Mandai mangrove and mudflats to be Nature Park in mid-2022
Celebrating Singapore Shores!
October kayaking trips with Kayakasia: Seringat Trail and Ubin 2Rivers
Celebrating Singapore Shores!
Whimbrel flypast @ Kingfisher pod-SBWR-22Sep2018
sgbeachbum
CYNTHIA CHOO Today Online 7 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE — The Mandai mangrove and mudflats, a rich feeding ground for migratory birds and home to the vulnerable Mangrove Horseshoe Crab, will become Singapore's newest nature park in mid-2022.
The announcement on Sunday (Oct 7) by Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee was widely welcomed by members of the nature community.
The new status will allow the National Parks Board (NParks) to better monitor and protect threatened species of mangrove, crustaceans and migratory shorebirds, and will also give NParks teeth to enforce anti-poaching laws under the Parks and Trees Act.
"This nature park will be sensitively managed by NParks, (it) will conduct habitat enhancement measures such as coastal clean ups and mangrove replanting," said Mr Lee, whose announcement was in conjunction with World Migratory Bird Day next weekend and the 25th anniversary of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
The 73-hectare nature park, sited 3km east of the 130-hectare Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, is currently state land. The conserved area will comprise a 26-hectare mangrove forest, which has 16 threatened species of mangroves, and a 42-hectare mudflat.
The new nature park will complement the wetland reserve as a place for outdoor education and research, said Mr Lee, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development.
Basic amenities like bird hides, bicycle racks and a walking trail could feature at the new nature park.
From surveys and radio-tracking of shorebirds in recent years, NParks confirmed that the majority of shorebirds that roost in the wetland reserve at high tide would fly to look for food at the extensive mudflat exposed at low tide. Molluscs, crustaceans and worms are among the creatures found in abundance at the mudflat.
This means that both the mudflat and the wetland reserve are ecologically inter-dependent habitats for shorebirds.
Some 21 species of shorebirds have been recorded at the wetland reserve, with a peak count of 2,025 birds in 2012. They include the Whimbrel, Common Greenshank and Common Redshank, which are common winter visitors.
Singapore is one of 22 countries along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which extends from the Arctic Circle through East and South-east Asia to Australia and New Zealand. Among the world’s nine recognised flyways, it supports the greatest diversity and populations of migratory birds — over 50 million from over 250 populations — but has the highest number of threatened migratory species.
The wetland reserve is an important pitstop for migratory birds along the flyway.
Nature lovers said the move to conserve the mudflats and mangroves was a long time coming.
The ecosystem at the mudflat is “under a lot of pressure” due to pollution and an increasingly busy Johor Strait, said a “euphoric” Mr N Sivasothi, senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore's department of biological sciences.
Without management, it would be quite impossible to ensure its long-term survival, he said.
“(This will mean) either side of Kranji river is now conserved. Buloh is extremely small on its own, (so) in combination (with the mudflat), it means much better potential for a healthier mangrove ecosystem," said Mr Sivasothi.
He hopes to reduce the trash that has been collecting in “high loads” in certain areas of the mangrove. “We’ll map out the mangrove, so that we can enter (with minimal impact) and clear it out,” he said.
Mr Stephen Beng, chairman of the Nature Society (Singapore)’s marine conservation group, said the new status is “testament to the hard work (that) volunteers, researchers and managers put in over the years to establish the connectivity of Mandai mangrove and mudflats to its surroundings, like the wetland reserve”.
While a nature park “doesn’t have the same protective status as a reserve”, it signals that the area is of ecological importance, said Mr Beng.
Stakeholders should continue working together on projects such as the management of invasive mussel species, he said.
The steady growth of the non-native Charru mussels, or Mytella strigata, in recent years has led to concerns that they could out-compete native Asian green mussels and horseshoe crabs. The alien species has been sighted at places such as Sungei Buloh, Pasir Ris, Pulau Ubin and Sembawang.
The Nature Society (Singapore), NParks and the Tropical Marine Science Institute are in a partnership to deal with the invasive species, Mr Beng added.
Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat to open as nature park in 2022
Tiffany Fumiko Tay Straits Times 7 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE - Nature lovers and bird watchers will have a new park to visit when the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat opens to the public in mid-2022.
Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee announced on Sunday (Oct 7) that the mudflat, located about 3km to the east of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, will be designated a nature park as part of efforts to strengthen the conservation of wetland biodiversity in Singapore.
The 72.8ha park will sit along two upcoming recreational routes; it will form the northernmost point of the Rail Corridor, and an eco-discovery corridor as part of the Park Connector Network's Round Island Route.
The National Parks Board (NParks), which took over the management of the mudflat in October, will provide a minimal level of amenities to minimise visitor impact to the mudflat. These could include a nature trail, bicycle racks and bird hides that will give visitors a panoramic view of migratory birds feeding at the mudflat.
Speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Sunday, Mr Lee, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development, said that the reserve and mudflat serve as important resting and feeding stops for birds flying south for the winter.
Migratory shorebirds travel thousands of kilometres from as far north as the Arctic Circle to as far south as Australia and New Zealand, making stops along the way in countries such as China, Vietnam and Singapore to refuel.
But with many rest stops along their route lost or affected by developments overseas, Sungei Buloh, a major stopover, plays a "critical role for their survival", said Mr Lee.
"Despite our small size, Singapore can continue to serve as a safe haven for these shorebirds and an important player in the international biodiversity scene," he said.
Data collected by NParks shows that the reserve and mudflat share an "intimate ecological connection", and the new nature park will provide more research and education opportunities, he said.
The move to conserve the mudflat was hailed by nature groups as an important step in preserving Singapore's natural heritage.
Dr Joseph Koh, chairman of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore, said that the nature community had lobbied for many years to have the area protected.
"I'm glad to see it finally happened... the place is special because it is species rich and has a few mangrove trees that are found nowhere else in Singapore," he said.
Mr N. Sivasothi, senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore's department of biological sciences, said that he felt "euphoric" to hear the announcement.
"Either side of Kranji river is now conserved - Buloh is extremely small on its own, and in combination (with the mudflat), it means much better potential for a healthier mangrove ecosystem," said Mr Sivasothi, who is a member of the Nature Society.
"The management layer that NParks will bring in will make a lot of difference," he added.
NParks' group director for conservation Adrian Loo said NParks can now take action against poaching as well as facilitate research in the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat, which is home to rare plant and wildlife species.
Dr Loo noted that the mudflat and the Sungei Buloh play complementary roles - birds have been observed to roost at Sungei Buloh, and to feast on the rich feeding grounds of molluscs, crustaceans and worms at the mudflat during low tide.
Migratory birds such as the whimbrel typically begin to arrive in Singapore around September and make their return journey in April, he added.
New nature park to open next to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Tan Si Hui Channel NewsAsia 7 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE: A new nature park that is 3km to the east of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is slated to open in mid-2022.
The National Parks Board (NParks) made this announcement on Sunday (Oct 7) as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat will be conserved as a 72.8 hectare nature park that will act as an outdoor education, learning and research centre, with visitor amenities such as bicycle racks, a nature trail and bird hides.
Ecologically linked to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the new nature park will be situated along two future major recreational routes - the Round-Island Route and the Rail Corridor.
Visitors can visit the nature park while exploring both recreational routes.
Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee emphasised the need to “bring people in” to biodiversity areas.
“The management of the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat reflects the continued approach of conservation, not one where we put in laws and fences and warning signs, and keep everyone out,” he said.
“This is really in line with our role as a City in a Garden - a small city with precious biodiversity surrounded by people and our developments, which requires our conservation efforts to be different from bigger countries.”
Dr Adrian Loo, group director of the conservation department of NParks, said the mangrove and mudflat at Mandai will be complementary to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
“The birds will roost at Sungei Buloh and when the tides go down, the birds will come over to Mandai mudflat and they will feed there. When the tides start to come up, the birds will then fly back to Sungei Buloh,” he said.
To minimise impact on the mudflat, NParks said it will provide a minimum level of visitor amenities and Dr Loo said an impact assessment will be made.
“Migratory seasons only happen at the end of the year, around September until the end of the year. So most of the development of the nature park will be done outside the season.”
Member of Nature Society (Singapore) N Sivasothi welcomed the announcement of the new park and said researchers from the Asia-Pacific region excited upon hearing the news.
“We’ll roll up our sleeves and synch in to any kind of management group that will be set up to best understand how to work in Mandai. Many researchers, nature groups and volunteers will be involved to help in the surveys as well as the cleanups.”
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who opened Sungei Buloh as a nature park in 1993, was also there at the event, celebrating Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve's 25th anniversary.
Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat will be conserved as a Nature Park
NParks media release 7 Oct 18;
- Research and education opportunities will be provided, with the aim of increasing awareness and stewardship of its rich biodiversity
In conjunction with the World Migratory Bird Day next weekend and the 25th anniversary of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the National Parks Board (NParks) today announced that Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat will be conserved as a Nature Park. Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat is situated about 3 km to the east of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is one of the richest wetlands in Singapore. Collectively, the Wetland Reserve, Kranji Marshes and the new Nature Park safeguard a variety of complementary wetland habitats, including mangroves, mudflats and freshwater marshes, strengthening the conservation of wetland biodiversity in the northwestern part of Singapore. (Refer to Annex for map of wetland habitats)
Ecologically linked to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the 72.8-hectare Nature Park will enhance the Reserve’s ecological capacity in wetland and migratory shorebird conservation. NParks will sensitively provide opportunities for research and education in the Nature Park for visitors to learn more about Singapore’s wetland biodiversity and to play a part in its conservation. The Nature Park is slated to be opened in mid-2022.
Ecological significance of the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat
Mandai mangrove forest, is one of the few remaining mangrove habitats in Singapore with an extensive mudflat exposed at low tide. It has 29 mangrove plant species, 16 of which are threatened. The site is also a habitat for threatened species of seagrass and horseshoe crabs.
NParks’ studies have shown that due to the diversity and abundance of benthic animals such as mollusc, crustaceans and worms, etc., the mudflat of Mandai mangrove provide migratory shorebirds with a rich feeding ground. Results from surveys and radio-tracking of flagged shorebirds in recent years confirmed that majority of the shorebirds that roost in the Wetland Reserve at high tide will fly to forage at the extensive mudflat exposed at low tide. This means that both sites are ecologically inter-dependent habitats for shorebirds, and are important for their conservation in Singapore.
Research and educational opportunities
As part of today’s announcements, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee shared that the proposed new 72.8-hectare Nature Park will enhance the capacity of the main Reserve as an outdoor education, learning and research centre, with new opportunities for visitors to learn more about wetland ecology and be involved in its conservation.
The new Nature Park is also strategically situated along two future major recreational routes – the Round-Island-Route (RIR) and the Rail Corridor. The section of RIR that the new Nature Park will be sited on is designated as an eco-discovery corridor that highlights the lesser-known ecological gems in Singapore. Visitors will also be able to visit the Nature Park as a key node while exploring the Rail Corridor.
At the same time, to minimise impact on the mudflat, NParks will provide a minimum level of visitor amenities. This will include bicycle racks, a single nature trail and bird hides that will be strategically located to allow visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of the migratory birds feeding on the expansive mudflat without disturbing them.
Emeritus Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong was the Guest-of-Honour for this morning’s event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, where he was hosted by Minister Lee.
New nature lovers' park coming up near Sungei Buloh
Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat will open to the public in mid-2022
Tiffany Fumiko Tay Straits Times 8 Oct 18;
Nature lovers and birdwatchers will have a new park to visit when the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat opens to the public in mid-2022.
Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee announced yesterday that the mudflat, located about 3km to the east of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, will be designated a nature park as part of efforts to strengthen the conservation of wetland biodiversity in Singapore.
The 72.8ha park will sit along two upcoming recreational routes; it will form the northernmost point of the Rail Corridor, and an eco-discovery corridor as part of the Park Connector Network's Round Island Route.
The National Parks Board (NParks), which took over the management of the mudflat this month, will provide a minimal level of amenities to minimise visitor impact to the mudflat. These could include a nature trail, bicycle racks and bird hides that will give visitors a panoramic view of migratory birds feeding at the mudflat.
Speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve yesterday, Mr Lee, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development, said the reserve and mudflat serve as important resting and feeding stops for birds flying south for the winter.
Migratory shorebirds travel thousands of kilometres from as far north as the Arctic Circle to as far south as Australia and New Zealand, making stops along the way in countries such as China, Vietnam and Singapore to refuel.
But with many rest stops along their route lost or affected by developments overseas, Sungei Buloh, a major stopover, plays a "critical role for their survival", said Mr Lee.
"Despite our small size, Singapore can continue to serve as a safe haven for these shorebirds and an important player in the international biodiversity scene," he said.
Data collected by NParks shows that the reserve and mudflat share an "intimate ecological connection", and the new nature park will provide more research and education opportunities, he said.
The move to conserve the mudflat was hailed by nature groups as an important step in preserving Singapore's natural heritage.
Dr Joseph Koh, chairman of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore, said the nature community had lobbied for many years to have the area protected.
"I'm glad to see it's finally happened... The place is special because it is species-rich and has a few mangrove trees that are found nowhere else in Singapore," he said.
Mr N. Sivasothi, senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore's department of biological sciences, said that he felt "euphoric" to hear the announcement.
"Either side of Kranji (Reservoir) is now conserved," he said, adding that Sungei Buloh is very small on its own, but taken together with the mudflat, there is much more potential for a healthier mangrove ecosystem.
"The management layer that NParks will bring in will make a lot of difference," added Mr Sivasothi, a member of the Nature Society.
NParks' group director for conservation Adrian Loo said NParks can now take action against poaching as well as facilitate research in the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat, which is home to rare plant and wildlife species.
Dr Loo noted that the mudflat and Sungei Buloh play complementary roles - birds have been observed to roost at Sungei Buloh, and to feast on the rich feeding grounds of molluscs, crustaceans and worms on the mudflat during low tide.
Migratory birds such as the whimbrel typically begin to arrive in Singapore around September and make their return journey in April, he said.
The author says that with education and awareness, we can bring ourselves from a phase of appreciating being in nature to respecting and loving it for what it is.
LOW YOUJIN Today Online 7 Oct 18;
A story I did on the Forest School Singapore recently attracted attention from young parents keen to expose their kids to nature and conservationists who were upset with the methods of the school.
My personal stance on the matter is pretty clear. After all, I had long fallen in love with the Norwegian idea of the Right To Roam.
The thought of being free to explore Singapore, away from civilisation, appealed to the adventurer in me.
It goes without saying that when I found out about how the Forest School Singapore was losing its home at Rifle Range Nature Park due to enhancement works by the authorities, I felt indignant.
How dare anyone deny these children access to the forest!
This was my first problem. I was fixated on the “us”, and our needs.
Through the conversations I had with conservationists for my follow-up story, I came to realise that I had forgotten that this tiny island is shared with more than just humans.
In response to questions about why we cannot let our green spaces be, and let the people roam as they please, wildlife consultant Subaraj Rajathurai told me: "In Singapore, unstructured is something that everybody wants, but we can't have (that). We have become so crowded...if we don't do management...our nature systems, our ecosystems or wildlife…are going to go extinct."
He added that the forests are the last refuge of our native animals from human habitats. If we complain about monkeys and wild boars encroaching on our living spaces, are we not doing the same when we wander off the trails?
It was also heartening that the National Parks Board chose to engage Forest School Singapore founder Darren Quek and myself, as opposed to the usual reproaches we have come to expect from other organisations.
A tour of the Rifle Range Nature Park with NPark’s conservation director Adrian Loo to understand how NParks’ enhancement works would benefit the buffer park brought lessons aplenty.
Did you know that ferns serve as an indicator of humidity within the forest? The more plentiful and lush they are, the higher the humidity.
How about figs? There are quite a few species of ficus (fig trees) within Rifle Range Nature Park – though probably not of the variety you would want to wrap your prosciutto ham around.
For one, you might be eating dead wasps when you consume one. Part of the plant’s pollination process sees a female wasp laying her eggs in it and dying thereafter.
On the subject of Singapore’s green spaces, I found out from biology teacher and nature enthusiast Tan Beng Chiak that they are divided into three categories.
We have the gold standard in nature reserves like Bukit Timah. The next group are buffer areas, or nature parks, like Rifle Range, which help to protect the reserves like Bukit Timah from drying out. The last category is our man-made parks, like Bishan Park.
I thought I knew more about Singapore’s ecology than my peers, but the reality is that I know so little.
Of course, we cannot all be experts in earth sciences.
But what we can do is to be more mindful of how our actions impact the voiceless – our island’s precious native flora and fauna.
At the same time, children should be encouraged to be out in the wild. After all, there have been numerous write-ups about the benefits of kids being in nature.
Let them explore, play, get bruised and pick themselves up.
Let them also feel that sense of wonder of watching colugos flying from tree to tree or just staring in morbid fascination as an army of ants dismembers a caterpillar.
But I have also learnt that we should look at our green areas as more than just a place for leisure.
We should treat it as our home. And we take care of our homes.
With education and awareness, we can bring ourselves from a phase of appreciating being in nature (for the Insta-worthy snaps), to respecting and loving it for what it is.
As Dr Loo said: “With more knowledge, you can become more aware of your surroundings and be better stewards to your environment."
Much is being done by our conservationists to protect the precious little we have left, but it will be all in vain if we do not do our part.
We need to find that balance between serving our needs and that of the natural world before future generations lose that opportunity our children still have.
This is a conversation we ought to have soon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Low Youjin is a senior journalist with TODAY’s news desk, where he covers environment, tech and health issues.
Junn Loh Channel NewsAsia 6 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE: The rustic jetty located at the end of Lim Chu Kang Road is one of the last remaining wooden jetties in Singapore, but its days may be numbered.
A new S$6 million jetty for fish farmers is set to be built just a few hundred metres west by September 2020.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) told Channel NewsAsia that the proposed 4,000 sqm project is meant to ease operations for fish farmers, who have raised concerns about the limited space for loading and unloading.
Currently, more than 50 coastal fish farmers dock at the jetty to load and unload live seafood and other cargo every day.
According to fish farmers Channels NewsAsia spoke to, finding a spot to dock could take up to two hours during peak periods in the early mornings and evenings, compared to about 15 minutes during non-peak hours. The wait sometimes leads to quarrels among the farmers.
Mr Yeo King Kwee, a fish farmer of over 20 years, said: “When we are moving live fishes, time is really short. We have to get the fishes to the restaurants before they’re all dead … We have to queue and waste our time. That’s not good, wasting time at the hot jetty.”
The lack of facilities like a shelter as well as taps and toilets also makes working conditions tougher. It is an issue fish farmers hope can be addressed at the new jetty.
“We need water to wash, clean, cook, bathe … the current situation is that we’re all using rainwater,” Mr Yeo said.
The jetty, which is about 30 years old, hasn’t weathered the elements well either – and this poses safety concerns.
Some of the jetty’s wooden planks are broken, and although the farmers have mended them using material cut out from plastic barrels, they say this hasn’t stopped accidents from happening, especially when the workers are carrying heavy loads.
Fish farmer Edwin Tan said: "When it’s very low tide, the land on the right is higher than on the left, so the jetty will tilt to one side.”
“When we unload our fish, it weighs over 50kg per bucket and we have two buckets per trip. Because of the slope, the workers plus the fish have fallen into the sea many times, and the workers also get injured. During the rainy season, it gets worse.”
And it’s even harder at night, when the fish farmers have to tread a fine line between safety and getting their stock out on time.
Agreeing, Mr Yeo said: “At the current moment, there are no lighting facilities. And when it’s dark, it’s very dangerous. We try to avoid night loading, but during wee hours at around 3am, we have to start loading our goods for the market.”
Other features the fish farmers hope to see include an access point for petrol, which is necessary to keep their boats and trucks running, as well as a designated space to park them when they are not in use.
AVA has called for an Expression of Interest for consultants to look into the design and construction of the new jetty.
In response to queries, AVA said details have not been finalised and that it will continue to engage fish farmers on the matter. This includes setting up a working group with the farmers to discuss potential solutions and develop its design proposal.
It added that the fish farmers will continue to use the existing jetty until the new site is ready.
Construction is targeted to begin by September next year.
Source: CNA/nh/(gs)
CYNTHIA CHOO Today Online 7 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE – Mdm Kamisah Atan may have moved out of the Jurong estate 18 years ago, but still makes the hour-long journey to a rooftop garden at a Jurong East multi-storey carpark twice a day to tend to plants and meet her friends.
"I feel very uneasy when I can't see the plants and my friends at the garden. This is like my second home, but everybody says this is my first home," said the retiree, 61, who moved to Bukit Panjang in 2000 and has two sons aged 29 and 21.
"My boys complained I was spending too much time at the garden, so I tried not going for a few days. I (ended up being) so moody and cooped up at home," she said with a chuckle.
Mdm Kamisah is one of about 60 seniors who volunteer at the garden every morning. Besides watering the plants, they also change out the soil and conduct occasional educational tours for kindergarteners.
The garden, at Blk 372A Jurong East St 32, was originally located on the ground floor but had to make way for a multi-storey carpark in 2012.
It was among the first to be included in the National Parks Board's Community in Bloom programme, which started in 2005 to promote a gardening culture in Singapore. There are over 1,300 groups under the programme.
Community gardens are set to be key feature in the new Tengah housing estate. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced last month that about 2,000 sqm of land will be set aside in Tengah for community gardening and farming.
FLEXING GREEN FINGERS AND MAKING FRIENDS
For the volunteers – who are often retired seniors – the garden is as much a place to engage in their hobby as to make friends.
"We've become so close that when we don't see one person for even two days, we will go and look for him or her. One ah pek (elderly man) was missing for a few days, so we went to his house and we found out he was hospitalised, so I mobilised the whole group to go visit him," said Mdm Kamisah.
Fellow volunteer Foo Yip Sum, 78, said the community is inclusive. "Many of the elderly cannot walk, some are in wheelchairs, but they paint our walls or (do) artwork."
The fellowship is why volunteer numbers continue to grow, said Mdm Kamisah. "We started with just four of us in 2002, now we have more than 60 people coming every day," she said.
Over at another community garden in the Moulmein-Goldhill private estate, the gardeners have progressed from being "hi-bye" neighbours to travelling overseas together.
Retiree Angel Ang, 52, who volunteers at the garden near Novena every morning, said that there was also once where a fellow volunteer and neighbour had called her for help during a family emergency.
"We had set up a WhatsApp group after we came together at the garden, so the group really became a helpline too," said Ms Ang.
FENCES NEEDED FOR SOME GARDENS
Running a community garden is not without its challenges, however. The gardeners have encountered inconsiderate visitors who litter or remove plants.
Volunteers at the Jurong East garden had to fence and lock up the garden at night. "Before when we didn't lock the garden, there were a few times when we would see broken beer bottles and peanuts the next morning," said Mdm Kamisah.
"We are still open in the day, and we will give everybody clippings of herbs if they ask," she added.
At another garden in Toh Yi Drive, there were the rare instances of users who left the water hose running overnight.
Users of the Toh Yi garden pay an annual membership fee of S$20 to S$30 for their plot of land
There are about 22 plots for growing plants and vegetables and each can be shared among two to three gardeners. The gardeners donate 20 to 50 per cent of their produce for Residents' Committee activities, said Ms Rina Lai, 47, an executive member in the Toh Yi Resident's Committee (RC) who oversees maintenance of the garden.
It is also difficult to get the young involved in gardening as they are squeamish about soil or have work commitments, said the gardeners.
Toh Yi resident of 30 years Mdm Yip Pee Yeng was not familliar with the people living in her neighbourhood. She only got to know more people after joining the community garden, and later got introduced to even more people outside the gardening community. Photo: Raj Nadarajan/TODAY
At the Toh Yi garden, about 70 per cent of the volunteers are aged 45 and above, said Ms Lai.
"We realised that young, primary school students are very afraid of soil in the beginning. When they touch soil they will go 'eww', but after they come for a few times, they are more familiar," she said. "They realise, 'hey, these uncles and aunties are still okay after touching soil'."
Ultimately, the pleasure of growing plants, as well as the satisfaction of harvesting and sharing the produce, outweigh any negatives.
Moulmein-Goldhill's Ms Ang said all the produce from the garden is shared among the residents. "Whatever we have for the day, we post it up on the WhatsApp group chat and we lay it on the table in the garden for those who wish to take the harvest for the day," she said. Residents can also pop by the garden in the evening and ask for a share of the day's produce.
"It's a different side of Singapore, hopefully we can maintain it this way," said fellow volunteer Steven Lee, 82, who practises qigong and walks in the garden every day.
natasha joibi The Star 7 Oct 18;
TONGOD: Four men, believed to be hunters, have been detained by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) after they were found in illegal possession of two carcasses believed to be barking deer near Sungai Millian here.
SWD public relations officer Siti Nur'Ain Ampuan Acheh said the discovery was made during a roadblock at the Sabah Foundation’s concession area entrance gate at about 9.05am Sunday (Oct 7).
According to her, the roadblock was carried out following a tip-off from the public about a group of hunters entering the area.
"The roadblock was a joint enforcement effort involving six SWD staff and two Sabah Forestry Department personnel.
The penalty for the offence is a minimum fine of RM30,000 but not exceeding RM100,000, or imprisonment of at least six months but not exceeding three years or both on conviction.
Siti Nur'Ain said a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a motorcycle were also confiscated from the group.
"A report was lodged at the Kinabatangan police station for further investigation by SWD," she added.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/07/sabah-wildlife-authorities-nab-four-men-for-possessing-barking-deer-carcasses/#kJjkEKIKv1VA8y0V.99
Yulia Savitri The Jakarta Post 7 Oct 18;
Rain poured down on Palembang, South Sumatra, on Sunday afternoon, clearing the view in a city that had been blanketed by smoke from forest fires for the past few days.
“We are expecting medium to heavy rain,” said Bambang Benny Setiaji, an official from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency’s (BMKG) local office.
The haze had covered the city since last week, nearly obscuring Ampera Bridge on Friday morning as visibility narrowed to less than 2 kilometers.
BMKG Palembang spokesperson Nandang Pangariwibowo said visibility in the city that day was between 1 and 2 km, with air quality categorized as unhealthy.
“We call on the people to put on masks in such conditions, even though the haze appears from night to morning,” Nandang said.
According to the head of the South Sumatra Disaster Mitigation Agency’s (BPBD South Sumatra) emergency mitigation division, Ansori, the number of hot spots has been increasing for the last three days as a result of drying water sources.
Authorities have discovered hot spots in four regencies outside Palembang, namely Ogan Ilir, Ogan Komering Ilir, Banyuasin and Musi Banyuasin.
In Ogan Ilir, haze reduced visibility on the Palembang-Inderalaya toll road, hampering intercity road transportation.
“This is accumulated haze carried away by the wind to Palembang,” Ansori said.
He added that fires in the three regencies could be found across 77,000 hectares of land, with the greatest number of hot spots found in Ogan Komering Ilir.
Businessmen, landowners named suspects in South Sumatra forest fires
The Jakarta Post 8 Oct 18;
Police have named seven suspects over forest fires that plagued the province of South Sumatra over the past week.
South Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Zulkarnain Adinegara said two of the suspects were businesspeople, while five were local landowners.
“The seven suspects are involved in forest fires in OKI [Ogan Komering Ilir], Banyuasin, Ogan Ilir and Palembang,” he said on Sunday as quoted by tribunnews.com.
He said the suspects had admitted to starting the fires to clear land [for cultivation]. The smoke from the fires had caused thick haze covering Palembang and some surrounding areas over the past few days.
“[The perpetrators started the fires] so that, when the rainy season starts, they could immediately start planting,” Zulkarnain said. “But clearing land by burning is wrong. We will continue to monitor the forest fires in South Sumatra.”
He added that police were investigating other fires in the region as well.
“Fields that have been burned are marked with police line and investigated. After that, we look for the owner of the field,” he said. “This way, we hope to deter people from setting fires.” (kra)
Antara 8 Oct 18;
Illustration. A member of the TNI curbed the queue of earthquake and tsunami victims to get help at one of the Command Post in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Sunday (10/07/2018). (ANTARA PHOTO/Basri Marzuki/foc.)
Palu, C. Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - The death toll of the Central Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami rose to 1,944, the government said here on Sunday.
Col. Muh Thohir, the chief spokesman of the regional military command of Central Sulawesi, said the military unit of the army strategic command (Kostrad) found 20 bodies from below ruins of buildings in Petobo on Sunday increasing the death toll to 1,944 until 05.00 pm local time.
Thohir said the death toll could rise any time with 683 people still reported missing feared dead and 2,549 others injured.
He also said the number of evacuees reached 74,444 people and the number of houses damaged and destroyed reached 65,733 units.
He said the military soldiers were involved in the search and rescue mission and in removing the ruins of buildings..
Reporting by Budi Setiawanto
Editing by Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Associated Press 7 Oct 18;
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The number of tigers roaming the jungles of Nepal has nearly doubled because of initiatives from the government, conservationists and local authorities who have worked for years to increase the tiger population in the Himalayan nation, an official said Sunday.
Gopal Prakash Bhattarai of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation said that the latest tiger count showed there were 235 tigers in the jungles — almost twice as many as the 121 that were found in 2009.
"Even the nation's prime minister is involved and he heads the National Tiger Conservation Committee," Bhattarai said, adding that there has been better security in the conservation areas and awareness among the people living near these locations.
Leaders of nations with tiger populations had met in 2010 and pledged to double the number by 2022.
Bhattarai said Sunday that Nepal is already heading in that direction and could be among the first nations to meet the goal.
Climate change could wreak havoc on productivity in Southeast Asia and increase business risks, says one environment expert.
Richard Hewston Channel NewsAsia 8 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE: Climate change does not discriminate, but some regions of the world are going to suffer more than others. And Southeast Asia is in the direct firing line.
As climate change increases the strength and frequency of storms and pushes temperatures to new heights we will see it play an ever more central role in economic crises, mass migration, political instability, civil unrest, ecosystem breakdown, and food and water insecurity.
Research is revealing a growing number of reasons – some obvious, some much less so – as to how changes in a country’s weather can impact the local population and the wider economy.
Unchecked, climate change could wipe billions off the global economy, with most estimates putting the figure at 1 to 2 per cent of global GDP by 2050. For Southeast Asia the projected impacts equate to 3 per cent of regional GDP.
Unless mitigation strategies and investment are put in place, longer term shocks await governments, companies and communities.
Rising temperatures are likely to seriously dent exports in the region and put unprecedented pressure on already weak electricity supplies, as nations try to stay cool in the heat.
WARMING PLANET COOLS EXPORT MARKETS
Verisk Maplecroft’s data identifies Southeast Asian and African economies are set to face the greatest impact of rising temperature over the next 30 years, and one of the effects will include a reduction in export revenues.
By mid-century, Southeast Asia could experience a 16 per cent drop in labour capacity due to rising rates of heat stress, and Singapore and Malaysia are projected to be the hardest hit.
Heat stress can reduce worker productivity by causing dehydration and fatigue, with workers in the agricultural, oil and gas, and manufacturing sectors among the most susceptible due to the intensity of the work.
Using current export values, which do not consider future growth or diversification of export sectors, future decreases in labour capacity could translate into an estimated loss of US$78 billion per year in Southeast Asia’s export revenue.
The manufacturing sectors in Vietnam and Thailand – key exporters of machinery and electrical components – together account for almost a third of that figure.
POWER SYSTEMS FEEL THE HEAT
Mitigating the risks posed by rising temperatures is an expensive business. Take the installation of cooling systems, for example.
Companies will need to factor in not only the extra production costs of paying for cooling, but the added burden that this places on local electricity infrastructure and the increased risk of power outages.
Amid more severe and prolonged heatwaves and rampant urbanisation, the global energy use for cooling is predicted to triple by 2050. By that point, an additional 2.7 billion people will be living in cities, placing a further strain on electricity infrastructure.
Just look at the blackout in Singapore on Sep 18 – and imagine what more frequent power outages will do. Urbanisation rates are particularly high in emerging economies, many of which are in regions set to undergo the greatest warming.
Electricity infrastructure in Southeast Asia is already among the weakest globally. On average, countries in the region lose 18 per cent of supply during distribution and transmission, and businesses suffer an average of eight power outages per month.
With a projected 1.5 degree Celsius warming across Southeast Asia by 2050, we expect cooling demand to increase by 22 per cent in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, and by 20 per cent in the Philippines and 17 per cent in Singapore.
Without upgrades to electricity infrastructure, the added load on regional networks will likely result in more frequent power outages.
THE COST OF MITIGATION
The Paris Climate Change Agreement, which came into effect in 2016, seeks to cap global temperature increase to “well below” two degree Celsius.
Given how slowly we are reducing carbon emissions globally, the planet is locked into at least one degree Celsius of warming by mid-century; and every year we fail to make significant and sustained reductions in carbon emissions the challenge becomes harder.
So, as temperatures rise, engineers, health professionals and economists will continue the intractable battle to both understand the associated risks and find solutions to offset the worst effects of rising temperatures.
Some administrations and businesses have begun investing in climate change adaptation measures, such as the hard walls and stone embankments that comprise 70 per cent of Singapore’s coastline. However, the UN estimates the full global costs could reach US$500 billion per year by 2050.
Recent estimates put current annual financing at just over US$20 billion. With Southeast Asian countries among those set to lose the most due to climate change, a gap this wide is likely to make the region's governments sweat.
Richard Hewston is principal environmental analyst at global risk analysis company Verisk Maplecroft.
Source: CNA/nr(sl)
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