January Facebook jam
People's Movement to Stop Haze
11 Feb (Sun): Kayak Pulau Ubin and Pulau Ketam with Sea Angel
Celebrating Singapore Shores!
#EcoClick2018 Nature photography talk series 7 Feb 2018, 6 pm at NTU
Toddycats!
Singapore Youth for Climate Action is slightly 2 years old!
Climate Action SG
#BeAware
The Dorsal Effect
Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 5 Feb 18;
SINGAPORE: While the national water agency, PUB, takes into account factors such as terrain and rainfall intensity of the area when designing drains, it is "not feasible" to build them to a capacity that accommodates every extreme rainfall event.
Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said this in Parliament on Monday (Feb 5). He was responding to questions from MPs who asked about flash floods that occurred at nine locations in eastern Singapore on Jan 8.
PUB previously said the highest recorded total rainfall that morning was 118.8m - about half of Singapore's monthly average in January in just over four hours.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr Masagos reiterated that flash floods on the day were due to intense rainfall that temporarily exceeded existing design capacity of drains.
And with climate change, he said Singapore can expect more intense rainfall "to be the norm in future".
"To prepare for this, PUB has raised drainage design standards since 2011, so that our drains can handle up to 45 per cent higher rainfall intensities," Mr Masagos said.
Mr Masagos said PUB has also commenced and completed improvement works to drains at 327 locations, with another 77 undergoing similar works.
MASSIVE LAND, HIGHER COSTS TO ACCOMMODATE EVERY EXTREME RAINFALL
But Mr Masagos cautioned that drainage design needs to be done with practical considerations, and not for extreme conditions "all the time for all places".
Building drains to accommodate "every extreme rainfall event" would require the Government to acquire massive amounts of land and much higher costs, he said.
"Bedok Canal, which serves some of the affected areas, is being widened at a cost of S$128 million from its existing width of 38m to 44m, wide enough to accommodate an expressway of 10 lanes, five lanes each way," Mr Masagos said.
But even with this widening, he said that there is no guarantee that there will not be floods in the future.
That is because climate change could result in rainfall events of even higher intensity that could exceed design capacity, he said.
"To deal with the most extreme historical rainfall events, the Bedok Canal would need to be widened to at least 62m, displacing the Bedok Park Connector and community spaces adjacent to the canal," he said.
Mr Masagos said expanding the canal could even affect surrounding residential areas, and end up looking like a 16-lane expressway.
He said authorities have to design drainage taking into account competing needs for housing, parks and roads.
"Building our drains for extreme conditions would mean that much of the capacity would be extremely costly, but not needed most of the time."
Instead what authorities will do is ensure critical infrastructure is well-protected from extreme rainfall.
Mr Masagos said this can be achieved through PUB's source-pathway-receptor approach, a holistic approach that also includes developers having to implement on site measures to slow down stormwater run-off from inundating public drains during heavy rainfall.
Source: CNA/mn
'Not feasible' to build drains for all extreme rainfall scenarios: Masagos
LOUISA TANG Today Online 5 Feb 18;
SINGAPORE — Even as Singapore pours more effort and resources into flood prevention measures, it is “not feasible” to build drains here to accommodate all possible extreme rainfall scenarios as this would involve acquiring a lot more land as well as higher costs, said Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli on Monday (Feb 5).
Citing the example of the Bedok Canal, Mr Masagos said that it would have to be widened to at least 62m — or the width of a 16-lane expressway — to deal with the “most extreme historical rainfall events”. This would displace the Bedok Park Connector and community spaces adjacent to the canal, and possibly affect surrounding private residential areas.
He was answering questions tabled in Parliament from five Members of Parliament, amid heightened public concerns over the recent flash floods.
On Jan 8, flash floods hit nine locations in the eastern side of Singapore, most of which were low-lying and susceptible to flooding. Only two — Tampines Road opposite Jalan Teliti, and Arumugam Road in Ubi — had a previous history of flash floods.
The floods were due to the Northeast Monsoon and made worse by an unexpected Sumatra squall which brought widespread thundery showers, with the eastern part of the island receiving the heaviest rainfall.
The highest recorded rainfall that morning was 118.8mm, which meant that half of Singapore’s average monthly rainfall in January fell in just four hours.
Four of the affected locations are served by roadside drains that lead to the Bedok Canal, which is currently being widened from its existing width of 38m to 44m at a cost of S$1.2 billion. These works, which began in 2016 and are expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year, means the canal will be wide enough to accommodate a 10-lane expressway.
But Mr Masagos added: “Even with this widening, we cannot guarantee that there will be no floods in future, as rainfall events of even higher capacity could still occur that exceed the design capacity. This is especially due to climate change.”
More intense rainfall will be the norm in the future, he pointed out. Flood risks from rainfall changes will increase in the next two to three decades due to global warming from greenhouse gases, according to a study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
The annual number of days of very heavy rainfall — with maximum hourly rainfall exceeding 70mm — in Singapore has also been on the rise since 1980, according to national water agency PUB.
The Government, Mr Masagos noted, has to design “with practical considerations and not for extreme conditions all the time for all places”, as it will be “extremely costly but not needed most of the time”.
“The need for adaptation is significant, even in countries with good infrastructure such as Singapore,” Mr Masagos said.
To that end, the Government has invested S$1.2 billion in drainage improvement works since 2012, and will pump in another S$500 million over the next two to three years. Since 2012, drainage improvement works at 327 locations have been completed, with 22 more planned for this year.
On the Jan 8 flash floods, drainage improvement works are already being carried out at eight of the nine affected locations, Mr Masagos told the House. Works at the Tampines Canal between Upper Serangoon and Sungei Serangoon are expected to be completed by the third quarter of this year, and works at the Geylang River will be completed by the first quarter of next year.
For the ninth location at Tampines Avenue 12, a temporary construction access road built by the constructor had worsened the situation by obstructing the earth drain in an adjacent worksite.
The PUB has worked with the developer to improve drainage there, Mr Masagos disclosed. A permanent drainage system, built in tandem with the upcoming development project at the adjacent worksite, will serve as the longer term measure.
Responding to a supplementary question by Mr Murali Pillai (Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency), who asked how the ministry will oversee developers and construction companies, Mr Masagos said that contractors have to submit plans for drainage diversion to the PUB. For those who commit errors, like at Tampines Avenue 12, the ministry will take action by bringing them to court and fining them, he added.
And since flash floods cannot be completely eliminated, Mr Masagos advised members of the public to subscribe to the National Environment Agency’s and PUB’s SMS alerts or mobile apps for updates on impending heavy rain and water level in drains at designated locations.
While the PUB strives to give early warning to the public, weather systems in the equatorial region pose a forecasting challenge, he said. These weather systems comprise mainly convective thunderstorms which tend to be localised, develop rather suddenly, and are of short duration. This limits the lead time for issuing warnings of heavy rain and consequent flash floods.
Flash floods have occurred on four days in January this year. There were flash floods on 14 days last year, 10 in 2016 and six in 2015.
*CLARIFICATION: In an earlier version of this story, we reported that flash floods have occurred on three days in January this year. That is incorrect. The PUB has clarified that flash floods have occurred on four days in January.
PROTECTING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM EXTREME RAINFALL
Besides drainage improvement works, the PUB takes an approach called “source-pathway-receptor” to ensure the Republic’s critical infrastructure is well-protected from extreme rainfalls.
“Source” refers to where the rain falls, “pathway” refers to drains and “receptor” refers to the areas where floods may occur.
Measures to cope with “source” and “pathway” issues include detention tanks, which collect and store water from storms, potentially reducing the amount of storm water entering public drains during peak rainfall.
An example of this is the Stamford Detention Tank and the Stamford Diversion Canal, which will alleviate flooding in the Stamford Canal catchment area that covers the Orchard Road shopping belt.
The Stamford Detention Tank, to be completed by the second quarter of the year, will temporarily hold excess storm water from the drains. After the rain subsides, the water will be pumped back into the drains and discharged into Marina Reservoir.
Since 2014, developers have had to implement such source measures at all new and redevelopment projects that are 0.2 hectares or larger in size. These measures slow down surface runoff and reduce peak flow to the public drainage system by 25 to 35 per cent.
There have been about 500 submissions for plans to incorporate retention tanks, of which 138 have been completed.
For areas most at risk of flooding, the PUB stipulates that buildings should have features such as higher platform levels, crest protection and flood barriers to prevent floodwaters from damaging them.
Developers have to adhere to a minimum design standard to provide adequate drainage for buildings and infrastructure. The code of practice, last revised in December 2011, covers the minimum land reclamation levels, minimum crest and platform protection levels, and design standards for drains.
Following the 2011 revision, drainage design standards for new drains were increased to handle more intense storms. For example, the width of a typical roadside drain was increased from 1.5m to 1.8m.
No history of flash floods in most areas hit on Jan 8
Audrey Tan Straits Times 6 Feb 18;
Only two of the nine locations in eastern Singapore that suffered flash floods on Jan 8 had a history of flooding, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said yesterday.
He also said that with climate change, Singapore can expect intense rainfall to be the norm in future. This means flash floods could occur in areas with no record of flooding.
But he cautioned that it was not feasible to build and expand drains to accommodate every extreme rainfall event, as that would be very costly and require setting aside large tracts of land. For instance, Bedok Canal is being widened at a cost of $128 million and the space can accommodate a 10-lane expressway.
Mr Masagos made these points in Parliament to five MPs, including Mr Murali Pillai (Bukit Batok) and Non-Constituency MP Dennis Tan, who had asked about the floods.
On Jan 8, the nine places were inundated with rain - the heaviest recorded total rainfall that morning was 118.8mm, half of Singapore's average rainfall for January - with submerged cars, flooded bus cabins and some businesses being disrupted.
Although eight of them are low-lying and susceptible to flash floods, only two had a history of flooding.
They are Tampines Road, opposite Jalan Teliti, and Arumugam Road in the Ubi area. Between 2015 and this year, five flash floods took place in Tampines Road and three in Arumugam Road.
"The flash floods were caused by the intense rainfall temporarily exceeding the existing design capacity of the drains," Mr Masagos said.
Every year, since 1980, heavy rain has been pouring down more often. Also, the annual maximum hourly rainfall has risen. It was about 80mm in 1980 and 90mm in 2016.
"Although the flood waters affected only certain stretches of the roads, and subsided within 15 to 60 minutes, we acknowledge that members of the public were inconvenienced and a number of cars had stalled," he added.
Every year, since 1980, heavy rain has been pouring down more often. Also, the annual maximum hourly rainfall has risen. It was about 80mm in 1980 and 90mm in 2016.
It has led the Government to invest in drainage infrastructure.
Since 2012, drainage improvement works have been carried out at 327 locations and such upgrading is still going on at 73 other places, with 22 more planned for this year.
On the Jan 8 case, he said drainage improvements are being carried out in eight of the nine affected areas, "to enable the drains there to discharge more water in a shorter time when completed".
In the ninth location in Tampines Avenue 12, the building of an unauthorised road had intensified the flash flood.
The PUB has worked with the developer to improve the drainage, Mr Masagos said, adding that it is now working on a long-term measure of installing a permanent drainage system. It will be built in tandem with the upcoming development project at an adjacent worksite.
Singapore saw floods on 14 days last year, compared with 10 in 2016, and six in 2015. This year, four flash flood days were recorded last month.
But there is a limit to how many drains can be built or upgraded.
Mr Masagos cited the Bedok Canal, which takes in water from four of the nine places hit by the Jan 8 flash floods. It is being widened from 38.5m to 44m, by the first quarter of next year.
With the expansion, the canal will be wide enough to accommodate an expressway of 10 lanes. But to deal with extreme rainfall, it would have to be widened to at least 62m - a 16-lane expressway.
Such a move would displace the Bedok Park Connector and community spaces adjacent to the canal, and possibly even affect the surrounding residential areas, Mr Masagos said.
PUB to charge contractor for blocking ditch at Tampines Ave 12 that intensified flooding
Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 5 Feb 18;
SINGAPORE: Authorities will take action against a contractor who built a temporary access road to its construction site at Tampines Avenue 12 without approval, said Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli in Parliament on Monday (Feb 5).
In building the access road, Huationg Contractor blocked a ditch near the worksite, worsening flash floods in the area on Jan 8.
If found guilty, the contractor can be fined up to S$20,000.
Tampines Avenue 12 was among nine locations in eastern Singapore that experienced flash floods that morning, as a result of intense rainfall that exceeded the capacity of drains.
But national water agency PUB’s investigations revealed that flooding on Tampines Avenue 12 was aggravated by the blocked ditch.
At a media briefing last month, PUB explained that stormwater from the construction site and a field next to it would typically flow into the ditch before being discharged into Sungei Tampines.
However, the building of the unauthorised access road completely obstructed the flow of the ditch. As a result, stormwater ended up flowing into the roadside drain along Tampines Avenue 12, which was already overwhelmed by the heavy rainfall on Jan 8, said PUB.
Mr Masagos said contractors have to submit plans to divert drains, while keeping the original drain design intact so that rainfall meant for that drain does not “affect surrounding areas”.
“This has worked most of the time,” he said.
“When we have flash floods occurring in areas we know do not frequently experience flash floods, it’s usually because the contractors have not implemented what they are supposed to do or implemented something else to make their work site accessible or easier to work on.”
PUB confirmed with Channel NewsAsia that it would charge Huationg Contractor under the Sewerage and Drainage Act.
“The charge is under Sector 23(1) for closing up the drainage system without obtaining approval from the Board and carries a fine not exceeding S$20,000,” PUB added.
Mr Masagos also responded to questions on the Jan 8 flooding, saying that only two of the nine locations had a history of flash floods. They are Tampines Road (opposite Jalan Teliti) and Arumugam Road.
Of the nine, eight also are low lying and susceptible to flash floods. The minister reiterated that PUB is already carrying out drainage improvement works in these areas.
Source: CNA/mo
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/pub-to-charge-contractor-for-blocking-ditch-at-tampines-ave-12-9928242
Ng Huiwen Straits Times 5 Feb 18;
SINGAPORE - A rare sambar deer died after it was hit by a vehicle in Mandai Road on Saturday evening (Feb 3).
Emergency medical technician Muhammad Iqbal Zainudin told The Straits Times on Monday that he was driving to work at about 8.30pm when he saw the animal standing in a pool of blood in the middle of the road, with some metal debris nearby.
"The deer looked injured and it was struggling. I stopped my car and took out a torchlight to direct traffic away from it," said the 29-year-old. "I didn't see the driver there any more."
The deer eventually stumbled to a grass patch at the side of the road, where it died.
Mr Iqbal posted photos and a video on Facebook on Saturday that showed the animal bleeding from its mouth, with injuries seen on its leg as well.
He told ST that two other passers-by were with him at the time.
One of them tried to calm the deer down, as it looked to be in distress but Mr Iqbal had advised him against doing so.
"I was worried that the deer would get scared if we approach it and it would run towards the road," he added. "That would have been very dangerous."
Mr Iqabal contacted the Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres) and two rescue officers arrived in about 15 minutes.
Traffic Police also arrived soon after to help manage traffic.
The carcass of the deer was recovered by Wildlife Reserves Singapore and is being examined.
Mr Iqbal said that while he has heard of deer sightings in the area and previously seen wild boars near Mandai Road, this was the first time he had come across a sambar deer.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) told ST that it did not receive feedback on this specific case.
However, it said that the public "should slow down when they come across wildlife on the roads".
"Wildlife are more commonly sighted near forested areas," said AVA. "Some of these areas include Lentor Avenue, the Ayer Rajah Expressway (around Tuas) and the Bukit Timah Expressway (near the Eco-Link). AVA has worked with LTA to put up signage to alert motorists to wildlife crossings at these areas."
Earlier this year, a sambar deer was caught on video dashing across Mandai Road in a split-second appearance.
Sambar deer are found in Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, southern China, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Also known as sambaur deer, it eats leaves, fruits and bugs. Males can grow up to 2m tall including antlers, and weigh up to 260kg, while females are two-thirds the size of males or smaller. They can live up to 20 years in the wild.
In Singapore, they are typically found in areas around MacRitchie Nature Reserve and Upper Seletar Reservoir.
Channel NewsAsia 5 Feb 18;
SINGAPORE: Authorities are investigating an alleged incident of curry being poured into Tampines River.
On Sunday (Feb 4), Facebook user Shirley Lc Tan posted a photo of a reddish-brown substance in the river, writing that it was a wedding caterer at the void deck of Block 408 Pasir Ris that had dumped curry gravy into the river.
The post was shared more than 2,400 times as of Monday, but it has since been taken down.
Replying to Channel NewsAsia's queries, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Monday that both NEA and national water agency PUB received reports on Sunday of "a substance resembling curry" being disposed into the river.
NEA and PUB officers went down to the site immediately, and NEA is investigating the alleged incident, it added.
NEA investigating incident of 'curry dumping' into Tampines river
Lydia Lam Straits Times 5 Feb 18;
SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency (NEA) is investigating an alleged incident of curry being dumped into a river.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, NEA said in a statement that it had received reports, along with water agency PUB, on Sunday (Feb 4) about "a substance resembling curry being disposed into Sungei Tampines".
"NEA and PUB officers went down to the site immediately, and NEA is investigating the alleged incident," said the statement.
Facebook user Shirley Lc Tan had posted a photo of the orange substance seeping into the river at 9.35pm on Sunday.
She alleged that the caterer of a wedding held at the void deck of Block 408, Pasir Ris Drive 6, had dumped their curry gravy into the river next to it.
"The river where there are plenty of monitor lizards and our beloved Pasir Ris family of otters," she wrote.
The post drew more than 2,400 shares and hundreds of likes and comments. It was made unavailable on Monday night.
Sungei Tampines flows through parts of Tampines and Pasir Ris before draining into the sea.
An otter watcher told ST that he saw the otters in Sungei Tampines on Saturday morning. They left the river and headed for Sungei Api Api, a river in Pasir Ris, said Mr Tan Yong Lin, a 28-year-old professional photographer.
Mr Tan, who has followed otters for about two years, said the otters were out of the water by the time the curry incident happened.
However, he added that another otter watcher went to look for the animals earlier on Monday, but she did not see them at Sungei Tampines.
HASHINI KAVISHTRI KANNAN New Straits Times 5 Feb 18;
PUTRAJAYA: Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has given a poultry farm in Johor - found to be the source of ammonia pollution in Sungai Sayong - six-months from Jan 29, to sort out its operations.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said he had warned the owner that the farm could face closure if nothing was done to address the pollution issue.
"I have visited the farm myself and was informed by the farm owner that he will adopt a new manure- drying technology from Taiwan.
"This technology will enable fast drying of the manure regardless of the weather," he told reporters after chairing the Environmental Minister with State Exco Members Meeting on Environment (MEXCOE) 2018 today.
He said he had also directed the ministry's director-general to oversea the farm operation until it has stopped polluting the river in Johor.
It was reported that the pollution had affected some 600,000 people in the area since last October, where the supply of drinking water was disrupted, Wan Junaidi said.
The Johor state government had also ordered temporary shut down of the farm operation, following a recommendation made during a meeting chaired by the Johor Water Regulatory Body (Bakaj) last year.
It was reported that the farm, located at the border of Kulai and Kluang, had also polluted the Sungai Johor.
At the meeting today, Wan Junaidi said a working paper was presented on an alternative to control the river pollution through a "Constructed Wetland" technology by Department of Environment (DoE).
"The department has suggested through its paper that this alternative approach of treating industrial wastewater and sewage treatment could prevent river water from being contaminated.
"This method, where special plants will be planted around the river areas to absorb the toxic in the water, will replicate the natural process of living without the need for any chemical to clean the river," he added.
Five other papers were presented today; among them are National Environment Day celebration, fireflies conservation efforts by Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and REDD+ (efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and foster conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries) Financial Mechanisms.
Johor poultry farm linked to ammonia pollution given 6 months to 'buck up'
Straits Times 5 Feb 18;
PUTRAJAYA (BERNAMA) - A Johor-based poultry farm which also produces fertilisers using chicken manure and identified as being the source of ammonia pollution in Sungai Sayong, will face stern action if it failed to buck up, a Malaysian minister said.
Waste from the factory has been the source of pollution at four water treatment plants in Johor, with one providing water to Singapore and three others providing water to more than 60,000 consumer accounts in the state in October last year.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said stern action, including factory closure, would be taken if the owner failed to address the pollution within the six-month grace period given by the ministry, beginning this month (Feb).
"During my visit to the plant at the end of last month, I warned the factory owner to take immediate steps by improving the chicken waste treatment system if they wanted the factory to continue operating," he told reporters in Putrajaya after chairing a meeting between him and state executive councillors in charge of environment on Monday (Feb 5).
Wan Junaidi said the ministry was considering using constructed wetland approach as a long-term alternative to address water pollution.
He said the natural water treatment would be more effective in treating industrial waste from mining, food, metal manufacturing and domestic sewage through the use of biotechnology engineering.
Wan Junaidi said the meeting also recommended that the state government gazette firefly areas which served as ecotourism attractions.
He said the move was aimed at maintaining the sustainability of firefly populations, as well as meeting the need for conservation of biodiversity in their natural habitat.
stephen then The Star 6 Feb 18;
MIRI: The number of people evacuated from flood-hit districts is Sarawak exceeded the 3,000 mark on Tuesday (Feb 6) morning.
As at 7am, 3,020 people from 814 families have left their inundated homes.
They are mostly in Samarahan and Sibu districts, said Sarawak Disaster Relief Committee and State Fire and Rescue Department in their latest report.
Those evacuated are being given shelter at 20 flood-relief centres near their homes until the flood subsides.
These districts are the worst-hit but heavy rain is being experienced statewide.
Number of Sarawak flood victims rises to 4,887
MOHD ROJI KAWI New Straits Times 7 Feb 18;
KUCHING: A total of 4,887 people from 1,419 families have been evacuated to temporary relief centres throughout the state due to the worsening floods.
The state Disaster Management Committee said a total of 81 temporary flood relief centres have been activated this morning.
A total of nine relief centres have been opened in Kota Samarahan, housing 1857 flood evacuees.
They include Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Haji Bujang Rangawan Putin, which is currently sheltering 578 flood victims and Masjid Kampung Seruyuk, 337 victims.
Several relief centres have also been opened in Serian, housing a total of 1,548 victims as at this morning. Other districts including Mukah, Bintulu and Limbang have activated a total of 11 relief centres housing 1,466 victims.
Meanwhile, a total 43 schools were forced to shut today due to the rising waters, affecting 5,380 students and pupils. Yesterday, 23 schools were shut temporarily.
stephanie lee The Star 5 Feb 18;
KOTA KINABALU: Seven people were nabbed after forest rangers seized protected gaharu wood (agarwood) worth millions of ringgit at a house in Keningau on Feb 2.
Sabah Conservation chief Datuk Sam Mannan said in a statement Monday (Feb 5) that the seven comprising six illegal immigrants and a Cambodian were believed to have obtained the gaharu from protected forests, including parts of the Maliau Basin.
“It is believed that the gaharu is worth millions of ringgit,” he said, adding that the raid was made after a month-long surveillance.
He said it is believed that the seven suspects were involved in the international black market trade.
“We will make sure that these suspects are charged in court for the offence,” he added.
Gaharu wood worth millions seized
The Star 6 Feb 18;
KOTA KINABALU: Seven people were nabbed as forest rangers seized millions worth of gaharu wood, a protected species from a house in Keningau.
Sabah Conservation chief Datuk Sam Mannan said the six illegal immigrants and a Cambodian were believed to have obtained the wood from protected forests, including Maliau Basin.
“The gaharu seized on Feb 2 is worth millions of ringgit,” he said, adding that the raid was conducted after a month-long surveillance.
He said the seven suspects were believed to be involved in the international black market trade.
image: https://video.unrulymedia.com/native/in-art-close-icon-128x128.png
“It looked like it was ready for export.
“We will make sure that these suspects are charged in court for the offence,” he said in a statement.
Karas trees – or aquilaria malaccensis – are being logged by the tens of thousands in Malaysian jungles, mostly by foreigners because of the valuable agarwood, known locally as gaharu.
One kilogramme can fetch between RM4,000 and RM20,000 and its woodchips – which are turned into essential oils used in perfume and incense – fuel a RM26bil global trade every year.
In 2004, the National Forest Inventory estimated there were 3.06 million karas trees in the wild but today, that number has more than halved to 1.16 million, according to the latest data from the Forestry Department.
Sabah Forestry Department recovers agarwood from 8, including Cambodian
SUZIANAH JIFFAR New Straits Times 5 Feb 18;
KENINGAU: Gaharu or Agarwood worth millions were recovered from eight people including a Cambodian who were arrested by the Sabah Forestry Department.
The suspects were held after a month-long surveillance in protected forests deep in the interior of Sabah, including Maliau Basin, also known as the “Lost World”, recently.
Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Sam Mannan said the Gaharu seized is valued in the millions and the trade is linked to international buyers of various countries.
“The seized goods included several consignments of processed Gaharu, kept in dwelling houses, ready for export and a 4-wheel drive vehicle used for transportation to export points.
Of the eight suspects arrested, one was a Malaysian and the seven others were foreigners including the Cambodian.
The Cambodian was also found to be in possesion of an unverified Mykad with permanent residence status, he said.
He said the arrests were made with public cooperation, and the suspects will be brought to court and charged under the Forest Enactment 1968.
“If convicted, the Forestry Department shall apply for deterrent sentences due to the serious occurrences of gaharu theft in Sabah,” he added.
Trade of Gaharu or its scientific name Aquillaria malaccensis is illegal and its listed in Appendix II by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Fauna and Flora.
Reuters 5 Feb 18;
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Thousands of residents in Indonesia’s capital have been evacuated due to flooding, Jakarta’s governor said on Tuesday, though the level of rivers swollen by the release of water from a reservoir upstream was dropping for now.
The torrential rain had also caused landslides in satellite cities around Jakarta, with eight people missing after two landslides around the city of Bogor, police said.
TV footage on Tuesday showed people wading through murky brown water in some neighborhoods of the capital Jakarta.
City governor Anies Baswedan said about 6,500 people had been displaced by floods in parts of south and east Jakarta.
“We are making sure that those evacuees receive aid,” Baswedan said in a statement, adding that flood waters had receded at the Manggarai floodgates in the city.
A day earlier dramatic TV footage showed fast-running rivers of muddy water gushing down roads, bringing down trees and even some villas in the hilly areas around Jakarta.
Authorities were forced to release water from a reservoir upstream in the city of Bogor as water levels prompted the highest alert.
Police and military personnel have been working with volunteers to deal with the impact of the floods.
City authorities have in the last few years sought to improve low-lying Jakarta’s vulnerability to flooding during the rainy season.
More than 50 people died in one of the capital’s deadliest floods in 2007 and five years ago much of the center of the city was inundated after canals overflowed.
Reporting by Kanupriya Kapoor, Andy Mangelsdorf and Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Editing by Ed Davies and Michael Perry
Jakarta floods affect at least 4,305 residents: Minister
Antara 6 Feb 18;
Jakarta floods affect at least 4,305 residents: Minister
A resident walked across the floods in Pejaten Timur, Pasar Minggu, Jakarta, Monday (5/2/2018). The flood reaches 2 meters and soaked hundreds of residents houses due to the overflow of water from the Ciliwung River. (ANTARA PHOTO/Galih Pradipta)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Floods in Jakarta have affected at least 4,305 residents, from 1,129 families, after their houses were inundated by floodwater from the overflowing Ciliwung River on Monday, Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham said.
Until Monday evening, 3,100 residents, whose houses were inundated, took refuge in safer places, he noted in a statement here on Tuesday.
The floodwater inundated houses in Kramat Jati Sub-district areas of Cawang, Cililitan, Kampung Melayu, Bidara Cina, Cipinang Melayu, and Balaikambang, as well as those in Jatinegara Subdistrict area of Cipinang Muara and Chinese Bidara.
The floodwater reached a height of between 20 centimeters and 200 centimeters. Many tents and public kitchens had been set up in safer places near the disaster areas, including in Cililitan`s child-friendly integrated public spaces (RPTRA), to help those affected.
The Ministry of Social Affairs has activated 81 Disaster Preparedness Villages to respond to the floods, with 15 of them in East Jakarta.
Meanwhile, Governor Anies Baswedan earlier remarked that Jakarta`s 140 neighborhood associations (RT) and 48 RT associations (RW) were inundated after Ciliwung River overflowed following rising water levels at the Katulampa gate in Bogor, West Java.
The governor remarked that until 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday, a total of 6,532 people in East and South Jakarta were evacuated.
"The needs of the evacuees, such as blankets, accommodation, and food, have been met," he stated.
On Tuesday morning, the water level at the Manggarai flood gate had dropped to 870 centimeters.
"God willing, it will drop further to 860 centimeters. Hence, the peak of flooding of Ciliwung River is over, and it will start to recede. Hopefully, it will be faster. We have made assurance that all pumps are in good condition," he asserted.
Reported by Desi Purnamawati
(T.KR-TQA/INE)
EDITED BY INE/a014
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Jakarta governor orders officials to conduct flood alert operations
Antara 6 Feb 18;
Jakarta governor orders officials to conduct flood alert operations
Floods inundated Rawajati Urban Village, Pancoran, South Jakarta, Monday (5/2/2018) night.(ANTARA/Anita Permata Dewi)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has instructed the entire ranks of Jakarta Regional Government to carry out the Jakarta alert operation message: Readiness and Response in the face of flood threat.
Through the instruction, the governor stated that at 4 p.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB) the Depok sluice gate showed the water level at 400 centimeters (above the 300 cm height which is the alert one status). The flood water is on its way to Jakarta.
Jakarta mayors should coordinate the entire work forces, deploy officers to the field in their respective territories. All command posts should be in the ready position and can accommodate all potential disaster affected victims.
?Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) should coordinate, prevent and anticipate flood. Make sure the information is delivered to all relevant sections, as well as to the public in need. Primarily all residents in the Ciliwung River Basin (DAS) areas.
The Water Resources Service (SDA)`s blue forces should be on alert at flood-prone points and make sure there is no blockage in the water streams. Make sure the pumps are running well.
Social Services should anticipate residents affected by floods. Needs for food and clothing need be prepared when residents have to evacuate. Prepare quick response if there is evacuation.
Environmental Services should anticipate garbage accumulation at the water gate. Clean-up should be made quickly and thoroughly. Prepare mobile toilet needs for refugee locations.
Fire Department should be ready to respond to evacuation of refugees if needed. Help mobile pumps when needed.
Transportation Department should anticipate and help arrange traffic if there is traffic jam due to inundation at various points. Place additional officers in the field, mainly in areas prone to puddles.
Bina Marga Service should make sure that all underpass pumps works well. All officers are in a position to act.
The Public Order Police Unit (Satpol PP) must be ready to help every pump house. Help the needy people in flood-prone locations.
Health Offices ensure that alert medical personnel are moving and assisting in flood-prone areas and potential displacement.
Village heads should make sure the `orange` troops would be in a position ready to help the flood victims. Troops must be fielded to the affected area after making sure your own area is safe.
This instruction should be implemented quickly and all strength should be employed to secure citizens and the capital city.
In the meantime, the water level at the Katulampa Dam in Bogor touched 240 centimeters (cm) at 9:05 a.m. local time, as the Ciliwung River swelled significantly following incessant rains in the river`s upstream areas since Sunday.
The Katulampa Dam was at Alert Level 1, or the highest level, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, noted in a statement here, Monday.
The water level at the dam reached 220 cm at 8:30 a.m. local time and rose to 230 cm at 9 a.m. local time and 240 cm at 9:05 a.m. local time.
An alert level 1 status was announced after the water level at the dam reached above 200 cm due to the potential to cause flooding in areas near the Ciliwung River banks located in Bogor, Depor, and Jakarta.
Bogor`s areas located near the river`s banks include Katulampa, Sukasari, Barangsiang, Babakan Pasar, Sempur, Pabaton, Kedung Badak, and Kedung Halang.
A warning has been issued to local people living in those areas to not carry out activities near the river.
In Jakarta, areas located near the banks of Ciliwung River include Srengseng Sawah, Rawajati, Kalibata, Pengadegan, Pejaten Timur, Kebon Baru, Bukit Duri, Balekambang, Cililitan, Bidara Cina, and Kampung Melayu.
(T.A014/A/KR-BSR/A/H-YH)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Large filter feeders, such as baleen whales and basking sharks, could be particularly at risk from ingesting the tiny plastic particles, say scientists
Fiona Harvey The Guardian 5 Feb 17;
Whales, some sharks and other marine species such as rays are increasingly at risk from microplastics in the oceans, a new study suggests.
Species such as baleen whales and basking sharks, which feed through filtering seawater for plankton, are ingesting the tiny particles of indigestible plastic which now appear to permeate oceans throughout the world. Some of these species have evolved to swallow hundreds or even thousands of cubic metres of seawater a day, but taking in microplastic can block their ability to absorb nutrients, and may have toxic side-effects.
The new study, published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, advises more research on the megafauna of the oceans, as the effects of microplastics on them is currently not well understood. Scientists have found, for instance through examining the bodies of beached whales, large pieces of plastic in the guts of such creatures, but the effect of microplastics, though less obvious, may be just as harmful.
Elitza Germanov, a researcher at the Marine Megafauna Foundation and co-author the study, said: “Despite the growing research on microplastics in the marine environment, there are only a few studies that examine the effects on large filter feeders. We are still trying to understand the magnitude of the issue. It has become clear, though, that microplastic contamination has the potential to further reduce the population numbers of these species, many of which are long-lived and have few offspring throughout their lives.”
Many species of whale, filter-feeding shark and rays are already under threat from other problems, such as overfishing and pollution. The added stress from microplastics could push some species further towards extinction, the authors of the study warned.
Filter feeders: a juvenile whale shark feeding, Mafia Island, Coast Province, Tanzania
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Filter feeders: a juvenile whale shark feeding, Mafia Island, Coast Province, Tanzania. Photograph: Steve De Neef/Alamy
One possibility is that the microplastics will convey toxins to the bodies of the megafauna, though this process is currently poorly understood.
Maria Cristina Fossi, a professor at the University of Siena and co-author of the study, told the Guardian that although there was no evidence currently that microplastics alone could kill filter-feeders, they could produce “sub-lethal effects” which would endanger their health.
She said research on whale sharks and fin whales had confirmed that filter-feeding species were exposed to toxic chemicals, perhaps through the breakdown of microplastics in their digestive systems. “Exposure to these plastic-associated toxins pose a major threat to the health of these animals since it can alter the hormones,” she said.
Large filter feeders, such as baleen whales and basking sharks, could be particularly at risk from ingesting the tiny plastic particles, say scientists
Fiona Harvey The Guardian 5 Feb 17;
Whales, some sharks and other marine species such as rays are increasingly at risk from microplastics in the oceans, a new study suggests.
Species such as baleen whales and basking sharks, which feed through filtering seawater for plankton, are ingesting the tiny particles of indigestible plastic which now appear to permeate oceans throughout the world. Some of these species have evolved to swallow hundreds or even thousands of cubic metres of seawater a day, but taking in microplastic can block their ability to absorb nutrients, and may have toxic side-effects.
The new study, published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, advises more research on the megafauna of the oceans, as the effects of microplastics on them is currently not well understood. Scientists have found, for instance through examining the bodies of beached whales, large pieces of plastic in the guts of such creatures, but the effect of microplastics, though less obvious, may be just as harmful.
Elitza Germanov, a researcher at the Marine Megafauna Foundation and co-author the study, said: “Despite the growing research on microplastics in the marine environment, there are only a few studies that examine the effects on large filter feeders. We are still trying to understand the magnitude of the issue. It has become clear, though, that microplastic contamination has the potential to further reduce the population numbers of these species, many of which are long-lived and have few offspring throughout their lives.”
Many species of whale, filter-feeding shark and rays are already under threat from other problems, such as overfishing and pollution. The added stress from microplastics could push some species further towards extinction, the authors of the study warned.
One possibility is that the microplastics will convey toxins to the bodies of the megafauna, though this process is currently poorly understood.
Maria Cristina Fossi, a professor at the University of Siena and co-author of the study, told the Guardian that although there was no evidence currently that microplastics alone could kill filter-feeders, they could produce “sub-lethal effects” which would endanger their health.
She said research on whale sharks and fin whales had confirmed that filter-feeding species were exposed to toxic chemicals, perhaps through the breakdown of microplastics in their digestive systems. “Exposure to these plastic-associated toxins pose a major threat to the health of these animals since it can alter the hormones,” she said.
Plastic pollution: Scientists' plea on threat to ocean giants
Helen Briggs BBC 5 Feb 18;
Scientists say there needs to be more research into the impact of plastic pollution on sharks, whales and rays.
A study, in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, says the creatures may be swallowing hundreds of tiny bits of plastic a day.
Microplastic pollution has the potential to further reduce the population sizes of the large filter feeders, they say.
Yet, there is very little research being carried out into the risks.
Researchers from the US, Australia and Italy looked at data on threats to large filter feeders from microplastics. These small plastic pieces less than five millimetres long can be harmful to the ocean and aquatic life.
The Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Coral Triangle are priorities for monitoring, according to a review of studies.
"The full magnitude of risks of ingesting microplastics are yet to be fully investigated," said Elitza Germanov of Murdoch University, Australia, and researcher at the US Marine Megafauna Foundation.
Possible risks include reduced nutritional uptake and damage to the digestive system when microplastics are ingested, she said.
In addition, toxin exposure through plastic ingestion could affect many biological processes, such as growth and reproduction, putting filter feeding populations "under even more strain", she added.
Flagship species
The study argues that large filter feeders, many of which are "charismatic and economically important species", should be prioritised for further research into risks from microplastics.
Filter feeders swallow hundreds of cubic metres of water a day to capture their food from water, and may take in microplastics during the process.
Microplastics are similar in size and mass to many types of plankton.
Studies have shown chemicals associated with plastics in the bodies of whale sharks and fin whales.
"Our studies on whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez and on fin whales in the Mediterranean Sea confirmed exposure to toxic chemicals, indicating that these filter feeders are taking up microplastics in their feeding grounds," said co-researcher Prof Maria Fossi of the University of Siena in Italy.
"Exposure to these plastic-associated toxins pose a major threat to the health of these animals since it can alter the hormones, which regulate the body's growth and development, metabolism, and reproductive functions, among other things."
Seven charts that explain the plastic pollution problem
Whale sharks feeding in the Sea of Cortez off Mexico's Baja Peninsula, which is an important breeding ground, are estimated to ingest under 200 pieces of plastic per day.
Fin whales in the Mediterranean Sea are thought to be swallowing closer to 2,000 microplastic particles per day.
The researchers say there have been reports of 800kg of plastic found in the carcass of a stranded whale in France and another in Australia contained six square metres of plastic sheeting as well as 30 whole plastic carrier bags.
The report highlights several key coastal regions for research and monitoring within the habitat ranges of the animals, including the Coral Triangle, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean Sea, the Bay of Bengal and other areas that have high microplastic concentration levels, such as the world's five oceanic gyres.
Whale sharks and other flagship species may act as a focal point for research, especially in countries that rely on wildlife tourism, say the researchers.
"It is worth highlighting that utilising these iconic species, such as whale sharks, manta rays and whales to gain the attention of and engage with communities, policy makers and managers will go far to enhance stewardship of entire marine ecosystems," said Ms Germanov, who is a PhD student at Murdoch University.
A number of filter-feeding sharks, rays and whales are on the edge of extinction. Many are long-lived and give birth to few offspring during their lives.
The whale shark, for example, is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Found in tropical and warm temperate waters, it is the largest fish in the world, yet feeds on tiny plankton, crustaceans and small fish.
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