Indonesia: New permit policy ‘could increase deforestation’

Hans Nicholas Jong, The Jakarta Post 6 Oct 15;

The government has announced plans to reduce various forestry license application process times from two years to three to 15 days, raising concerns that the changes will speed up the rate of deforestation in the country, which has become the world’s fastest in the past decade.

The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) said on Monday that the plan posed a huge risk to the country’s struggling natural environment.

“The risks are great because the current licensing system is already chaotic with overlapping permits. Just look at the never-ending forest fires in the country,” Walhi chairman Abetnego Tarigan said.

Abuse of forest permits has been blamed as one of the leading causes of annual forest fires in the country, and the government is currently trying to revoke concession permits for land or forest cleared by fire.

The government aims to simplify the application process to acquire licenses for the use of forest areas for mining, agroforestry and industrial forests. Currently, it takes from two to four years to acquire a forest conversion permit. The Environment and Forestry Ministry claims that the speeding up of the licensing process will not necessarily lead to deforestation.

“The process still has to go through the planning directorate-general. They are preparing the criteria that [applicants] will need to meet the land demand for development. So I don’t think we will violate our own commitment [to slow down deforestation],” the ministry’s climate change director-general Nur Masripatin said on Monday.

Togu Manurung, a professor at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) and director of Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI), said that the government’s current way of managing the country’s forests was still seen as posing a huge risk to the environment.

“[The simplification of the licensing process] will speed up land conversion and increase the potential for land and forest fires if it’s still business-as-usual for the government, as forest fires continue to occur even though the problems are crystal clear,” he said.

According to Togu, the government still had to prove it had better forest management credentials before it could possibly ensure that the speeding up of the licensing process would not lead to deforestation.

“First, the government has to involve the public [in the licensing process]. All data has to be transparent to all stakeholders and the public who will be affected [by the forest permit issuance] must be given the chance to voice their disagreement. For example, notify indigenous people noticed that the plan has the potential to increase land conflicts,” he said.

Therefore, the government has to finish implementing its one-map policy, which was officially implemented at the end of 2014 to resolve disagreements resulting from the use of different data and maps that often caused land disputes and overlapping permits in plantation and mining operations.

“If the one map already exists, then it could be used as a filter to clarify [potential land conflicts],” said Togu. “It looks like the progress on the policy stopped after the Presidential Working Unit for the Supervision and Management of Development [UKP4] was disbanded.”

Nur made assurances that the government would be able to avoid land conflicts even though the mapping of customary lands made by indigenous communities had not been incorporated into the one-map policy as the ministry was currently mapping customary lands and said that there would be requirements in the licensing process to avoid overlapping permits.

Togu also suggested the government prioritize forest area that had been heavily degraded in order to reduce the number of trees that had to be cut down to convert the area.

“Of course it will lessen the cutting down of trees. This has to be done in order to prevent us from backtracking on our Intended National Determined Contribution [INDC], which will be presented at the Paris Climate Summit as we facilitate deforestation through the speeding up of forest licensing,” he said.

The stark difference in the length of days needed to process a permit has also been deemed as unrealistic as it is almost impossible to verify land ownership in remote areas like those in Papua.

“Not to mention when it turns out that there’s a tenurial problem and indigenous rights that have to be protected in the verification results,” Papua State University environmental study center head Charlie D. Heatubun said.


Govt’s new timber certification policy may lead to illegal logging
Hans Nicholas Jong and Khoirul Amin, The Jakarta Post 6 Oct 15;

The government and a number of business associations have agreed to move forward with a plan to relax regulations on environmentally friendly certification for downstream products of timber, raising concerns that the changes would promote illegal logging.

The Trade Ministry’s director for exports of agriculture and forestry products, Nurlaila Nur Muhammad, said on Monday that a number of ministries and various timber-related business associations had agreed to the Trade Ministry’s proposal on the revision of timber export requirements.

“In the next one or two days, we’ll issue a ministerial regulation revising previous regulations on timber export requirements,” she told The Jakarta Post.

The Trade Ministry, the Environment and Forestry Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister and a number of business associations — such as the Indonesian Rattan Furniture and Craft Association (AMKRI) and the Indonesian Furniture Entrepreneurs Association (Asmindo) held a closed-door meeting at the Trade Ministry office on Monday to discuss the issue.

According to Nurlaila, parties in the meeting agreed to simplify procedures on ironwood exports and revoke requirements for timber legality verification system (SVLK) certification on 15 downstream products of timber, including furniture.

Nurlaila said that the revision aimed to help local timber producers export their products overseas.

The timber industry, especially small and medium furniture-makers and craft-producers, has pushed
for the SVLK certification to be optional, arguing that the requirement to obtain the certificates made it difficult for small and medium businesses to export their goods and thus it limited their access to the global market.

However, some have claimed that the SVLK actually provides Indonesian producers with greater access to the global market, as it guarantees buyers that wood and wood-based products are made in accordance with the law and are sourced in an environmentally friendly manner.

For instance, the EU, the destination for around 40 percent of Indonesian timber product exports, has been requesting timber exporting countries to apply environmentally friendly certification on their products, as demand for eco-friendly products from EU consumers has been on the rise.

The Indonesian government, which signed the voluntary partnership agreement on forest law enforcement (FLEGT-VPA) with the EU last year, was currently negotiating with the 28-member bloc to make Indonesian timber products exempt from due diligence. If the negotiation comes through, Indonesia will be the first country in the world to be exempted from the process, giving its timber products a huge advantage over products from other countries.

According to Zainuri Hasyim of the Indonesian Independent Forest Monitoring Network (JPIK), if the regulations are relaxed, all these efforts will be for nothing, and it will bring Indonesia back to the time when illegal logging was rampant,

“If this happens, then all the efforts to fix the image of Indonesia’s timber export all this time will be for nothing,” Zainuri said.

The planned relaxation of the regulation has already caused concerns in the EU, with a representative of the union demanding clarification on the matter, according to Multistakeholder Forestry Program (MFP) program director Smita Notosusanto.

MFP is a partnership program between the Indonesian government and the British government to support the reformation of forestry governance through SVKL.

The Environment and Forestry Ministry also lambasted the planned revision, saying that it constituted a major setback in the country’s attempts to combat rampant illegal logging.

“The Environment and Forestry Ministry’s stance is clear. The SVLK [should] still be implemented. It is a soft approach to stop the extraordinary crime of illegal logging that has robbed trillions of rupiah from this country and caused lots of trouble. Why are there Indonesians who don’t support the SVLK?” the ministry’s sustainable forest management director-general Ida Bagus Putera Parthama told the Post on Monday.

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Indonesia: Forest fires continue to expand in Mount Merbabu, Central Java

Ganug Nugroho Adi, The Jakarta Post 6 Oct 15;

Firefighter teams have not yet been able to extinguish fires that have raged across forests on the slope of Mount Merbabu in Boyolali regency, Central Java, and Sigi regency, Central Sulawesi.

The fire that has been burning in Mt Merbabu for over a week had even expanded to local people’s agricultural fields in Ngagrong area, Ampel district, Boyolali, as of Monday this week.

“We have been deploying around 160 to 200 volunteers every day, excluding local people, soldiers and police personnel, but the fire is still big, and has spread to 12 locations,” Boyolali Disaster Mitigation Agency’s (BPBD) SAR commander Kurniawan Fajar Prasetyo said on Monday.

He said the fire spread to the forest to the north of Ganduman hamlet in Sampetan subdistrict, Ampel, burning down some 45 hectares of fields.

The fire, according to Kurniawan, initially began in the grass area and bushes on the peak of Merbabu and later expanded and eventually burned protected forest areas.

The volunteers, he added, had tried to block the fire, but failed due to difficulties accessing the field and strong winds.

Separately, SAR deputy chairman Bakat Setiawan said that there were concerns the fire had damaged the 2.5-kilometer clean water pipeline that took water from a spring on the slope of the volcano and was the main source of clean water for local people.

The fire is the third and so far the biggest to hit the Mount Merbabu area during this year’s dry season.

Head of the Merbabu forest fire mitigation post, Capt. Joko Priyanto who is also Ampel military rayon commander, said that the joint force would continue their efforts to extinguish the fire.

“The firefighter team has over 500 members. They take turns going to the fire sites every day to try to extinguish them,” said Joko, adding that the fire was still burning in a number of spots including in forests in Sampetan, Candisari and Ngargoloko subdistricts.

Joko said the areas affected by the fires were located between 2,000 and 2,500 meters above sea level, and that the mountainous terrain had hampered the team’s efforts to extinguish the fire.

He said it took some six hours for the team to reach the fire locations.

Meanwhile, in Sigi regency, local military personnel and residents also joined firefighters to help battle local blazes.

“The Lore-Lindu National Park (TNLL) management and local people have since Friday joined together to extinguish the fire, but the blaze has continued to expand as the fire is in a location that is difficult to access,” head of TNLL Center’s conservation technique division, Ahmad Yani, said as quoted by Antara in Palu on Monday.

He said the center had deployed three joint teams so far, but the fire fighting was still being conducted manually using traditional equipment.

Quoting reports, Yani said that the fires affected forests in Dongi-Dongi, Togoa, Kamarora and Lemban Tongoa villages in Sigi regency. Of them, Kamarora in Nokilalaki district was among the worst affected.

Yani also said the center had not yet been able to make a detailed inventory of the areas affected by fires, saying that to ensure the information was correct they had to fully inspect the affected areas.

“We focus on extinguishing the fire first to prevent it from expanding further,” said Yani, adding that strong winds made fire fighting efforts even more difficult.

“Hopefully there will be rain in the region within the next few days that will extinguish the fire,” he said.

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Indonesia: Fisheries minister wants to sink 16 illegal fishing ships

Antara 6 Oct 15;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Susi Pudjiastuti, said she wished that the 16 ships caught fishing illegally in the country recently, could have been immediately sunk.

"Sinking such boats is allowed under the fisheries law," she said here on Tuesday.

Based on Article 69, Paragraph 4 of Law Number 45, 2009 regarding revision of Law Number 31 of 2004 on fisheries, the law states, "...investigators and/or fisheries supervisors could conduct special action in the form of burning and/or sinking the fishing boats carrying foreign flags, based on sufficient preliminary evidence."

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, in cooperation with the navy, has seized 16 fishing ships poaching fish in the Indonesian waters.

"The boats are from Vietnam, the Philippines, and five boats flying Indonesian flags. The number excludes those seized by the police," Minister Susi said.

Of the 16 ships, nine were caught by the Directorate General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Surveillance while seven of them came from Vietnam, measuring 88-139 gross tonnage.

Two other ships were carrying Indonesian flags, and measured 11 and 23 GT because, although small, they carried poached fish.

The navy, meanwhile, has caught four Philippines ships, measuring 14-54 GT, and three others measuring 33, 102 and 195 GT, respectively.

Minister Susi said she hoped that these ships could be sunk without having to wait for the courts ruling, as had happened before.

She, meanwhile, disclosed that the district court in Sabang, Aceh, has rejected the pre-trial suit, filed by the owner of Silver Sea 2 ship from Thailand.

"We must be grateful for this because (that means) rules were enforced according to the law," she said.

Several criminal charges would be pressed against the owner of Silver Sea 2, including taking fish outside the Indonesian territory without documents and conducting illegal trans-shipment.

The ship had also turned off its Vessel Monitoring System while sailing in the countrys waters, she said.

"Pretrial suits will not affect Indonesias spirit and we must continue to work hard to fight illegal fishing practices as a trans-national crime," she said.

Minister Susi said the government has written to the Thai government, strongly deploring the alleged illegal fishing activity that Silver Sea 2 indulged in.(*)

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Thailand: ASEAN help needed on haze -- Thai PM

The Nation AsiaOne 6 Oct 15;

THAILAND will be pushing for ASEAN-level efforts to rein in haze that comes from smoke-belching fires in neighbouring countries.

"I have already instructed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to raise the issue with source countries," Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday, as people in Thailand's lower South struggle with the impact from Indonesian hotspots. Fires in eastern Myanmar also regularly affect air quality in Thailand's North.

Prayut addressed the smog issue a few days after the Malaysian premier urged Indonesia to act against the people and companies responsible for raging fires, mainly in Sumatra.

Smoke originating from Indonesian burn-offs has blanketed Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand, causing health problems for people in those areas, plus difficulties for businesses.

About 50 Thais turned up at the Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla yesterday to officially complain about the haze.

The Pollution Control Department's air pollution index showed the haze yesterday was the worst since 1999. As of yesterday, the amount of Particulate Matter up to 10 micrometers in size (PM10) exceeded safe limits in Songkhla, Phuket and Satun provinces.

"This is the first time we've come forward because we are afraid that if we just stay silent, the problem will just get worse and worse," Supawan Chanasongkhram said yesterday on behalf of the demonstrators.

She said governments of relevant countries needed to explore solutions together.

Supawan said she had now had difficulty breathing and had heard that people with underlying illnesses had even graver symptoms.

Her group wanted the Indonesian government to tackle the smog problem more seriously.

In the southern province of Yala, a local hospital reported that as many as 214 patients sought medical help for symptoms that could be related to smog on Sunday - a jump from 64 on Saturday.

Locals in Phuket, meanwhile, said they had already developed eye irritation, skin irritation, and headaches when exposed to smog.

In Trang province, about 400 fishing trawlers stayed ashore because reduced visibility made it impossible for them to head out to the sea.

"This has hurt our livelihood. We can't go out fishing for three days already," said Aren Phrakong, who chairs a local fishing group.

Trang Governor Dejrat Simsiri said motorists needed to be careful now given that smog reduced the visibility on roads.

Satun City municipal mayor Prasit Baesakul said relevant officials were now busy handing out free protective masks in a hope of protecting locals from smog impacts.

The province's disaster-prevention-and-mitigation chief Chaowalit Nithornrat also advised people against consuming rainwater, saying it could be contaminated.

'Hurts region every year'

Ittirit Kinglek, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said all ASEAN member countries should have formal discussions on smog because this shared problem hurts the region every year. "As smog shrouds the Andaman provinces, such as Phuket, Satun, and Hat Yai, tourism feels the pinch. Smog usually hits

during high season too," he said.

Suchart Hirankanokkul, adviser to the Thai Hotels Association (Southern Chapter), said the Prayut government should ask the Indonesian ambassador or embassy representative what emergency measures Indonesia will use to tackle the problem.

Both Ittirit and Suchart said hotel occupancy in major southern provinces, such as Phuket and Songkhla, had not yet despite the smog. "But if the problem continues, the situation may turn critical," Suchart said.

He said local hotels had occupancy of between 80 per cent and 90 per cent currently, with most tourists from Australia and China.

Hat Yai International Airport said yesterday it was closely monitoring the situation and had instructed pilots to strictly comply with guidelines given if visibility is low.

Smoke haze hazardous in three southern provinces
Bangkok Post 6 Oct 15;

Smoke haze from forest fires on Sumatra island, in Indonesia, covered seven southern provinces on Tuesday, with residents crowding hospitals and complaining of respiratory problems, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department stated.

Chatchai Phromlert, director-general of the department, said that haze blanketed Narathiwat, Pattani, Phuket, Satun, Songkhla, Surat Thani and Yala provinces.

The levels of particulate matter there ranged between 63 and 187 microgrammes per cubic metre of air measured in 24 hours, the Pollution Control Department reported Tuesday evening. The safe level is within 120 microgrammes per cu/m.

Smoke haze reached health hazardous levels in three of the provinces -- Phuket (146 microgrammes), Satun (187 microgrammes) and Songkhla (156 microgrammes).

The weather condition not only affected public health but also reduced visibility, especially on roads, Mr Chatchai said.

Local authorities were handing out face masks and people were seeking treatment for breathing problems at local hospitals.

In Yala, the number of patients reporting respiratory problems at Yala Hospital rose to 214 cases on Monday, up from 64 on Sunday.


Haze: People In Southern Thailand Send Letter Of Complaint To Indonesia
Bernama 6 Oct 15;

SONGKHLA, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The people of Songkhla who were affected by the choking haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia today sent a letter of complaint to Indonesia.

Over 20 people representing private development body on the name of 'Hatyai-Songkhla Residents Affected by Haze from Indonesia' handed over the letter to Wanney Fabiomata, the Community and Culture Division Consul at the Indonesian Consulate here.

The letter, among others, stated that the haze had started to take its toll on public health.

"People, including children and senior citizens, are starting to have breathing problems and allergies and can only wonder when this whole haze issue will be solved.

"As such, we are begging you to communicate with your government to take the responsibility and give its commitment to solve the issue. Only the Indonesian government knows the causes and solutions to the issue," the letter said.

The Air Pollutant Index readings in seven southern districts of Thailand as at 9 am today were 210 in Satun (dangerous to health), Songkhla 163 (dangerous to health), Phuket 136 (dangerous to health), Pattani 102 (moderate), Yala 97 (moderate), Narathiwat 72 (moderate) and Surat Thani 59 (moderate).

-- BERNAMA

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Indonesian Haze May be Choking Cambodia

Jonathan Cox Khmer Times 6 Oct 15;

Fires set by plantation owners in Indonesia may be to blame for the smog hanging over Phnom Penh, the Ministry of the Environment said yesterday. “I know there is a serious problem with haze,” Ministry spokesman Sao Sopheap told Khmer Times. “We have noticed haze in Phnom Penh and Cambodia. It may be from Indonesia, but we cannot be sure.”

Part of the reason for the uncertainty is that Indonesia has released little information about the exact sources of the acrid haze. Analysts say much of it is caused by fires started in the massive plantations that dot the island of Sumatra.

Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia have been the worst-hit by the toxic smoke, which has forced flight delays, canceled school and sporting events, and caused untold health consequences for people forced to breathe the highly polluted air. Now, seasonal monsoon winds have also blown the haze to the northeast, where it has affected Thailand and possibly Cambodia as well.

Health Risks

“Prolonged exposure to the haze could also create health problems making people more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses,” Simon Tan, chairman of the Singapore Institute for International Affairs, told Khmer Times. “Recent data from the Riau Health Agency [in Indonesia], for example, showed that over 50,000 people had suffered from haze-related illnesses to date.”

The haze can cause skin irritation, eye irritation, asthma, and pneumonia. It can also cause lasting lung damage for people who inhale it for too long.

The Thai government has launched an app called Air4ASEAN that tracks the spread of the haze from the Indonesian fires, and monitors the air quality in different countries. Cambodian air quality monitoring stations have not yet been included in the app’s database, and no experts on Cambodian air quality could be reached for comment yesterday on the exact state of Cambodia’s air.

Indonesian plantation-owners have used fire as a cheap way to prepare the soil for seed planting for close to two decades now. The resulting smog has become a perennial problem for the region, and one that ASEAN’s “Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution” aimed at reducing. So far, though, there has been little regional cooperation toward resolving the issue.

Though Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam met in August to discuss the haze problem, Indonesia did not join the talks. Meanwhile, the haze is reaching its worst levels so far this year, with the Pollution Standards Index topping 300 in Sumatra for the first time this year in late September.

Indonesian authorities have been slow to name or punish the companies responsible for causing the haze until now, though Mr. Tan said this may be about to change.

“Besides fire-fighting, the president [Joko Widodo] has also pledged to prosecute companies and Indonesian agencies have started to name some,” said Mr. Tan.

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Scientists discover 'hog-nosed rat' in Indonesia

As well as its large, flat, pink nose, with forward-facing nostrils similar to that of a pig's, the creature has extremely large ears, a small mouth and long white front teeth, according to the museum.
Channel NewsAsia 6 Oct 15;

JAKARTA: Researchers working in Indonesia have discovered a new species of mammal called the hog-nosed rat, named for its features that scientists said have never been seen before.

The creature was found in a remote mountainous area on the island of Sulawesi in central Indonesia, according to Australia's Museum Victoria whose scientists were involved.

The rat, whose scientific name is Hyorhinomys stuempkei, has features "never seen by science before", according to the museum in a statement released Tuesday (Oct 6). The discovery was made by a team of scientists from Indonesia, Australia and the United States.

As well as its large, flat, pink nose, with forward-facing nostrils similar to that of a pig's, the creature has extremely large ears, a small mouth and long white front teeth, according to the museum.

In photos the rodent appears to be about the size of a normal rat.

"I am still amazed that we can walk into a forest and find a new species of mammal that is so obviously different from any species ... that has ever been documented by science," said Kevin Rowe, a scientist from Museum Victoria who was involved in the research.

The mammal is carnivorous and probably feeds on such things as earthworms and beetle larvae. The discovery was made in the north of Sulawesi, with the scientists guided into a mountainous and forested area by local villagers.

- AFP/ek

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Sneezing monkey, 'walking' fish found in Himalayas: WWF

WWF has compiled a survey of wildlife discovered by scientists across Bhutan, northeast India, Nepal, northern Myanmar and southern Tibet, in an attempt to raise awareness of the threats facing the sensitive region.
Channel NewsAsia 6 Oct 15;

NEW DELHI: A monkey that sneezes when it rains and a "walking" fish are among more than 200 species discovered in the ecologically fragile eastern Himalayas in recent years, according to conservation group WWF.

WWF has compiled a survey of wildlife discovered by scientists across Bhutan, northeast India, Nepal, northern Myanmar and southern Tibet, in an attempt to raise awareness of the threats facing the sensitive region.

The species include what the WWF described as a blue-coloured "walking snakehead fish" which can breathe air, survive on land for four days and slither up to 400 metres (a quarter of a mile) on wet ground.

Others include an ornate red, yellow and orange pit viper that could pass for a piece of jewellery, a fresh-water "dracula" fish with fangs and three new types of bananas.

In the forests of northern Myanmar, scientists learnt in 2010 of a black and white monkey with an upturned nose that causes it to sneeze when it rains. On rainy days they often sit with their heads tucked between their knees to avoid getting water in their snub noses.

The 211 new species discovered between 2009 and 2014 include 133 plants including orchids, 26 kinds of fish, 10 amphibians, 39 invertebrates, one reptile, one bird and a mammal.

'UNIQUE TREASURE HOUSE'

Dipankar Ghose, WWF director of species and landscapes in India, described the region as a "unique treasure house" that has not yet been fully explored by scientists.

In its report WWF said the region, home to Mount Everest, is rugged with vast forests, rivers and streams protected by mountain ranges, meaning species have evolved and survived unnoticed for centuries.

"Some (species) are so unique and charismatic that scientists are often at a loss as to how to classify them," said the report released this week.

But WWF warned of a series of threats to the region including population growth, deforestation, overgrazing, poaching, mining and hydropower development. Just 25 per cent of its original habitats remain intact and hundreds of species are considered to be globally threatened, the report said.

"The challenge is to preserve our threatened ecosystems before these species, and others yet unknown, are lost," said Sami Tornikoski, who heads the WWF Living Himalayas Initiative.

The report calls for more sustainable development, singling out a need for greener hydropower plants and government help for communities to adapt to climate change.

Ghose urged a whole-government approach, and stressed the need for administrations across the region to work together to strike a balance between development and conservation.

"The forestry department alone for example cannot handle this. It takes coordination across multiple areas of government," he told AFP on Tuesday. "Countries also need to work together to protect the immense biodiversity that the region holds."

Bhutan agriculture and forests minister Yeshey Dorji warned of the impact of climate change, with temperature increases hitting hard the Himalayas, which are a "lifeline to millions of people and are critical to the economies of the countries that share the region".

- AFP/ek

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Best of our wild blogs: 6 Oct 15

FREE Guided Herp Walk @ Treetop Walk!
Herpetological Society of Singapore

Trigonachras acuta – the Cardinal Tree in Macritchie
lekowala!

Skippered
Saving MacRitchie

Terek Sandpiper @ SBWR - 04Oct2015
sgbeachbum

How Far Will The Long Arm Reach? – Deconstructing Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act
Green Business Singapore

Malaysia PM turns up heat on Indonesia as Australian firm faces fires probe
Mongabay Environmental News

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Hourly PSI has relevance to urban Singapore

CHONG LEE MING Today Online 6 Oct 15;

I refer to the National Environment Agency’s reply, “Insufficient evidence from studies to use an hourly PSI” (Oct 3), to Mr Tan Zhi Rui’s letter, “Hourly PSI readings would allow for better decision-making” (Sept 28).

While I note its explanation that “scientific and epidemiological studies of the health effects of exposure to particulate matter” have been based on a 24-hour duration, some factors unique to Singapore are worth considering.

First, many large countries have temperate continental weather patterns, in which the weather tends to change slowly, while Singapore has a tropical coastal weather pattern, where the weather changes quickly.

In larger countries, a 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) would therefore be fairly accurate in measuring a person’s exposure to haze.

In Singapore, due to quick changes in wind direction, the haze condition 24 hours ago might differ substantially from the condition now. In this situation, the 24-hour PSI is only a mathematical average.

Second, Singapore is densely built-up, with a good public transport system. Hence, except for some activities such as construction, it is not necessary for most people to stay outdoors for a long time.

For example, one needs only to spend 30 minutes outdoors at most before boarding a bus.

Third, Singapore is an affluent country; a significant proportion of households have air conditioners, public transport is air-conditioned and there are many air-conditioned shopping centres.

Kudos also to grassroots organisations for opening up air-conditioned facilities to residents needing refuge from the haze. Most people here would therefore not have to be exposed to the haze for a long time, much less a 24-hour period.

During hazy conditions, individuals’ decisions tend to be short-term in nature, such as whether to go outdoors, stay indoors or be in air-conditioned places. Nevertheless, most people want to minimise their exposure to the haze.

An hourly PSI would help them achieve this. Moreover, for people with health conditions and who are more sensitive to the haze, a 24-hour or three-hour PSI might be misleading.

While the 24-hour or three-hour PSI may appear acceptable due to a lower PSI earlier, the haze condition at the moment might pose an unnecessary risk to them.

Therefore, while the 24-hour PSI may be useful for macro-level decision-making — for example, whether to shut schools and stop other activities such as construction — an hourly PSI has relevance to Singapore’s urban environment at the micro level.

Individuals can then make informed decisions on how to carry out their activities.

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NTUC FairPrice Singapore's largest retailer among firms yet to sign 'haze-free' declaration

Jessica Lim, The Straits Times/Asia News Network Jakarta Globe 6 Oct 15;

NTUC FairPrice is among seven companies that have not signed a declaration stating that their paper products are free of raw materials from firms being investigated for the forest fires in Indonesia.

Ten other companies have signed the form, said the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), which had contacted those that had paper products certified under its green label scheme.

About 20 per cent of the paper products carried by FairPrice are sourced from Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), one of the five firms under probe, through a local distributor.

"We assure that prompt and firm actions will be taken on any of our suppliers if they are found to be responsible for any unethical practices that contribute to the haze," said FairPrice chief executive Seah Kian Peng, without specifying what the actions would be.

He said the firm had approached APP to clarify its practices.

In the meantime, the supermarket chain said it would continue to carry APP products.

Late last month, the National Environment Agency (NEA) began legal action against the five companies - Singapore-listed APP and four Indonesian firms - it believes to be behind the burning.

Yesterday, APP told The Straits Times it had provided information in response to NEA's request, and invited the agency's officials to visit its operations in Indonesia.

It said: "We need to respect the ongoing investigations and efforts by the government of Indonesia and not jump to conclusions." It also said it would work with all parties to find a solution to the haze.

Among the seven firms that have not signed the declaration, printer paper supplier Mukim Fine Papers has stopped buying from APP as well as two other companies that are Indonesian.

"We will sell the remaining stock and then stop taking from these companies," said its business development manager Ben Chua, 41. "The companies are still under investigation but, judging from public sentiment, we want to signal to APP that we do not accept such actions."

He said he will sign the declaration when all his firm's APP stock has been sold in about a month or two.

Another company, Malaysian Newsprint Industries, said it did not work with the firms fingered but was waiting for its legal team to go over the declaration before it signed the form, said its technical support supervisor Tan Kin Chyuan.

A third company, Universal Sovereign Trading, the sole distributor for APP products in Singapore, said it had crossed out APP on the form before signing it.

Tissue paper supplier Tipex declined comment. The remaining firms could not be contacted .

Meanwhile, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said yesterday it had worked with the Association of Banks in Singapore on responsible financing by banks and would be issuing guidelines soon. Said its spokesman: "MAS is of the view that financial institutions have a role to play in supporting efforts to promote sustainable development."

It also said it supported plans by the Singapore Exchange to mandate sustainability reporting by listed companies regarding the environmental and social aspects of their businesses. Implementation is targeted for financial year 2017, following an ongoing public consultation exercise.

MAS added it would support the development of guidance for institutional investors on engaging investee companies on these issues, and said "lenders, investors, consumers, NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and the media" all had roles to play.

Companies that signed the SEC declaration are required to inform the council if they start to do business with parties suspected of being responsible for the haze.

SEC executive director Edwin Seah said it would approach firms that did not sign the form. "We will investigate, then decide if we need to revoke their green labels."

He said the delay could be due to the firms making checks, as supply chains can be very intricate.

Consumers Association of Singapore president Lim Biow Chuan urged consumers to stop supporting companies that have not pledged to be socially responsible. "This will send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers' goodwill should not be taken for granted," he said.

Hazy conditions here deteriorated yesterday owing to the prevailing winds blowing westward from Kalimantan in Borneo to Singapore, said the NEA in a 7pm update yesterday. The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) then was 123-155, in the unhealthy range.

Today, the PSI is expected to be in the mid to high sections of the unhealthy range, with a slight improvement expected due to changing wind directions.

Shipping executive Ricky Chan, 53, said he would not be boycotting the listed products. "The haze is a problem that is not easy to solve. Singapore is so small, the companies supply not just to us but the whole world," said the father of two. "Even if I stop buying such things, it won't change anything."

But consumer Chan Chin Hee, 50, finds the list useful.

Said the businessman: "Now I can choose the companies that are not involved. The haze is really too bad now, my throat is so sore. This is the only way I can express my anger." (k)(++++)


20% of paper products at NTUC FairPrice sourced from Asia Pulp & Paper
Jamie Lee Business Times 6 Oct 15;

NTUC FairPrice on Monday said about 20 per cent of the paper products carried by the supermarket chain are sourced from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) Group, through a licensed distributor in Singapore.

Five Indonesian companies, including APP, were named by the National Environment Agency as possible contributors to the haze pollution. The Singapore government has sent notices to these firms for possible transgressions of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

FairPrice said that it is monitoring the progress of investigation on APP. It has also approached the group to register its concern and seek clarification on their practices.

"As a responsible retailer, FairPrice takes a strong stance in this matter as we expect our partners to adopt values that are aligned with ours; this includes adopting and promoting sustainable practices," Seah Kian Peng, CEO of NTUC FairPrice, said in a statement.

"The haze affects all of us and we empathise with our customers for the inconvenience and disruption that it has caused. We assure that prompt and firm actions will be taken on any of our suppliers if they are found to be responsible for any unethical practices that contributes to the haze."


10 firms declare their paper products are from sustainable sources
A list of firms manufacturing paper products such as toilet and printing paper will be regularly updated on the Singapore Environment Council and the Consumers Association of Singapore websites.
Channel NewsAsia 5 Oct 15;


SINGAPORE: Ten companies that manufacture paper products sold in Singapore have declared that they do not use products from five companies in Indonesia suspected of contributing to haze pollution.

The ten are certified under the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS), said the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) and the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) in a press release issued jointly on Monday (Oct 5).



The list of companies will be updated regularly on the SEC and CASE websites. The two agencies are awaiting declaration forms from seven other third-party manufacturers.

"Should any of the listed companies become involved in the purchasing or sourcing of wood, paper and/or pulp products from those suspected to be responsible for the haze pollution, they are bound by the declaration to inform the SEC of their activities and will be promptly removed from the list," according to the press release.

"SEC encourages other paper companies who have not participated in the SGLS to contact SEC soonest for certification that their products are from sustainable sources."

In September, the National Environment Agency said it has sent Preventative Measure Notices to four Indonesian companies - PT Rimba Hutani Mas, PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries, PT Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa and PT Wachyuni Mandira - suspected of having haze-causing fires on their land.

NEA has also served notice to Asia Pulp and Paper Company (APP), an Indonesian company with an office in Singapore, seeking information on its subsidiaries in Singapore and Indonesia, as well as measures taken by its suppliers in Indonesia to put out fires in their concessions.

On Monday, CASE called on consumers to send a strong signal to "environmentally irresponsible" companies with their purchasing decisions.

"CASE would like to remind the public that the strongest voice is still the consumer. We hope that consumers will consider not supporting companies involved in the purchase or sourcing of wood, paper and/or pulp products unless they have pledged to be socially responsible," it said in the press release.

"This will send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers’ goodwill should not be taken for granted and consumers will not support companies which are environmentally irresponsible and/or have contributed to the environmental disaster year after year."

- CNA/es

10 firms declare that their paper products are from ‘green’ sources
FRANCIS LAW Today Online 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE — A group of 10 companies that manufacture paper products that are sold in Singapore have distanced themselves from five Indonesian firms accused by the local authorities of contributing to the latest bout of haze engulfing the region, as the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) urged consumers to ditch support for environmentally irresponsible businesses.

The manufacturers, which include Kimberly-Clark Products, Fuji Xerox Singapore and Canon Singapore, have signed declarations that they do not buy or use wood, paper or pulp materials from these errant players, said the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) and CASE, in a joint press release today (Oct 5). The list could grow in the coming weeks, as declaration forms from seven more third-party manufacturers are pending, they added.

The development comes after the National Environment Agency (NEA) said two Fridays ago it has served “preventive measure notices” on four Indonesian firms under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

The notice requires firms to extinguish or prevent the spread of any fire on land owned or occupied by them, and discontinue any burning activities, among other things.

A fifth company was also asked to provide information, including measures it has taken to put out fires in their concessions.

At that time, the Government said it will also look into how it can support companies which are recognised by their industry or by international bodies to have instituted sustainable practices.

Today, CASE said it hopes consumers will consider not supporting companies that are not socially responsible.

“This will send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers’ goodwill should not be taken for granted,” it added.

The SEC and CASE said firms that have signed declarations that they do not use suppliers suspected of contributing to the haze problem are obligated to inform the SEC should they start doing so.

The paper products of all 10 companies that have made the declaration are certified under the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme administered by the SEC.

To be certified, the products must be sustainably sourced and/or have recycled content, while they must also contain minimal or no hazardous substances, said the SEC’s Head (Eco-Certifications)/Lead Environmental Engineer Kavickumar Muruganathan.

“They also need to submit information regarding their management in terms of waste generated during the manufacturing process, water, energy use, and also what happens after the end of the product’s life,” he added.

To ensure compliance, random site audits are conducted on products and companies, said Mr Kavickumar.

Four of the 10 companies who responded to TODAY’s queries said they had no qualms about pledging their commitment to environmentally responsible dealings.

Fuji Xerox Singapore said they work closely with the Forest Stewardship Council, an international NGO promoting responsible management of forests, to ensure their papers come from “responsibly managed forests”.

Sunlight Paper Products, which procures raw materials from China, said the NEA’s identification of the five Indonesian firms suspected to be “the main culprits for causing the annual haze to our people (means there is) less likelihood that our company will procure raw materials from them in future”.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Government has responded to Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s remarks that it would take three years to end forest fires in Indonesia.

In response to TODAY’s queries, the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources said: “The Indonesian Government has shown commitment in its efforts to put out the fires ... However, more could still be done in combatting the fires as well as law enforcement, as the end of the problem is not within sight yet.”

The ministry added: “Indonesia has also recognised that the problem is best prevented instead of being reacted to ... and the Indonesian Government has gone to some lengths to enforce their laws against illegal land and forest burning. To support this course of action by Indonesia, Singapore has enacted the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to enable it to also take legal action against offenders who cause transboundary haze in Singapore while respecting Indonesia’s sovereignty.”

In a media advisory last night, the NEA said the haze situation may improve slightly today. The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is expected to be in the mid to high sections of the unhealthy range, and may drop gradually to the low end of the unhealthy range if the haze conditions improve, said the NEA.

The air quality deteriorated throughout the day yesterday. At 10pm, the 24-hour PSI was 129 to 162. The three-hour PSI was 161, while the one-hour PM2.5 was 90 to 123.


10 companies declare their paper products from sustainable sources
Nisha Ramchandani The Business Times AsiaOne 6 Oct 15;

Ten firms with paper products sold in Singapore have declared that they only obtain wood, paper or pulp materials from socially responsible companies, with more likely to make similar declarations, as the haze continues to linger.

Among the 10 are Canon, Fuji Xerox, Kimberly-Clark Products and Sunlight Paper Products. They sell paper products certified under the Singapore Environment Council's (SEC) Singapore Green Labelling Scheme.

The SEC and the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) said in a joint statement on Monday that another seven third-party manufacturers are expected to submit declarations as well. The list will be regularly updated on both the SEC and Case websites.

This comes after five Indonesian companies were named by the National Environment Agency as possible contributors to the haze pollution. Among them were PT Rimba Hutani Mas; PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries; PT Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa; PT Wachyuni Mandira and locally incorporated Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) Company. The Singapore government has sent notices to these firms for possible transgressions of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

"Should any of the listed companies become involved in the purchasing or sourcing of wood, paper and/or pulp products from those suspected to be responsible for the haze pollution, they are bound by the declaration to inform the SEC of their activities and will be promptly removed from the list," they said in the statement.

NTUC FairPrice said on Monday evening that it has since approached APP Group, to register its concern and seek clarification on their practices. About 20 per cent of the paper products FairPrice carries are sourced from APP through a licensed distributor in Singapore.

Seah Kian Peng, CEO of NTUC FairPrice, said in a media statement that FairPrice takes "a strong stance" in this matter, as it expect its partners to adopt values that are aligned with the supermarket chain.

"This includes adopting and promoting sustainable practices. The haze affects all of us and we empathise with our customers for the inconvenience and disruption that it has caused. We assure that prompt and firm actions will be taken on any of our suppliers if they are found to be responsible for any unethical practices that contributes to the haze."

Case also urged consumers to consider supporting only socially responsible firms involved in the purchase or sourcing of wood, paper and pulp products.

"This will send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers' goodwill should not be taken for granted and consumers will not support companies which are environmentally irresponsible and/or have contributed to the environmental disaster year after year," it said.


7 firms yet to declare they don't source from possible haze culprits
My Paper AsiaOne 6 Oct 15;

Printer paper supplier Mukim Fine Papers has stopped buying from Asia Pulp and Paper (APP).

The local firm, which imports paper to distribute here, also halted supplies from two Indonesian firms it gets its paper from.

"We will sell the remaining stock and then stop taking from these companies," said its business development manager Ben Chua, 41. "The companies are still under investigation but judging from public sentiments, we want to signal to APP that we do not accept such actions."

He added: "We also want to signal to consumers that we are serious about the environment."

Products from APP and Indonesia make up 10 per cent of Mukim's stock. Most of its paper products are from Europe.

According to the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), the firm is one of seven which did not sign a SEC declaration stating their paper products here are free of raw materials from five other companies under investigation for their involvement in the haze.

Mr Chua said Mukim will sign it when all its APP stock has been sold - in about a month or two.

In a joint statement with the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) yesterday, SEC listed 10 companies that had signed the declaration, out of the 17 they had contacted with paper products certified under the green label scheme administered by the council.

Late last month, the National Environment Agency (NEA) began legal action against five companies - Singapore-listed firm APP and four Indonesian firms - it believes are possible culprits behind the burning of forests in Indonesia that caused the haze.

Another company that did not sign the SEC declaration is NTUC FairPrice Co-operative. About 20 per cent of paper products the supermarket chain carries are sourced from APP through a distributor here.

"We assure that prompt and firm actions will be taken on any of our suppliers if they are found to be responsible for any unethical practices that contributes to the haze," said NTUC FairPrice's chief executive Seah Kian Peng, who added that the firm has approached APP to seek clarification on its practices.

Meanwhile, the chain will continue to carry APP's products.

Malaysian firm Malaysian Newsprint Industries, which also did not sign the form, said it was getting it vetted by the firm's legal team. Its technical support supervisor, Tan Kin Chyuan, said that the firm does not work with the firms being probed.

Tissue paper supplier Tipex declined comment. The remaining three firms could not be contacted.

Those that signed the form are required to tell SEC if they begin to do business with parties suspected to be responsible for the haze.

SEC's executive director, Edwin Seah, said the council will be approaching firms to ask why the form was not signed. "We will investigate, then decide if we need to revoke their green labels."

He added that the delay could be due to the firms making checks. "Supply chains can be very intricate. Firms can have many suppliers who farm out their processes to even smaller firms."

Case's president Lim Biow Chuan urged consumers to stop supporting companies who have not pledged to be socially responsible. "This will send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers' goodwill should not be taken for granted," he said.

Shipping executive Ricky Chan, 53, who works in shipping, said that he will not be boycotting paper products not on SEC's list.

"The haze is a problem that is not easy to solve. Singapore is so small, the companies supply not just to us but also the whole world," said the father of two. "Even if I stop buying such things, it won't change anything."

But consumer Chan Chin Hee, 50, finds the list useful.

Said the businessman: "Now I can choose the companies that are not involved. The haze is really bad now; my throat is so sore. This is the only way I can express my anger."

Read more!

Financial institutions have role to play in promoting sustainable development: MAS

The Monetary Authority of Singapore statement comes as paper and palm oil product manufacturers come under scrutiny for links to firms that have transboundary haze-causing fires on their land in Indonesia.
Channel NewsAsia 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: Financial institutions have a role to play in supporting efforts to promote sustainable development, said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Monday (Oct 5).

Its statement comes as paper and palm oil product manufacturers come under scrutiny for transboundary haze-causing fires on suppliers' land on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

A spokesperson said "progress is being made on a few fronts" and that MAS has already been in discussion with the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) on how local banks can help promote lending practices that support sustainable development.

"We are pleased that ABS will soon be issuing guidelines on responsible financing," MAS added.

The authority also said that the Singapore Exchange has been working with listed companies to "enhance disclosure" on the environmental and social aspects of their businesses, and that it supports SGX's plans to mandate sustainability reporting on a "comply or explain" basis. This will be implemented potentially in Financial Year 2017, after an ongoing public consultation exercise is completed.

Said MAS: "Lenders, investors, consumers, NGOs and the media all have roles to play in this area. MAS will support the development of guidance for investors, specifically institutional investors, in engaging with their investee companies, on issues relating to sustainability, social and environmental considerations.“

- CNA/hs


Bank body to issue guidelines on responsible financing
VALERIE KOH Today Online 6 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE — The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) will be releasing guidelines on responsible financing later this week, as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) yesterday (Oct 5) noted progress is being made on “a few fronts” among financial institutions to support the promotion of sustainable development.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, ABS said work on the guidelines started earlier this year. Details will be issued later on Thursday. Together with several banks, the association formed a task force to develop a set of industry guidelines that will “provide a framework for banks in Singapore to advance responsible financing through a more structured and transparent approach”, an ABS spokesman said.

An MAS spokesperson reiterated that financial institutions have to play their part in supporting efforts to promote sustainable development. “MAS has been in discussion with ABS on how our banks can help to promote lending practices that support sustainable development. We are pleased that ABS will soon be issuing guidelines on responsible financing,” she said.

Separately, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) had earlier told TODAY that it has reached out to several Singapore financial institutions to raise awareness on sustainable financing and investing. Global banks such as Standard Chartered and Citibank are leading the way in this regard.

Nevertheless, one of the local banks, the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), has taken the “first step” by starting to incorporate environmental risk factors in its corporate credit policies, said Ms Cheong Poh Kwan, SIIA’s assistant director for sustainability.

The MAS said the Singapore Exchange (SGX) has also been working with listed companies to enhance disclosure on the environmental and social aspects of their businesses. In 2011, it launched a Sustainability Reporting Guide for listed companies. From financial year 2017, the SGX plans to mandate sustainability reporting on a “comply or explain” basis.

“Lenders, investors, consumers, NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and the media all have roles to play in this area,” said the MAS spokesperson. “MAS will support the development of guidance for investors, specifically institutional investors, in engaging with their investee companies, on issues relating to sustainability, social and environmental considerations.”

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Making the eco-friendly message stick with the Singapore Green Label

By next year, the Singapore Environment Council aims to make it mandatory for the 3,000 certified products to carry the label.
Monica Kotwani, Channel NewsAsia 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: At least 3,000 products that have attained the Singapore Green Label will need to display it by the beginning of next year, based on the target set by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC).

The certification scheme was administered by the Council to make it easier for consumers looking to buy eco-friendly products.

This was revealed when the council shared to Channel NewsAsia, together with the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), the names of the 10 companies that assured consumers its paper products are from sustainably sourced raw materials.

Singapore is taking action against five Indonesian companies believed to have had fires on their lands, leading to the haze. The National Environment Agency has also served a notice to Asia Pulp and Paper an Indonesian firm with a Singapore office, whose products include Paseo toilet rolls and tissue paper.

Some companies though, are distancing themselves from those implicated. On Monday (Oct 5), 10 companies declared their raw materials are sustainably sourced. SEC and CASE said they are awaiting declaration from another seven companies. All have been certified under the SEC's Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS).

Said CASE executive director Seah Seng Choon: “We would like to call upon consumers and urge them to seriously look out for the green label. The money they spend on irresponsible companies will help those companies to continue to perpetuate bad habits, so if consumers are able to send a strong signal to the company that we will not accept such activities and we want them to be responsible, I think the companies will respond."

Currently, it is up to manufacturers to display the Green Label. The council said a "sizeable number" do not do so yet, as some cited costs as a reason. None of the 10 companies display the logo on their products either.

By next year, it aims to make it mandatory for certified products to carry the label. SEC executive director Edwin Seah said: “We will want to get these companies to put our logo on their products because I think it will benefit them as we go out and educate consumers to look for these products. I think it's useful from the company's point of view to have their green label logo on their products, so it's easier for consumers to look out for them and buy them."

The council is working with companies to understand their constraints. It is also working with organisations like the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, to roll out the scheme. SEC added it is encouraging retailers such as supermarkets to carry only sustainably-sourced products, or have a green lane for consumers to find eco-friendly products easily.

- CNA/xk

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