Best of our wild blogs: 15 Oct 18

Our Crazy Rich Shores: Pulau Sekudu
Celebrating Singapore Shores!

4th November 2018 (Sunday): Herp Walk @ Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Herpetological Society of Singapore

16 Oct: Connecting the Dots between Haze and Palm Oil
Green Drinks Singapore

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Keeping Pulau Ubin alive

More needs to be done to ensure Singapore's last remaining offshore community - Ubin - goes on as a living kampung
Kok Yufeng The New Paper 15 Oct 18;

In 2014, the Ministry of National Development (MND) launched The Ubin Project to preserve the 10.2 sq km island's cultural and natural heritage and sustain its unique identity.

For the islanders though, Ubin's charms mask challenges.

Village chief Chu Yok Choon, 73, told The New Paper in Mandarin that while it would be best if the island was preserved, it does not take away the fact that daily life can be tough.

He said: "On this island, to get anything we want is difficult."

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Malaysia: Our rivers not healthy and need serious attention - Minister

vijenthi nair The Star 15 Oct 18;

KUALA LUMPUR: Rivers in three states are the most affected by the effects of deforestation and opening up of new logging areas, says Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar.

The Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister said the three states were Kelantan, Pahang and Kedah.

“The failure to have a proper integrated system for forest management has serious effects on rivers.

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Indonesia: Floods submerge 1,070 houses in Bengkalis, Riau

Antara 15 Oct 18;

Flooding in Riau - documentary photo. (ANTARA FOTO/Pandu Hari Santoso)

Bengkalis, Riau (ANTARA News)- Floods triggered by incessant heavy rains, have submerged 1,070 houses in Bantan and Bengkalis sub-districts, Bengkalis district, Riau Province, Sumatra Island.

In Bantan, some 360 homes were inundated, Jamaluddin, secretary of the Bengkalis disaster mitigation office, said here, Sunday.

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Indonesia: World Bank to provide US$1 billion for Lombok, Palu reconstruction

Antara 15 Oct 18;

World Bank Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva while visiting earthquake-hit Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Oct 12, 2018. (M Arief Iskandar)

Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - The World Bank is committed to providing US$1 billion for the reconstruction of demaged facilities in the earthqauake-affected Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara/NTB) and Palu (Central Sulawesi).

"The government`s efforts to restore affected areas have been very good. We provide this assistance to give support needed by Indonesia," said World Bank Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Sunday.

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