Best of our wild blogs: 31 Dec 16 - 1 Jan 17

7 Jan (Sat): FREE Guided Walk @ Pulau Ubin
Herpetological Society of Singapore

Birdwatching in Ubin - Mangrove Pitta (29 December 2016)
Rojak Librarian

Alanagium hirsutum: A New Record for Singapore from MacRitchie Forest
Flying Fish Friends

2016 Macro Collection: Highlights from Singapore and the Region
Macro Photography in Singapore

Macro Outings : July to December 2016
Bugs & Insects of Singapore

2016 - Looking Back
Butterflies of Singapore

TeamSeagrass and seagrass sex
teamseagrass

Civets in artwork
Life of a common palm civet in Singapore

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After the New Year parties, the big clean-up begins

Loke Kok Fai Channel NewsAsia 1 Jan 17;

SINGAPORE: Way before a series of New Year countdown parties took place across Singapore on Saturday (Dec 31), the National Environment Agency (NEA) launched a Facebook campaign urging people to "party responsibly" and telling revellers to leave the aerosol foam at home.

It only takes a couple of seconds to empty a can, NEA said, but it takes an average of 300 cleaners over four hours to clean-up post-New Year's eve parties.

The reminders appeared to have done the trick, at least at Singapore's largest street countdown party. Even before the music stopped and thousands scattered, a contingent of 20 cleaners were deployed by organisers of Celebrate 2017: Countdown With Stars.

“We've been doing this for two years, so it was pretty well-planned. Whenever the crowd is away from a certain section, we clear that place first,” said Cleaning Express operations manager Alexander Jeyakumar. “So we were just waiting for the crowd to (disperse), so as soon as they left, we went in.”

The clean-up operation was so efficient, the bulk of the tidying up was done within 20 minutes of the final post-countdown song being played at Suntec City.

"Parties aren't usually cleaned up so soon after - it usually takes a day or two to finish,” said exchange student from China, Sam Su. “This one was especially fast."

Some noted that the crowd had chipped in as well. "We cleaned up by ourselves actually,” said MDIS student Taufiq Anwar. "It's really the initiative of everyone - not only the cleaners but the crew working behind-the-scenes," added Wilson Ng, who recently, graduated from Westwood Secondary School.

NEA had said New Year countdown parties generate an average of 35,000kg of waste each year, as it advised party goers to waste less, bin their litter, and recycle what they can.

- CNA/ly

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Jurong Country Club closes for good on Saturday

Loke Kok Fai Channel NewsAsia 31 Dec 16;

SINGAPORE: Jurong Country Club closes for good on Saturday (Dec 31), as it makes way for the new Singapore-Kuala Lumpur high-speed rail, as well as the development of hotels, offices, residences and retail outlets.

Members of the public got one last look at the 67-hectare site on Friday, before it opened for one last day for club members on Saturday.

Club members told Channel NewsAsia that the place had become an institution of more than 40 years of history. Many said they joined the club in the 1970s and 1980s, when Jurong was being redeveloped from a swampland into the industrial estate it is today.

“When Jurong Country Club was conceived back in the early '70s by our then-Deputy Prime Minister, the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, it was conceived to attract industrialists, investments, to help build up the Jurong region into the industrial estate that it is today,” said the club’s Chairman for Marketing and Communications Michael Liew, who joined in 1976, a year after the club’s founding.

Retired businessman Foo Jong Peng, who joined in 1982, said Jurong Country Club’s atmosphere was why it stood out from Singapore’s other country clubs.

"Go to other clubs - yes, we can play golf - but the atmosphere is different,” he said. “Here we are very, very friendly, especially those who are elderly people. This friendship - now it’s going to end. Tomorrow, where can we find a place like this?"

Others said they cut their teeth on the 18-hole course, which once played host to wildlife like the crocodiles adorning its former logos.

“It has always been a place where families grow up,” said professional golfer Sharon Lee. “I played golf here from the time I was a kid.

“My dad introduced my brothers and myself to the game and we literally grew up here. My nephews are also golfers and they grew up here. In fact, one of them has also turned into a golf professional like the three of us in our family.

“I’ve come full circle – starting as a golfer, now teaching here for the last nine to 10 years.”

RECOVERING INVESTMENTS AND MEMORIES

The club's last few days involved selling much of its assets – much of it to recover its initial capital outlay, according to the club.

This included golf equipment such as its buggy fleet, course machinery and gym equipment, which came up to around S$500,000, along with auctioning off paintings which once decorated its hallways.

“I don’t think they (the paintings and memorabilia) total up to more than S$10,000 or S$20,000,” said Mr Liew. “It’s not that much. Contrary to popular belief, we’re not exactly an extremely affluent club with a lot of things to sell away and that’s not the purpose in any case.

“It’s not the monetary value, but the sentimental value of what these memorabilia and paintings represent to members.”

The club is also hoping to receive S$168 million from the sale of the site - a valuation given by real estate firm Knight Frank. This is more than double the valuation of S$89.8 million given by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) – which the club said is a scant compensation for the many millions invested in the place over the years.

This included more than S$30 million paid upfront to the Government for lease of the land until 2035, as well as a roughly S$23 million revamp of its 18-hole golf course completed in 2012.

"There's a mistaken notion that Jurong members are going to make a windfall out of this acquisition,” said Mr Liew. “Nothing could be further from the truth, because some of the members actually paid S$150,000 at its peak (in the mid-1990s).

“So we have everything to lose – in fact we'll lose a lot.

“More than just the money, but this was a place for us to come to, not only to play golf, but to retreat to - it was our personal sanctuary. So definitely when this place goes, it will be a very sad day. I can’t begin to describe the heartache that some of us will feel, but it is what it is, and so we will have to look forward from here to see what becomes of this piece of land."

Club members will play their final rounds of golf on Saturday, before taking part in a mass walkabout of the grounds and lowering the club’s flag for the final time. They will then proceed to a dinner to usher in the New Year – though Mr Liew said there might not be much to cheer about.

“All the Jurong members invested, heeded the call to come and join the club to help build this region,” he said. “And now 40 years on, interestingly, we’ve had to answer the call of duty again - but this time round it’s to make way for the high-speed rail as it ploughs through Tuas and Jurong.”

- CNA/ek

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2016 was the hottest year ever in Singapore and globally

Audrey Tan, Straits Times AsiaOne 31 Dec 16;

Singaporeans endured the hottest year since the country started keeping temperature records 87 years ago.

The recent spell of cool and cloudy weather may have given a different impression, but 2016 will go down as the hottest year since Singapore started keeping temperature records in 1929.

The latest update from the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) yesterday shows that 2016 has been the hottest year on record in Singapore - and globally.

As of Thursday, the mean annual temperature recorded at the Changi climate station, which is used as a reference station, was 28.4 deg C. This surpasses the current record of 28.3 deg C set in 1997, 1998 and 2015.

"Temperatures soared in the first half of 2016 due to the effects of a very strong El Nino," said an MSS spokesman, referring to the weather phenomenon associated with prolonged warmer weather in this part of the world.

"The temperatures remained well above the long-term average for the rest of the year."

New monthly records for the hottest January, April and August were also set this year.

The warming did not just break temperature records, but it also caused the longest coral bleaching incident in Singapore, more severe than two similar incidents in 1998 and 2010.

All three coral bleaching incidents occurred during El Nino years. Corals depend on symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae for food. Bleaching occurs when abnormally high sea temperatures cause corals to expel the zooxanthellae living in them, turning them white.

Associate Professor Koh Tieh Yong, a weather scientist at SIM University, said the El Nino event - which straddled this year and last year - is the third strongest since 1950.

Thankfully, the El Nino effect in Singapore waned in the first half of the year, said research scientist Erik Velasco from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology.

He added that earlier forecasts had suggested that El Nino would continue into the dry season from June to September, when Singapore traditionally experiences haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia.

"Luckily, it didn't... and we got away from the haze," said Dr Velasco, who studies climatology in urban environments.

Singapore enjoyed relatively haze-free skies this year except for one day of haze on Aug 26, when air quality hit unhealthy levels for the first time this year.

A comparable El Nino event has not been flagged for 2017.

But Prof Koh said: "Long-term climate change is happening slowly but surely over Singaporeans' lifetime."

The weatherman also said rain is expected for the first two weeks of the new year, although it is likely to be less intense than in the past two weeks.

Thundery showers are expected mostly in the afternoon on five to seven days over the next fortnight, and could extend into the evening on a few days. However, the rainfall for the first half of January is expected to be slightly below normal, said the MSS.

2016 set to be hottest year on record in Singapore: Met Service
Channel NewsAsia 30 Dec 16;

SINGAPORE: This year is set to be the hottest year in Singapore since records started in 1929, said the Meteorological Service on Friday (Dec 30).

In a media advisory, the Met Service said the mean annual temperature recorded at the Changi climate station, as of Dec 29, was 28.4°C, exceeding the current record of 28.3°C set in 1997, 1998 and 2015. A “very strong” El Nino caused temperatures to soar in the first half of 2016 and temperatures remained “well above the long-term average for the rest of the year”, it added.

New monthly records for the hottest January, April and August were also set in 2016, added the Met Service.

SECOND-HOTTEST DECEMBER ON RECORD

December 2016 is also on track to be the second hottest December on record.

As of Dec 29, the mean monthly temperature recorded, as of Dec 29, was 27.4°C, 0.3°C lower than the highest ever recorded mean December temperature set in 2015.

Almost all parts of Singapore received below normal rainfall in December, with the lowest rainfall recorded over Jurong.

Nonetheless, Singapore saw wetter weather in the second half of the month, with most of the thunderstorms taking place in the afternoon and evening. Sumatra squalls also brought heavy to moderate thunderstorms to many parts of Singapore on several days in the pre-dawn hours and morning.

Dec 23 and 24 saw the heaviest rain, with the highest daily rainfall of 98mm and 86mm was recorded over Bukit Panjang and Tai Seng respectively.

The heavy rain on Christmas Eve led to flash floods across several parts of Singapore, including Upper Thomson, Newton Circus, Stevens Road and Cairnhill Road.

MONSOON CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE INTO NEW YEAR

Monsoon conditions are forecast to continue for the first two weeks of January, albeit with less rainy weather than seen in the past two weeks.

Thunderstorms are expected mostly in the afternoon on five to seven days, and could extend into the evening on a few days. Thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds can also be expected between the pre-dawn and early morning on one or two days.

Rainfall for the first half of January is expected to be slightly below normal.

During the first fortnight of the 2017, the daily maximum temperature on most days is forecast to be around 32°C or 33°C, with some cooler nights expected, with the daily minimum temperature ranging between 23°C and 24°C.

- CNA/ek


2016 set to be hottest year on record in Singapore: NEA
Today Online 30 Dec 16;

SINGAPORE — This year is set to be the hottest year on record, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Friday (Dec 30).

According to data recorded at the Changi climate station, the mean annual temperature for this year (as of Dec 29) is 28.4°C — hotter than the previous records of 28.3°C set in 1997, 1998 and 2015.

According to the NEA, the first half of this year saw temperatures soar due to the effects of a very strong El Niño. The year also saw January, April and August hit new higest monthly records since 1929, when Singapore started recording temperatures. Temperatures also remained well above the long-term average for the rest of the year.

The annual total rainfall recorded this year was also 10 per cent below average. As of Dec 29, the annual total rainfall was 1954mm. Compared to the long-term annual mean of 2166mm (based on reference period 1981-2010). This year’s rainfall though was still higher than the 1267mm rainfall recorded last year, which was the second lowest on record.

According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in November, 2016 is on track to break the record for the hottest year ever on Earth since measurements began in the 19th century. Global average temperatures this year are likely to be 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, said the WMO, boosted by the El Nino weather event.

WMO said 16 of the 17 hottest years have occurred this century, with the only exception being 1998, which was also an El Nino year.

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Malaysia: Floods worsens in Terengganu, over 4,000 evacuated

BERNAMA New Straits Times 1 Jan 17;

KUALA TERENGGANU: The floods in Terengganu have continued to worsen, with the number of evacuees in six districts rising to 4,062 as at 8am today from 3,292 at 10pm yesterday.

The state Welfare Department portal reported that nine more relief centres were opened overnight, bringing to 52 the number of relief centres as at 8am. Terengganu Welfare Department acting director Rusmi Mahmood, when contacted by Bernama, said a total of 1,244 families had been affected by the floods which hit the state early yesterday.

"The district of Hulu Terengganu remains the worst hit with three more relief centres opened overnight. It has 2,268 people from 789 families at 24 relief centres.

"Kemaman has 595 people from 141 families at relief centres; Marang, 491 from 128 families; Besut, 299 from 72 families; Setiu, 296 from 87 families and Dungun, 113 from 27 families," he said. The levels of three rivers in the state have breached the danger point while those of four more were above the alert stage, according to the portal of the state Drainage and Irrigation Department.

It reported that the level of Sungai Telemong at Kuala Ping near Hulu Terengganu was at 20.59 metres (above the danger point of 20 metres); Sungai Nerus at Kampung Langkap, 21.68 metres (21.50 metres) and Sungai Marang at the Pengkalan Berangan Bridge, 3.89 metres (3 metres). It also reported that the level of Sungai Besut at Kampung La was 20.38 metres (above the alert point of 19.8 metres); Sungai Besut at the Keruak Bridge, 33.24 metres (33 metres); Sungai Chalok at Setiu, 7.30 metres (7 metres) and Sungai Dungun at Kuala Jengah, 19.74 metres (19.50 metres). The levels of all the rivers, except Sungai Chalok at Setiu, were reportedly dropping as at 8am. -- BERNAMA


Terengganu floods worsen, over 2,000 evacuated, major roads unpassable
BERNAMA New Straits Times 31 Dec 16;

KUALA TERENGGANU: Floods in six worst-affected districts in the state have worsened, forcing 2,031 people from 586 families to 33 relief centres by 6pm.

Lt Col Che Adam A Rahman of the Terengganu Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, said 1,055 people from 344 families were evacuated to 15 relief centres in Hulu Terengganu district. "Six relief centres were opened in Marang (to accommodate 280 people from 67 families), five in Setiu (234 people from 68 families) and three in Kemaman (294 people from 63 families).

"Two relief centres were opened in Besut to house 93 people from 26 families and two more in Dungun to accommodate 75 people from 18 families," he said to Bernama. Meanwhile, floods have forced the closure of eight stretches of road in the state.

Che Adam said that in the district of Hulu Terengganu, stretches of four roads were closed to all traffic at 10am after floodwaters rose to 0.5 metre, with a portion of Jalan Bukit Perah-Kuala Kejir at Kampung Jak being closed to light vehicles.

The four other flooded roads are Jalan Aring-Kuala Jeneris at Kampung Basung (0.5 metre), Jalan Tapah at Kampung Kepah (0.5 metre), Jalan Matang-Kuala Telemong at Kampung Nibong (0.7 metre) and Jalan Kuala Pueh-Tapah-Payang Kayu-Baung-Kuala Ping (0.8 metre). Che Adam also said that in the Setiu district, stretches of two roads were closed to light vehicles. "Jalan Pengkalan Merbau-Pelong near Kampung Pelong Kepah was flooded to a depth of 0.8 metre and was closed at 9.30am. Jalan Chalok Bukit Putera-Telaga Papan near Kampung Lubuk Panjang was flooded to a depth of 0.6 metre and was closed at 11am," he said. - Bernama


Train services in east coast disrupted because of flooding
The Star 31 Dec 16;

PETALING JAYA: Passengers on the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) intercity train services will experience a service disruption in the east coast due to floods and a landslide.

KTMB said that the flooding and landslide occured at KM392.5 between Bukit Abu - Dabong, Kuala Krai at 8.30am Saturday.

"All train services between Kuala Krai - Gua Musang - Kuala Krai will be suspended until further notice," said KTMB in a statement on Saturday.

For Ekspres Timuran N.26 (Johor Bahru - Tumpat), train services will cease in Dabong Station and passengers can continue their journey to Tumpat Station via bus.

For Ekspres Timuran No. 27 (Tumpat - Johor Bahru), passengers can take the bus from Tumpat Station to Gua Musang station and will continue their journey to Johor Bahru via train.

"KTMB apologises for the inconvenience caused. For further information, please contact the KTMB call centre at 03 2267 1200 or our website at www.ktmb.com.my," it said.

Residents from three villages in Kelantan's Kuala Krai have been evacuated to four relief centres due to floods following heavy rains in the interior.

Homes have been flooded to a depth of about one metre following the downpour.

According to the Drainage and Irrigation Department website, the levels of three major Kelantan rivers were rising as of 1pm.

33 Terengganu schools cannot reopen tomorrow due to floods
BERNAMA New Straits Times 31 Dec 16;

KUALA TERENGGANU: Thirty-three schools in Terengganu will not reopen in the new year as scheduled tomorrow. The floods have made sure of that.

These schools are either flooded, the access roads are flooded or they are being used as flood relief centres. Terengganu Education Department director Shafruddin Ali Hussin said the schools were located in five districts, with the highest number of 22 in Hulu Terengganu.

Five schools were affected in Marang, three in Kuala Terengganu, two in Setiu and one in Dungun, he said.

Safruddin Ali said six schools in Hulu Terengganu hit by the floods were Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Teris, SK Tapah, SK Tengkawang, SK Kuala Ping, SK Kua and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bukit Diman.

"Sixteen schools in the district cannot operate tomorrow because the access roads are flooded. They are SK Padang Setebu, SK Sungai Berua, SK Sungai Buloh, SK Kuala Jenderis, SK Matang, SK Lubuk Periuk, SK Bukit Tadok, SK Nibong, SK Betong, SK Pereh, SK Felda Tersat, SK Menerong, SK Cheting, SK Padang Setar, SMK Menering and SMK Kuala Jenderis," he said to Bernama. He said SK Sentol Patah in Marang was flooded while four other schools - SK Kubu, SK Pengkalan Berangan, SK Bukit Gasing and SMK Merchang - were being used as flood relief centres.

In Kuala Terengganu, he said, three schools were flooded, namely SK Kampung Bukit in Chendering, SK Undang and SK Padang Midin.

"In the Setiu district, two schools have been closed," he said, adding that SMK Langkap had been turned into a flood relief centre while SK Merbau was flooded. Safruddin Ali said SK Seri Paka in Dungun was closed because it was flooded.

He advised parents of school-going children to keep tabs on the situation at the respective schools, saying they would only reopen when the floodwaters receded. -- Bernama


Category 2 storm warning issued
The Star 1 Jan 17;

PETALING JAYA: The east coast is experiencing rough seas, strong winds and high waves, which can pose a danger.

As such, the Meteorological Depart­ment (MetMalaysia) has issued a Category 2 warning that winds from the north-east measu­ring between 50kph and 60kph, with waves of up to 4.5m, will hit the coast of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and east Johor until tomorrow.

“The strong winds and high waves in these areas are dangerous to all shipping and coastal activities, including fishing and ferry servi­ces,” it said.

Category 1 refers to winds from 40-50kph and waves between 2.5m and 3.5m.

The highest Category 3 is when wind speeds go beyond 60kph with waves higher than 4.5m.

The department also issued a Category 1 warning for Sarawak’s coast areas until tomorrow.

It said this would present a danger to small boats, as well as maritime and recreation activities.

In a separate notice, the department said there was continuous rain in Terengganu, Kelantan and parts of Perak and Pahang yesterday evening.

On Friday, the department said it did not expect a “cold surge” from mainland China, which could cause extreme monsoon rainfall in Ma­­laysia until Jan 5.


East coast flooding gets worse
SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAWA The Star 1 Jan 17;

HULU TERENGGANU: Floods in the east coast took a turn for the worse, forcing the evacuation of thousands in Terengganu and Kelantan and closing down schools and roads.

In Terengganu, a downpour lashed the state continuously since Friday night, causing 3,058 people in six districts to be evacuated. The water rose as high as 1.5m.

The worst-hit district was Hulu Terengganu with 1,894 victims from 631 families evacuated to 21 centres.

It will be a bleak New Year for restaurant operator Ibrahim Muda from Ajil as his house and shop were both inundated.

“As I was trying to secure important documents to move to the relief centre, a friend rushed over to say that floodwaters had also entered my restaurant.

“I am sure the wooden tables, chairs and other electrical appliances have been damaged.

“I was hoping for a great start to 2017,’’ he lamented.

Sunira Musaraini Mustafa and husband Saiful Nizam Ismail, 35, from Kampung Bukit Kolam in Ajil said they were thankful to their nine cats for giving them a “wake-up call”.

“We were surprised to hear all our caged cats mewing aloud at about 5am. It’s like they knew the floodwaters were fast approaching our house.

“When we checked, the river had overflowed and we quickly move our stuff,’’ said Sunira.

State Civil Defence Force director Lt-Kol Che Adam A. Rahman said flood victims from Hulu Terengganu had started moving to relief centres from about 4.30am yesterday.

“Heavy rainfall also caused some roads in Hulu Terengganu, Marang, Kemaman and Besut to be closed, some to all and others to just light vehicles,’’ he added.

Twenty-five schools from five districts in Terengganu would remain closed until further notice, state Education Department director Shafruddin Ali Hussin said.

He said of these, 22 were located in Hulu Terengganu.

The 19 primary schools which will remain closed on the first day of school for 2017 are SK Teris, SK Tapah, SK Tengkawang, SK Kuala Ping, SK Kua, SK Padang Setebu, SK Sungai Berua, SK Sungai Buloh, SK Kuala Jenderis, SK Matang, SK Lubuk Periuk, SK Bukit Tadok, SK Nibong, SK Betong, SK Pereh, SK Felda Tersat, SK Menerong, SK Cheting, SK Padang Setar.

The three secondary schools affected are SMK Bukit Diman, SMK Menering and SMK Kuala Jenderis.

Meanwhile, an outing among eight friends almost turned tragic when two of them who were swept by strong undercurrents almost drowned.

One of them, Muazzam Shah Mahani, 20, said he almost lost his younger brother Muqri Shah and his friend known as Din.

It all started when the eight from Kampung Kolam in Ajil awoke in the morning to find floodwaters outside their homes.

They decided to have fun, by floating on huge tyre and in the swollen river.

“When we reached the bridge, seven of us had let go of the float to swim. All of a sudden I saw my friend Din struggling to reach the riverbank as the undercurrent was too strong.

“I turned around and saw my younger brother too was struggling on the other side but he managed to cling on again to the float,” Muazzam said, adding that he had to swim to get hold of Din who almost drowned.

By SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAWA

HULU TERENGGANU: Floods in the east coast took a turn for the worse, forcing the evacuation of thousands in Terengganu and Kelantan and closing down schools and roads.

In Terengganu, a downpour lashed the state continuously since Friday night, causing 3,058 people in six districts to be evacuated. Waters rose as high as 1.5m.

The worst hit district was Hulu Terengganu with 1,894 victims from 631 families evacuated to 21 centres.

It will be a bleak New Year for restaurant operator Ibrahim Muda from Ajil as his house and shop were both inundated.

“As I was trying to secure important documents to move to the relief centre, a friend rushed over to say that flood waters had also entered my restaurant. I am sure the wooden tables, chairs and other electrical appliances have been damaged.

“I was hoping for a great start to 2017,’’ he lamented. Sunira Musaraini Mustafa and husband Saiful Nizam Ismail, 35, from Kampung Bukit Kolam in Ajil said they were thankful to their nine cats for giving them a “wake up call”.

“We were surprised to hear all our caged cats ‘meowing’ aloud at about 5am. It’s like they knew the flood waters were fast approaching our house.

“When we checked, the river had overflowed and we quickly move our stuff,’’ said Sunira.

State Civil Defence Force director Lt Kol Che Adam A. Rahman said flood victims from Hulu Terengganu had started moving to relief centres from about 4.30am yesterday.

“Heavy rainfall also caused some roads in Hulu Terengganu, Marang, Kemaman and Besut to be closed, some to all and others to just light vehicles,’’ he added.

Twenty-five schools from five districts in Terengganu will remain closed until further notice, State Education Department director Shafruddin Ali Hussin said.

He said of these, 22 were located in Hulu Terengganu. The 19 primary schools which will remain closed on the first day of school for 2017 are SK Teris, SK Tapah, SK Tengkawang, SK Kuala Ping, SK Kua, SK Padang Setebu, SK Sungai Berua, SK Sungai Buloh, SK Kuala Jenderis, SK Matang, SK Lubuk Periuk, SK Bukit Tadok, SK Nibong, SK Betong, SK Pereh, SK Felda Tersat, SK Menerong, SK Cheting, SK Padang Setar.

The three secondary schools affected are SMK Bukit Diman, SMK Menering and SMK Kuala Jenderis.

Meanwhile, an outing among eight friends almost turned tragic when two of them who were swept by strong undercurrents almost drowned.

One of them, Muazzam Shah Mahani, 20, said he almost lost his younger brother Muqri Shah and his friend known as Din.

It all started when the eight from Kampung Kolam in Ajil awoke in the morning to find the outside of their homes flooded.

They decided to have fun, by floating on huge tire and in the swollen river.

“When we reached the bridge, seven of us had let go of the float to swim. All of a sudden I saw my friend Din struggling to reach the riverbank as the undercurrent was too strong.

“I turned around and saw my younger brother too was struggling on the other side but he managed to cling on again to the float,” Muazzam said, adding that he had to swim to get hold of Din who almost drowned.


RM500mil to be spent on flood mitigation projects
The Star 1 Jan 17;

KUALA LUMPUR: Some half a billion ringgit will be spent on various projects to mitigate floods around the country this year, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said flood mitigation would be one of the core focuses of the Government, with RM495mil expected to be invested in environmental projects to reduce disaster risks.

The ministry would be launching 69 Flood Mitigation Plan projects in flood-prone areas, he said in a statement.

Although the National Disaster Agency was ready to roll out relief efforts in the event of floods, Dr Wan Junaidi said these projects would become the first line of defence in reducing as many occurrences as possible.

He also said that more work would be put into enforcement against illegal logging and land clearing which contributed to water pollution and flooding.

The ministry is also expected to step up work in weeding out the illegal wildlife trade in the country.

“Through new strategies like the 1Malaysia Biodiversity Enforcement Operation Network and the national wildlife forensics lab, we ensure violators of the law will be punished.

“We also want to introduce enforcement guidelines for state governments and local councils to ensure our natural resources are managed properly,” he said.

Old laws and programmes under the ministry that did not fit efforts against the growing climate change threat would be discontinued by the end of the year, he added.

“We need to be more innovative in lessening bureaucracy so we can deliver more and meet the people’s expectations,” he said.

Malaysia, which ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change in November, pledges to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030.

Internationally, the country is expected to play a bigger role on the matter as it assumes the chairmanship of the Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMC) in Asia until 2018.

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Malaysia: Issuance of trawler vessel licenses to be abolished

NURADZIMMAH DAIM New Straits Times 30 Dec 16;

LUMUT: Due to rising concerns over the use of trawler nets which have adverse effects on marine ecosystems, the issuance of licenses for trawler vessels will be abolished in stages, said Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director-general Admiral Datuk Seri Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar.

He said currently, there are a total of 550 licensed trawlers that are allowed to operate only in Tanjung Piandang, Kuala Kurau, near here.

"However, there are concerns that these trawlers are causing damage to the marine ecosystem and affecting the haul of traditional fishermen.

"We have received complaints from local fishermen who say their incomes have been greatly affected, as the trawler nets pulled by the boats collect everything from fry to corals.

"There is a need to review the Fisheries Act 1985, and we recently held a meeting with the Fisheries Department on the matter," he said at a press conference at the MMEA office here. On the MMEA's latest operation against trawlers encroaching into restricted zones, which ran from Dec 21 to yesterday, Ahmad said a total of eight vessels were intercepted.

"They were caught in the act while fishing less than five nautical miles (from the shore) at night.

They were spotted by our men who were in a helicopter. "Trawlers are only allowed to fish within the 100 nautical square miles (located more than five nautical miles) from the beach in Tanjung Piandang during the day," he said, adding that more than 300kg of fish were found on board the eight boats.

Ahmad said between 2006 and last year, a total of 177 trawlers were intercepted for encroaching into shallow waters, while a total of 11 trawlers were intercepted this year.

He said so far, vessels worth RM300 million, which were seized during enforcement operations, were auctioned off.

"As part of search-and-rescue missions, we managed to recover properties worth RM580 million and rescued some 4,700 people (since the establishment of the MMEA in 2006)," Ahmad added.

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Malaysia: RM2,000 fine for violating ban on plastic, polystyrene use by Sept 1

The Star 30 Dec 16;

KUALA LUMPUR: Beginning Sept 1 next year, traders who violate the ban on the use of plastics and polystyrene will face a compound of up to RM2,000, Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan said.

This follows the implementation of the use of biodegradable products from this Sunday.

Loga Bala said the ministry was giving city folks nine months to get used to the idea before implementing it fully.

"We are targeting making Kuala Lumpur a plastic-free city. I am encouraging the people to stop using plastic, when shopping please bring your own bag," he said in a press conference held on the implementation of the use of biodegradable products here Friday.

He said the ministry had informed the traders and night market associations of the ruling and obtained the cooperation of the biodegradable products suppliers to meet the needs of the traders and consumers.

"Biodegradable products are usually expensive...(but) from our talks with the suppliers, they have agreed to offer a fair wholesale price to the traders which is on par with the price of polystyrene and plastic," he said.

Loga Bala said the pro-active move by the ministry was aimed at increasing the public's awareness of the threat of polystyrene and plastic to health, while boosting the development of the biodegradable product industry.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor launched the use of biodegradable products on June 3 this year.

Commenting on the ban, co-owner of the Chat Masala Brickfields and Klang Restaurant, N.Palaniappan said it would replace polystyrene containers with biodegradable ones in stages.

"We understand the disadvantages of the polystyrene container...it is cancerous, so we will replace them with environment-friendly containers for our customers.

"Even though the price of these containers are more than polystyrene ones, we do not mind using them...the price of food will remain the same, our profit margin may reduce, but we will not lose," he told Bernama when contacted here today.

He said the restaurant had received a notice from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall to use the biodegradable products.

Meanwhile, a night market trader in Pantai Dalam who only wanted to be known as Kadir said the ban on plastic use in night markets would be difficult to enforce as consumers were more 'plastic-friendly'.

"They may have to bring their own paper or cloth bags to the night market, the implementation will definitely take a long time," he said. - Bernama

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Malaysia: 109 pangolins rescued from house in Bukit Kayu Hitam

Saved from being sautéed
ZULIATY ZULKIFLY New Straits Times 30 Dec 16;

BUKIT KAYU HITAM: The Malaysian Border Security Agency (Aksem) rescued 109 pangolins from ending up as exotic dishes after raiding a house at Kampung Kubang Airang, Titi Kerbau here today.

Kedah Aksem commander Abdul Latif Abdul Rahman said his men, acting on a public tip-off, raided the house and found a canopy covered by black canvas on the grounds.

He said upon inspection, the team found a stash of gunny sacks containing 109 pangolins, with a total weight of 65kg, and worth about RM196,000 on the black market.

"Following the seizure, we arrested a 49-year-old local man to facilitate the investigation.

"We are not ruling out the possibility that the pangolins were about to be smuggled to a neighbouring country due to a high demand for exotic food," he told reporters at Aksem Bukit Kayu Hitam headquarters.

Pangolins are a protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) and the case has been handed over to the Wildlife and National Parks Department for further action


109 pangolins rescued from cooking pot
The Star 31 Dec 16;

BUKIT KAYU HITAM: Over 100 pangolins bound for the cooking pot in Thailand were rescued by the Border Security Agency (Aksem) from a village house near here.

Most of the 109 pangolins, comprising both adults and young ones, were alive when they were seized at noon yesterday from a house in Kampung Kubang Airang, Titi Kerbau in Changlun.

They were found in sacks which were covered in nets inside a shed beside the house.

Only a few small ones, weighing about 1kg each, were dead. The adults weigh about 6kg each.

Kedah Aksem Commander Abdul Latif Abd Rahman said the animals, worth a total of RM196,200, were to be served as an exotic dish after being smuggled out of the country.

He said the raiding party arrested the house owner in the vicinity of the building, adding that the 49-year-old suspect admitted to keeping the animals while they were on transit from Penang to Thailand.

He said the suspect told the raiding party that the pangolins will be picked up by Thai nationals to be smuggled into Thailand where they could fetch up to RM300 per kilo.

Abdul Latif said the pangolins would be handed over to the Wildlife Department for further action, adding that the offence came under Section 68 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 which carries a maximum fine of RM100,000 and five-year jail term.


Man fined RM120,000 for possession of live pangolins
G.C. TAN The Star 5 Jan 17;

ALOR SETAR: A man was fined RM120,000 after he pleaded guilty to four charges of possession of and cruelty to 109 live pangolins.

Sessions Court judge Zanol Rashid Hussian also ordered the accused Manshor Hat, 49, to be jailed for a year if he fails to pay the fine.

The charges were framed under various sections of the Wildlife Conservation Act (Act 716).

The accused, who is an odd-job worker, a padi farmer and also a rubber tapper, was found keeping 109 live pangolins in sacks and covered in nets in a shed beside his house in Titi Kerbau, Changlun, at about noon on Dec 30.

Manshor, who was unrepresented, failed to pay the fine.

State Wildlife Department DPP Nur Ainaa Ridzwan prosecuted the case.

The Star reported on Dec 31 that the more than 100 pangolins bound for cooking pots in Thailand were rescued by Bukit Kayu Hitam Border Security Agency officers from a shed beside a house in Changlun.

The pangolins, weighing about 1kg to 6kg each and worth a total of RM196,200, were to be picked up by Thai nationals to be smuggled into Thailand where they could fetch up to RM300 per kilo.

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Indonesia's forest concessionaires required to restore peatland

The Jakarta Post 31 Dec 16;

The Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) will require forest concessionaires to restore 1.4 hectares of peatland starting in January 2017.

The move is set to affect 650,389 hectares managed by 36 forests in five provinces, namely South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Riau and Jambi, BRG head Nazir Foead said.

“The areas to be restored are equivalent to 26 percent of the total peatland restoration target,” he said on Friday as quoted by Antara.


Established by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to decrease forest fires, the agency has set a goal to recover 2.49 million ha of peatland of which about 1 million ha is located in protected forests, conservation forests and community forests.

During execution, the companies would have to comply with technical guidelines set by the government and install a monitoring censor for water surface with technology developed by the agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Nazir said. BRG would closely monitor the implementation of the measure, he added.

Indonesia, home to the world’s third-biggest tropical rain forest after the Amazon and the Congo Basin, has dealt with concurrent forest fires in recent years, causing a spread of haze to neighboring Malaysia, Singapore and even Thailand.

This incident has been attributed to massive expansion of oil palm plantations. (lnd)

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Indonesia: Conservationists call for immediate protection of owa Jawa

Theresia Sufa The Jakarta Post 31 Dec 16;

Activists are calling for tougher efforts to conserve the silver gibbon, locally known as owa Jawa, as its population is getting close to extinction because of damaged natural habitats and ongoing excessive wildlife hunting of the species endemic to Java Island.

There is a widespread trade in owa Jawa, a species acknowledged for its great role in forest conservation, in which youngsters are often sold as pets.

Citing research reports, Conservation International Indonesia (CII) West Java program manager Anton Ario said it was estimated that the number of owa Jawa left in parts of Central Java and West Java forests reached only between 3,000 and 5,304 individuals.

With such figures, it might seem there are still a lot of owa Jawa living in their natural habitats. In fact, the smallest entity in Owa Jawa populations is not an individual but a family, in which one family consists of three to five individuals, comprising a pair of parents and two or three children.

“This monogamous family and territorial system has led owa Jawa to the brink of extinction,” said Anton in a recent interview.

Protecting wildlife – Workers carry out their daily activities at a rehabilitation center of silver gibbon, locally known as owa Jawa, in Bedogol Resort in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (TNGGP). (JP/Theresia Sufa)

Owa Jawa is categorized as endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Founded by the Environment Ministry and its several partners, including the CII and the Owa Jawa Foundation, in 2003, the Javan Gibbon Center (JGC) has released 15 individuals of owa Jawa to their natural habitats. A pair of owa Jawa was released to Patiwel forests in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (TNGGP) while the others were dispatched to Mount Malabar protected forests in Bandung, West Java.

Currently, 20 individual – nine females and 11 males -- owa Jawa are being rehabilitated at the JGC.

“The owa Jawa is an important indicator of the healthiness of forests. It plays a role in natural reforestation, which is important for the sustainability of human life,” said Pristiani Nurantika, a veterinarian at the Owa Jawa Foundation. She said owa Jawa could be called “forest farmers” because they helped to spread plant seeds through their feces. (ebf)

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Indonesia: Government told to prevent animal trading done through social media

Bambang Muryanto The Jakarta Post 30 Dec 16;

The Center for Orangutan Protection (COP) has expressed concern over the increasing practice of trading protected animals through social media.

“The police in cooperation with the Environment and Forestry Ministry have to enforce the law against such practices,” COP director Ramadhani told The Jakarta Post in Yogyakarta on Friday.

Trading in protected animals violates Law No. 5/1999 on conservation of live natural resources and the ecosystem, he said.

If the government does not enforce the law, it will lead to the immediate extinction of those animals, Ramadhani said when reading the year-end report of his organization.

The Yogyakarta-based organization said that the conversion of forests into plantations in Sumatra and Kalimantan had helped animal traders capture rare and exotic animals like primates and large wild cats.

To avoid the government’s measures, the animal traders do not display their catches in the animal markets, but on social media, and transactions are made using joint bank accounts, said Ramadhani.

“The trading of protected animals through social media is becoming rampant. Many animals and traders are involved,” he said, adding that COP had helped police conduct 25 raids against traders, raids that managed to recover 168 protected animals, including orangutans.

He said, as an example, that on July 26 the police foiled the trading of four baby orangutans. On Aug. 4, COP also helped police arrest online animal traders in East Java. (bbn)

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Indonesian agricultural programs deemed successful in 2016

Andi Abdussalam Antara 1 Jan 17;

Photo documents of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) talking with farmers in Brebes, Central Java. (ANTARA/Puspa Perwitasari)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - One of the aims of the Indonesian governments programs in 2016 was to advance the agricultural sector, in order to regain the countrys self-sufficiency in rice, as in the past.

Due to its efforts to introduce mechanized agricultural technology, repair damaged agricultural infrastructure, and open new rice fields, the government has been able to change the countrys rice planting season from one to two, and even three times, per year.

With its success in carrying out these programs in 2016, the government increased unhusked rice production to 79 million tons, exceeding its target of 76 million tons of unhusked rice, and stop importing rice in 2016.

"Indonesia will not need to import rice, and it could even export the commodity to other countries, " Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said in the village of Bhakti Rasa, Sragi subdistrict, South Lampung, on Thursday (Dec 29, 2016).

National production of unhulled rice rose to 79 million tons in 2016, from 74 million tons of unhulled rice in 2015 and 70 million tons in 2014.

In order to maintain and advance the agricultural sector, the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to promote the use of agricultural technology.

Indonesian farmers should now become skillful in the use of technology and the use of hybrid seeds. Thus, they are expected to see harvest seasons two to three times per year.

Additionally, the use of technology will continue to be promoted by the Agriculture Ministry in order to improve the welfare of the farmers.

"Through the use of technology, including agricultural mechanization, rice production is expected to increase by 200 percent," Minister Amran Sulaiman said, conducting a rice grand harvest in Margorejo Village, Metro Selatan Subdistrict, Metro City, Lampung on Friday (Dec 30).

According to the minister, his ministry will continue to make efforts to increase agricultural production through mechanization, such as providing machine tools for farmers.

Through measures, such as the provision of agricultural machinery (alsintan) to farmers, the ministry encourages mechanization of agriculture, a policy that will continue to further improve agricultural productivity.

The minister said the use of agricultural technology resulted into reductions in production costs by 50 percent. The production cost of one hectare, which usually reached Rp12 million, has now been reduced to Rp6 million. In addition, in one year a farmer can plant two to three times.

In order to regain the countrys former high levels of food production, the government has also overhauled various regulations in the food sector and repaired damaged rice growing infrastructure, which reached three million hectares. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked the minister to finish the repairs within three years, but the Minister of Agriculture said his staff has been trying to complete this in one year.

The government is also improving the distribution of fertilizers and has taken action against those who distribute fake or mixed fertilizers, which harm farmers.

Self-sufficiency in food can be achieved through efforts to modernize agriculture, while new regulations and infrastructure are improved. The officials have worked hard to boost production and control exports and imports. Organic agriculture is very attractive and prices for this produce could increase ten times and improve the welfare of farmers.

The government has distributed some 160,000 agricultural machine tools in the regions. Also, in 2016 Indonesia tried to open up 200,000 hectares of new rice fields.

By increasing the acreage of the countrys rice fields by 200,000 hectares, rice farms in Indonesia now cover some 9.0 million hectares.

Chairman of the Peoples Deliberative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan praised the efforts of the agriculture minister to increase agricultural production through various measures, including mechanization.

"We both know, at this time, to increase agricultural land was very difficult. But the population will surely continue to grow so that food production should be increased. Therefore, I appreciate the performance of the Minister of Agriculture and his efforts to increase production, especially through technology mechanization," he said.

The assembly speaker also expressed his gratitude to Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, whose efforts during the past two years, he said, had lifted agricultural production and ensured that the country did not have to import rice.

"It must be recognized that I am grateful for the performance of Amran, who has proven his ability to increase agricultural production. And, this is the reality this year, as the government did not import rice after 32 years of importing the commodity. It should be appreciated because, with our current condition, it is not easy to do," he said.

According to Zulkifli, providing agricultural machinery to farmers is a very effective, helpful policy, and in accordance with current requirements.

"It is inevitable that mechanization is really required. Farmers used to set off into the fields while it was still dark, they are exposed to the sun and their skin became dark, and they returned home very late, again when it was dark. By using new tools, such as hand tractors, farmers can finish cultivating one hectare of land in three hours, where it used to take 11 days to cultivate," said Zulkifli.
(T.A014/INE/KR-BSR)

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China to ban domestic ivory trade by end of 2017

Reuters 30 Dec 16;

China will slap a total ban on the domestic ivory trade within a year, the government announced on Friday, shutting the door to the world's biggest end-market for poached ivory.

The State Council said in a notice a complete ban would be enforced by Dec. 31, 2017. A first batch of factories and shops will need to close and hand in their licenses by March 31, 2017.

Conservation groups applauded the ban, with WildAid's wildlife campaigner Alex Hofford calling it "the biggest and best conservation news of 2016".

Environmentalists say poached ivory can be disguised as legal as long as trade is allowed in licensed outlets on the high street and online.

Poaching is a major factor contributing to the rapid decline in the numbers of African elephants, with about 20,000 slaughtered every year, according to the WWF.

It says about 415,000 African elephants remain today, compared with the 3 to 5 million in the early 20th century. The animal is officially listed as a vulnerable species.

People with ivory products previously obtained through legal means can apply for certification and continue to display them in exhibitions and museums, the government announcement said.

The auction of legally obtained ivory antiques, under "strict supervision", will also be allowed after obtaining authorization. The government will also crack down on law enforcement and boost education, it added.

WWF Hong Kong's Senior Wildlife Crime Officer Cheryl Lo said the bold timeline "shows determination to help save Africa's elephants from extinction".

"A ban clearly requires strong enforcement and support from the government to be most effective. But together with China's announcement, now that three of the world’s largest domestic ivory markets, that is China, Hong Kong and the U.S., are being phased out," Lo said in a statement.

The United States enacted a near-total ban on commercial trade in ivory from African elephants in June.

Campaigners are urging the Hong Kong government to speed up its plan of phasing out the local ivory trade by the end of 2021.

The former British colony, now Chinese-ruled but governed by different laws under a "one country, two systems" arrangement, allows trade of "pre-convention ivory", or ivory products acquired before 1975.

The financial center also remains an important transit and consumption hub for illegal ivory to China and the rest of Asia.

Chinese ivory traders have also tried to pre-empt the move, WildAid's Hofford said, with some carvers setting up shops in Laos and Myanmar and other traders moving their products "offshore" to places such as Hong Kong.

(Reporting by Venus Wu; Editing by Alison Williams)

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Nature: the decisive solution for the climate change crisis

ReliefWeb 31 Dec 16;

Ann Moey, Head of Communications, IUCN Asia with contribution from Anushae Parakh, Programme Assistant for Mangroves for the Future

Near the Sundarbans, home to the largest mangrove forest in the world, Promila makes her living by making mats out of a grass-like wetlands plant called ‘reed’. Depending on size, these mats are sold at US$1 to $7 through a community enterprise established by Promila and her friends.

Thanks to the reed mat business, Promila and over 100 other women in her community no longer have to rely on collecting shrimp and fish – hence reducing pressure on the Kholpetua river.

Besides playing a role in mitigating climate change, the mat business has also brought about social benefits. The women now have a new-found confidence that enables them to negotiate prices directly with customers, while maintaining fruitful working relations with shopkeepers.

Implemented through Mangroves for the Future (MFF), an IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) partnership-based coastal programme, this alternative livelihoods initiative in Bangladesh is an example of a conservation intervention designed to conserve biodiversity by substituting one livelihood activity that causes harm to a species or a habitat with another activity that causes less harm.

The Nature-based Solution

In just a few decades, reoccurring heat waves, rapidly rising sea levels, and more intense droughts, wildfires, and floods, are clear signs that our planet is experiencing a serious upsurge in climate change.

To tackle this existential crisis, there are two solutions that we can consider: The first is climate change mitigation, which includes swift reduction of global carbon emissions. The second is climate change adaptation, like Promila’s story above, which refers to increasing our capacity to address the adverse impacts of climate change.

At IUCN, we believe that the best way to achieve climate change adaptation and mitigation is to utilise the natural functions of healthy ecosystems. Such nature-based solutions help protect the environment, and provide economic and social benefits.

Mangroves for example, are plants that have the ability to absorb very large amounts of CO2 – making them a fundamental asset in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Mangrove swamps also provide a more effective buffer that protects coastal regions from storm surges and tsunamis than man-made dykes. Sustainably managed mangrove forests further provide firewood, food, as well as spawning grounds for fish.

Empowerment, and Community Ownership

As we combat climate change, forgetting to engage local communities and empowering them in the process would be a major faux pas. These communities have, over centuries, developed practices that protect the natural resources on which they rely for their survival.

Using such knowledge will increase our chances of protecting ecosystems, which in turn will help us mitigate the impacts of climate change, and cope with its aftermath. Building on existing traditional knowledge not only satisfies local communities’ expectations, but also provides a solid basis to address current and upcoming challenges.

It is therefore important to provide the right conditions for local communities – with a particular focus on women – to manage natural resources within and surrounding their territories.

Gender Equity: The Silver Bullet

In many countries, women play a dominant role in natural resource management, and have traditional responsibilities such as growing food, collecting water, and being the primary caregivers for their families.

But, despite the fact that women play such a critical role in the conservation of ecosystems, their contribution is, unfortunately, often overlooked and undervalued.

The good news though, is that within the climate change paradigm, contributions of women are receiving increased attention, with more and more conservation experts calling for women to have greater ownership of the ecosystems on which they rely.

With their knowledge of sustainable resource-management at the household as well as the community level, women play a fundamental role in our collective response to climate change.

Coastal Ecosystems: Vital

In Viet Nam, an MFF initiative to strengthen national park management has engaged local women to co-manage mangrove forests. Not only has enlisting community participation in caring for important areas proven to be an effective strategy for protected area management, it has also created momentum for effective climate change adaptation.

By increasing awareness on the importance of mangrove forests and sustainable fishing methods, this initiative has also helped empower women, by giving them the opportunity to have their voices heard in policy-making processes.

In Sri Lanka, another MFF initiative established a community-based model for the conservation of the Vankalai wetlands. Through training on climate-smart livelihoods such as sustainable aquaculture and ecotourism, the project has increased awareness on the threats posed by climate change, and how these could be mitigated.

The project also enabled the development of women-led entrepreneurship endeavours through training on community-based alternative livelihoods.

But there is still a lot to do.

With nature-based solutions at the heart of its agenda, MFF will continue to focus on empowerment, gender equity and good governance as it applies participatory methods to ensure the desired impact of its projects.

About Mangroves for the Future (MFF)

MFF is a partnership-based regional initiative which promotes investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development in Bangladesh,Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam. MFF uses small, medium and regional grant facilities as the main vehicle to deliver on-the-ground results for the well-being of coastal ecosystems and coastal resource-dependent communities. Co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP, the initiative is funded by Danida, Norad, Sida and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Thailand.

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