join the guided walks subject to weather and tidal conditions.

There are no plans to charge for these tours as of yet.

Those who are interested can sign up online at www.nparks.gov.sg/sistersislandsmarinepark, as places are limited to 15 people per visit.

Transportation to the islands will be provided.

- CNA/fa/nd

Singapore to get first marine park
Grace Chua The Straits Times AsiaOne 13 Jul 14;



Singapore's southern Sisters' Islands, and the waters around them, will be the site of the country's first marine park.

The 40ha park, the size of about 50 football fields, will include the western reefs and intertidal zones of nearby Pulau Tekukor, a former ammunition dump, and St John's Island, which currently houses research and recreational facilities.

Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee announced this yesterday morning at the annual Festival of Biodiversity, a nature-education fair held at the VivoCity mall this weekend.

"With the new Sisters' Island Marine Park, I hope that even more Singaporeans will enjoy and value our natural richness," he said. "The charm of the Sisters' Islands is in their undeveloped character, and... the marine environment is fragile."

Apart from letting more people enjoy its charms, designating the area a marine park also means that research and conservation activities will be ramped up there.

The area was picked for its variety of habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass areas and sandy shores, and is rich in marine life such as sponges and giant clams.

In 2011, for instance, the neptune's cup sponge, long thought to be extinct here, was rediscovered off St John's Island.

The Sisters' Islands have been marked out as a marine nature area in the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Parks and Waterbodies Plan since it was introduced in 2003. Nature areas are high-biodiversity areas that are kept as long as possible till they are needed for development.

As a public park, the marine park will be managed by the National Parks Board (NParks), which will take over from Sentosa Development Corporation.

People will be able to sign up for guided walks from next month by visiting www.nparks.gov.sg/
sistersislandsmarinepark.

The details are being worked out, said National Biodiversity Centre director Lena Chan, but there are plans for downloadable trail guides, explanatory signs and live streaming of the islands' wildlife.

Currently, there are no regular ferry services to Sisters' Islands and boats need to be chartered for those who want to get there.

Other activities planned for next year include workshops, camps and talks at an outreach and education centre on St John's Island.

The National Biodiversity Centre's coastal and marine deputy director, Dr Karenne Tun, said NParks would be doing a feasibility study to fully map the islands, take a census of reef life and work out how many visitors can be allowed without harming wildlife.

NParks also plans to use the park for research and conservation, and to reintroduce giant clams and corals to its waters.

Those lobbying for Singapore's blue space to be better protected were encouraged by the news.

Said Professor Barry Halliwell, deputy president for research and technology at the National University of Singapore (NUS): "Marine biologists have long advocated for the establishment of such a park and this is very good news.

"NUS and NParks have collaborated on many projects over the years and we look forward to more joint projects after the marine park is established."

Nature enthusiast Ria Tan, 53, who runs popular wildlife site wildsingapore.com, said: "It's the first marine park that Singapore has, so it's something to celebrate. And hopefully it's the first of more."

But she raised concerns about fishermen using driftnets which entangle horseshoe crabs and other marine life. In response, Dr Chan said details of the budget, manpower and enforcement plan for the new park were still being finalised. Dr Tun said NParks would work with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority to engage fishermen on the issue.
In 2009, civil society groups presented a Blue Plan to the Government, calling for several areas including Sisters' Islands, Pulau Hantu, Cyrene Reef and Pulau Ubin's Chek Jawa to be formally designated high-biodiversity areas.

Dr Tun would not say if there was scope for other marine parks.

"The role now is just to make this park a success," she said.

Limited spaces for guided walks at low tide on Aug 14 and 15 are available.

Singapore to establish first marine park
AsiaOne 12 Jul 14

SINGAPORE - Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee announced today that Singapore will establish its first Marine Park.

Progress is underway for this latest conservation initiative by the National Parks Board (NParks), which was unveiled this morning at the Festival of Biodiversity 2014, launched by President Tony Tan Keng Yam.

The Sisters' Islands Marine Park, which will span about 40 hectares around Sisters' Islands and along the western reefs of both St John's Island and Pulau Tekukor, serves as a platform for outreach, educational, conservation and research activities related to our native marine biodiversity.

The location was chosen due to its variety of habitats including coral reefs, sandy shores and seagrass areas.
A number of nature groups have come on board to offer outreach activities like intertidal walks and guided dives to encourage greater appreciation of Singapore's native marine biodiversity.

Following the introductory guided walks held this year, more activities are being planned for roll out next year. These include workshops, seminars, camps and talks at the outreach and education centre on St John's Island. School groups can also be involved in monitoring programmes which will contribute to data collected for marine biodiversity research.

Minister of State for National Development, Desmond Lee said, "Much work has been done over the years to conserve our biodiversity. The Singapore we know today is one that is not only replete with greenery but one that is also teeming with various species of wildlife and marine life. Of course, more can be done and I am heartened to know that the public agencies, NGOs and the community are all working together to further conserve our rich biodiversity. The new Sisters' Islands Marine Park will strengthen this partnership and allow people to make a real difference to the environment by ensuring the survival of our precious native species."

Kenneth Er, NParks CEO shared, "The annual Festival of Biodiversity celebrates our rich natural heritage, and also the joint efforts between the National Parks Board and partners like universities and NGOs to encourage appreciation of our local flora and fauna. With the Sisters' Islands Marine Park, we hope to provide a wider range of opportunities for the community to contribute to citizen science by documenting biodiversity data which will support our conservation efforts."

As visibility of the marine life is subjected to tidal patterns, visitors interested to join the guided walks are encouraged to register early at www.nparks.gov.sg/sistersislandsmarinepark from today onwards.

Introductory guided walks next month will be held on Aug 14 and 15, 2014.

Latest marine biodiversity conservation initiative by the National Parks Board unveiled at Festival of Biodiversity
NParks media release 12 Jul 14;

Singapore, 12 July2014 - Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee announced today that Singapore will establish its first Marine Park. Progress is underway for this latest conservation initiative by the National Parks Board (NParks), which was unveiled this morning at the Festival of Biodiversity 2014, launched by President Tony Tan Keng Yam.

The Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, which will span about 40 hectares around Sisters’ Islands and along the western reefs of both St John’s Island and Pulau Tekukor, serves as a platform for outreach, educational, conservation and research activities related to our native marine biodiversity. The location was chosen due to its variety of habitats including coral reefs, sandy shores and seagrass areas.

A number of nature groups have come on board to offer outreach activities like intertidal walks and guided dives to encourage greater appreciation of our native marine biodiversity. Following the introductory guided walks held this year, more activities are being planned for roll out next year. These include workshops, seminars, camps and talks at the outreach and education centre on St John’s Island. School groups can also be involved in monitoring programmes which will contribute to data collected for marine biodiversity research.

Minister of State for National Development, Desmond Lee said, “Much work has been done over the years to conserve our biodiversity. The Singapore we know today is one that is not only replete with greenery but one that is also teeming with various species of wildlife and marine life. Of course, more can be done and I am heartened to know that the public agencies, NGOs and the community are all working together to further conserve our rich biodiversity. The new Sisters’ Islands Marine Park will strengthen this partnership and allow people to make a real difference to the environment by ensuring the survival of our precious native species.”

Kenneth Er, NParks CEO shared, “The annual Festival of Biodiversity celebrates our rich natural heritage, and also the joint efforts between the National Parks Board and partners like universities and NGOs to encourage appreciation of our local flora and fauna. With the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, we hope to provide a wider range of opportunities for the community to contribute to citizen science by documenting biodiversity data which will support our conservation efforts.”

As visibility of the marine life is subjected to tidal patterns, visitors interested to join the guided walks are encouraged to register early at www.nparks.gov.sg/sistersislandsmarineparkfrom today onwards.

Introductory guided walks next month will be held on 14 and 15 August.

Sisters’ Islands Marine Park
MEDIA FACTSHEET on the NParks website
Also here

Map of Sisters’ Islands Marine Park


Singapore’s first Marine Park, the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, will span about 40 hectares around Sisters’ Islands and along the western reefs of St John’s Island and Pulau Tekukor. The location was chosen due to the variety of habitats including coral reefs, sandy shores and seagrass meadows.

The new initiative aims to give Singaporeans a first-hand experience of our rich biodiversity which are submerged most of the time. The Sisters’ Islands Marine Park will protect Singapore’s coral reefs, which support an ecosystem inhabited by rare and endangered species of seahorses, clams, sponges and other marine life. More than 250 species of hard corals can be found in Singapore’s waters out of over 500 species within the region. Being located in close proximity to one of the world’s busiest ports, the Marine Park will provide a safe refuge for the teeming biodiversity around the Southern Islands and its surrounding waters, as well as safeguard our natural heritage.

Biodiversity
Singapore’s waters are home to:
=More than 250 species of hard corals (32% of hard coral species found worldwide)
=More than 100 species of reef fish
=About 200 species of sponges
=12 seagrass species

Interesting species
1. Neptune’s Cup Sponge (Cliona patera)
=Large sponge with a prominent goblet shape cup sitting on a robust stem
=Can reach up to a metre in height and width
=Thought to be extinct for more than 100 years until it was rediscovered off Singapore’s coast in 2011

2. Giant Clams (Tridacna spp.)
=The largest living bivalve molluscs in the world
=Individuals display a variety of colourful mantle
=Three species are still found in Singapore

3. Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.)
=Swims vertically upright
=The male broods the young in their pouch
=Require calm waters with many hiding places, such as seagrass meadows
=Have bony plates just under their skin instead of scales

4. Dragonfish Sea Cucumber (Stichopus horrens)
=Distracts predators by detaching part of its skin when stressed or attacked
=Becomes completely limp when out of water for too long, and might completely disintegrate
=Able to reverse this process if returned to water in time

5. Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
=Grows up to 1.8 m in length
=Easily recognised by black-tipped fins
=Feeds on a variety of marine creatures like fish, octopuses, squid and crabs.

The Marine Park’s multiple roles and functions

Outreach

- Outreach activities will bring marine life closer to the public to foster greater understanding and appreciation of the marine habitats and their biodiversity

- The public can also sign up as volunteers to assist in marine biodiversity programmes such as
o International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS) – gathers data on marine debris found on our beaches and mangrove areas
o Citizen science programmes that will be rolled out as part of the Marine Park’s activities

Education

- Educational programmes will be available for interested participants to learn about marine biodiversity. These programmes include
o Remote monitoring programmes for schools
o Workshops, talks and seminars

Conservation

- Enhancement activities will be carried out to improve existing marine habitats and enhance biodiversity
- Examples include nurseries for corals, giant clams, Neptune’s cup sponge and other iconic marine organisms
- Monitoring works conducted regularly

Research - Marine research will be centred around the Marine Park, focusing on various aspects of marine biology, ecology and restoration

Speech by Mr Desmond Lee, Minister of State for National Development, at the Launch of the Festival of Biodiversity 2014 on 12 July 2014, 11am
NParks media release 12 Jul 14;

President Tony Tan

Mr Kenneth Er
CEO, NParks

Friends of the nature community

Ladies and gentlemen

1. A very good morning to all of you. I am pleased to be here with everybody at the launch of the Festival of Biodiversity 2014. We are all extremely privileged to have with us, for the third year running, our President, to launch and grace the pinnacle event in our biodiversity calendar. Sir, we are very privileged and honoured by your presence today.

Festival of Biodiversity – A Collaboration with the Community

2. Since 2012, the National Parks Board (NParks) has been collaborating with the Biodiversity Roundtable - a partnership of nature groups and the National University of Singapore (NUS) - to hold this annual Festival. The Festival of Biodiversity is a celebration of the community’s efforts to conserve Singapore’s natural heritage. This year, almost 40 partners, including non-government organisations (NGOs), interest groups, schools, organisations and individuals, are involved in the Festival. Some of these partners have been supporting the Festival since its inception in 2012. Today, we also have students from 9 schools with us, running our children’s workshops and participating in the exhibitions. I am delighted and very proud of the time and effort put in by all of you to spread the conservation message among Singaporeans. This is a true measure of how much our natural heritage on our island city matters to you.

Biodiversity Conservation – A Constant and Conscious Choice

3. As a small country, we are always innovating to make the most of our limited land resources. Even as we intensify our urban land use, we will set aside 9% of our land for our nature reserves and parks by 2030. This is a conscious choice – one which is never easy, especially when you consider the competing uses for housing, industry, defence and transport infrastructure. We consciously do so for the benefit of all Singaporeans, because a connection to nature is a must-have, not a good-to-have.

4. In fact, Singapore has done more to conserve our natural heritage than a nation our size might be expected to do. We have a land area of slightly over 700 square kilometres. Yet on our small island, more than 10 types of ecosystems can be found. The Chek Jawa wetlands in Pulau Ubin alone has 6 different habitats. On this little red dot, we have primary and secondary forests, rivers, mangrove forests, inter-tidal mudflats and coral reefs, teeming with wildlife and thousands of different plant and animal species.

5. We have protected more than 3,300 ha (or 33 square kilometres) of our land in four nature reserves which represent our key indigenous ecosystems, like the primary lowland forest in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the freshwater swamp forest in Central Catchment Nature Reserve, the mangrove forests in Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve, and the coastal hill forest in Labrador Nature Reserve. We have also designated 20 nature areas with significant biodiversity that will be retained for as long as possible. These places are full of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered – whether it is the sight of a spiderweb gleaming like a necklace, the smell of the fruits, flowers and damp forest soil, the sound of the crickets singing in the leaves, or the sighting of a species (such as the Straw-headed Bulbul) that is globally vulnerable and nationally endangered. Nature can awake that sense of wonder which makes the world such a marvellous place.

Community Involvement in Biodiversity Conservation

6. Besides retaining our nature reserves and nature areas, we are actively conserving and rejuvenating their flora and fauna. NParks has been replanting our forests, restoring our habitats and recovering native species such as various birds and dragonflies. Many of you in the community have been volunteering your efforts in this area, and working alongside NParks. Collectively as a society, we are contributing to the protection of our shared natural heritage.

7. More and more, the Government is involving the community to protect our biodiversity, because it belongs to all of us. One recent example is what we’re doing for Pulau Ubin. Over the years, NParks has been working with the community to preserve the thriving biodiversity on Ubin, and sensitively provide access so that the public can learn more about the richness of our biodiversity while enjoying the island. Earlier this year, I shared that we would be consulting widely on how we can further enhance its rustic charm and natural beauty. Just One-and-a-half months ago, we launched a microsite to allow everyone to submit ideas on what they would like Ubin to be. We have received good feedback, so keep the ideas coming. There is an exhibition here on The Ubin Project where you can also give ideas. I encourage all of you to pay a visit and tell us, among other things, how to enhance its natural environment and the overall visitor experience.

Sisters’ Islands Marine Park – Singapore’s First Marine Park

8. Thanks to the partnership between the Government, our nature interest groups and the community, more and more Singaporeans now know that we have a treasure trove hidden in our forests and terrestrial nature areas. Fewer, however, know that we are equally blessed in our seas, which are among some of the busiest waters in the world. For instance, we have more than 250 hard coral species in Singapore’s waters, which accounts for about a third of the world’s total. Most of these are located in waters off the Southern Islands, which are also home to colourful reef fish, giant clams, sponges and other marine organisms.

9. We have conserved significant natural habitats on land, and we will now do more, in a completely new area. We will conserve areas of rich biodiversity in our seas as well. Today, I have the pleasure of announcing that NParks will be establishing Singapore’s first marine park – the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. This new marine park will span about 40ha, around Sisters’ Islands and along the western reefs of St John’s Island and Pulau Tekukor.

10. What will we be doing to the waters around these islands? For almost a year, we have been asking our marine nature groups this important question. Together with representatives from WildSingapore, the ToddyCats, and Nature Society Singapore, we have come up with some ideas. Remembering that the charm of the Sisters’ Islands is in their undeveloped character, and that the marine environment is fragile, we think that our first marine park can serve three objectives, where the activities can be carefully managed and any new facility that is built is done so in an environmentally sensitive and sustainable manner.

11. First, outreach and education. The best of nature is hidden, but we will make it easier for you to find and study them. NParks is working with the marine nature groups on guided intertidal walks and dive trips where you can be awed by the variety of coral, fish and other marine life in our waters. For a start, we will be organising guided walks at Big Sister’s Island starting from next month.

12. NParks will put in place basic facilities for outreach and education activities on St. John’s Island, such as educational storyboards and classrooms where we can conduct workshops, talks and camps. The marine park should be an opportunity to teach our young the wonder of biodiversity, and give them a sense of curiosity and discovery. The park will not just be an outdoor classroom, but an underwater one as well.

13. Second, the marine park can help our conservation efforts. Maritime activities within the marine park will have to be properly managed so that it can continue to be a marine life sanctuary. It will be a place where rare and locally-endangered marine species can be carefully cultivated and restored.We will establish nurseries to conserve marine organisms such as giant clams and corals, and reintroduce them into Singapore’s waters.

14. Third, the marine park will be used for research. With our diversity of marine wildlife, the marine park has so much potential for us to learn about our tropical marine ecosystems. The research findings can contribute to NParks’ understanding on how to conserve such marine environments, and play a small part in the preservation of fragile marine ecosystems elsewhere.

Conclusion

15. In closing, I would like to thank each and every one of you, our community partners, who have contributed your time, effort and ideas at today’s Festival and the design of the new Sisters’ lsland Marine Park. You have played your part to protect our natural heritage, both on land and in the sea, and to generate Singaporeans’ interest in our natural endowment. With the new Sisters’ Island Marine Park, I hope that even more Singaporeans of all ages will enjoy and value our natural richness. I look forward to seeing even more of you at next year’s Festival of Biodiversity.

Thank you.


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Dengue cases this year cross 10,000 mark

Channel NewsAsia 11 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: The number of dengue cases in Singapore has crossed the five-figure mark, with 10,112 cases as of 3.30pm on Thursday (July 10).

In a statement issued earlier this week, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said there was a “sharp rise” in the number of reported cases of dengue, and warned that it expects the number of cases to rise further during the ongoing peak dengue season.

For the week ending July 5, a total of 891 dengue cases were reported, up from the previous week of 674 cases. DENV-1, the strain of virus that caused the 2013 epidemic, remains dominant, accounting for almost 90 per cent of infections, the NEA said.

Another 556 cases were reported between July 6 and 10, according to the NEA website.

As of Thursday, there have been 28 clusters identified as high-risk areas. A total of 192 cases of dengue have been reported at Chua Chu Kang Avenue 2, 3 and 5 – making it the largest dengue cluster in Singapore currently.

One work site there was slapped with a stop-work order after authorities found four mosquito breeding sites there. More than 30 workers fell ill from dengue fever, while 60 residents one street away also caught the disease.

"The drains near the playground are clogged and collecting water," one resident at Chua Chu Kang Ave 2 told us. "Most of my neighbours have already been diagnosed with dengue, and some of them are in hospital."

MP Zaqy Mohamad said the National Environment Agency found more than 70 mosquito breeding sites across Chua Chu Kang in total - 12 in public areas, and eight in construction sites.

"What was interesting was we found 50 breeding sites in homes. In the residential areas that they visited, not every house opened their doors. So it is something that we need to continue educating residents. While there is risk coming from the environment, the majority of breeding sites that were found were in the residential areas," he said.

Work is underway to replace the constituency's concrete drain covers with metal grating, to minimise the incidence of choked drains that can breed mosquitoes literally under cover. Authorities have also stepped up mosquito control work and inspections in the hotspot.


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Businesses improve contingency plans in case haze returns

Patrick John Lim Channel NewsAsia 12 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: Singapore seems to have been spared the brunt of the haze so far.

But businesses, especially those with outdoor operations, are busy preparing themselves for the worst.

This is because many of them, even those with crisis management plans, were hit by the severity of the haze last year.

Orchard Hotel is one of many hotels that have stepped up their preparations to deal with the haze.

It has air purifiers on standby for guests if they require it, as well as facemasks available on demand.

The hotel said last year's haze affected staff and operations the most, but it remained confident in its business continuity plans if the smog returns.

Riaz Mahmood, general manager of Orchard Hotel Singapore, said: "In spite of our best laid plans, challenges will arise and I do still see some of our employees, particularly those with respiratory issues, may find it difficult coming to work. So we will have to double up on our staffing and everything else because this is a very busy hotel.

“From a business standpoint, I do not envisage too many room cancellations. There might be the odd one here and there with the delayed flights.

"From a food and beverage perspective, I actually look forward to the business levels increasing because the people are already in-housed and because of the haze they probably won't go out. They will eat in the hotel and we will also have some programmes to encourage them to use our outlets."

Major tourist attraction Sentosa believes that having a plan which is resilient and adaptable is important to deal with all eventualities.

Koh Piak Huat, divisional director for operations at Sentosa Leisure Management, said: "Last year, when the haze hit us… in the interests of the safety of the guests and the staff, we had actually cancelled a few shows, such as the Song of the Sea.

"We also we had to make some adjustments for those in outdoor critical areas, we had to ask the staff to reduce their exposure time in outdoor activities.

“But I must say that the transition was pretty smooth because we had a resilient framework, which we had been exercising… based on the full pandemic plan, so for us it was the adaptation of the plan put into practice."

Since last year, Sentosa has expanded security camera coverage across the island, which enables it to monitor the environment and respond to emergencies quickly.

- CNA/ms


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Greater focus to encourage walking for getting around Singapore

Alice Chia Channel NewsAsia 12 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: There will be a greater focus on encouraging more people to walk as a means to get around in the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint review.

The blueprint sets out a framework for the next phase of Singapore's sustainable development and it is due to be completed by the end of the year.

It is part of the government's efforts in sustainable development to reduce reliance on cars and get more people to take public transport.

Some suggestions to encourage more people to walk are sufficient linkways to provide shelter from the weather, and cultivating a gracious mindset so that cyclists and pedestrians can share pathways.

The suggestions arose from a focus group discussion organised by the Ministry of National Development on Saturday (July 12).

Some 40 participants from all walks of life including academics, seniors and representatives from the health and sports sectors attended the session. They gave ideas on improving infrastructure and how to promote walking and harmonious path-sharing.

Their feedback will help the government shape the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint.

One participant, Lily Teo, said: "We need better footpaths to encourage them to walk -- of course some greenery, nicer plants as well.

“We can also put up some music, so it should be more user-friendly, to encourage the elderly to walk more."

Marathon runner Yee Kin Kok, 42, said: "There is an inconsistency in terms of the walking and running paths between activity areas.

“For example, if you are in one part of the city, it's almost impossible to run or walk. Once you cross over to another zone, or an area where there are more dwellings, people who live there -- it suddenly becomes better."

Senior Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry, Lee Yi Shyan, said: "We focused on building a city that is convenient, that is efficient for car users, for mass transport, so there's a lot of focus on that.

“But as we develop our city to where we are today, I think it's good to look at things that are less emphasised upon. Walkability is part of this aspect of urban planning that will connect people, empower people to get to where they want to go to on their own."

- CNA/nd


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Malaysia: Tracking the poachers

New Straits Times 13 Jul 14;

EVERY DAY, the people who look after the forests and wildlife in Sabah risk having a firearm pointed at them by hunters.

With over four million hectares of forest reserves, parks and sanctuaries, the battle against poachers in the state is by no means “a walk in the park”.

The forests are protected by the Forestry Department, Wildlife Department, Sabah Parks and, to a certain extent, by Yayasan Sabah, a foundation that holds key conservation areas.

Every plot of protected forest teems with wildlife, including those on the endangered species list and high in demand — which is why poachers risk life and limb to hunt them.

According to a report compiled in 2012 by the international wildlife trade monitoring network, or TRAFFIC, of the 332 shops selling wild meat in the country, 83 are in Sabah.

The meat sold include those of the Sun bear, sambar deer, barking deer, freshwater terrapin, bearded pig and monitor lizard.

More than 150 shops were found selling bear bile in Malaysia, 10 of which were in Sabah.

Another worrying figure is the trade in 22,200 pangolins in the state over a period of 13 months, according to a report by the State Wildlife department in 2009.

At RM500 per kg for pangolin meat, it’s not difficult to understand why poachers abound.

At the Fifth East and Southeast Asian Wild Animal Rescue Network (WARN) Conference late last year, officers entrusted to look after the forest and its wildlife spoke of their concerns.

Among them was Indra Sujoto, a Forestry officer, who told of hunters running syndicated operations.

“There are villagers in remote locations or even those in protected forests who hunt for food, but they are not the ones we worry about.

“Our concern are with those from urban areas, who sneak into forest reserves and hunt animals to profit from the wild meat trade.

“There have been occasions where we were threatened, verbally abused and even had guns pointed at us in a bid to frighten us,” he revealed during the conference.

Motion sensor cameras set up to study wildlife have captured images of people carrying shotguns encroaching on crucial protected sites, such as Crocker Range National Park, Tawau Hills National Park, Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Malua Bio-Bank, Imbak Canyon and Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, to name a few.

Among the wildlife on the endangered species list include the Sumatran rhino, seladang, clouded leopard, sun bear, orang utan, proboscis monkeys, sambar deer and Bornean pygmy elephants.

Kinabatangan-based Danau Girang Field Centre director Dr Benoit Goossens, who also spoke at the conference, suggested that enforcement officers be armed.

“They should also be provided with equipment, such as camera traps and drones, to patrol protected areas and track down poachers.”

Sabah Wildlife Department assistant director Dr Sen Nathan stressed on the need for a global approach to enhance cooperation among agencies and non-governmental organisations to curb the hunting of and trading in wild animals.

“Wild animals in Sabah are a major asset to its tourism industry, the second biggest contributor to the state revenue.

“This makes protection and enforcement of laws crucial yet challenging.

“We have the laws but enforcement has been lacking because of the lack of manpower and funding.”

Sen, who also heads the department’s Wildlife Rescue Unit,
said agencies, departments and NGOs in Sabah could work with WARN to curb poaching and trade in wildlife through information sharing, greater awareness and education.

“Its an uphill task but we will not stop trying.”

All for the money

JOHN (not his real name) hunts wild boar for a living but will not think twice if a sambar deer crosses his path in the jungle.

The hunter said that in the places where he hunted wild boar, there were hardly other animals worth the precious bullets and time.

“Getting a deer means I can earn more because the demand for venison from restaurants is quite high these days.

“I sell venison at between RM15 and RM18 per kg and I can get more than 100kg of meat and bones from an adult male,” said John, who also shuttles passengers from towns to remote villagers in his four-wheel-drive vehicle.

John said he was not sure if shooting wild boar was illegal, especially near oil palm plantations where they were considered a pest, but he knew he needed a permit from the state Wildlife Department to do so.

“But how do we get these permits deep in the interior?” he asked.

The RM5 for the permit to hunt wild boar for food or RM50 for commercial purposes is also an obstacle to hunters like him.

“I hunt once or twice a week, depending on the weather and sell what I get to regular clients. The meat I supply is cleaned and de-boned properly and is priced between RM8 and RM10 per kg depending on the cuts and amount ordered.”

John said encountering deer or other animals were rare unless he ventured deep into protected forests.

“I prefer not to take that risk. Moreover, most animals stick to the same trail in the wild and I go back to several spots known only to me. So, it’s wild boar for me,” he said.

Shells for his shotgun are hard to come by because of strict monitoring by the authorities.

“To buy ammunition, we need to produce hunting permits and it’s not cheap.”

He revealed, however, that there were people from urban areas who hunt in groups and they tend to enter protected areas.

“Its easy for us to tell who they are because of the things they bring, such as oversized cooler boxes, a convoy of souped-up four-wheel-drives, sometimes with motorcycles in tow, spot lights and their firearms. However to detect them is not easy because of the many different routes and tracks.”

Clear and present danger to wildlife

ENFORCEMENT against poachers in Sabah is not easy.

Not when hunting has been a way of life for generations of the many native communities.

In the past, people hunted for food. And though that may be the case for some who live in remote areas, there are those who do it for profit or sport.

The authorities, however, are coming down hard on poachers.

On Feb 13, two Filipinos were jailed for four years for hunting and hurting an orang utan in Lahad Datu. They were the first to be jailed under the Sabah Wildlife Enactment 1997.

Wildlife rangers have also raided markets with a reputation for selling wild meat and intensified patrols near forest reserves.

On Dec 11 last year, three hawkers were arrested for selling wild meat without permits in Nabawan. About 160kg of meat was confiscated from them.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu said there would be no let up and the department was looking into setting up an enforcement unit to tackle wildlife trade and illegal hunting.

“This unit will focus on wildlife trade, illegal hunting and bush meat trade, using the best tools against wildlife smuggling and poaching and having a permanent presence in all protected areas in Sabah.”

Laurentius said it came as no surprise that animals were hunted in forest reserves and national parks where hunting was forbidden.

“There is a clear and present danger to the wildlife in Sabah.”

Echoing similar sentiments was Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who gave his full commitment to tackle the wildlife trade and illegal hunting.

Wildlife and forests are an integral part of the tourism industry, which is the second biggest money spinner in the state.

“Sabah will not be a place where our beautiful wildlife and national treasures are decimated by heartless people.”

On the court decision against the two orang utan hunters Masidi said the state government supported using the full force of the law to protect wildlife.

“We will show no mercy to anyone harming our protected and endangered species. Sabah is blessed with some of God’s wonderful creatures and it is our moral duty to protect them.”


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Malaysia: Palanivel -- 550 Wildlife Conservation Act violations so far this year

The Star 11 Jul 14;

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 550 violations of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 were detected between January and June this year, with 87% of them for keeping or using protected animals without permission.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said there were also cases keeping wild animals as pets without a permit.

There were 35 cases involving smuggling of wild animals, sale of wildlife unlawfully hunted (25), hunting without permits (eight) and unlawful delivery of wildlife using courier services (six), he said in a statement here Friday.

He said Johor recorded the most number of cases with 91 cases, followed by Selangor (86) and Kedah (76).

On the number of wildlife seized by the Wildlife Department, Palanivel said they included 362 units of snake parts, live Murai Batu birds (344), African Grey Parrots (260) and 120 units of deer parts.

A total of 25 cases of attempted smuggling of wild animals were detected at the KL International Airport, nine cases at the Bayan Lepas International Airport and one at Padang Besar, Perlis, leading to the arrests of 37 people, including foreigners, he added.

Palanivel said a total of 27 cases were filed at the court between January and June this year, with 16 of the cases disposed of.

The heaviest penalty was on a Vietnamese woman charged with attempting to smuggle monitor lizards through the Bayan Lepas International Airport in Penang last January, who was fined RM70,000, he said. - Bernama


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Malaysia: 'Lower fish haul due to sand mining'

NURADILLA NOORAZAM New Straits Times 12 Jul 14;

BANTING: MORE than 300 fishermen here are facing huge financial losses after their monthly catch is slashed by half over the last three months allegedly because of sand mining near their fishing spot.

The sand mining is alleged have breached the terms agreed upon in a contract approved by the Federal Government through the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry in April last year.

The Kuala Langat Fishermen Association, representing the interests of the fishermen, yesterday wrote a plea to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to help resolve the matter.

Its chairman, Mohd Jaman Haris, said the fishermen, who used to haul in around RM1,500 worth of catch per boat monthly, could manage only half of that because of the decline in the number of fishes.

“We strongly believe that the sand mining is causing the problem, as the fish population declined only after the activities began.”

He said the agreement signed between the sand-mining company and the government stipulated that such activities were to be confined to outside Selangor waters.

“If the agreement stated this, why are their boats intruding into our waters?”

He claimed the comings and goings of pontoon boats at the coastal area were worrying, as the fishermen’s boats were damaged when these vessels passed them.

“Efforts to seek compensation from the company responsible for this have been futile,” he said at the association’s headquarters here yesterday.

Jaman said the company issued a RM100,000 cheque to the state Fisheries Department, meant as compensation for the fishermen.

“However, we have yet to receive a single sen from the department while the company continues to mine our sand, thinking that the fishermen are satisfied with the compensation. We are definitely not.

“It is not enough for each fishermen here as our livelihood has been massively affected by the sand-mining.”

Jaman said the association had yet to discuss the matter with state and federal officials.

The association also lodged a police report against the company for allegedly operating in a restricted area.

Sand-mining has been a controversial subject in Selangor, notably after recent allegations of abuse of power and graft in the award of contracts.

Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd, one of the state’s subsidiary companies in charge of sand mining activities and regulations, was recently announced to be among the first state subsidiaries to undergo a reshuffle.


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Malaysia: Extreme weather behind Mulu National Park’s fire

ESTHER LANDAU New Straits Times 12 Jul 14;

KUCHING: Punishing heat over the week in Miri may have caused fire at the Mulu National Park.

Marudi Fire and Rescue Department chief Zulbadar Alior said the fire was not from an open burning activity but from the extreme hot temperature.

"It has been a dry week in Miri and it may have caused the fire," said Zulbadar when contacted.

He said it is difficult for the firemen to put out the flame at the moment as it is difficult to find water supply in that area.

"Even the river in the park could not supply enough water as it is almost dry," he said adding that the firemen are still searching for nearby water supply.

Zulbadar however said he is unsure of the immensity of the forest damaged by the fire as they are still in the process of investigation.

"We will monitor the situation from time to time as for now i could not give any answer on how big is the damage caused by the fire," said Zulbadar.

Marudi Fire and Rescue Department received the distress call at 9am and dispatched 10 firemen with an air wing unit to Mulu National Park.

No casualties were reported.

Ends


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Great Barrier Reef impact from dredging could cost 'as much as $1bn'

FOI documents reveal a wide disparity between cost estimates from developer and marine park authority
Oliver Milman theguardian.com 12 Jul 14;

Internal emails from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority show the cost of maintaining water quality after dredging for Abbot Point is open to question. Photograph: AAP
The amount of money needed to “offset” the impact of a dredging project on the Great Barrier Reef could be as much as $1bn – which is $998m more than the project developer has suggested.

Documents obtained under freedom of information reveal huge uncertainty over the investment needed to maintain water quality following dredging to expand the Abbot Point port, north of Bowen in Queensland.

In approving the development, which will allow for a greater volume of shipped coal exports, environment minister Greg Hunt stipulated there must be a 150% net benefit in water quality after the dredging.

Several experts, including those from the United Nations, have questioned whether this is viable, with critics claiming that digging up seabed and dumping it within the Great Barrier Reef marine park will smother coral with sediment and kill off marine life.

Internal emails from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority show this task, and its cost, is open to question.

“GBRMPA has done some preliminary cost estimates for water quality offsets and assess that the cost of delivering a genuine net benefit would [be from] $200m to over $1bn depending on assumptions,” one document from June 2013 states.

“Without any indication as to what the proponent or the department view as reasonable, determining whether any proposed offsets are practical and provide a proven net benefit will be problematic.”

These emails contain a warning, revealed earlier this year, that the entire proposal to dump 3m cubic metres of dredged seabed into the marine park is problematic in itself.

The disparity in the amount of money needed to offset sediment dumped into the marine park is revealed in further GBRMPA correspondence from January 2014.

Minutes from a meeting show that North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation, the proponents of the Abbot Point expansion, estimated that $2m would be needed to offset the dumped sediment.

“Our assessments are more like 100m, how do you manage that difference?” the minutes state.

This discrepancy means that the two parties were at least $98m, or as much as $998m, apart in their estimates of the offset cost.

A spokeswoman for NQBP said that this wasn’t the case as costs were still being worked through.

“Any suggestion that NQBP is only allocating $2m for water quality improvement work is not correct,” she said. “The exact details and costs are still being worked through with the department so at this stage there is no accurate figure which can be provided either by NQBP, the Department of Environment or GBRMPA.

“It is also important to understand that dredging has not yet occurred and that there are a number of conditions which will need to be met to ensure that impacts are avoided and mitigated.”

Previous freedom of information documents have shown concern from the Australian Institute of Marine Science that dumped sediment will travel further than previously thought, potentially endangering the reef’s coral and seagrass.

Jeremy Tager, a campaigner at North Queensland Conservation Council, which obtained the documents, said the $2m cited by NQBP is “not nearly enough” to ensure water quality is improved.

“No one has figured out how this will work, or the cost of it, or how to measure it,” he said. “It’s all up in the air. Offsets are problematic anyway, due to the failure to monitor and oversee them.

“The worry is that the federal government will have to come in and pay for any shortfall with taxpayer money. There is nothing in the approval that states the proponent must pay. The government needs to come out and say that no public funds will be used for these offsets.”

North Queensland Conservation Council is currently engaged in a court battle to stop the Abbot Point expansion.

A spokeswoman from the GBRMPA said: "Based on the approval conditions set out by the federal environment minister, North Queensland Bulk Ports is required to develop an offsets plan for the Burdekin and Don catchments.

"Once the department of the environment receives the offsets plan, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will review its content and provide advice."

A spokesman for Hunt said the proponents would, in fact, be required to pay for the offsets rather than the government. He added that the money would be paid, whatever the final amount was.

Meanwhile, the project developers are still attempting to find a site to dump the spoil, after it was determined that the original location, 24km out from Abbot Point, was unsuitable. The project was approved despite this uncertainty, with Hunt having to sign off on the new location.


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