China Minister Warns Pollution, Waste Imperil Growth

Chris Buckley PlanetArk 1 Mar 11;

China faces acute environmental and resource strains that threaten to choke growth unless the world's second-biggest economy cleans up, the nation's environment minister said in an unusually blunt warning.

In an essay published on Monday, Zhou Shengxian also said his agency wants to make assessing projected greenhouse gas emissions a part of evaluating proposed development projects.

That could give China's Ministry of Environmental Protection more sway in climate change issues, an area dominated by agencies whose main interest is shoring up industrial growth.

Zhou set environmental worries at the heart of China's next phase of economic development -- a theme in focus at the country's annual parliament session starting on Saturday.

"In China's thousands of years of civilization, the conflict between humanity and nature has never been as serious as it is today," Zhou said in the essay published in the China Environment News, his ministry's official newspaper.

"The depletion, deterioration and exhaustion of resources and the deterioration of the environment have become serious bottlenecks constraining economic and social development."

Zhou's words highlight the policy struggle in China between stoking growth and taming pollution and resource consumption. On Sunday, Premier Wen Jiabao also said the country should aim for slower, cleaner growth.

"This is a crucial time for deciding policy, so he's trying to bring more urgency to getting more teeth for his ministry by making people grasp the huge challenges," said Yang Ailun, the head of climate and energy for Greenpeace China, an advocacy group, speaking of Zhou's essay.

Chinese officials often promote the need to maintain fast economic growth to pull hundreds of millions of citizens out of hardship. But Zhou said prospects for growth could be threatened unless smoggy skies, polluted rivers and reckless exploitation of mine reserves are taken much more seriously in setting policy.

"PRICE TO PAY"

"If we are numb and apathetic in the face of the acute conflict between humankind and nature, and environmental management remains stuck in the old rut with no efforts in environmental technology, there will surely be a painful price to pay, and even irrecoverable losses," said Zhou.

China is now the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels and other human activities that scientists say are causing global warming. It is the world's biggest polluter and biggest consumer of resources across a range of other measures.

In 2009, nearly 20 percent of the length of China's monitored rivers and lakes had pollution worse than Grade 5, making the water officially unfit for even irrigating crops, according to government statistics.

To double the size of the economy between 2000 and 2020 and keep environmental conditions at levels met in 2000, China will have to improve its efficiency in using resources by 4 to 5 times compared to 2000 levels, said Zhou, citing findings of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

China has repeatedly promised to clean up distressed rivers and lakes and smog-filled skies. But it often fails to match rhetoric with resources and the will to enforce those vows.

A researcher from the Ministry of Environmental Protection's own policy institute said China would remain focused on industrial growth for many years yet and "more patience is needed to achieve green development."

"Pursuing economic growth will remain China's development goal and task for a long time to come," the researcher Yu Hai wrote in the latest issue of Environmental Protection, the ministry's Chinese-language policy journal.

In January, more than 200 children living near battery plants in eastern China showed elevated levels of lead in their blood -- the latest such outbreak to prompt an outcry.

"Voices across society urging concern for environmental health are rising, and this is having a negative effect on social harmony and stability," said Zhou.

A BIGGER SAY IN CLIMATE CHANGE?

To counter such threats, he proposed strengthening his ministry's ability to monitor and curb pollution, including taking a bigger role in greenhouse gas emissions.

Chinese greenhouse gas and climate change policy are dominated by the National Development and Reform Commission, a powerful agency also charged with guarding industrial growth.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection will establish a "risk assessment system for atmospheric pollutants and climate change," and will study how to embed climate change issues into environmental protection goals and assessment, said Zhou.

That will include assessing projected greenhouse gas emissions from proposed new projects, such as factories.

"The Ministry of Environmental Protection can use this tool to get more say in climate and energy policy," said Yang, the Greenpeace China analyst, referring to Zhou's proposals.

(Editing by Ken Wills and David Fogarty)

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Severe Weather, Forecasting Could Prompt Force Majeure Rethink

David Fogarty PlanetArk 28 Feb 11;

Worsening weather and better forecasting methods could push the mining sector to change force majeure provisions in supply contracts and sharpen how blame is allotted when storms or floods disrupt regular business.

Climate scientists predict global warming will trigger greater extremes of weather such as more intense droughts, cyclones and bushfires. For miners and other resource firms that means more disruption to coal, iron, bauxite and gold operations, but many weather events are foreseeable.

Recent deadly floods and cyclones in Australia occurred during the monsoon season that meteorologists said months in advance would be above average because of the strong La Nina weather pattern that usually brings heavy rains and storms to he country's north and east.

"If it is true that some of these floods were foreseeable, there is going to be an argument whether that was in fact a force beyond the expectation of either party," said Robert Milbourne, a mining and resources lawyer for global law firm Norton Rose.

That meant a rethink of provisions under force majeure, which is defined as a force greater than the parties had contemplated and allows for suspension or termination of obligations during an unforeseen event.

"Going forward it is critical that people rethink the terms of force majeure provisions. In my view, it needs to be considered, at least for commodity contracts, a commercial term," Milbourne, a former senior counsel for Brazilian miner Vale, told an industry seminar in Singapore on Friday.

Milbourne, based in flood-hit Queensland state in Australia, pointed to the abundance of private weather forecasters as well as services from the government bureau of meteorology that companies can use to better predict bad weather and impacts on their operations and staff.

Yet not all companies were using these services, placing them at greater risk of disruption and loss of revenue, he said.

FORESEEABLE RISKS

He said if extreme weather events become more foreseeable, that could drive changes to the way contracts define responsibility under force majeure provisions of suspension, termination as well as allocation of goods and services for partial disruption.

"If you had a termination event, once you get your mines back up and running, you are going to sell it (commodity) at the higher price.

"But if you simply have a suspension you have to deliver at that pre-event price.

"To me that is a $1-billion question for the Queensland economy and it hasn't really been adequately discussed," he said. The recent floods led to 16 coal mines in Queensland covering total annual capacity of 94.3 million tons to declare full or partial force majeure.

"This is really a commercial term, that everybody should be more aware of, the variations in how force majeure can be implemented."

Allocation was another and a disaster could mean a company being able to deliver only some of its goods or services.

"You get to choose if you're the service provider who gets that good or service. And that is an incredible financial power, who gets it, who doesn't.

"Most contracts never address that issue and it really has not been thought about by most commercial parties.

"Rather than allowing the mining or service provider to have that discretion, it is a simple thing you can do putting in a contract to allow for priority allocation."

More extreme weather events also had implications for directors and regulators, such as legal consequences of foreseeable bad weather.

"If severe weather is more foreseeable, then directors are going to be charged with more obligation to prepare accordingly. These should not automatically be viewed as acts of god. These are things that people need to understand can happen, are happening and almost certainly are going to happen again."

(Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

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Best of our wild blogs: 28 Feb 11

Latest Green Jobs in Singapore [21 - 27 Feb 2011]
from Green Business Times

Places of Interest - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
by Minister Mah Bow Tan on facebook

Jenal Jetty Mangroves
from Urban Forest

Wallace Trail, Dairy Farm Park
from Fahrenheit minus 459

Parakeets eating Swietenia macrophylla seeds
from Bird Ecology Study Group and A female Olive-backed Sunbird collecting nesting material

Birdwatching at Dairy Farm - 20.2.2011
from Urchin's World

Back to the rare seagrass meadows at Kranji for a closer look
from wild shores of singapore

二月华语导游 Madarin guide walk@SBWR,Feb (XVI)
from PurpleMangrove

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Eco-city competition hotting up in China

Tianjin province will have Italian-built eco-city as well as one built by S'pore group
Lynette Khoo Business Times 28 Feb 11;

(SINGAPORE) Competition is right at the doorstep of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city as another iconic eco-city takes shape within the same province.

Led by an Italian consortium, the project's design draws inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci's urban studies for Milan in the late 15th century and the urban structure of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

It sits on a 13 square kilometre site in Tianjin and is expected to have residential buildings for 75,000 people, commercial buildings, schools, entertainment facilities, medical amenities and a science park.

This is but one of hundreds of eco-cities that have sprung up in China as local officials chase the trend, tying up with private-sector partners in most cases.

In Tianjin, the contract to build this Italian eco-city, Eco Nanhe Town - Nanhe Jingwu, was apparently awarded by the Nanhe municipal government just months after the joint- venture agreement was inked between the Singapore consortium led by Keppel Corp and the Chinese consortium for the bilateral project.

But the Singapore crew is undaunted. 'Competition is good as it keeps us on our toes,' said Ho Tong Yen, chief executive of SSTEC, the master developer of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city.

'In China, competition for investments is a reality that any city has to face,' he added. He deemed it unsurprising that more eco-cities would spring up given growing awareness of the importance of sustainable development.

Tianjin was chosen for the bilateral project out of four sites, including Tangshan. Though Tangshan wasn't the chosen site, that didn't stop the local officials from pursuing their own 'green' ambitions.

They are now working on the Tangshan Nanhu Eco-City, where Singapore-listed developers Yanlord and Ho Bee Group are building high-end residential properties that meet international standards for energy conservation.

IE Singapore assistant chief executive Yew Sung Pei noted that there is always competition for attention, be it from other eco-cities or development zones. But the various eco-city projects that have emerged in response to varied needs in different parts of China may focus on different things.

'Companies' interest in participating would also depend on their own needs and expansion strategies, the market potential and value to be captured at each location,' Mr Yew said.

Apart from the competition, concerns have also been flagged concerning the land condition for the Sino-Singapore project, though it was intentional to choose land that is non-arable with limited water supply in order to demonstrate how eco-solutions can be adopted and applied elsewhere.

But treating the salt-alkaline land is proving to be rather challenging, sources close to the project told BT. In response to BT queries, a spokesman from Singapore's Ministry of National Development (MND) conceded that there are challenges, but 'these challenges are not insurmountable'.

The 'environment rehabilitation' of the eco-city is progressing on schedule, he added. Various studies are underway to understand how best to tackle the environmental challenges facing the project.

According to him, some other parts of China, including in the Tianjin Binhai New Area, are similarly located on salt-alkaline land and their experiences will offer useful pointers on the treatment of the land.

While the trend of building eco-cities in China is expected to continue, MND pointed out that the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city stands out in some ways.

Like the preceding bilateral project Suzhou Industrial Park, the Tianjin project - as a G2G undertaking - has the support of both governments at the highest level. It enjoys various preferential policies and financial support, including a recently launched programme by IE Singapore to encourage Singapore companies to set up operations and participate in projects in the eco-city.

While some 'eco-city' projects in China have no real measures on their green initiatives, Singapore's Tianjin project needs to fulfil a set of qualitative and quantitative key performance indicators.

Its significant scale - occupying a land area of 30 sq km with a projected population of 350,000 when fully developed - will provide the critical mass for investors and businesses to set up operations there, the MND spokesman said.

While many highly publicised eco-city projects in China have either remained on the drawing board or collapsed from shoddy implementation, the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city means business.

Total investments drawn to date have hit 55 billion yuan (S$10.6 billion), SSTEC said. MND also noted that around 300 enterprises are registered with the eco-city and some will commence operations soon. Various residential projects, including Keppel Land's eco-homes, have been launched and met with feverish demand.

The 4 sq km start-up area is already starting to take shape. Construction has begun on the 130-hectare Eco-Industrial Park (EIP), touted to be the first of its kind in China to be built completely in compliance with green building evaluation standards.

'The Tianjin Eco-city has made significant progress since the groundbreaking ceremony in September 2008,' the MND spokesman said. 'Overall, we are on track to complete the start-up area by 2013, and the entire Eco-city by around 2020.'

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Indonesian President Kicks Off Integrated Tourist Zone Project in Bintan

Antara 26 Feb 11;

Bintang, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Saturday inaugurated the construction of the first-phase of an integrated tourist zone at Teluk Sebong, Sebong Lagoi village, Bintan District, Riau Islands Province.

The head of state named the new integrated tourist zone "Pesona Lagoi Bintang" (Lagoi Bintang Charm).

Yudhoyono in his speech hoped that the tourist area could become like Singapore or even better.

"Let`s develop this area to become an integrated economic zone," the president, who was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, said.

Among those present at the inauguration ceremony were Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik, Riau Islands Governor Muhammad Sani, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi, and Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

In the first phase of its development process, "Pesona Lagoi Bintang" will be built on a plot of land measuring 338 hectares.

The project is being implemented by a consortium consisting of several companies including Malaysia-based Landmarks lifestyle company.

The developers will construct a water city resort in the area bought by Landmarks Berhad in 2006.

The integrated tourist zone will also include an international ferry terminal, a marine terminal, a marine aircraft terminal, a cruise ship area, and integrated immigration service office.

There will also be a water recreational area, shopping centers, hotels, amusement parks, villas, housing complexes, apartments, meeting halls, universities and hospitals.

The construction works of the project`s first phase is expected to be complected in 2015 and it will connect with other isles in Riau Islands Province.

Only a short ferry ride of about one-hour from Singapore, the Riau Islands represent an ideal and easily accessible destination for holiday makers.
(*)

Editor: AA Ariwibowo

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Malaysia: protests against soldiers posing with dead Great Hornbill

NGOs lodge reports over picture
Sean Augustin New Straits Times 27 Feb 11;

PUTRAJAYA: Two environmental non-governmental organisations have lodged police reports over a picture of soldiers posing with a dead Great Hornbill on Friday.

Traffic Southeast Asia National Trade Policy officer Shenaaz Khan lodged the report at the Dangi Wangi police station at 11.25am, hoping the police will investigate the matter or refer the case to the proper authorities such as the Wildlife and National Parks Department and the Defence Ministry.

She also hoped it would create greater awareness.

"There are laws out there that need to be adhered to, irrespective of their background," she told the New Sunday Times.

She added that the matter could be investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the Armed Forces Act 1972, which prohibited soldiers from hunting.

Later on Friday, a second report was lodged by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia Conservation manager Han Kwai Hin at Taman Tun police station.

Han said the organisation was ready to assist the police with the investigation.

On Thursday, the NST reported that environmental NGOs were up in arms after a picture of soldiers, believed to be from the Malaysian Armed forces, posing with the dead bird surfaced on a social networking site.

The bird seemed to have its throat slit. The picture has since been removed.

The Great Hornbill is the larger of the hornbill species in Malaysia and is found only in the peninsula.

It is also protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act.

See also Photo: slaughtered great hornbill by soldiers raises ire [warning: graphic image] by Jeremy Hance mongabay.com 27 Feb 11

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Malaysia: More animal attacks with loss of habitat

New Straits Times 28 Feb 11;

From wild macaques living in suburban areas to tigers in the east coast, more and more animals are turning on humans. EVANGELINE MAJAWAT finds out why

TAMBUN Gediu was hunting for squirrels in the fringes of Belum Forest last week when a tiger pounced on him. The hunter had become the hunted.

The Orang Asli escaped the tiger’s deadly jaw-grip after his wife hit the big cat repeatedly on its head with a big ladle.

Tambun is a lucky man. Not so for first-time parents V. Nehru and V. Revathy of Seremban, whose 4-day-old daughter died after being bitten by a long-tailed macaque last year.

These stories are just some of the many human-wildlife conflicts that occur in Malaysia.

In the last three years alone, the Wildlife and National Parks Department recorded close to 35,000 cases of wildlife attacks.

The human casualties did not reflect the shocking number of cases as only five deaths were recorded between 2008 and last year, and 28 were injured.

Most cases Most cases cases involved monkeys (long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques) and snakes (cobras and pythons).

These animals lived close to humans in small pockets of greenery in the city.

Attacks by bigger and rarer species such as elephants, tigers and civet cats occurred mostly in rural areas, especially villages or plantations.

“Unlike the last decade, the current trend shows that human-wildlife conflicts are not restricted to agricultural and rural areas, but also urban areas,” department director-general Datuk Abd Rasid Samsudin said.

Human-wildlife conflict is a phrase used by scientists to describe killings, mauling and crop-raiding by animals on human settlements. The reason why these conflicts happen are obvious — loss of habitat.

“The biggest mistake commonly committed by urban dwellers when sharing space with small animals is feeding them.

“Feeding macaques and wild boars will only make these animals bolder, which can lead to disastrous incidents,” said Rasid, adding that these animals were aggressive, territorial and would attack if threatened.

Improper rubbish and food waste disposal also meant a higher chance of human-wildlife conflicts.

In 2006, participants of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Workshop Report by the World Wide Fund For Nature-Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) stated that farmers could reduce the chances of these conflicts with simple and inexpensive steps.

The cheapest was to ensure that all livestock were reared in proper paddocks which kept the cattle and goats in, and the tigers out.

A suggestion to emulate the practice in the Sundarbans, India, where workers wear human masks at the back of their heads, was also highlighted as a cost-effective measure.

Keeping a buffer zone between the plantations and surrounding forests also helps. It was reported that most tiger attacks happened in rubber plantations.

Methods to prevent elephant attacks include setting up electrified fences, digging trenches and using repellents.

But the best measure, according to scientists and environmentalists, would be protecting the animals’ habitat and creating wildlife corridors to connect fragmented forests.

While villagers usually organise hunts for rogue animals, Rasid warned that no animal can be killed unless there was “an immediate danger to human life”.

“Villagers are not allowed to go after these animals. Instead, they are advised to contact the nearest wildlife office.”

The department has methods of reducing human-wildlife conflicts and killing wildlife is only the last resort.

“We would usually chase the animals deep into the forest, capture and relocate them, and in other cases, set up electric fences around villages,” said Rasid.

For Malaysian Nature Society communications head Andrew Sebastian, education and awareness are key to reducing deaths and injuries to both humans and animals.

“People must learn and appreciate boundaries and respect the space that wildlife need.”

Enough to keep him off the jungle
P. Chandra Sagaran New Straits Times 28 Feb 11;

"I AM not going back into the jungle... I am afraid the animal will attack me again."

This was the response of tiger-attack victim Tambun Gediu, 60, when asked whether he would continue hunting in the jungle.

The injury on his right knee had restricted his movement.

Tambun, of Kampung Sungai Tiang, 75km from Grik, was hunting squirrels on Feb 12 when he was attacked.

He tried to climb up a tree but the animal caught him and dragged him down.

He owed his life to his wife, Han Besau, 55, who courageously drove the beast away by hitting it on the head with a large wooden ladle.

Tambun suffered injuries in the head, face, neck and both knees.

Speaking from his bed at Grik Hospital last week, the Orang Asli villager said he was recovering but doctors wanted to keep him for observation.

He said this was the first time he had come face to face with a tiger, which left scars all over his body.

"My knee hurts whenever I walk but my other injuries are healing."

The stitches on his wounds were removed earlier last week.

Tambun is expected to be back at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh today for a check-up.

His son Amir, 19, who was at the hospital to look after him, said his father was traumatised.

"We will just do what we are doing like cultivation, but confined to the vicinity of the village. Fishing is the other source of food for us," he said.

Another Orang Asli from the same village, S. Ringet, 52, said the incident had discouraged villagers from going into the jungle.

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Malaysia: Hunt for rogue elephant launched

New Straits Times 27 Feb 11;

KOTA BARU: The state Wildlife Department believes that the elephant which attacked an estate worker in Dabong early this year is still roaming in a nearby jungle.

Its director, Rahmat Topani said rangers in Jeli had been directed to track down the elephant, which was believed to be in a herd of four, including a calf.

"A six-men team led by Jeli wildlife chief Cosmas Ngau started the operation on Feb 19, but until today, they have yet to locate the elephants.

"But we believe the animals are still in the forest and we will capture them soon."

He said the rangers were on a 24-hour standby to carry out the "Ops Tangkap-Pindah Gajah" operation.

"We are afraid that if the elephants are not captured as soon as possible, they will destroy plants belonging to villagers in Kampung Biak, which is about five kilometres from the jungle."

Rahmat added that three elephants had been captured by the department this year -- two in Gua Musang and another in Kuala Krai.

On Jan 24, an estate worker Bernardus Ngongo Naru was injured after he was attacked by an elephant while working in Dabong. The 24-year-old Indonesian, who suffered injuries on his chest, was sent to Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital where he was warded for almost a week.

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Scientists Back from Borneo with Tales of Discovery

Ismira Lutfia Jakarta Globe 26 Feb 11;

Paradise does exist, and it can be found in the heart of Central Kalimantan, say two scientists who recently returned from an expedition deep into one of Indonesia’s last remaining tracts of forest.

Martin Holland and Tim van Berkel were part of the Heart of Borneo expedition to study animals and vegetation in the rain forest around the province’s Murung Raya district.

Holland, the project director for the eight-week expedition, said the endless variety of plants and animals proved that “the forests of Borneo are some of the most amazing areas in the world.”

He said the team of 13 European and Indonesian scientists found 140 species of birds, 30 species of frogs, 35 reptile species and 44 species of terrestrial mammals.

“Around 13 of these mammal species are threatened,” Holland told the Jakarta Globe.

Van Berkel, the lead researcher, said some of the animals they encountered had previously been spotted on the Malaysian side of Borneo but never before on the Indonesian side.

Among the species they encountered were the elusive and rare otter civet, cloud leopards, gibbons, pangolins and the bearded pig.

“We never expected to see so many species,” said van Berkel, a mammalogist.

“It was way beyond our imagination.”

He also said some of the species of frogs and snakes might have been unseen and unheard of before and had never been scientifically identified as new species.

“But we can’t really say yet if they are new since they will have to be formally recognized and it might take years for their taxonomic validation,” he said.

But little research has been done in the area, he said, while more data collection in the forests could benefit the local people and authorities in setting up efforts for preservation, given the imminent threat to the forests from nearby mining and logging concessions.

“Compared to Sumatra, Borneo still has lots of forests left and we need to set up preservation efforts as early as possible before it’s too late,” he said, adding that stricter law enforcement was needed to protect the area.

Holland said the richness of the biodiversity in the area could be lost unless a plan was put in place to protect it.

“I think the Indonesian government could start by ensuring transparency over which part of the area is protected and which part is allowed for concessions,” he said.

Both scientists said the government should also begin quantifying the value of the resources in the forests in order to get a clearer estimate of the preservation efforts needed.

Van Berkel said the team would continue its research in the area with a four-week expedition planned for September, and would set up more camera traps to gather additional information on the animals.

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Many countries use peat land without fear: Indonesian expert

Antara 27 Feb 11;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A number of countries have used peat land to support their economic growth without any fear of being accused of destroying the environment, a peat land expert said.

Indonesia should do the same as far as it used its peat land properly, Dr. Basuki Sumawinata of the Bogor-based Institute of Agriculture (IPB) said on Sunday.

Among the countries which had taken advantage of peat land for a long time were Malaysia, Canada, Finland and Sweden, he said.

Basuki said Finland and Sweden had used well their peat land for farming and energy sources. "Finland used to burn peat to make way for farm land and plantation but no party lodged protest against the practice and forced them to pay for carbon emissions they released," he said.

Now the country was still taking advantage of peat land but by using expensive technology instead of burning it any longer, he said.

Technology was badly needed to use peat land, he said adding many researches had been conducted on how to use peat land without destroying the environment or releasing carbon.

"Unfortunately, foreign pressure and allegation that Indonesia must be held responsible for the destruction of peat land and the release of carbon dioxides are far stronger than the positive achievement it has gained from the management of peat land for forestry activities or other farming activities in an environmentally friendly manner," he said.

He said the government must be aware of how much economic potentials had lost now that many people relied their livelihood on peat land.

Ecohydro technology was among those used to take advantage of peat land, he said.

According to him, the application of ecohydro technology by a timber estate company on Kampar Peninsula should serve as a reference that peat land could be utilized without destroying the environment.

"We should apply ecohydro technology to take advantage of peat land in other parts of Indonesia. We can do so if we have a high degree of discipline. But these all are up to the government to decide," he said.

Indonesia now had 22 million hectares of peat land but only 6-7 percent of it was taken advantage of, he said. (*)

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono

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Best of our wild blogs: 27 Feb 11

Butterfly of the Month - February 2011
from Butterflies of Singapore

Bright Blue, Bright Red
from Creatures in the Wild and 3 Snakes a Day!

Red-breasted Parakeet eats seeds of Lagestroemia speciosa
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Surprises from reclaimed Seringat-Kias
from wonderful creation

A short stroll to the mangroves at Sungei Jelutong, Pulau Ubin
from wild shores of singapore

110226 My garden
from Singapore Nature and Iridescence of beetles

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Indonesia: Infrared cameras monitoring wildlife in Kerinci Seblat park

Antara 26 Feb 11;

Jambi, Jambi (ANTARA News) - The Sumatran Tiger Patrol Team of The Forest Ranger Squad of Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS) has installed infrared cameras in several parts of the park to monitor wildlife existing in the areas.

"We have installed dozens of infrared cameras called Camera Trap in some forests inside TNKS in the Kerinci-Jambi, West Sumatra, and Bengkulu regions," Field Manager of the Sumatran Tiger Patrol Team (PHS) Risdianto said here Saturday.

At least 20 sophisticated cameras that can automatically record the movement of any animal passing by through its body temperature had been installed and were now fully operational.

The main target of the cameras would be the movements and developments of the Sumatran tiger (Panthera Tigris Sumatrae) whose population in TNKS was endangered, Risdianto said, adding that the cameras would also record the behavior and conditions of other wildlife inside the park.

The cameras had already enabled the park authority to catch pictures of some animals that were considered extinct such as Kerinci Hares, Golden Cats, Tohtor Birds, and Long-fanged Jaguars.

According to Risdianto, the high-tech infrared cameras were effectively used for monitoring as they were very reliable and supported by batteries which could last for more than two months.

The Camera Trap method has been widely used as well by tiger researchers around the world to study the tiger population.

The Forest Ecosystem Management Team (PEH) cooperating with the forest rangers had managed to document some carnivores and ungulates in a part of TNKS forest.

"The team managed to take pictures of a female Sumatran Tiger and her cubs," Risdianto said.

The team also documented a golden melanistic cat in video record, Risdianto said, adding that it might be the world`s first video of golden melanistic cat.

There were an estimated 140 Sumatran Tigers, one third of the total population in Sumatra (500), dwelling in the TNKS.

The Kerinci Seblat National Park has been stated as a Level I Tiger Conservation Landscape, a conservation area for the Sumatran Tiger.

The national park has become the habitat for five wildcats of eight species in Indonesia that it has significant roles for the preservation of thousands of wildlife.

Some efforts, such as law enforcements, survey or studies are made to preserve the nature in the national park and also the existence of the Sumatran tigers and the wildlife, Risbianto said.(*)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani

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