Land parcels in Lim Chu Kang awarded for vegetable, quail egg farming: AVA

Channel NewsAsia 21 Dec 18;

SINGAPORE: Seven land parcels in Lim Chu Kang have been awarded to companies for vegetable and quail egg farming, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said in a media release on Friday (Dec 21).

Five land parcels for vegetable farming were awarded to three companies - LivFresh and Delish Veggies, Kok Fah Technology Farm, as well as Yili Vegetation and Trading.

Yili Vegetation and Trading was awarded the largest plot of land, comprising three parcels measuring more than 60,000 sq m in total.

Two land parcels for quail egg farming have been awarded to Chi Agri Holding and N & N Agriculture, the media release stated.

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NEA to accept new vehicle emissions test standard from Jan 1

Zhaki Abdullah Straits Times 21 Dec 18;

SINGAPORE - From next month, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will accept a new vehicle emissions test standard that better reflects actual emissions under real-life driving conditions.

The NEA said on Friday (Dec 21) that it will begin accepting results from the Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) for the approval of new vehicles as well as the reporting of emissions under the Vehicular Emissions Scheme from Jan 1.

Developed by the European Union, the WLTP is a laboratory test that measures both the fuel consumption and pollutant emissions of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

Under the new test procedures, vehicles are tested at higher speeds, longer distances and a greater range of driving situations, as compared to previous tests.

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6 more contracts awarded for North-South Corridor; works to begin end-2019

Channel NewsAsia 21 Dec 18;

SINGAPORE: Construction on six more sections of Singapore's first integrated transport corridor is expected to begin by the end of 2019, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a media release on Friday (Dec 21).

Contracts worth S$3.14 billion for the design and construction of six sections of the 21.5km long North-South Corridor (NSC) tunnel have been awarded to multiple companies, according to LTA.

They are located between East Coast Parkway (ECP) and Sungei Seletar.

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Indonesia: Shark fishing ban in Raja Ampat continues to be violated

Antara 22 Dec 18;

Waisai (ANTARA News) - Shark fishing activities in the waters of Raja Ampat District in West Papua Province continue unabated despite a prohibition through the Regional Regulation (Perda).

"Shark fishing activities still take place in the Raja Ampat waters, despite a regional regulation on the ban on shark capture," Raja Ampat youth leader Ferdinand Dimara remarked here on Friday.

Hence, Dimara has urged the Raja Ampat District Government to continue to disseminate information on the regional regulation on the ban on shark fishing, so that it is truly understood by the local community.

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Best of our wild blogs: 21 Dec 18

[Survey!] Call for participants to complete UNEP GEO FOR YOUTH survey!
Psychedelic Nature

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Two trees fall in Sembawang Park where SMRT staff were having Christmas party, 14 taken to hospital

WONG PEI TING Today Online 21 Dec 18;

SINGAPORE — Two trees fell at Sembawang Park amid heavy rain on Thursday (Dec 20). One of the trees fell on a pavilion, causing the roof to crash on a private Christmas party involving 17 SMRT employees.

And while nobody was trapped under it, 14 people who suffered injuries had to be taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

The incident took place at about 5.30pm along Beaulieu Road, which is near a playground in the park, which borders the sea.

The National Parks Board said two trees were uprooted during the incident — one was an 18m tall Tabebuia rosea, the other a 21m tall Erythrophleum suaveolens.

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Indonesia: Protection of Leuser ecosystem crucial - NGO

Antara 20 Dec 18;

A number of students explored the forest area of the Ketambe Research Station inside Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL) while participating in environmental education activities in Ketambe Village, Ketambe District, Southeast Aceh District, Aceh, Wednesday (11/28/2018).(ANTARA PHOTO/SYIFA YULINNAS)

Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - Protection of the Leuser Ecosystem zone (KEL) is crucial, as it is a national strategic area, according to an Aceh non-governmental organization (NGO).

"The Leuser Ecosystem is a national strategic area due to KEL`s environmental functions. It is crucial to protect the area, as it provides water and clean air as well as mitigates disaster impacts, such as erosion, pest, and climate change," Farwiza Farhan, the chairman of HAkA Foundation, stated here, Wednesday.

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Japan to resume commercial whaling after leaving IWC – report

Tokyo denies report by Kyodo news agency that government will reveal its decision by the end of the year
Justin McCurry and Graham Readfearn The Guardian 20 Dec 18;

Japan is to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and resume commercial whaling next year, a report claimed on Thursday, in a move that drew condemnation from Australia, with other anti-whaling nations expected to follow suit.

Japan will inform the IWC of its decision by the end of the year, Kyodo news agency said, months after the body rejected its latest bid to resume commercial whaling.

Kyodo quoted unnamed government sources as saying Japan would abandon its controversial, and expensive, expeditions to the Southern Ocean and instead permit whaling fleets to operate in its coastal waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

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Best of our wild blogs: 20 Dec 18

Singapore’s Food System: Key points from our last panel discussion
Green Drinks Singapore

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Malaysia's plan to restrict export of fish twice next year unlikely to have significant impact: AVA

CYNTHIA CHOO Today Online 19 Dec 18;

SINGAPORE — Malaysia plans to restrict the export of five types of fish and shrimp twice next year — between Jan 1 and Feb 28, and again between May 1 and June 30 — the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) revealed on Wednesday (Dec 19).

It was previously reported on Monday (Dec 17) that Malaysia would be restricting the export of four types of fish and shrimp, and only in the first two months of the new year.

This had some fishmongers warning that prices of these seafood will likely jump by 30 to 40 per cent during the Chinese New Year period, TODAY reported on Tuesday.

However, the AVA said in response to TODAY’s queries that the export restrictions are unlikely to have a significant impact on Singapore’s overall seafood supply, as the affected species make up less than 10 per cent of Singapore’s total seafood supply.

Importers are also “well-prepared to tap on other readily available sources”, the AVA said.

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European officials agree on ban of some single-use plastics

FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press Yahoo News 20 Dec 18;

BERLIN (AP) — Plastic knives just won't cut it any longer, if the European Union has its way.

The 28-nation bloc moved closer to banning single-use straws, plates, cutlery and cotton swabs, after officials from EU member states and the European Parliament on Wednesday backed recommendations by its executive branch designed to reduce marine pollution.

Environmental campaigners have been calling for curbs on throwaway plastic that's accumulating in the oceans because, unlike organic materials, it doesn't decompose but simply breaks down into ever smaller pieces.

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Best of our wild blogs: 19 Dec 18

"A Blueprint For Blue Waters" - Asian Scientist Magazine
Singapore Blue Plan 2018

Labrador Park Survey
Offshore Singapore

Singapore Bird Report – November 2018
Singapore Bird Group

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