Best of our wild blogs: 17 Oct 16

19 Nov: The Future of MacRitchie Concert
Green Drinks Singapore

Return to reefy East Coast Park
wild shores of singapore

Read more!

Countries need to 'roll up sleeves', make Paris climate deal happen: Masagos

Channel NewsAsia 17 Nov 16;

SINGAPORE: History will judge the Paris Agreement not just by how many countries signed it or how quickly it entered into force, but also how effectively countries implement it, Singapore's Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said on Wednesday (Nov 16).

The Paris accord, sealed late last year in the French capital, commits countries to make plans to keep global warming "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels to try to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

Speaking at the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-22), Mr Masagos said that the agreement entering into force less than a year after it was adopted was "testament to the fact that with strong political will, countries can set their differences aside and work towards a common global imperative".

"We must now prove that we can, individually and collectively, take actions to achieve the aims of this agreement," he said. "We must now roll up our sleeves and make it happen."

Singapore was one of the first 55 countries to ratify the agreement on Sep 21 and is "proud to have contributed to the agreement's early entry into force", the Minister said.

He urged more countries to ratify the agreement as "a strong global response to climate change requires universal participation".

In the meantime, Mr Masagos said that the next priority would be to develop the rulebook for the Paris deal with a "cooperative and pragmatic spirit".

There have been clashes between parties in the negotiation of the agreement, including Australia and New Zealand blocking a bid from low-lying Pacific island nations for a tougher global target and disagreements between France and the US on whether the deal should be legally binding.

Mr Masagos said that while developing the rulebook for the Paris accord, "it is imperative that parties look forward and not backwards".

"We need to move on together and avoid renegotiating resolved issues that will only divide us," he added.

SINGAPORE "ON TRACK" TO MEET PRE-2020 PLEDGE

The Environment and Water Resources Minister said at the conference that Singapore was "on track" to meet its pre-2020 pledge under the agreement, according to the climate action plan it released in July.

For example, to reduce emissions from power generation, Singapore aims to raise the adoption of solar power in its system to 350 Mega Watt peak by 2020, an 18 times increase as compared to 2014.

"We are also undertaking various actions to enhance our resilience to climate change. For example, the future Changi Airport Terminal 5 will be built 5.5m above the mean sea level," Mr Masagos said.

"As a small city-state, Singapore needs to plan for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the context of our unique constraints of land, energy and water. Notwithstanding these constraints, we will do our part as a responsible member of the international community," he added.

Singapore was one of 170 countries to welcome the Montreal Protocol to phase down the use of hydroflorocarbons, a category of dangerous greenhouse gases widely used in refrigerators and air conditioners, last month.

The country will be submitting its second biennial update report on its efforts to fulfill its pre-2020 pledge under the agreement in December this year, according to Mr Masagos.

- CNA/mz



National Statement of Singapore Delivered by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources at the UNFCCC COP-22, 16 November 2016, Marrakech, Morocco
MEWR website

Mr President,

1. The Paris Agreement has entered into force on 4th November, less than a year after it was adopted.

a. This is testament to the fact that with strong political will, countries can set their differences aside and work towards a common global imperative.

b. As a small country, Singapore strongly supports and relies on a rules-based multilateral system. On our part, we have actively worked with all Parties to forge the Paris Agreement. To show our commitment to the Agreement, we ratified it on 21 September 2016 and were one of the first 55 Parties to do so. We are proud to have contributed to the Agreement’s early entry into force.

c. Let us ensure that this momentum of ratification continues even after its entry into force. A strong global response to climate change requires universal participation of the Agreement. We look forward to announcements of more ratifications in the coming days at COP-22.

2. We are now moving to the next phase of climate action – the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

a. Our key task ahead would be to expeditiously develop the Paris Agreement Rulebook with the same cooperative and pragmatic spirit that led to the successful outcome at COP-21. It is imperative that Parties look forward and not backwards. We need to move on together and avoid re-negotiating resolved issues that will only divide us.

b. Thankfully, we are not starting from scratch for most of these rules. We have many years of experiences under the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol to draw from. That said, we should not be averse to creative and pragmatic approaches so as to enable all Parties to play their part under the Paris Agreement. All of us must press on with our efforts to address climate change no matter the challenges we may face in the political environment.

c. One key outcome of COP-22 is to establish a roadmap for negotiations on the Paris Agreement Rulebook, with clear milestones to guide the pace of negotiations. This will provide confidence to all Parties that progress will be made across all issues despite their varying levels of maturity and complexity.

3. Beyond efforts under the UNFCCC, it is also worthwhile for us to recognise and encourage global climate action undertaken by other sectors.

a. Recently, the 39th ICAO Assembly adopted the Global Market-Based Measure (GMBM) for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). This is a historic outcome for ICAO. Already, 66 States, including Singapore, covering 87% of international aviation activity have indicated that they will voluntarily participate in the GMBM from its early phase. This demonstrates the leadership and competency of specialised agencies like ICAO and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to develop appropriate schemes for their sectors on their own.

b. Singapore also joined some 170 countries to welcome the landmark agreement to phase down the use of HFCs at the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol last month. This agreement was the result of our collective political will to protect the environment. Singapore remains committed to working towards meeting the global ambition to phase down the use of HFCs.

c. At the same time, we must recognise that deforestation and forest fires are still regular occurrences that plague our region, Southeast Asia, especially when they are cleared for commercial use. When the fires burn over peat land, large quantities of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere, and are a key threat to the global effort to address climate change. Hence, the protection of our forests and prevention of peat land fires are key to our global climate action plan. In this connection, we appreciate the response by Indonesia to tighten and enforce laws to address forest fires. This increased efforts effectively prevented large CO2 emission recurring from the burning of peatlands. We look forward for these efforts to be sustained together with strong regional cooperation. Both of these will contribute to the vision of a haze-free ASEAN by 2020. In this regard, governments, investors, purchasers and consumers also have significant roles to play to ensure unsustainable commercial practices are not rewarded.

d. Regional efforts can play a useful role in catalysing climate action as well. In Southeast Asia, ASEAN Member States collaborate on climate change efforts through the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change. This platform allows us to share best practices and lessons learnt with each other. ASEAN seeks to be open and inclusive, and we welcome other UNFCCC Parties to work with us to achieve our common aims.

e. Voluntary initiatives by non-Party stakeholders are an important complement to national efforts. The Global Climate Action Agenda is important in this context. The Action Agenda allows various stakeholders to identify synergies and formulate holistic strategies to facilitate the fundamental changes we need. Sustained investments of time and effort are required to catalyse such initiatives. We are thus pleased that the Climate Champions[1] are personally overseeing this Action Agenda.

4. Even as we collaborate globally, we need to work locally to achieve our respective pre-2020 pledges, so as to lay down a firm foundation for the effective implementation of our post-2020 pledges.

a. Singapore is on track to meet our pre-2020 pledge. We will be submitting our 2nd Biennial Update Report in December 2016, which will detail our efforts to fulfil our pre-2020 pledge.

b. With the ratification of the Agreement, Singapore has also formalised our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – to lower our Emissions Intensity (EI) by 36% from 2005 levels, and to stabilise our emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030. Singapore takes our pledge seriously. We released our latest Climate Action Plan in July 2016 which explains Singapore’s strategies to achieve our NDC objectives. For example, despite our small land area and high urban density constraints, we aim to raise the adoption of solar power in our system from around 100 megawatt peak (MWp) today to 350 MWp by 2020. We are also undertaking various actions to enhance our resilience to climate change. For example, the future Changi Airport Terminal 5 will be built 5.5 metres above the mean sea level.

c. Singapore’s climate efforts build on our early actions which have been recognised by the international community. According to the 2016 Arcadis Sustainable Cities index, Singapore is Asia’s most sustainable city and the second most sustainable city in the world, after Zurich.[2] Our commitment to sustainable development has also resulted in us being ranked among the 20 best-performing countries in the world on Emissions Intensity in 2015.[3]

5. Climate change mitigation and adaptation are long term endeavours that extend well beyond 2030.

a. As a small city state, Singapore needs to plan for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the context of our unique constraints of land, energy and water. Notwithstanding these constraints, we will do our part as a responsible member of the international community.

b. Singapore uses various tools to inform our long-term climate efforts. Our technology roadmaps help us guide research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) efforts, to realise the long-term mitigation potential of key sectors. We have completed seven technology roadmaps, covering solar photovoltaics (PV), building energy efficiency, industry energy efficiency, green data centres, Carbon Capture and Storage/Utilisation (CCS/U), solid waste management and electro-mobility. We also use high resolution climate models to project regional climate changes, such as temperature and sea-level rise. These models inform our adaptation plans in areas such as coastal protection, water resources and drainage, biodiversity and greenery, network infrastructure and building infrastructure.

Mr President,

6. The Paris Agreement is an important milestone and will be remembered in history as such.

a. However, the success of the Paris Agreement will not be determined just by how many Parties signed it or how quickly it entered into force. History will judge the success of the Paris Agreement based on how effectively we implement it.

b. We must now show that we can create durable rules and enduring action. We must now prove that we can, individually and collectively, take actions to achieve the aims of this Agreement. In short, we must now roll up our sleeves and make it happen.

c. The first step in this long journey starts here at COP-22. Singapore stands ready to work with all Parties to continue to make history and redefine our future.

Thank you Mr President.

[1] Under the COP-21 decisions, Parties agreed to appoint two Climate Champions between 2016-2020 to speed up and scale up immediate climate action, who would be selected successively from outgoing and incoming Presidencies of the annual UN climate change conference.
[2] Source: Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index, 2016.
[3] Source: IEA Key World Energy Statistics, 2015. Comparisons based on available carbon emissions per US$GDP data.

Read more!

New reclamation method aims to reduce Singapore's reliance on sand

Alice Chia Channel NewsAsia 16 Nov 16;

SINGAPORE: A new method of reclaiming land will be used on the northwestern tip of Pulau Tekong, and this aims to help Singapore reduce the amount of sand needed for such works and save on upfront costs.

The new method, called polder development method, will be adopted by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) for the project, announced National Development Minister Lawrence Wong during his visit to the polder site at Pulau Tekong on Wednesday (Nov 16).

Traditionally, sand is used to reclaim land to above sea levels, but the new method involves developing a polder - a low-lying tract of land reclaimed from the sea. A dike or wall is built to prevent seawater from entering the polder while a network of drains and pumps controls the water levels.

This reduces the amount of sand needed for reclamation and saves on upfront construction costs, HDB and the Ministry of National Development (MND) said.

Mr Wong added that sand is not always easy to come by, and the project will reduce the country's reliance on sand for reclamation works.

The reliance on sand imports was keenly felt in 2007, when Indonesia announced its decision to ban the export of land sand to Singapore. It was reported at the time that Singapore was importing six to eight million tonnes of sand, with more than 90 per cent coming from Indonesia. This led to price increases in construction works and having to source for more sand from other markets.

Mr Wong also said this new method will help build up capabilities. "We know that we are facing the threat of climate change, sea levels rising and we are low-lying in Singapore. With this project, I think the experience that we gain in learning how to build dikes, in learning how to manage coastal areas, will be very important for us as we deal with the threat of climate change in the longer term."

When the reclamation is completed around 2022, Pulau Tekong will have an additional 810 hectares of land, or about the size of two Toa Payoh towns. The land has been earmarked for military training.

To ensure the long-term safety of the polder land, the HDB drew on the experience of the Netherlands, which has used this method for land reclamation for many years, and has the world's highest standards for dike safety, HDB and MND said. An environmental study has also been carried out to ensure there will not be significant impact on the surrounding marine environment and wildlife.

The tender for the polder project is expected to be called by the end of this year, and construction will start in end-2017, HDB and MND said.

- CNA/kk


Reclamation at Tekong to give SAF more training space
FARIS MOKHTAR Today Online 16 Nov 16;

SINGAPORE — A bigger Pulau Tekong is in the works through a new land reclamation project to meet the Republic’s growing military training needs.

The additional land — measuring 810ha, or roughly the size of two Toa Payoh towns — will be reclaimed using a method that will also help the Republic reduce reliance on an increasingly uncertain supply of sand, as less of it is required. Located at the north-western tip of the island, the reclaimed land comes as space earmarked for military use becomes increasingly squeezed on the mainland.

The tender for the project will be called by the end of this year. Construction will start at the end of next year and is expected to be completed by 2022.

Speaking during a visit to Pulau Tekong on Wednesday (Nov 16), Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong, when asked why Pulau Tekong is being expanded, told reporters that Singapore is “always in need of more land”, and the additional space will help the Singapore Armed Forces with its growing training needs.

Asked whether this means more military camps will be shifted to the island, which was over 24.4ha and is growing, Mr Wong would say only that the reclaimed land will provide “some opportunity” to free up space in mainland Singapore.

Among the training areas under Ministry of Defence (Mindef) that have been affected by development is its training area in Tengah. With the development of Tengah New Town — about the size of Bishan — by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), Mindef has said that it will adjust its training accordingly.

In 2013, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced in his National Day Rally that Paya Lebar Air Base will relocate to Changi East, freeing up an area of 800 ha — bigger than Bishan or Ang Mo Kio — to build new homes, offices, factories and parks.

Responding to queries, Mindef said it works with MND to overcome physical and resource constraints, adding there are “significant requirements” for land to “train realistically”, even as it makes use of simulators and overseas training.

Commenting on the new land reclamation method being used — called empoldering — Mr Wong said it is not new, but there had been no pressing need to introduce it here as sand was “much more readily available” in the past. But circumstances have changed, he said.

Both Indonesia and Vietnam had halted sand exports in the past on the back of environmental concerns, creating a bottleneck in construction timelines in Singapore.

The new method, common in the Netherlands, will “significantly” reduce the amount of sand needed for reclamation, and it could also be employed in future reclamation projects, Mr Wong said.

The empoldering method will see a dike measuring 6m high and 10km long — about the length of the Bukit Timah Expressway — constructed to keep sea water out.

The land that is to be reclaimed will then be drained of any remaining water to create a low-lying track of land, also known as a polder, which will be 1.2 m below sea level. This is done with a network of drains, water pumping systems and canals, which will run continuously to prevent the polder from becoming waterlogged.

While the new method will generate savings in sand and construction costs, Mr Wong did not provide figures. Professor Kees d’Angremond, who is Singapore’s long-time adviser on reclamation work, acknowledged that maintenance cost will be higher because water has to be constantly drained. But the Singapore Government has done cost calculations, and the “conclusion is building a polder is the most economical way of reclaiming land”, he said.

The Ministry of National Development (MND) and HDB said an environmental study has been carried out to ensure the surrounding environment, including marine life, is not adversely affected.

The HDB said the impact of polder development on the surrounding environment will be negligible. But mitigating measures such as silt screens will be put up where required, during construction.

An Environmental Monitoring and Management plan will also be implemented.

Mangroves and other plant species in surrounding areas would also be conserved and protected.


Pulau Tekong to get extra land the size of two Toa Payoh towns using new reclamation method
Yeo Sam Jo Straits Times 16 Nov 16; and AsiaOne

SINGAPORE - A new method of land reclamation will be adopted at the north-western tip of Pulau Tekong, adding new land the size of two Toa Payoh towns for military training purposes, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said on Wednesday (Nov 16).

The empoldering method involves building a dike around the area to be reclaimed and draining water from it, creating a low-lying tract of land below sea level, called a polder. The polder is buffered from the sea by a dike, and water levels in the polder are controlled by drains and pumps.

The dike will measure 10km long, up to 15m wide at its crest and stand about 6m above sea level.

Compared to the traditional method of infilling with sand, this will reduce the amount of sand needed for reclamation and save on upfront construction costs, said the Housing Board, which is the agent appointed by the Ministry of National Development to carry out land reclamation works on behalf of the Government.

To ensure that the project is cost-effective, safe and environmentally sensitive, the HDB said it is working closely with Professor Kees d'Angremond from the Netherlands - an authority on polder development and longtime adviser to Singapore on reclamation.

Prof Kees d'Angremond on the new reclamation method for Pulau Tekong

While polders may be new to Singapore, Professor d'Angremond said they have been built in the Netherlands for the past 2,000 years.

These polders were primitive ones built by farmers who wanted to protect their land against flooding, he said.

Safety of the polders is ensured through methods such as the building of strong dikes, determining the height of the dike in relation to expected sea levels and wave action, as well as having a grass cover on the inner dike slope to ensure it does not erode, Professor d'Angremond said.

"As Dutchmen we are convinced that it is a good solution for the future, but I think it is very wise that your Government has decided to call it a pilot polder and to do quite a lot of testing on the polder before you decide to apply the method in other places."

"That means also that we will do a lot of research in polders together to see whether we can make further improvements that are really dedicated to the conditions in Singapore."

The HDB will call for a tender by the end of this year and construction will commence at the end of 2017. The reclamation project is slated for completion in 2022.

Mindef will maintain the 810ha polder land upon its completion, while the drainage system, dike, water pumping stations and canals will be maintained by national water agency PUB.

The reclaimed area on the island will also have 21km of roads - the combined length of East Coast Parkway - and 29km of drains.

Pulau Tekong as seen from a bund. The sea area will be reclaimed land by 2022. ST PHOTO: YEO SAM JO
The HDB said an environmental study has been carried out to ensure that there will not be any significant impact on the surrounding marine environment and marine life.

"The study has found that the environmental impact due to the development of the polder would be minimal," said the HDB.

It added that surrounding areas with mangroves and other plant life will be conserved and protected.

Mr Wong told reporters during a site visit on Wednesday that Singapore has been studying the empoldering method for some time to reduce its reliance on sand for reclamation purposes.

“The polder project is important also for another reason, which is that it helps us to build capabilities,” he said.

“Because in the long term, we know that we are facing the threat of climate change, sea levels rising, and we are low-lying in Singapore. So with this project, I think that the experience that we gain in learning how to build dikes, in learning how to manage coastal areas, this will be very important for us as we deal with the threat of climate change in the longer term.

“So this is really a project not just about expanding our physical space but also about building up capabilities and making ourselves a more resilient nation in the longer term."

He said he will not rule out adopting empoldering for future reclamation projects, and also cited challenges such as the disruption in sand supply as a good reason to adopt the method.

The method will lead to a "significant amount" of savings in sand and cost, Mr Wong said, but did not reveal any figures.

"But we do expect significant savings in sand and also in construction costs," he said.

When asked why Pulau Tekong needs more land, he said that the country is "always in need of more land".

"For this particular expansion, it's going to be used for Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) training. But the needs for land continue to grow, whether it's for military, for housing, for commercial uses," he said.

"We are always looking at options to expand. And by expanding Tekong, providing SAF more space for their training needs, which are growing, we can free up land in the main Singapore island for other developmental purposes," he added.




Dutch experts give advice on Tekong land reclamation
Yeo Sam Jo Straits Times 17 Nov 16;

A popular tale by American author Mary Mapes Dodge tells of a Dutch boy who saves his country by putting his finger in the hole of a leaking dyke. The Dutch have had a long history with dykes - embankment barriers - given how the Netherlands is prone to flooding.

It may come as little surprise then that Singapore's latest land reclamation venture on Pulau Tekong, which will use a 10km-long dyke, is being done in consultation with Dutch experts.

To ensure that the project is cost- effective, safe and environmentally sensitive, Singapore is working closely with Professor Kees d'Angremond from the Netherlands, a longtime adviser to the Republic on reclamation. He is also an authority on polder development - the reclamation method that will be used to create 810ha of extra land on the offshore island.

This involves building a dyke around the area to be reclaimed and draining water from it. It will result in a low-lying tract of land, known as a polder, that is buffered from the sea by the dyke. Water levels in the polder are then controlled by a network of drains and pumps.

While polders may be new to Singapore, Prof d'Angremond said they have been built in the Netherlands for the past 2,000 years. These polders started out as primitive ones built by farmers who wanted to protect their land against flooding, and were often a matter of trial and error, he said.

With modern technology today, safety of the polders is ensured using advanced methods. These include the building of strong dykes to ensure water does not flow in, determining the dyke's height in relation to expected sea levels and wave action, and having a grass cover on the inner dyke slope to ensure it does not erode, Prof d'Angremond said.

A stone revetment, similar to a sea wall, will protect the dyke from the sea waves, said the Housing Board, the reclamation project's appointed agent. Meanwhile, either a cement bentonite screen or a diaphragm wall will minimise the seepage of sea water through the dyke.

The professor acknowledged that Singapore has "more severe" rain than the Netherlands, which might make draining water from the polder more challenging. But he said that this could be solved with a proper pumping system.

He added: "We will do a lot of research in polders together to see whether we can make further improvements that are really dedicated to the conditions in Singapore."


Making more room on Tekong
Yeo Sam Jo Straits Times 19 Nov 16;

Pulau Tekong - the island so familiar to most Singaporean sons - will be getting bigger by 2022. It was announced this week that a plot of land will be added to the north-western tip of the island using a land reclamation technique that is new to Singapore. About 810ha - the size of two Toa Payoh towns - will be created via empoldering, which involves building a dyke around the area to be reclaimed and draining water from it.

Compared to traditional land reclamation where infill is poured onto the seabed, this method is expected to significantly reduce costs as well as the amount of sand used. If adopted for future projects, empoldering could not only help our little red dot grow, but also tackle rocky challenges ahead.

The first challenge is Singapore's quest for more space. The National Development Ministry's Land Use Plan of 2013 specified that Singapore would need to reclaim 5,200ha of land - equivalent to nine Ang Mo Kio towns - by 2030 to meet growing population needs. Pulau Tekong, which currently spans around 2,440ha, already houses four basic military training schools where recruits go to become combat-ready soldiers. The reclaimed tract of land, called a polder, will provide more space for the Singapore Armed Forces' growing training needs, said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong.

He stressed that Singapore is "always in need of more land", be it for military, housing or commercial purposes. This expansion will free up space on the mainland for other developments.

The upcoming reclamation on Tekong will also see the Republic lowering its reliance on sand, as empoldering uses less of the material. As Mr Wong noted, sand sources can be easily disrupted, leading to uncertain fluctuations in supply and price. Given how neighbouring countries such as Indonesia have banned sand exports in recent years, this could make Singapore less vulnerable to any shortages.

Lastly, empoldering could also build up local expertise in areas such as dyke construction and coastal management. This would better poise Singapore to handle problems such as rising sea levels due to climate change, Mr Wong said.


Joint Press Release by MND & HDB: HDB to adopt new land reclamation method at Pulau Tekong
HDB 16 Nov 16;

Singapore will reclaim land through the development of a polder at the north-western tip of Pulau Tekong. This innovative, cost-saving method, to be used for the first time here, will be adopted by the Housing & Development Board (HDB) for the upcoming land reclamation project. This was announced by Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance during his visit to the polder site at Pulau Tekong this morning.

New Polder Development First-of-Its Kind in Singapore

2 Unlike the traditional method of infilling with sand, this “empoldering” method involves creating a tract of reclaimed land from the sea or a surrounding water body, by constructing a dike and a network of drains, water pumping systems and canals. It will substantially reduce the amount of sand needed for land reclamation, and reap savings on upfront construction costs.

Please refer to the illustration below for a comparison of the traditional infilling method and polder development method.


3 The polder will be protected from the sea by a dike measuring 10 kilometres long, up to 15 metres wide at its crest, and will stand at about 6 metres above sea level. In designing the safety provision of the dike, HDB has drawn on the vast experience of the Netherlands, which currently has the world’s highest standards for dike safety, to ensure long-term safety of the polder land.

4 HDB worked closely with Professor Kees d’Angremond of the Netherlands, an authoritative figure on polder development and a long-time Adviser to Singapore on reclamation works, on the design of the polder development at Pulau Tekong to ensure that it is cost-effective, safe and environmentally-sensitive.

5 An environmental study has also been carried out to ensure that there will not be significant impact on the surrounding marine environment and marine life. The study has found that the environmental impact due to the development of the polder would be minimal. In addition, surrounding areas where mangroves and other plant life are present would be conserved and protected.


Polder Land Expected to Complete in 2022

6 Tender for the polder project is expected to be called by end 2016, and construction work will commence in end 2017. When completed around 2022, it will add an additional 810 hectares of new land to Singapore.

Read more!

Singapore on the map in Planet Earth II

MAY SEAH Today Online 16 Nov 16;

SINGAPORE — If not for Gardens By The Bay, Singapore probably would not have had the chance to be featured in BBC Earth’s Planet Earth II, whose debut episode was the most-watched natural history documentary in the United Kingdom in over 15 years. After all, what nail-biting, jaw-dropping natural-world action does our little island have?

But in the finale episode, which focuses on cities and how the natural world interacts with urban environments, Singapore gets screen time as an example of how cities can work to be conducive to nature.

The highly anticipated show, which comes 10 years after the runaway success of Planet Earth, was three and a half years in the making for producer Fredi Devas (Frozen Planet, Wild Arabia), who helmed the finale Cities episode.

“When the decision was made to make a Cities film, I really petitioned hard to work on that one, because I think that it’s new ground,” Devas explained over the telephone from the UK. “In landmark wildlife film-making, we haven’t really covered the urban environment as a new habitat for animals, so it felt like an important area of research to cover. And now that over half of us live in the urban environment, I think it’s a very important issue to look at globally.”

As to why Singapore was chosen to be featured, Devas, who has 13 years of wildlife film-making experience under his belt, said: “There are some cities that are making a real effort to invite wildlife back into their city. And Singapore has the highest biodiversity of any city in the world. What really attracted me to Singapore was the ethos of building a city within a garden — the idea that Gardens By The Bay, for example, has been built before the skyscrapers that are going to be built around it ... I think we’re really championing city greening in a futuristic way.”

Plus, he added, “It’s visually amazing — when people see the images of the Supertrees, they think, ‘Wow, what are those? They’re extraordinary.” And the fact that there are 300 different species of epiphytes, those creepers that are planted on those Supertrees, that are going to spread over the outermost branches — that’s going to be an amazing thing to see over the next few years as they grow. Yes, that can feel like it’s very much designed by humans rather than designed by nature, but the whole urban environment is designed by humans, so this is embracing that, recognising that, and championing the fact that it’s a different building material.”

The segment also focuses on the bird species that nest in the trees, and how smooth-coated otters are making a comeback.

Filming in Singapore was carried out in just over two weeks, Devas shared. “I looked at a 146 years’ worth of data to choose the window in which to film, to make sure we had the best chance of getting beautiful blue sky days. And we did. The meteorological organisation in Singapore was incredibly helpful. I think we spoke to three or four different experts, all of whom gave us not only their interpretation of the weather data over so many years but also their personal perspective on which two weeks across the whole 52 a year would be the best to come and film!” And Singaporeans, he noted, “really put a value on the wildlife in their city, and I found that very refreshing”.

With developments in film-making technology, the series brings viewers even closer to nature by filming the action from the animals’ perspective, for example. The Cities episode also documents leopards roaming the streets of Mumbai and hyenas coexisting with humans in Ethopia.

And in a rapidly changing world, the message rings clear as ever: That conservation and education are paramount.

Catch Planet Earth II on Mondays at 8pm on BBC Earth (StarHub TV Ch 407), with a repeat telecast on Sundays at 5pm. Also available for catch-up viewing on the new BBC Player, available online and as an app. The Cities episode is the series finale and will air on Dec 19.

Read more!

Wet weather to continue for rest of November

Channel NewsAsia 16 Nov 16;

SINGAPORE: Expect the rest of November to be rainy, with the weather this month forecast to be wetter than normal, a Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) advisory said on Wednesday (Nov 16).

Thunderstorms, heavy at times, are forecast mostly in the afternoon and evening on six to eight days over the next two weeks. Widespread thunderstorms accompanied by strong wind can also be expected between the predawn and early morning on one or two days.

The daily maximum temperature on most days is forecast to be around 32°C or 33°C. On rainy days, cooler nights are expected with a daily minimum temperature ranging from 22°C and 23°C.

In the first two weeks of November, thunderstorms experienced over Singapore were brought by Sumatra squalls from the Strait of Malacca. The heaviest showers were recorded on Nov 14 with 128mm of rain on Semakau Island.

Over the span of two weeks, the highest rainfall of 258.4mm was recorded around the Clementi area, which was 87 per cent above average. The average temperatures were as low as 21.9°C and as high as 34.4°C for the first half of November.

- CNA/ek


Wet end to November
Today Online 16 Nov 16;

SINGAPORE — It looks like the rest of November will continue to be wet, with temperatures possibly dipping to lows of between 22°C and 23°C at night, said the Meteorological Service Singapore on Wednesday (Nov 16).

For the coming fortnight, thundery showers are forecast mostly in the afternoon and evening on six to eight days.

“In addition, widespread thundery showers accompanied by gusty winds can be expected between the pre-dawn and early morning on one or two days during the period,” added the Met Service.

It warned that rainfall forecast for this month will be “above normal.”

The onset of the North-east Monsoon is to be expected by the end of the month. Light and variable low level winds are forecast for most days in the next two weeks, and are expected to gradually strengthen and blow from the north-east or north-west around the end of the month.

Read more!

Malaysia: Johor needs RM1.5bil to protect coastline from erosion

MOHD FARHAAN SHAH The Star 17 Nov 16;

JOHOR BARU: The state government needs RM1.5bil to repair and conduct erosion protection projects along the Johor west coastline.

State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said several areas have been identified for severe erosion including in Muar, Tanjung Piai and Pantai Sungai Lurus at Batu Pahat.

“The works are currently being carried out in several stages as it involved huge amounts of money where we received help through close cooperation between Johor and the Federal Government,” he said when contacted.

Ayub said the increase in sea level together with abnormal weather patterns caused by climate change were the main reasons behind the coastal erosion.

He said that among the works that were being carried out by the government included building a 5km seawall at Pantai Sungai Lurus and a windbreaker at Tanjung Piai.

Ayub added that these methods, including planting mangrove trees, would help protect the coastline.

“The government, through the relevant agencies, will continue to monitor and protect our coastline from erosion,” he said.

On another matter, to address climate change, Ayub added that the government was proactive in ensuring the success of Low Carbon Society Blueprint for Iskandar Malaysia 2025.

He added that through the blueprint, the government aimed to reduce carbon emission by 50% in 2025.

Ayub said Iskandar Regional Development Authority together with five local councils under the economic corridor have been carrying out various programmes to reach the target.

“We have many programmes, including the ecolife challenge, energy and water saving competition, and tree planting projects under the blueprint.

“The government wants to create awareness on the importance of keeping our environment safe for the benefit of our future generation through educating the rakyat, which have been well received by them,” he said.

Read more!

Malaysia: Govt plans to create more artificial reefs

The Star 17 Nov 16;

PLANS are in the pipeline to create more artificial reefs as new habitats for marine life in a move to reverse adverse bleaching of the country’s coral reefs.

Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri said the Government had also invested about RM1.55mil in a conservation project to rebuild dying reefs through seeding initiatives and monitoring of marine parks to preserve the fragile underwater ecosystem.

But as sea temperatures continue to rise as a result of global warming, Hamim said the Government also needed to consider other marine life which relied on reefs for food and shelter.

“The most conventional method is artificial reefs that can serve as a habitat for other marine life.

“This is important because the biodiversity of marine life is so fragile.

“We need to conserve it as it is a major source of food and attraction for tourists,” he told Parliament during a question and answer session yesterday.

Datuk Hasan Arifin (BN-Rompin) asked how many artificial reefs could be created given that the Government was tightening allocations in Budget 2017.

To this, Hamim said the Government was working closely with private organisations as part of their conservation efforts and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

He added that artificial reefs need not be expensive and only require common items such as tyres to create substitute habitats for marine life.

Malaysia is also known for sinking illegal fishing boats to create artificial reefs.

The Government’s reef conservation project, which began in 2013, has planted about 32,498 genetically identical coral nubbins in marine parks in attempts to reverse the mass coral bleaching.

In May, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin­istration Coral Watch Programme issued a “bleaching watch” notification for Malaysia, indicating that its sea surface temperature was above average and posed thermal stress on coral reefs.

Bleached corals have pale colours or appear completely white which stunts growth and will eventually kill coral if the stress factor persists.

In 2010, it was estimated that about 30% of Malaysia’s coral reefs had died due to warm sea surface level temperatures that reached 32°C.

RM1.5mil invested in marine conservation project
NICHOLAS CHENG The Star 16 Nov 16;

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has invested about RM1.5mil in a conservation project as it work to reverse adverse bleaching in its coral reefs and install more artificial reefs to create new habitats for marine life.

Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri told Parliament the project covers the rebuilding of dying reefs through seeding initiatives and monitoring of marine parks to prevent damage to the fragile ecosystem.

But as sea temperatures continue to rise through global warming, Hamim said the Government also needed to consider the other marine life which rely on reefs for food and shelter.

"The most conventional method is artificial reefs that can serve as a habitat for other marine life.

"This is important because the biodiversity of marine life is so fragile, we need to conserve it because it is a big source of food and attraction for tourists,” he told Datuk Hasan Arifin (UMNO - Rompin).

Hasan wanted to know how much of artificial reefs can be created given the tightened allocations in Budget 2017.

Hamim said the Government was working with private organisations to contribute funds to the conservation projects as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives.

The Government’s reef conservation project, which began in 2013, has planted about 3,400 fast-growing coral seeds.

In May, The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Watch Programme issued a "bleaching watch" notification for Malaysia, indicating that its sea surface temperature was above average and posed thermal stress on its coral reefs.

Bleached corals have pale colours or appear completely white, which stunts growth and will eventually kill corals if the stress factor persists.

In 2010, it was estimated that about 30% of Malaysia’s coral reefs died due to warm sea surface level temperatures that reached up to 32 degrees Celsius.

Read more!

Malaysia: Marine theme park on Jerejak, Penang may invite criticism

ARNOLD LOH The Star 17 Nov 16;

GEORGE TOWN: Building a marine theme park and possibly a dolphinarium in Pulau Jerejak may invite disapproval on a global scale for Penang’s tourism development, said a marine expert.

“Except for research purposes, it is not a good move to keep dolphins in tanks and teach them tricks for public amusement.

“Many animal rights groups worldwide are against this,” said Universiti Sains Malaysia marine biologist Assoc Prof Dr Aileen Tan.

Also, marine theme parks have been labelled as a form of animal abuse by environmental groups worldwide and many people were being put off by such attractions.

It was learnt that a company that owns the only development land on the island has been exploring the possibility of setting up such a park after state investment arm Penang Development Corporation (PDC) divests its stake in the company.

A source familiar with Penang’s tourism development plans revealed that the company hoped to build a combined public aquarium and amusement park.

Planning for this began in 2013 by a property developer who recently paid a 10% deposit to buy PDC’s 49% share in Tropical Island Resort Sdn Bhd (TIRSB).

TIRSB has a 60-year lease on the only piece of development land in Pulau Jerejak.

With PDC’s divestment of the shares for RM156mil, Ideal Property Group will develop a 32ha tract with UDA Holdings which is the majority partner.

Pulau Jerejak has been a quarantine centre for migrants, leper colony, tuberculosis treatment centre, penal colony, British political detention camp, contagious diseases site, drug rehabilitation centre and a prison for hardcore criminals.

The source said that between 2003 and 2005, another group studied the possibility of having a marine theme park there, but the idea was shelved as Pulau Jerejak was too hilly for development without major hill-cutting work while the sea around it was too polluted.

Dr Tan agreed with the pollution problem, saying that the industrial and urban discharge from Penang Island contained too much toxins.

“There have been spikes in the amounts of heavy metal effluents in the sea around Bayan Lepas in the past,” she said, adding that salinity levels of the seawater in the area “may not be at full strength”.

She explained that the salinity would be vital for the welfare of any marine creatures exhibited at the theme park if it was built.

The intrinsic quality of the seawater in that area was brackish because there were several rivers flowing into the sea there.

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals group, via its website, is calling on the public to avoid visiting places that keep marine animals in captivity.

It is also asking people to get their governments to stop using taxpayers’ money to subsidise such facilities.

According to Britain’s Whale and Dolphin Conservation group, a survey in May showed that 50% of Americans interviewed were against the practice of confining killer whales (orcas) in marine parks while 86% of British respondents said they would avoid marine parks.

In contrast, according to the NGO’s captivity campaign manager Cathy Williamson, the marine park business was growing exponentially in other parts of the world.

“In the last 10 years, we’ve seen around 50 aquaria opening up that have captive belugas and bottlenose dolphins, and they are looking at orcas as well.

“So, while we’re making progress in one part of the world, things are not going so well in other places,” she was quoted as saying.


Pulau Jerejak land sale questioned
DAVID TAN The Star 16 Nov 16;

GEORGE TOWN: The controversy involving Pulau Jerejak continues with Penang Gerakan hitting out at the state government over the recent sale of Penang Development Corpora­tion’s (PDC) 49% stake in Tropical Island Resort Sdn Bhd (TIRSB) to a local developer.

Penang Gerakan chairman Teng Chang Yeow questioned the sale to Q Islands Development Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Ideal Property Group, when Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng rejected the deal in 2013.

“The rejection of the joint-venture agreement caused PDC to lose about RM220mil in profit guarantee and also the authority over its land on Pulau Jerejak,” said Teng.

Quoting “reliable” PDC sources, he said the agreement inked in December 2013 had a potential profit guarantee of up to RM450mil based on a gross development value of RM1.5bil.

He said the Chief Minister, who is also PDC chairman, had, however, rejected the 2013 agreement between TIRSB and Ideal Property.

“Why did Lim keep silent over his rejection of the joint-venture agreement but decided to sell PDC’s 49% stake in Pulau Jerejak to Ideal Property’s subsidiary?

“Why has his initial rejection become a successful deal three years later?” he asked at a press conference at the state Gerakan headquarters here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Ideal Property said they won the Pulau Jerejak redevelopment project via a request for proposal that saw the participation of five other developers in 2013.

(right) An aerial view of Pulau Jerejak, with the jetty of the closed down resort over the water..
Treasured island: An aerial view of the jetty belonging to Pulau Jerejak’s closed-down resort.
Its group executive chairman Datuk Alex Ooi said Ideal was one of three developers short-listed for the project.

“Tropical Island Resort gave us the project because our master plan was the most cost-effective, eco-friendly, and had a low-density design,” he said.

Ideal, he added, got the project because it promised attractive returns and demonstrated its financial capability to undertake the project with a significant deposit payment to TIRSB in 2013.

“It took us three years to get the master plan approved, complying with all the stringent requirements of the state and Federal Government,” he said.

Ooi said the completed design adhered strictly to the Federal Government’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) guidelines.

“The project will be developed outside the proposed forest reserve area,” he said.

The proposed eight-year development will have a theme park and two hotels surrounded by a low-density and low-rise residential scheme.

“The project will create a few thousand job opportunities for the locals,” he noted.

On whether there will be foreign participation in the project, Ooi said no overseas investors had been approached to co-develop the project.

“The only partner is Tropical Island Resort,” he said.

An English daily reported that Ideal Property had gone to China in March to sign an agreement with a Chinese company to develop Pulau Jerejak.

On Saturday, PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar said the corporation accepted the offer by UDA Holdings to sell its (PDC) 49% stake in TIRSB to Ideal Property for RM156mil, generating a RM140.6mil profit.

TIRSB was a joint-venture company between UDA and PDC, and is the owner of Jerejak Rainforest Resort & Spa, which closed down in May this year.

Rosli also said UDA had submitted its plans to the state government to develop 1,200 residential units over 32ha, a marina, two hotels, a theme park, an 11.5km round-island cycling track and related infrastructure to promote tourism in the state.

Read more!

Malaysia: ‘No massive floods in east coast this week’

The Star 17 Nov 16;

PETALING JAYA: Heavy rain is expected daily in several parts of the east coast but no massive floods, for this week at least.

Drainage and Irrigation Department director-general Datuk Seri Zulkefli Hassan said there was no sign of big floods, based on the rainfall data.

The Meteorological Department has also yet to forecast heavy showers that could cause massive floods.

“We are monitoring the situation and there are no signs that there will be continuous heavy rain this week,” said a spokesman for the department.

“Big floods can be expected if there is continuous rainfall for three to five days, but this has yet to happen.”

The east coast monsoon, which began last week, typically goes on until March.

On the west coast, high tides and daily thunderstorms could cause rivers to swell, leading to flash floods, said the spokesman.

But the country was experiencing moderate winds from the east and MetMalaysia meteorologists were not expecting continuous downpours.

The wet weather is expected to continue over the next few days, with some downpours in several places, especially in east coast states.

West coast states are expected to experience rain in the mornings as well as rain and thunderstorms in the evenings, beginning Saturday.

The public are reminded to stay vigilant for floods.

Updates are available at the Meteorological Department website, www.met.gov.my; its myCuaca mobile app; MalaysiaMet on Facebook; @malaysianmet on Twitter, or by calling the MetMalaysia hotline, 1-300 22 1MET (1638).


Bund repair works in Selangor ongoing, following high tide phenomenon
DAWN CHAN New Straits Times 16 Nov 16;

SABAK BERNAM: Works to restore the Tebuk Mendeling and Sungai Air Tawar bunds which broke due to the high tide phenomenon are ongoing.

Selangor Disaster Management Unit head Ahmad Fairuz Mohd Yusof said the broken bunds caused water to flow into the surrounding areas but the situation is now safe and under control. Works to repair the bunds, he said, are actively being carried out.

"We are also pumping out seawater which flowed into the PPR Sungai Tengar area. Evacuees have moved to the Sungai Air Tawar relief centre," he said this morning.

A minor overflow of seawater also occurred at the Kampung Nelayan Bagan Nakhoda Omar, Dataran Bagan Nakhoda Onar, Sungai Lang and Sungai Apong bunds, Bagan Teluk Rhu and the Bagan Sungai Besar watergate.

Over in Kuala Selangor, seawater had overflowed at the bunds of Bagan Pasir, Kampung Tok Adam Bagan Pasir Penambang, Pantai Remis and Sungai Janggut.

Ahmad Fairuz said no properties were affected except for Sungai Janggut, where two unoccupied house were flooded.

The seawater,however, has since subsided. Flash floods also inundated PKNS housing in Pasir Penambang and the state rest houses.

The situation is deemed safe and under control. Over in Kuala Langat, a slight overflow occurred at the bund at Pantai Kelanang where several low-lying areas are affected.

In Banting, a downpour this morning had also inundated several low-lying areas due to the closure of the Kampung Sungai watergate because of the high tide phenomenon.

In Klang, the bund at Batu 5, Kapar is holding up well and there are no overflowing of seawater at Kampung Tok Muda area, with its jetty and sandbags functioning well.

In Sepang, no reports of overflowing at the shores of Bagan Lalang were received.

Meanwhile, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Mohd Sani Harul said 123 people from 44 families have been housed at the Kampung Tok Muda relief centre, and 24 families with 117 members at the Jalan Palembang Kg Rantau Panjang relief centre.

The Sungai Air Tawar relief centre houses 15 families with 71 members.

Read more!

Malaysia: Whale Shark freed after 12-hour ordeal

R.S.N. MURALI The Star 17 Nov 16;

MALACCA: A whale shark survived a 12-hour ordeal after being trapped in a fishing net and lying on the beach before finally being freed at Sungai Duyong jetty here.

The fish, weighing 1.5 tonnes, was dragged to the jetty before fishermen with the aid of State Fisheries Department released it to the sea.

Fisherman Mahat Ibrahim, 55, said the whale shark was entangled in his net while he was fishing about seven nautical miles off the coast here.

“My brother and I suspected something amiss when our boat struggled to drag in the catch and we found the whale shark in the net,” he said here yesterday.

He said the whale shark was dragged to shore near the jetty at 2.30am before it was released at about 1pm.

“I suffered a loss of RM7,000 as my fishing net was badly damaged after trapping such a heavy fish,” he said.

Many residents gathered to take pictures when news of the giant fish spread on social media.

State Agriculture, Entrepreneur Development committee chairman Datuk Hasan Abdul Rahman said the whale shark, scientifically known as Rhincodon Typus, was released off Pulau Undan near here.

He said the fishermen tried to release the whale shark once they reached shore but couldn’t due to its tremendous size and weight, and decided to wait for the Fisheries Department to help.

He said the whale shark is a protected species under the Fisheries Act 1985 and listed as endangered under the Convention on Interna­tional Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).


Whale shark caught by fishermen in Malacca released
R.S.N. MURALI The Star 16 Nov 16;

MALACCA: Fishermen have released a whale shark that was caught in a fishing net near the Sungai Duyong jetty here.

The shark, weighing approximately 1.5 tonnes, was kept in the water near the shore for about 12 hours.

It was then dragged ashore to the jetty site before fishermen – with the aid of the state Fisheries Department – released it back into the sea.

Fisherman Ibrahim Mahat, 55, said the whale shark was entangled in his net while he was fishing off the coast here.

"My brother and I suspected something amiss when our boat struggled to drag the catch in, only to find we had caught a whale shark," he said on Wednesday.

He said the shark was dragged onto shore near the jetty at about 2.30pm.

Local residents rushed to get a picture with the marine creature when the news of a giant fish at the jetty spread on social media.

Alias Ibrahim, 44, said he rushed to the jetty after hearing about it.

"It was a nice experience to see such a giant fish," he said.

Whale sharks are listed as an endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Read more!

Malaysia: Close watch on the weather for veggies’ sake

YEE XIANG YUN, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, RAHIMY RAHIM, and ROYCE TAN
The Star 17 Nov 16;

JOHOR BARU: Farmers are watching the skies closely, worrying that the monsoon season may put a dent in the supply of vegetables.

Federation of Malaysian Vegetable Farmers Association president Tan So Tiok said the prices of a variety of vegetables had increased by 20% to 30% since a week ago as crops were yielding smaller quantities due to the rainfall and lack of sunlight.

He said this had affected both leafy vegetables such as spinach, bak choi, watercress, kangkong and non-leafy vegetables like long beans, tomatoes and chillies, among others.

“Prices will continue to stay that way for the next three weeks or so and it is hard to say when they will return to normal as our weather is quite unpredictable,” he said in an interview.

The situation is adding to problems faced by farmers, who are already feeling the heat due to the shortage of foreign farm workers.

Tan said the foreign workers issue had created a negative impact as farmers were now competing against each other to win over the workers by offering higher pay.

Operational costs, Tan said, had also gone up by 20% in the past two years given factors such as the drop in ringgit value and the impact from the Goods and Services Tax as the farmers mostly imported machinery, fertiliser and pesticides from China and Japan.

A dialogue would be held in Yong Peng, Johor, tomorrow among various agriculture-related associations to discuss such problems and solutions for the future of the industry.

Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association secretary Chay Ee Mong said that year-end production tended to be lower.

“Based on past experience, production may drop by 20% due to the monsoon season. Right now, the weather is okay,” he said.

Chay said low production of vegetables could be countered by importing them from other countries. However, the weakening ringgit may take a toll on the farmers.

“If it gets too expensive to import the vegetables, then we might import fewer,” he added.

As for chicken, Federation of Livestock Farmers Association Malaysia president Jeffrey Ng said generally, the country has no problem with the supply of poultry despite the weakening ringgit and the unfavourable weather.

“Each company has its own strategy and plan to deal with this,” he said.

Read more!

Indonesia: Food stock sufficient until May 2017 - President

Antara 16 Nov 16;

Depok, W. Java (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo said that the national food stock would be sufficient to meet demands until May 2017, due to the favorable wet season during 2016.

"Our food stock will be sufficient till May 2017, and we have benefited from continuous rain throughout the year," he said after briefing 3,500 personnel of Division I of the Army Strategic Command (Kostrad) at its headquarters in Cilodong, Depok, on Wednesday.

He said that the paddy fields, which usually were harvested once or twice a year, could be harvested thrice a year, thanks to the high amount of rainfall during 2016.

"I think it was our luck that the rainfall continued throughout the year in all the regions," Widodo said.

The briefing was also attended by Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for Politic, Legal and Security; Pramono Anung, Cabinet Secretary; General Gatot Nurmantyo, Military Chief; General Mulyono, Army Chief of Staff; and Lieutenant General Edy Rahmayadi, Chief of Kostrad.

Previously, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman had said that the national food stock had reached 2 million tonnes, which was sufficient for consumption until May 2017.

"This would be sufficient till May (next year). We will have harvesting season in March and God willing our rice (stock) would be adequate," Amran said during the weekend, adding that such a success was reached amid El Nino and La Nina phenomenon.

"El Nino 2015 was the heaviest in its history or at least in the past 71 years. Hopefully, it would end by 2017," he said.(*)

Read more!

Indonesia: Floods in Riau, Jambi getting worse

The Jakarta Post 16 Nov 16;

Nearly 2,000 homes in five districts in Rokan Hulu regency, Riau, were engulfed by floods caused by deteriorating weather on Tuesday.

According to the Rokan Hilir Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the worst flooding occurred in Rambah district, where eight villages were inundated by the overflowing Batang Lubuh River.

In all, 3,396 residents in 978 families were affected by the disaster. Many of them were in Pematang Berangan village, home to 976 people in 321 families.

In Rambah Samo district, 1,082 people from 350 families living in five villages were forced to seek shelter away from home.

The Aliantan River also overflowed and swamped the homes of 340 people in 270 families in Aliantan and Batu Langkah villages in Kabun district, while in Tandun district, floods hit three villages and affected 690 people in 233 families.

Rokan Hulu BPBD head Aceng Herdiana said a number of shelters and public kitchens had been set up.

“We have also distributed instant noodles, rice and canned sardines to the flood victims,” Aceng told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The recent heavy rainfall has also swamped farmland in Jambi.

Jambi City Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry Agency head Irwansyah said the affected areas included Pelayangan, Danau Teluk, Telanaipura and East Jambi districts.

Flooding in Kunangan village in Tebo regency, Jambi, left 130 homes submerged. Agriculture official Pargito said rice fields in the regency were at risk of crop failure because of the situation.

Read more!