Best of our wild blogs: 9 Jul 15

Taking the leap at the Festival of Biodiversity
Herpetological Society of Singapore

11 Jul (Sat): FREE screening of "Birth of a Marine Park" by Victor Tang for Discovery Channel
Sisters' Island Marine Park

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Challenging for Singapore to find alternate energy sources: Shanmugam

Unlike countries like China and the United States, Singapore is unable to build facilities that can generate wind power due to land and space constraints, says Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam.
Faris Mokhtar Channel NewsAsia 8 Jul 15;

SINGAPORE: It is a challenge for Singapore to find other alternative energy sources, according to Minister for Law and Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam.

Mr Shanmugam made this point on Wednesday (Jul 8) at the inaugural Asian Undergraduate Summit organised by the National University of Singapore Students' University Scholars Club. The summit brought together undergraduates from leading Asian universities to discuss regional issues.

Currently, Singapore is relying on fossil fuels and its usage exceeds that of other nations.

Mr Shanmugam said Singapore is unable to build facilities that can generate wind power due to land and space constraints. This is unlike other countries like China and the United States, which can cut back on their carbon footprint because they can generate alternative sources.

"For us, it's not a question of being more expensive. We just can't generate anything else. So, if they are internationally-binding norms and we're not exempted, that means a tremendous challenge for us. So, one of the things policy-makers are dealing with is to make sure that our case is heard. We are alternate energy-challenged,” Mr Shanmugam said.

It is also a challenge for ASEAN to have a seamless economic integration, he said, as countries within the region are at different levels of development, in areas such as economy and education. As such, Mr Shanmugam stressed that it is not possible to "immediately look at a complete or an even economic union".

Still, there are economic synergies in the region and benefits in making the flow of goods and services more seamless.

"But at the same time let me ask you, if you want to be completely seamless, are we in Singapore prepared for anyone in ASEAN to come and work here? And you'll know what will happen in that situation because our GDP per capita and our salaries are at such a higher level that we will not be able to cope,” said Mr Shanmugam.

“We still need to protect our sovereignty, identity and capacity. It's limited by those factors. And likewise every other country has areas that it feels it cannot give up yet. So, we are not quite the European Union (EU), we don't look at that kind of connectivity nor are we looking at that sort of movement of people. So, even on the economic front, you've got to be clear it is a modest aim,” he added.

- CNA/dl

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Indonesia: Land, forest fires continue to spread in Sumatra, Kalimantan

Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post 8 Jul 15;

Land and forest fires have continued to spread in Sumatra and Kalimantan over the past several days in the midst of the dry season, prompting local authorities to go all-out to curb the impact of the fires on local people and the environment.

In Jambi, local conservation initiative Muarojambi Bersepakat Movement (GMB) reported on Tuesday that fires had started in Pematang Damar forest in Maro Sebo district, Muarojambi regency, over the past several days, burning some 10 hectares of the forest, which serves as a conservation area for various rare orchid species.

GMB deputy chairman Adi Ismanto said the flames came from a number of areas around the forest, including Jambi Tulo, Mudung and Bakung.

“Pematang Damar forest is surrounded by fire. Unless something is done about it, the forest will be burned to the ground in just a few days,” he said.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Jambi on Tuesday spotted 29 wildfires across the province, 14 of which were detected in Muarojambi, six in East Tanjungjabung regency, five in Tebo regency and four in Sarolangun regency.

“Of the 29 hot spots, 14 have a confidence level of over 70 percent, meaning that they are almost surely on fire,” Jambi BMKG officer Dian Anggaraini said.

In anticipation of haze, East Tanjungjabung Regent Zumi Zola Zulkifli said his administration had prepared 20,000 face masks to be distributed to local residents.

“We have also prepared paramedics,” he said, adding that he had instructed all district chiefs in the regency not to leave their respective jurisdictions and to anticipate land and forest fires.

The dry season normally takes place between April and September. The BMKG, however, recently warned that the dry season could last longer this year as a result of the El Niño weather phenomenon, whose effect will last until November.

In Pekanbaru, Riau, many people in the city were seen donning masks to prevent them from inhaling haze-filled air triggered by forest and land fires from several areas in three neighboring provinces, including Jambi.

“I’m wearing a mask because the air is not fresh as it is polluted with smoke from land fires,” 57-year-old Idral, a local resident, said on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Acting Riau governor Arsyadjuliandi Rachman has also called on locals to join hands in preventing land and forest fires as the dry season could last until the end of the year.

In Pontianak, West Kalimantan Police chief Brig. Gen. Arief Sulistyanto has instructed local police chiefs to deploy personnel to help local people extinguish land and forest fires that have began to occur in a number of regencies over the past week.

He said that based on his own observation, no district or subdistrict administration agencies were participating in ongoing fire-fighting efforts.

West Kalimantan Provincial Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) data showed that six hot spots had been spotted by Saturday.

The number increased to nine on Sunday, four of which were spotted in Kubu Raya regency. The remainder were in Sambas, Bengkayang, Landak and Melawi regencies.

Agency head Sustyo Iriyono earlier said that, as of Monday, the four fires in Kubu Raya had not been extinguished.

“A plantation company has also asked us to help extinguish fires on its plantation over fears that it would not be able to do so,” he said as quoted by Antara.

Haze blankets parts of Sumatra
Zubaidah Nazeer Straits Times 9 Jul 15;

Forest fires in Sumatra have intensified, with a thick haze enveloping parts of the island, prompting local officials to distribute masks.

"The acrid smell is getting bitter this evening. We feel like the haze is coming stronger on us. It is worse now than hours ago," Pekanbaru resident Didik Herwanto told The Straits Times yesterday evening.

Visibility at the Pekanbaru airport in Riau province yesterday morning was as low as 600m, resulting in one flight being diverted to Batam.

Said Mr Sugarin, head of the meteorological office at the Pekanbaru airport: "A flight was diverted to Batam this morning as we had fog and haze. Visibility at 7am was 600m, but it gradually recovered to 1,500m at 8am, and to 9km at around noon."

The situation seems to have worsened, ahead of a government effort to expand cloud-seeding operations to southern parts of Sumatra today. Cloud-seeding over central parts of Sumatra have been ongoing for over two weeks.

The forest fires come as Indonesia enters its dry season, with concerns that an El Nino phenomenon could worsen this. Rainfall is expected to be minimal in provinces like Riau.

Meteorologists say the wind direction determines whether the haze will be blown to Singapore.

In this case, winds are blowing from south to north, causing Singapore's PSI reading to climb into the moderate range.

While Mr Sugarin notes that the situation in Riau is improving, he blames neighbouring provinces for the haze, saying most of it was due to fires burning in southern provinces like Jambi and South Sumatra.

However, South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin refuted this.

"There is a lot of the blame game going on, but we prefer to tackle the problem and talk less," he said, adding that he would officiate the beginning of cloud-seeding over his province today.

Hot spots in South Sumatra dipped to 27 from 34 a day earlier, though he admits this is no guarantee there will be no fires or haze.

The governor was speaking on the sidelines of an event held in Jakarta, where he announced that he is working with Asia Pulp and Paper to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in South Sumatra.

In Jambi, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency spotted 29 wildfires across the province on Tuesday, reported the Jakarta Post. Local conservation initiative Muarojambi Bersepakat Movement (GMB) said fires had started in Pematang Damar forest in Muarojambi regency, burning some 10ha of land.

The forest serves as a conservation area for various rare orchid species.

"Pematang Damar forest is surrounded by fire. Unless something is done about it, the forest will be burned to the ground in just a few days," GMB deputy chairman Adi Ismanto was quoted as saying.

Dr Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency, said the authorities will step up water-bombing operations to help douse fires, as a way of complementing the cloud-seeding efforts.

"Water-bombing operations have been carried out using two helicopters from private plantation companies. We will soon rent helicopters to beef up the operations," he told The Straits Times.

•Additional reporting by Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

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Best of our wild blogs: 8 Jul 15

11 Jul (Sat): FREE screening of "Birth of a Marine Park" by Victor Tang for Discovery Channel
wild shores of singapore

Back at Sekudu for coral rubble survey
wonderful creation

Singapore Bird Report – June 2015
Singapore Bird Group

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Following ACRES report, AVA conducts probe into local pet shops and farms

In unannounced inspections, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore looked into conditions such as the size and flooring of enclosures, availability of drinking water, and the display of a pet shop grade decal, the agency said on Tuesday (Jul 7).
Channel NewsAsia 7 Jul 15;

SINGAPORE: The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) conducted an investigation into pet shops and farms which allegedly exhibited poor licensing practices, in response to a Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) report in May which highlighted 31 pet farms and pet shops in Singapore that were said to have committed such offences.

AVA’s unannounced inspections took into account licensing conditions such as the size of enclosures or cages, flooring of cages, availability of drinking water, and the display of a pet shop grade decal, the agency said in a press release on Tuesday (Jul 7).

According to ACRES, nine pet shops and 10 pet farms infringed size conditions of enclosures or cages. AVA found one pet farm which failed to satisfy the size requirements and has recorded and issued a warning letter against the licensee, directing him to rectify the non-compliance.

ACRES’ video evidence also showed that two dogs were kept in cages that appeared to be too small for them. However, AVA’s investigation revealed that these cages were not used to display dogs for sale, but used for a short duration before or after their grooming sessions. AVA verified that dogs in another shop were allowed to roam freely in a display area and were only kept in cages for short periods during housekeeping.

ACRES observed that one pet shop and one pet farm did not provide drinking water for the puppies displayed in the enclosures. However, AVA found that both retailers gave water to the puppies at regular intervals, every 30 to 60 minutes.

In addition, AVA inspectors asked these retailers to provide water to random puppies to see if they were thirsty. The inspectors observed that the puppies did not drink the water immediately, suggesting that they were not thirsty or dehydrated.

AVA found that seven of the 13 pet shops identified by ACRES did not display their pet shop grade decal. At the point of AVA’s inspection, the other six pet shops highlighted in ACRES’ report displayed their decals prominently. The seven pet shops which had failed to do so now display their decals, said AVA.

In its press release, AVA thanks ACRES for its report on its discreet observations on the ground, and encourages such groups and the general public to ensure observance of proper standards by pet shops and farms.

“AVA will continue with our regular inspections on pet shops and farms, to ensure that they comply with our licensing conditions. We are exploring working with animal welfare groups to conduct mystery audits on pet retailers,” said AVA.

Any person with feedback to give can reach AVA at 1800-476-1600 if they come across any errant pet shop or farm.

- CNA/eg

AVA inspects 31 pet retailers after ACRES report
CONSTANCE YEO Today Online 8 Jul 15;

SINGAPORE — The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has conducted unannounced inspections of 31 pet shops and farms that allegedly breached or failed to meet licensing conditions, and found that most of them had satisfactory conditions, save for some “minor lapses”.

The inspections were in response to an investigative report by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) in May, following a two-month-long undercover operation. In its report, the society said several pet shops had failed to provide basic animal welfare, such as lacking adequately sized enclosures for dogs and cats, proper flooring conditions and sufficient clean drinking water.

ACRES highlighted nine pet shops and 10 pet farms with enclosures and cages that were too small for pets.

Of these 19 pet retailers, seven complied with size conditions set by the AVA, said the authority.

The other 12 had cages that were slightly smaller than required sizes, but except for one retailer, the rest provided sufficient room for pets to move around comfortably, lie down and stretch, said the AVA in a media release today (July 7).

ACRES had earlier submitted video evidence showing two dogs kept in cages that appeared to be too small for them.

The AVA’s investigation revealed that these dogs had not been not kept in these cages for prolonged periods, but for short durations before or after their grooming sessions. This is similar to the arrangement adopted by owners when transporting their pets in pet carriers.

As for flooring, ACRES had identified 14 retailers that did not provide floor mats as required under the AVA’s licensing conditions for pet cages, which might trap the animal’s feet.

In response, the AVA said it allows some variation with regard to alternative flooring, provided that it is firm and comfortable for the animals without potentially hurting their limbs. Two of the 14 retailers had failed to use acceptable alternative flooring, it said.

ACRES had also pointed out one pet shop and one pet farm that did not provide drinking water for puppies displayed in their enclosures. However, the AVA’s inspections found that both retailers had provided water for the puppies at regular intervals.

On the problem of some shops failing to display their grade under the AVA Pet Shop Grading Scheme, six of the 13 retailers identified by ACRES displayed their pet-shop grade decal at the time of the AVA’s inspections. The other seven that failed to do so now display their decals prominently.

Following its probe, the AVA said “one pet shop and two pet farms have been warned to rectify non-compliances that are more significant in nature as they may potentially impact animal welfare”.

In response to TODAY’s queries, ACRES said today that it is heartened that animal welfare in pet shops and farms has improved, and that those who had breached licensing conditions have been warned by the AVA.

ACRES’ chief executive Louis Ng said: “We will continue working closely with AVA ... If further breaches are found in the same pet shops or farms, we hope stronger penalties will be meted out, which will serve as a greater deterrence.”

ACRES will continue with undercover investigations to ensure animal-welfare standards are met, he added.

Animal abuse probed
Foo Jie Ying The New Paper AsiaOne 10 Jul 15;

Animal welfare group Acres’ undercover investigation revealed that some pet shops failed to meet the conditions for basic animal welfare by providing cages that are too small.

Photo: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society

The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) released an explosive report in May detailing infringements in the pet trade here.

The animal welfare group found that 31 out of 41 pet retailers flouted pet shop and farm licence conditions.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) says that the situation is not as dire and it has warned just a pet shop and two pet farms.

1. CAGE SIZE

What Acres found: Nine pet shops and 10 pet farms with enclosures or cages infringed the size conditions.

Under AVA's pet shop licence conditions, the length of the cage must be at least two times the length of the animal.

The width should be at least 1½ times the length of the animal, and the height must allow the animal to comfortably stand upright on its hind legs.

Acres also had video evidence of two dogs kept in cages that looked too small for them.

What AVA found: Out of the 19 pet retailers identified by Acres, 12 had cages "slightly smaller than the required sizes".

A pet farm licensee was served a warning letter as AVA found the cages did not allow the animals to move around and stand comfortably.

As for the video released by Acres, AVA found that the pet shops had only housed the animals for a short period, either before or after their grooming sessions, or during housekeeping.

2. CAGE FLOORING

What Acres found: Five pet shops and nine pet farms failed to provide floor mats for the pet cages as prescribed in the licensing conditions.

AVA requires pet shops to line cages with floor mats that provide firm and comfortable support for the animals.

If the cage floor is made of thin wire, or if the wire mesh has gaps bigger than 1cm by 1cm, the mats must cover at least half the floor.

What AVA found: Only one of the pet shops and one of the pet farms identified by Acres used "unacceptable alternative flooring".

This may potentially impact the welfare of animals, and the licensees involved have been served warning letters, AVA said.

3. HYDRATION

What Acres found: A pet shop and a pet farm did not provide drinking water for the puppies displayed in the enclosures.

An Acres investigator previously told The New Paper that he saw the puppies panting heavily, an indication that they were not given enough clean drinking water.

AVA requires clean drinking water to be provided at all times.

What AVA found: Both the pet shop and pet farm gave water to the puppies at ½-hour to one-hour intervals. When AVA inspectors asked the retailers to provide water to random puppies, they did not drink the water immediately, suggesting that they were not thirsty.

4. PET GRADE DECAL

What Acres found: AVA introduced a Pet Shop Grading Scheme in 2007 to raise standards in the pet retail industry.

Pet shops are graded from A to D based on their compliance with licence conditions and their adoption of best animal welfare practices.

Acres investigators observed that no pet shop decal was displayed in 13 pet shops.

What AVA found: Only seven pet shops out of the 13 that Acres identified did not display their pet shop grade decals. The decals in these pet shops are now displayed.

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As El Nino looms, cloud seeding gets tailwind

COLIN PACKHAM Reuters 7 Jul 15;

Circling thousands of feet above Tasmania's farmland in a light aircraft, Christina Nebel prepares to release tiny chemical particles as part of a cloud-seeding scheme estimated to have helped boost rainfall on the Australian island by over 10 percent.

The program is one of a handful globally riding a wave of renewed interest in the decades-old technology as drought hits places from the United States to the Philippines, with the specter of a strong El Nino weather pattern later this year threatening worse to come.

"We are looking for fronts crossing Tasmania," said Nebel, cloud seeding officer at renewable energy producer Hydro Tasmania.

If the conditions are right, she releases a small amount of silver iodide, which attracts water particles, encouraging clouds to grow and, she hopes, rain on the land below.

But Tasmania is blessed with near-perfect conditions for the process with clouds containing a large amount of cold water vapor whipping in off the Southern Ocean, meaning the scale of success of its program, which has its roots in the 1960s, could be difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Nonetheless atmospheric experts say the technology is enjoying a renewed emphasis as governments fret over scorching weather and as populations grow, while falling costs could increase its use in future.

"What is driving the attention is that winter cloud seeding holds some promise and in many places, including the western U.S., water shortages are becoming severe," said Professor Terry Deshler from the University of Wyoming's atmospheric science department.

Research suggests cloud seeding in winter produces better results than in other periods.

RAIN AGAIN?

While many of the world's cloud-seeding programs are small and unlikely to have more than a limited impact, China has a large-scale scheme in place.

The nation launched its "human affected weather" program in 1958, and has done extensive research in cloud seeding. It aims to induce more than 60 billion cubic meters of additional rain each year by 2020 using the technique, as it looks to fight chronic water shortages.

That figure is equivalent to more than one-and-a-half times the volume of the Three Gorges reservoir, one of the largest in the country.

On a far smaller scale, the government in the Philippines, one of the world's biggest rice consumers, is spending a record 15 million pesos ($330,000) this year on cloud-seeding operations and could allocate another 15 million pesos in the face of El Nino, which can bring crop-damaging dry weather to many regions.

"We of course don't want to be caught unprepared, especially now that weather experts are predicting a prolonged El Nino," said Silvino Tejada, director of the Philippines Bureau of Soils and Water Management.

The cost of cloud seeding has traditionally been one of the main hurdles to usage. Fuel costs are often the biggest drag on budgets, researchers said, with some seeding operations often requiring multiple flights.

But the Nevada-based Desert Research Institute has recently started testing drones that could be used in cloud seeding that it says could cut costs substantially. Drones would also be able to fly closer to mountains, where clouds offer the best potential for seeding.

Back in Tasmania, Nebel is busy, with 10 seeding operations so far in the season that runs from May to October, more than double the number at the same point in 2014.

That water falls into irrigation channels and onto pasture and feed crops, helping boost the state's dairy sector, where milk production is up about a tenth so far this season.

($1 = 45.1350 Philippine pesos)

(Additional reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz in Manila; Editing by Joseph Radford)

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Best of our wild blogs: 6-7 Jul 15

Surveying the magical reefs of Sentosa Serapong
wild shores of singapore

Annual Labrador check up
wild shores of singapore

Double S - Stonefish and Sekudu
Peiyan.Photography

Interesting sea slugs at Chek Jawa
Peiyan.Photography

Limelight on Pulau Hantu
Hantu Blog

Green Corridor trail- Bukit Timah Station to Holland Road
My Nature Experiences

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo in Unihemispheric Slow-wave Sleep
Bird Ecology Study Group

Singapore’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) and what it means
Green Business Singapore

Malayan Racer (Coelognathus flavolineatus) @ Pulau Ubin
Monday Morgue

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2015: One turning point for the planet?

Jessica Cheam Straits Times 7 Jul 15;

The world is waking up to the existential crisis posed by climate change

When historians look back on the year 2015, it may well be remembered as a turning point in history when a revolution was sparked in the way humanity interacts with the planet.

After all, the world's nations have set a deadline this December to sign a landmark global climate treaty in Paris to tackle the growing environmental crisis. Critics will point out that at the last meeting in 2009 in Copenhagen, where an agreement was supposed to be inked, talks failed.

I was a journalist covering the summit then and had a ringside view of the political posturing leading up to the collapse of the negotiations. Watching global events unfold then and now, I have come to believe that this year might be different.

I'm not absolutely convinced a deal will be signed. But compared with 2009, the world is awakening to the existential crisis we face as a civilisation, at a pace and scale never seen before.

Letter from the Pope

The most visible manifestation of this awakening is the recent release of - and reaction to - Pope Francis' explosive encyclical on the environment on June 18, in which he describes in stark terms our planetary crisis and the "spiral of self-destruction" caused by the world's obsession with growth and consumption. In his 180-page teaching letter titled "Laudato Si (praised be) On Care For Our Common Home", the Pope goes into fascinating detail about the ills of our modern condition, touching on issues such as pollution, waste and the throwaway culture, climate change, the depletion of water, loss of biodiversity and global inequality.

"The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth," he writes in the letter, noting how things are at breaking point "due to the rapid pace of change and degradation", evident in recent large-scale natural disasters as well as social and even financial crises.

His observations extended to global leaders and the institutions that have failed to tackle the world's growing crisis: Those who "possess more resources and economic or political power seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems".

Never before in the history of the Church has a papal document attracted so much attention.

It has been praised by even those beyond the environmental movement, such as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, but it also expectedly attracted a fierce backlash from climate-change sceptics and conservative politicians who say the Pope has no business speaking outside religion.

Whether they like it or not, there is no doubt that his letter - following the tradition of those by his predecessors on the issues of their time - has captured the current zeitgeist and struck a chord with many worldwide, not least putting climate and environmental issues right in front of his 1.2 billion Catholic followers.

Obligation to protect

One other significant development was a historic decision on June 24 - the first in the world - by a Dutch court which ruled that the government had a legal obligation to protect its citizens from climate change. In the lawsuit brought by 886 citizens, the court ordered the government to cut carbon emissions by 25 per cent in five years' time - up from its current 15 per cent pledge.

This precedent, observers note, could trigger similar cases all over the world. Reports say similar lawsuits in Belgium and Norway are being prepared.

There are other developments happening at a speed and scale not seen in 2009: The global fossil-fuel divestment movement, growing corporate sustainability commitments, and the unprecedented growth of renewable energy worldwide are but some examples.

Mass extinction

The bigger question is whether these will be enough. Just last month , a new study confirmed that the world is entering its sixth mass extinction. Not since the age of the dinosaurs ended 66 million years ago has the planet seen species disappearing about 100 times faster than they used to, said the United States-led study.

These events may not register on the average Singaporean's consciousness in the same way as, say, breakdowns of MRT trains or the price of certificates of entitlement to own cars here, but they will have an impact on us and it's important to consider what these might be.

The effects of climate change are well-reported: From rising sea levels to extreme weather patterns and political instability to the threat of wars, Singapore will not be immune.

The Government, on its part, last week announced a pledge to cut carbon emission intensity (emissions per gross domestic product dollar) by 36 per cent by 2030; it also last year unveiled a Sustainable Singapore Blueprint that sets out a vision for the Republic to be a zero-waste, car-light nation with a flourishing green economy by 2030.

But going beyond hard targets, the recent global conversation should prompt a deeper introspection among us about Singapore's relationship with the environment. With this year being our jubilee year, this could not be more timely.

Singapore has managed to overcome its environmental challenges in the past 50 years - limited land, water and natural resources - with some foresight and integrated planning. But it still - for now - relies heavily on the outside world for food, water, energy and goods. Despite its limitations, Singapore is guilty of many of the observations in the Pope's letter about modern society, from its throwaway culture and those "vainly showing off their supposed superiority (with their possessions) and leaving behind them so much waste", to the "huge consumption of rich countries".

It has made me think that surely Singapore's vulnerability should serve as sufficient motivation for us to be world leaders in environmental sustainability.

It doesn't take much imagination to see that in a world with decreasing finite resources, a global shortage of any basic resource would put us at an extreme disadvantage, however much money we may have.

And when I refer to environmental sustainability, I don't mean merely planting trees all over the city - I mean a society in which a consideration and respect for our environment pervades all aspects of our lives and informs all our business decisions and policymaking. In this respect, we still have a long way to go.

The Pope's message, drawing on Saint Francis whose name he chose for his papal role, focuses on the idea of "integral ecology" and "just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace" - values I feel have had increasing resonance for Singaporeans in recent years, regardless of religion.

I hope this new column in The Straits Times, One Planet, will be a useful avenue for us to think deeply about some of these issues. I'd like to invite readers to get in touch with me on topics relating to the environment and sustainability that they feel is worth exploring and I will do my best to feature them in this column.

Whatever significance historians eventually assign to 2015, this year is a perfect opportunity, as the Pope puts it, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet.

This is a new fortnightly column by Jessica Cheam, the editor of Eco-Business, an Asia-Pacific sustainable business online publication. She was formerly a political and environment correspondent at The Straits Times.

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Diverse goals of Singapore's nature areas

Natalia Huang Straits Times 7 Jul 15;

The news that Singapore Botanic Gardens has been awarded Unesco World Heritage Site status by the United Nations is a great feather in the country's biological and heritage cap.

The Gardens is the first botanic gardens in Asia to be awarded heritage status. While its heritage values won the award, it also represents a nature area which provides an important service as a sanctuary in the city for both biodiversity and people.

Biodiversity is the variety of life, of plants and animals, and makes our earth glorious.

In Singapore, we have representatives of primary and secondary forests, mangroves, grasslands, and coral reefs scattered across this relatively tiny island. Many of these areas are teeming with wonderful wildlife and extraordinary plants.

There are the insect-hungry pitcher plants, the pigeon orchid which bursts into bloom in fright following lightning storms, and the towering dipterocarp trees which playfully release winged seeds that swirl like helicopters down to the many shades of green below.

There is the colourful and conspicuous oriental pied hornbill, the enigmatic scaly ant-eating pangolin, and the Singapore freshwater crab found nowhere else in the world.

The Botanic Gardens houses a diverse range of native and exotic plants, with some majestic trees being over 100 years old. These plants attract both native and exotic wildlife, representing an island of refuge in the city and providing connectivity for wildlife through the landscape. The Gardens also provide captivating areas for children and adults alike to learn more about nature.

In its jubilee year, at a time of national stock-taking, Singapore has a unique opportunity to make a choice about the future of its natural areas. This is a choice about whether future Singaporeans will reminisce about the nature that used to be in Singapore, or whether they can actually go out and see it for themselves.

What does future Singapore want to look like? Do we want to be a concrete jungle, or one with green spaces and wildlife?

In a country where land is heavily managed, our natural areas should be managed or planned with careful thought and precision. What might constitute a reasonable nature conservation or management policy in Singapore?

This is a delicate affair, with passion, science, and land-use demands often in conflict. This is especially so in a city like Singapore which has limited space, unlimited endeavours, and increasingly interested citizens.

While protecting native biodiversity is top priority, what is possible in Singapore is a nature conservation policy with a diversity of goals that satisfies the needs of a diversity of people. Some examples of such goals could be:

FOR BIODIVERSITY
Areas of high biological significance should be protected for perpetuity, not until they are needed for development. These areas would offer limited or no access to the public, with the purpose of protecting their biodiversity and ecosystems.

They could include places such as the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Nee Soon Swamp Forest.

FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
With representatives of each vegetation type still remaining (though declining), pockets of each can be used to teach young Singaporeans about diversity in life, about each unique ecosystem, and about the history of Singapore's environment. Experiencing it for themselves trounces any classroom learning. The Botanic Gardens gives students a space to learn about our colonial history and the ecology of a diverse urban garden, complete with a tiny remnant of native primary rainforest.

At school, I did not learn about our biodiversity and discovered the wonders of nature only while studying overseas. Imagine my delight as an ecologist returning from overseas when I learnt of Singapore's incredible creatures.

It disturbs me to think of the many other students who left, or did not pursue biology studies, because they did not realise the biodiversity in their own country. We could solve this by improving native biodiversity education in our education system and having nature areas to facilitate this. Some areas could also be set aside for ecological research, critical to understanding our natural history and how to manage it.

FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING
Without regular visits to MacRitchie Reservoir, I get frazzled and make plans to leave the country. Spending time in nature areas recharges my energy and clears my head, and gives me a relaxing place to exercise. The plethora of joggers and walkers I see tell me I am not alone. The ability of nature to improve mental health and well-being is well-documented by scientific research. Keeping nature areas for recreational use (and mental health) may also contribute to talent retention in the country.

FOR TOURISM
Few tours or tourism brochures advertise Singapore's biodiversity or nature areas. Yet we sit in a region popular with eco-tourists.

Eco-tourism in Costa Rica, for example, is poised to be a major revenue-generating industry, with exorbitant tourist and guide fees for national parks which tourists willingly pay. While our forests may not be as sizeable as Costa Rica's, Singapore can provide a "soft" introduction to tropical rainforests for city-loving tourists.

Certain natural areas could be demarcated for guided tours, with strict guidelines and limits to the numbers allowed in each day. These would be outside the most biologically sensitive areas and could be rotated through a set of specific areas. Compared with other rainforest experiences around the world, Singapore is special in having a dense rainforest just 10 minutes from the city.

FOR RECREATION
Certain areas can be set aside for fishing, cycling, walking, bird-watching, setting up vegetable gardens and other hobbies. Living in harmony in a dense place means accepting and respecting others' joys. Apart from existing nature areas, we can also add biodiversity anywhere and everywhere through replanting or habitat creation.

NParks is already replanting our road median strips with what will, hopefully, become little strips of forests, instead of strips of turf. These strips will provide important corridors for animals to move through our city.

If we strengthen biodiversity in our nature areas and enhance the diversity of nature areas for multiple purposes, then perhaps the whole of Singapore, and not just the Botanic Gardens, will be celebrated internationally for its nature areas.

The writer is principal ecologist at Ecology Matters, an environmental consultancy providing ecological advice and biodiversity studies for environmental impact assessments.

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Winds may help Singapore stay haze-free

Feng Zengkun Straits Times 7 Jul 15;

SINGAPORE may not be hit by haze in the coming days, even though the number of fires in Indonesia has gone up.

This is because the variable wind directions in the first two weeks of this month could just as easily bring the haze here as not, according to the National Environment Agency's (NEA's) forecast.

The Meteorological Service Singapore website said the number of hot spots in Sumatra in Indonesia spiked from about 30 to almost 140 between Wednesday and Saturday last week, although it dropped to about 20 yesterday.

However, the NEA said last week that winds blowing towards Singapore over the first fortnight of this month are expected to be predominantly from the south-east or south south-west.

Winds from the south south-west would come from Sumatra, and so have a higher risk of carrying haze to Singapore.

Winds from the south-east, on the other hand, would be unlikely to bring the haze.

In its forecast for the fortnight, the NEA said that "slightly hazy conditions can be expected on a few days, in particular in the early morning, due to the accumulation of particulate matter under light wind conditions".

Singapore's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), which indicates air quality here, stood between 59 and 65 across the island as of 8pm yesterday.

This puts it in the low-moderate range. Air is considered unhealthy when the 24-hour PSI crosses 100.

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Indonesia: Hot spots detected in Sumatra

The Jakarta Post 6 Jul 15;

The US Terra and Aqua satellites have detected 36 hot spots indicating forest fires in Sumatra on Saturday morning.

The two satellites showed that 11 hot spots are in Jambi, 10 in Riau, nine in South Sumatra, two each in Aceh and Lampung, and one each in North Sumatra and West Sumatra, head of the Pekanbaru Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Office Sugarin said as quoted by Antara.

“In Riau province, seven of the 10 hot spots were found in Indragiri Hulu,” he said.

As a result, from Friday to Saturday Riau was shrouded in a haze that included smoke from the neighboring provinces of Jambi and South Sumatra.

While visibility in Pekanbaru, Pelalawan and Rengat dropped to between three to five kilometers, it dropped even more to one kilometer because of haze in Dumai.

However, authorities at the Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru had decided not to cancel flights to and from the airport.

Sugarin said the Air Quality Standard Index in the six regions in Riau indicated that the air quality was moderate.

He also predicted that based on the direction of the winds the haze could soon be blown across the Malacca Strait to Malaysia and Singapore.

Jakarta's cloud-seeding efforts run into snags
Strengthening El Nino effect plus dry season causing lack of clouds may spark more fires
Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja Straits Times 7 Jul 15;

The Indonesian authorities have tamed a growing number of forest fires in neighbouring Sumatra in the past few weeks with cloud-seeding, although the operations to produce rain have not been as successful as hoped, a top official has told The Straits Times.

As the dry season takes hold, the authorities in Indonesia and its neighbours are worried about a spike in forest fires and burning off on agricultural lands. Adding to concerns, a strengthening El Nino weather pattern, which usually causes higher temperatures and drought in the region, could prime parts of Sumatra and Borneo for major blazes in coming weeks. This could overwhelm fire-fighting efforts and trigger a choking smoke haze.

The authorities began cloud-seeding on June 22 in Riau province opposite Singapore, but a lack of clouds and moisture in the air meant on some days there were no clouds to seed, said Dr Heru Widodo, head of the weather-modification team at the Indonesian agency for the assessment and application of technology.

"But it is not that the cloud-seeding wasn't effective, only the success rate was lower than that in March. Had we not done anything, there would have been so much haze now," he told The Straits Times. A dry spell in March caused a brief surge in fires.

He rated the current cloud-seeding operations at seven points on a scale of one to 10, adding that the team had flown 11 flights so far and used more than 20 tonnes of cloud- seeding chemicals.

The number of fire hot spots in Sumatra jumped late last month to about 150, then quickly fell before jumping back to nearly 140 late last week, according to Meteorological Service Singapore, citing satellite data. By yesterday, the number of hot spots fell to 18 from 56 on Sunday, going by the latest map posted.

Despite recent storms, fires have kept cropping up, Dr Heru said.

Fires have also been flaring up in Jambi province and further south.

"We have received reports of rising hot-spot activity in the southern part of Sumatra. We will set up a cloud-seeding operations base in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Wednesday," he said.

Since coming to office, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has pledged to be more active in fighting fires. Jakarta last September ratified the 2002 Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

Under the agreement, countries have to cooperate in taking measures to prevent, monitor and mitigate the haze by controlling the sources of fires, in exchanging information and technology, and in helping one another manage outbreaks.

When asked last night about forest fires in Sumatra and the ongoing challenges faced by cloud-seeding operations, President Joko said "we will have the report tomorrow", in response to a question from The Straits Times during a breaking-of-fast event with reporters.

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Taking our infrastructure to new heights

Today Online 6 Jul 15;

Singapore — Ms Low Pei Chin, 39, is a senior principal engineer in the Water Reclamation (Plants) Department, Planning and Development Division of PUB, Singapore’s national water agency. Her job involves managing development projects, making sure that schedules are followed and the projects don’t go over budget.

In 2012, the same year she joined PUB, a feasibility study of Phase 4 of the Jurong Water Reclamation Plant’s expansion was conducted. Today, it is in the construction phase and Ms Low is the project lead. She is also the lead on the Changi Water Reclamation Plant Phase II expansion, which started last June with the development of its concept design.

No ‘Armchair Engineer’

Ms Low said: “There isn’t a typical day on the job — every day is different, because the project team faces new challenges every day as the project progresses.”

To avoid becoming an “armchair engineer”, Ms Low strongly believes in going down to the project sites to “have a feel of the site conditions”. She added: “Time is also spent working with the consultants who are engaged to help develop the project, ensuring that it’s performed within scope and on schedule.”

One solution she is especially proud of is the first Thermal Hydrolysis System, which is due to be installed at Jurong Water Reclamation Plant as part of the Phase 4 expansion, and is currently being considered for Changi Water Reclamation Plant’s Phase II expansion as well.

“The new system can be described as a high-pressure cooker. The sludge from the treatment plant will be treated at a high temperature and pressure, which will make the sludge more biodegradable. It allows us to build one less digester and have less sludge for disposal, thus saving costs, and producing more biogas for energy recovery.”

Changing priorities

Ms Low foresees the role of water reclamation infrastructure changing and expanding.

“In the future, water reclamation infrastructure will play an even more important role as we engage in more energy and resource recovery, while still playing a critical role in water supply.”

“In my opinion, the main challenge for the water reclamation infrastructure of tomorrow is how to do more with less — less land, less manpower, lower costs. This is a multi-dimensional challenge and requires a diverse group of experts to come together and develop a balanced solution.”

Civil engineering

Mr Otard Chew is a senior engineer in the Geotechnical & Tunnels Division, Engineering Group of the Land Transport Authority. He provides specialist design services in the field of geotechnical and tunnel engineering, and supports other functions in LTA, including planning, design, construction and asset management.

Mr Chew started his civil engineering career in the private sector. In 2013, he joined the LTA to gain more exposure to other areas of civil engineering design, especially in the area of tunnelling for rail and road infrastructure.

His colleague, Mr Muhammad Fahmi Bin Mahony, 30, joined LTA in 2008 after completing his National Service. In 2009, he resumed his studies with the Singapore Institute of Management while still working at LTA. He graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science Construction Management (Hons) in 2012. He is also a senior engineer in the Geotechnical & Tunnels Division and is responsible for the implementation of site investigation works.

Said Mr Fahmi: “Our task is to ensure that all physical drilling, in-situ and laboratory tests are carried out safely and in accordance to standards and specifications spelled out in the contract. The team members and I check on contractors to ensure the classification/properties of soil and rocks are correct.”

A technical overview

A typical work day for Mr Chew and Mr Fahmi varies greatly. Mr Chew, 33, said: “It could include reviewing technical submissions to ensure that the consultant’s designs satisfy LTA requirements and are compliant with accepted codes.

“I attend technical discussions to find possible solutions to resolve various issues, as well as conduct site visits to inspect existing slopes or structures.”

In addition, Mr Chew is part of a task force of young engineers looking into trends in research and development that can improve the way civil engineering infrastructure in Singapore is designed and constructed.

The task force identifies potential research opportunities, creates concept research and development proposals, and participates in research and development collaborations with external parties.

Mr Fahmi’s work day may include writing specifications for tender, meeting with internal and external customers to understand their requirements or restrictions prior to site work and resolving site technical matters with contractors.

“There are many geotechnical engineering tests that have not been carried out in Singapore. My team and I are required to explore the available tests carried out overseas that may be suitable for our project. I also witness a particular test on-site or have a discussion with a contractor or consultant to understand the subject before the specification is drafted.”

Innovation and Opportunities

Looking ahead, Mr Chew noted a stronger push for an integrated design process, which refers to multidisciplinary collaboration between key stakeholders and design professionals to create a structure.

He said: “Space constraints and the rate of urbanisation are forcing infrastructures to go deeper underground or closer to one another, or both. Space has to be jointly planned for better development.”

Mr Fahmi relishes the opportunities working for a large organisation like the LTA has presented him.

“There are often opportunities for me to rotate through different parts of the organisation. Every placement I take will help me further my career. The more varied the placements, the more likely I am to gain a wider range of skills and experience,” he said.

Brick by brick

Mr Chew takes great pride and satisfaction as a civil engineer who helps to shape the nation’s infrastructure to benefit Singaporeans.

“To be able to make a difference on such a grand scale — it doesn’t get any better than this, does it?” he said. “I would thank the engineers of the future for continuing to practise civil engineering, and for continuing to improve people’s lives as we intended. We can all help to shape our country one brick at a time.”

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