Malaysia: Conservation of turtles given a boost

The Star 24 Sep 11;

PETALING JAYA: Turtle conservation in Malaysia will enter a new era from Dec 1 when the country enforces its inter-governmental agreement on the Conservation and Manage-ment of Marine Turtles and their Habitats within the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (IOSEA) region.

Malaysia is the 33rd state to join the agreement, following a recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) involving the Fisheries Department and WWF-Malaysia.

It entails 24 programmes and 105 specific activities focused on reducing threats, conserving critical habitat, exchanging scientific data and increasing public awareness and participation.

A WWF-Malaysia statement said it was also for promoting regional cooperation and seeking resources for implementation.

The signing of the MoU is also in line with priorities set by the Government in its 2008 National Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sea Turtles.

The MoU, signed by Fisheries director-general and WWF and IOSEA coordinator Douglas Hykle, is to protect, conserve, replenish and recover marine turtles and their habitats within the region.

“Through this regional platform, WWF-Malaysia hopes the Government will give full commitment in implementing conservation measures and comprehensive programmes outlined in the Conservation and Management Plan agreed to by member states,” the statement said.

“The move is timely as turtles are migratory animals. Their protection transcends national boundaries, and collaboration between neighbouring countries is imperative,” it added.

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Malaysia: 'Trepang' breeding project in Langkawi

New Straits Times 24 Sep 11;

LANGKAWI: The Fisheries Department is breeding trepang, a species of sea cucumber (gamat), via a research and development project in the waters of Langkawi.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum said it was to diversify the species of sea cucumber bred at Teluk Yu, Ayer Hangat here.

"Trepang has many other benefits and comes in the form of gamat oil. It is used in producing cosmetics and food," he said at a Merdeka Raya celebration with fishermen at Pasir Hitam here.

A flotilla of 80 fishing boats hoisted the Jalur Gemilang in a procession from Pasir Hitam to Teluk Yu.

Johari also released 40 trepang in the breeding area at Teluk Yu.

Increasing demand for trepang had pushed the price to as high as between RM150 to RM350 per kg.

"We have identified areas in Kuala Temoyong and Pulau Tuba for expansion of the project and we also plan to increase fish breeding grounds."

Johari said the Fisheries Department was considering building a jetty at Pasir Hitam for the benefit of more than 150 fishermen. -- Bernama

Read more: 'Trepang' breeding project in Langkawi http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/34bred/Article#ixzz1YuQoN6hC

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Malaysia: Monkeys’ antics not funny

Edmund Ngo The Star 24 Sep 11;

THE sight of a large, breathing, alpha male monkey baring its teeth is enough to send chills down anyone’s spine, especially parents with small children.

Monkeys also have unique muscular structures and with lactic acid in their bodies, they have four times the strength of a grown man.

It is no wonder then that residents of Taman Ria in Ipoh jumped sky high when a large monkey and several other smaller ones were sighted at the residential area in Bercham.

To make matters worse, they have been able to escape the traps set by the State Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) officers.

The monkeys have also caused mischief by ransacking a house and leaving droppings behind for its bewildered residents.

Despite an urge to laugh at their antics, having a rogue monkey running around a residential area is not funny and certainly no ‘monkey business’.

Various news reports have mentioned monkey attacks, some in our own country, as with the devastating tragedy that befell a family in Seremban - the baby was killed by one of the primates, mistaking it for its own offspring.

In Shimla, India, a rogue monkey bit 15 people, a rogue langur caused a person to be hospitalised while another man died from monkey attacks.

In Jaipur, India, a 65-year-old man, who tried to attract a group of monkeys with food in his hand, ended up being attacked. Passers-by came to his rescue but it was too late. The man had already died from multiple bite wounds.

These cases, however, should not serve as an excuse for us to point fingers at the creature or blame it for its instinctive behaviour.

We should, instead, ask ourselves of the effect humans have on Mother Nature.

With humans encroaching into the habitats of the primates, it is no wonder that they are being forced out of their sanctuaries and to seek shelter at playgrounds and residential areas with large trees.

No doubt, residents should not worry about our primate cousins overpowering us as depicted in the “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” anytime soon. Yet, such close proximity between man and animal does pose serious risks and must be stopped.

In my opinion, trapping a monkey and later releasing it into the wild is only a temporary solution to the problem.

A better measure would be to analyse and question ourselves as to why these monkeys are showing up in areas that are densely populated like Taman Ria.

Could it be that these monkeys are pets that have escaped their cages or perhaps unwanted by their owners?

If this is the case, owners must be more vigilant and must take it upon themselves to find out more about the animals they intend to keep as pets before they actually do so.

More importantly, owners should not discard their pets like some rubbish when they don’t want them. Do it responsibly.

The loss of habitat can be resolved by creating relocation programmes. We must identify suitable jungles for the monkeys to roam free.

Having said that, future developments must also take into account the possibility of encroaching into animal habitats and disturbing the fragile ecosystem.

At the end of the day, mankind need to understand its role as the ‘bigger primate’, one that has common sense and knowledge to properly manage its surroundings without bringing danger or threat of extinction to other creatures on this planet.

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Free Condoms from the Center for Biological Diversity

Environment News Service 23 Sep 11;

TUCSON, Arizona, September 23, 2011 (ENS) - Extinction rates for plants and animals around the world have been accelerating while the human footprint grows, consuming land and water that could have provided habitat for threatened and endangered species.

Concerned about this imbalance, the Center for Biological Diversity this week began shipping out 100,000 Endangered Species Condoms from its Tucson headquarters to a network of 1,200 volunteer distributors in all 50 states.

The free condoms will be given away as part of the Center's 7 Billion and Counting campaign to highlight the world population hitting seven billion in late October. The idea is to prevent unwanted pregnancies, limiting human population growth and leaving more suitable habitat for imperiled species.

The human population has doubled since 1970, and is expected to hit seven billion by October 31 and at least nine billion by 2050.

"As the world population closes in on seven billion, there's never been a better time to talk about overpopulation and the species extinction crisis, and our Endangered Species Condoms are one of the best conversation starters out there," said Amy Harwood, the Center's overpopulation campaign coordinator.

"Since we launched this project in 2010, we've heard from thousands of people that these simple but surprising packages drive the issue home in a funny, thought-provoking way," Harwood said.

The condoms come in six different packages with original artwork and edgy slogans featuring the polar bear, jaguar, snail darter, spotted owl, coqui guajon rock frog and American burying beetle, whose slogan is, "Cover your tweedle, save the burying beetle."

All six species are listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Over the next few weeks, the Endangered Species Condoms will be distributed at events across the country hosted by college students, grandmothers, healthcare providers, religious leaders, musicians and activists.

"Without universal access to free birth control and engaging public education about the serious consequences of overpopulation, the global population could reach 15 billion by mid-century," said Harwood. "The Earth simply can't sustain that many people and provide a high-quality life for all species, including humans."

The Center's condom website, www.EndangeredSpeciesCondoms.com, has images of the six colorful condom packages, information on how overpopulation is affecting climate change, global fisheries collapse, public lands and the species extinction crisis.

It enables people to sign up to become Endangered Species Condom distributors where they live.

As part of the new campaign, the Center has launched a new website, www.7BillionAndCounting.org, which includes background information, activist toolkits, updates on efforts to highlight the impact of overpopulation on species extinction and links to a new Facebook page.

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Plant hunters' legacy help Japan's threatened species

Mark Kinver BBC News 24 Sep 11;

The British tradition of collecting plants from all four corners of the world means the UK is now home to many Japanese species which are under threat in their native land, a study reports.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International found more than 350 such species in UK gardens and collections. They also counted 106 vascular plant species in UK collections that were not present in Japanese ones.

They hope the findings will help protect potentially vital specimens.

The report found two species - a shrub, Flemingia strobilifera, and a fern, Hypolepis tenuifloa - growing in the UK despite being deemed locally extinct in their Japanese homeland.

"There was a period of time where it was very much the thing to do and go out and collect plant material, and Britain was probably at the lead of it," explained Suzanne Sharrock, director of global programmes for Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).

"It is fair to say that we have always had a tradition of gardening and an interest in plants.

"And - certainly among the upper classes - they wanted new and different plants that no-one else had. That was probably the spur behind it."

Biological bounty

Japan became a magnet for plant-hunters in 1854 when its rulers ended their self-imposed 200-year trade exile, after accepting it would not result in the invasion of the nation.

The archipelago provided a number of biomes, from sub-tropical to sub-Arctic, which contained a rich array of botanical delights for those in search of new and commercially important species.

It is considered one of the Asia-Pacific region's biological hotspot, with an estimated 7,000 native species of vascular plants, of which 40% are endemic to the islands.

With such biological riches waiting to be harvested, Japan attracted botanists from countries across Europe, including the Netherlands, France and Britain.

In their numbers were the likes of Ernest H Wilson, a prolific collector credited with introducing about 2,000 species from Asia to the West, including the kiwi fruit.

Even today, species from Japan continue to attract the attention of western horticulturists, from maples and their autumnal display to the flowers of azaleas that signal the arrival of spring.

Dr Sharrock acknowledged the irony of finding that the plants' popularity in the West have played a part in their decline within their native habitat, pushing some species closer to extinction.

"There is a continuing push to look for new things, and some of the species that are now under threat are definitely under threat because they have been overcollected as a result of their popularity," she told BBC News.

Red alert

The report identifies 50 Japanese gardens in the UK - including botanic gardens, arboreta and collections of Japanese plants - that collectively contain 356 species featured on the Red List of Japanese vascular plants (species with tissue to transport water and nutrients through the plant).

The species were identified through databases such as the BGCI's PlantSearch and the UK Tree Register.

They were then cross-referenced against the 2007 Japanese Red List to see which of the species were deemed to be under threat.

Dr Sharrock said that a number of species on the threatened list were relatively common sights in gardens and collections across the UK, including:

Magnolia stellata (often referred to as the star magnolia) - its flowers, which consist of up to 30 petals, open before its leaves. The first specimen was introduced to UK gardens in the late 1880s, yet within Japan it is only found in the wild and its habitat is under threat. As it is naturally only found in Japan, it is deemed to be globally endangered in the wild.
Acer pycnanthum - a rare maple, which is only found in Japan. There are an estimated 1,000 mature individuals remaining in the wild, which are distributed across approximately 60 locations. The expansion of commercial forestry is one of the main threats facing the species.

Dr Sharrock explained that in order to build on the report's findings, the BGCI would share the results with Japanese scientists.

"They feel the next step is to check the identification of these species to make sure they are correctly identified," she said. "Then it will be a case of looking at the size of the collection to see the amount of genetic diversity that is represented.

"If it is one plant growing in one place then, in terms of using it for conservation purposes, the scope is limited. But if it is a reasonable size collection or if it is found in more than one location, then it could form the basis of a conservation collection."

While the report focused on Japanese flora found in UK gardens, she added that the model could be applied to other nations as well.

"I think it is the same for all countries. Regardless of its state of development, every country in the world is grappling with extinction crises to their native plants," she observed.

"A developed country may have more resources to deal with the issue, but they also have a lot of competing demands."

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Exotic Pets Turn Invasive, Threatening Florida

Wynne Parry LiveScience.com Yahoo News 24 Sep 11;

Florida is now officially the world capital for invasive and potentially invasive reptiles and amphibians, according to a 20-year study verifying that 56 non-native species of these animals have become established in the sunshine state.

The accommodating climate — which can suit not only tropical and subtropical specie, but those adapted to colder climes —is an element in the problem, according to Kenneth Krysko, the lead researcher and a senior biological scientist at the Florida Museum of Natural History, the University of Florida.

But he and the other researchers put the bulk of the blame on the pet trade, which they say is responsible for the vast majority of introductions, and impotent laws meant to prevent the release of non-natives. [Image Gallery: Invasive Species]

It's impossible to have this many non-native species establishing themselves without consequences, Krysko said.

"To think we are not going to have any problem, it doesn't make any sense — we already know we have a problem with some of the few species we have studied, and sometimes it takes decades to even determine we have a problem with a certain species," he said.

One of the most prominent of these new residents is the Burmese python, which appears to be a refugee of the pet trade. Officials worry they pose a threat to humans, as well as to native, endangered species, which turn up in the pythons' stomachs.

According to the researchers' list, the Burmese is one of six python species that have been introduced to Florida, all by the pet trade, and one of two that has become established, meaning it has survived and reproduced in its new habitat.

The introductions began in 1863 with the greenhouse frog, a native of the Caribbean, which appears to have hitched a ride with shipping cargo. Since then, 136 more non-natives have been introduced and three intercepted before they reached the wild,Krysko and his colleagues find. In the decades that followed, cargo stowaways were the dominant introductions. But in the 1970s and 1980s, the demand for exotic pets increased. The pet trade is now accountable for 84 percent of introductions, they calculate. [America's 10 Favorite Pets]

The researchers confirmed the introductions of all known nonnative reptiles and amphibians through their own fieldwork and by looking at specimens in museum collections, photographs and results from previous research. For each, they included the time of its introduction, the pathway by which the species was introduced and its status.

Releasing a nonnative species without a permit is illegal in Florida, but the law requires an officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to observe someone releasing the animal in order to cite them, according to Krysko. Not surprisingly, no one has been prosecuted, he said.

In a study published in the journal Zootaxa on Sept. 15, the researchers encourage the creation of an early detection and rapid response program to quickly identify newly found introduced species so they can be eradicated.

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Not Just Oceans: Acid Levels Rising in Air, Soil, Freshwater

Environment News Service 23 Sep 11;

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, September 23, 2011 (ENS) - Human use of Earth's natural resources is making the air, freshwaters and soils more acidic, finds new research by the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Virginia.

The researchers found that the mining and burning of coal, the mining and smelting of metal ores, and the use of nitrogen fertilizer are the major causes of chemical oxidation processes that generate acid in the Earth's surface environment.

Many earlier studies have shown that the absorption of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is making the oceans more acid.

This study, the first to examine acidity of air, freshwaters and soils, as well as oceans, is published in the current issue of the journal "Applied Geochemistry."

"We believe that this study is the first attempt to assess all of the major human activities that are making Earth more acidic," said USGS scientist Karen Rice, who led the study.

She said, "We hope others will use this as a starting point for making scientific and management progress to preserve the atmosphere, waters, and soils that support human life."

Burning coal has produced acid rain that has increased the acidity of freshwater bodies and soils. Drainage from mines has increased the acidity of freshwater streams and groundwater. The fertilizer nitrogen added to crop lands has increased the acidity of soils, the scientists found.

Previous studies have linked increased ocean acidity to damaged ocean food webs, while increased acidity in soils has the potential to affect their ability to sustain crop growth.

To examine the global impact of acidification, the researchers developed a series of world maps to show current coal use, nutrient consumption, and copper production and smelting by country.

By combining this information with the anticipated population growth through 2050 and the impact of changing technology, regulations and other factors, the researchers address shifting trends in acidification.

To look at the impact of the acid producing activities, the researchers characterized the scale of environmental damage as local, regional, global, or some combination of the three.

Generating power by burning coal, for instance, can have local, regional and global impacts. Locally, it can cause acid mine drainage where the coal is mined; regionally, burning it can cause acid rain; globally, the increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases the acidity of the ocean.

The scientists note some progress in reducing the effects of some of these activities through increased regulations and changes in how the minerals are mined and used in some parts of the world.

"The low pH levels of streams in coal regions of the eastern United States were a major environmental concern 50 years ago," said University of Virginia geochemistry professor Janet Herman. "Changes in mining practices as well as shifting location of production brought about improvements in water quality in Appalachia."

But, they observe, other regions are expanding their use of these resources and increasing the effects of acidification.

"Exploitation of coal has grown in China where the same environmental protections are not in place," Herman said.

"Looking at these maps can help identify where the current hotspots are for producing acidity," said Rice. "The population increase map can help guide policymakers on possible future trends and areas to watch for the development of new hotspots."

For example, the populations of some countries in Africa are projected to increase in the near future. To support the growing populations, these countries likely will be forced to apply more nitrogen fertilizer to their crops than they currently use, increasing the acidification of soils and freshwater resources in a region that had not previously been affected.

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Best of our wild blogs: 24 Sep 11

Of Things Little and Large
from Raffles Museum News

Siti's seagrass poster at the Biodiversity Symposium
from teamseagrass

Mandai mangrove meanders with Rick
from wild shores of singapore

Ready for the Weekend
from The Lazy Lizard's Tales

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Asean pressures Indonesia over rise in haze pollution

Bangkok Post 24 Sep 11;

Asean nations are pressuring Indonesia to control transboundary haze which has caused widespread health and environmental impacts in the region.

According to the information presented at the ministerial meeting on transboundary haze pollution in Bangkok yesterday, most of the hotspots, caused by forest fires and farmland burning, are in Indonesia.

The meeting was attended by environment ministers from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Thailand's southern provinces have also been affected by transboundary haze comprised of tiny dust particles from forest fires and burning in open areas.

"When the haze started to affect the South, we wrote to Indonesia to ask for an explanation about the situation," said Pollution Control Department chief Supat Wangwongwattana. "However, Jakarta did not respond." Malaysia and Singapore are also affected, he added.

"We'd like Indonesia to better inform other countries about the transboundary haze situation," Mr Supat said.

Asean countries have made a commitment to reduce the number of haze hotspots by 20% from the baseline year in 2006. This number had reduced from 29,900 in the sub-region of five countries in 2006 to only 8,000 last year. However, the number of hotspots jumped back up to 17,600 this year.

Indonesia is the main hotspot source as large swathes of peatland have been transformed into mono-crop plantations, including rubber and oil plam plantations. Mr Supat said the sub-region countries would like Indonesia to ratify the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. Indonesia is the only country that has not ratified the pact, which is a legally-binding tool for controlling haze pollution.

The agreement also covers the Asean haze fund, which each member donates to on a voluntary basis.

Indonesia cited a change of parliament as a reason for the delay of the ratification procedure, Mr Supat added.

Singapore's environment minister Vivian Balarkrishnan, who chaired the meeting yesterday, said the Bangkok talks were fruitful, but more work needed to be done on reducing the number of peatland fires, and to push for the enforcement of laws limiting the trans-boundary haze.

The minister suggested the use of satellite maps to identify the haze hotspots so that the countries in which they are situated can take responsibility and step up their control measures.

Arief Yuwono, Indonesia's deputy of degradation control and climate change from the Ministry of Environment, insisted Jakarta has done its best to prevent the haze.

The country had spent more than US$2 million (61.8 million baht) on haze pollution control projects.

"We have our own plan to revise the national framework for suppression and mitigation of transboundary haze pollution, including law enforcement measures," he said.

Indonesia steps up fight against haze
Newley Purnell Channel NewsAsia 23 Sep 11;

BANGKOK: Indonesia said it is stepping up enforcement to ensure plantation owners do not use fire to clear land.

The fires often lead to smoke haze in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.

At an ASEAN gathering in Bangkok to discuss ways of combating the problem, Singapore officials said the issue has not been resolved.

Smoke haze is an annual problem in countries like Singapore and Malaysia, and regional environmental authorities met in Bangkok on Friday to discuss the issue.

Land and forest fires on Indonesia's island of Sumatra frequently create a thick, grey haze during the dry season.

Winds carry the particulate matter north to Singapore and Malaysia. And this clouds the skies, reduces visibility, and creates health concerns.

At the annual meeting of the ASEAN's steering committee on trans-boundary haze pollution, officials from Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia said they are all working together to tackle the problem.

Officials said Indonesia is taking steps to reduce fires and haze, but they said much work remains to be done.

The vastness of Indonesia's land makes it difficult to police.

In addition, setting fire to peat lands to create palm oil plantations is a lucrative practice.

"First we had a... meeting which I would describe as an intense and frank exchange of views between all countries represented. Because it was a frank meeting, I would say it was a very useful annd productive meeting," said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.

Indonesia's Deputy of Degradation Control and Climate Change at the Environment Ministry said his country is stepping up law enforcement efforts and taking steps to fight fires.

"Having said that, it's still cause for concern. And as events in the last few weeks have shown, depending on the weather conditions, Singapore and Malaysia and southern Thailand can still be significantly affected by haze. So this is not a resolved issue," said Dr Balakrishnan.

Just earlier this month, the skies over Singapore and Malaysia were covered in smoke haze from the burning in Indonesia.

- CNA /ls

Haze remains a cause for concern: Dr Balakrishnan
Newley Purnell Today Online 24 Sep 11;

BANGKOK - While progress has been made in tackling the haze issue, it remains a cause for concern, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan.

The number of hot spots in Indonesia has reached 17,000, up from 9,880 last year, although improved from five years ago.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) steering committee on trans-boundary haze pollution in Bangkok, Dr Balakrishnan said: "We also appealed to the Indonesian delegation to expedite the process of ratification of the ASEAN agreement because that would signify political commitment to this process."

He noted it was a "good meeting" where the ministers were "very frank with each other". "We've reviewed the progress and if you look at the situation from 2006 to now, five years later, there's actually been significant progress in the number of hots pots - at about 29,000 before, it's now down to about 17,000."

Mr Arief Yuwono, Indonesia's Deputy Minister for Environmental Degradation Control and Climate Change, said his country is stepping up law enforcement efforts and taking steps to fight fires.

However, the vastness of Indonesia's land makes it difficult to police, while setting fire to peat lands to create palm oil plantations is a lucrative practice.

At the meeting, the ministers also noted the enhanced and new efforts by Indonesia in implementing its plan of action in dealing with transboundary haze pollution.

These include developing a standard operating procedure for national prevention and control of forest and land fires, strengthened law enforcement measures, cloud seeding operations, and a "zero-burning" campaign and socialisation of laws on plantation, environment and forestry to relevant stakeholders.

Dr Balakrishnan said: "We've noted the progress there and we've also offered our support. We will be more open and transparent and we'll be sharing all the data, including satellite data not only between governments but also to make it available to non-governmental organisations and to members of the public."

"The key point here is to make the culprits and the companies responsible for haze more accountable and to subject them to economic as well as public pressure to do the right thing," he added. NEWLEY PURNELL

Hot spots in Indonesia double
Asean to identify haze culprits using satellite images
Nirmal Ghosh, Straits Times 24 Sep 11;

BANGKOK: With several weeks still left to go in Indonesia's dry season, the number of hot spots in Sumatra and Kalimantan so far this year has hit 17,000 - more than double the total last year.

Revealing the figure on the sidelines of an Asean meeting in Bangkok on the haze situation, Singapore Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said the number of hot spots indicates the size of the problem facing countries in the neighbourhood.

He said there were about 29,000 hot spots in Sumatra and Kalimantan in 2006. That, however, was an abnormally hot and dry 'El Nino' year.

Last year, there were 8,000 hot spots.

In a bid to put pressure on companies involved in what they termed 'environmental vandalism', ministers from five nations in the regional grouping agreed to make public satellite images of the burning forests to help identify and shame the culprits.

The fires which give rise to the haze are usually started by large oil palm plantation companies and by farmers clearing land for their fields.

'We decided we would be more open and transparent,' Dr Balakrishnan said.

'The key point here is to make the culprits and the companies responsible for haze more accountable, and to subject them to economic as well as public pressure to do the right thing and not to engage in what is ultimately environmental vandalism, for short-term profits at the expense of the health and economy of the wider region,' he said.

Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei sent their environment ministers to the Transboundary Haze Pollution meeting. But Indonesia - where the haze originates - sent only its deputy minister, Mr Arif Yuwono. Thailand was the other participant.

After the meeting, the ministers said there had been some progress in fighting the fires in Indonesia.

They pointed to successful cooperation in curbing fires and sustainable management of peat forest land, which is vulnerable to long-burning fires.

They also noted that Indonesia had set up standard operating procedures for national fire prevention and control.

But more could be done, they said.

Dr Balakrishnan, who chaired the meeting, said: 'There is some progress. But there remains... serious concern because of the implications on health, travel and the economy on a wider scale.'

'Transboundary haze is one example in which, unfortunately, the economic interests of the culprits responsible for starting these fires are not aligned with the interests of larger society,' he added.

The ministers also pointed out that the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, which calls for cooperation in preventing and controlling the haze, has not been ratified by Indonesia.

They said ratification has been in the works for some time, and appealed for it to do so soon.

Ratification would 'signal political commitment at the highest level', Dr Balakrishnan said.

He added that Asean was also waiting for Indonesia to enforce and prosecute those who started forest fires, saying that 'until this is done, you will not send the message of accountability'.

In Indonesia's defence, Mr Arif said: 'We just set up a task force on law enforcement, and now they are trying to identify all the companies that are breaking the law.'

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Wanted: Someone To Classify Indonesia's Seas

Ismira Lutfia Jakarta Globe 23 Sep 11;

Indonesia’s vast wealth of marine life is not being exploited to its full potential because of a lack of taxonomists in the country’s scientific community, experts contend.

Zainal Arifin, head of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences’ (LIPI) Oceanographic Research Center, said there were far too few local scientists specializing in the discovery and naming of new marine species, and those already working in the field were not as highly qualified as one might hope.

He attributed the shortage to the fact that taxonomy was often not seen as a desirable specialization for budding scientists.

However, he said the profession was a much-needed one because new discoveries of marine life were still being made here and unless there were scientists to document these discoveries, the country would be unable to benefit from them — commercially, for food or for other purposes.

“The first step is to nurture human resources in the scientific community who are suitably skilled in marine taxonomy to allow the country to benefit from its marine resources,” Zainal said in a seminar this week.

Dwi Listyo Rahayu, a marine taxonomist and fellow seminar speaker, said the shortage was not limited to Indonesia.

“Despite the fact that climate change raises the very real concern that a lot of living species could die out before we get the chance to study them, the truth remains that the desire among scientists to specialize in taxonomy is very low,” she said.

One reason for the field’s lack of appeal in Indonesia, Dwi suggested, is its reputation as a less than lucrative discipline.

“Much of the research that is done in the country is of an applied nature, such as research into how to make crops more resistant,” she said. “So it’s very rare for funding to be given to proposals for research into biodiversity or a species inventory.”

Suharsono, a senior scientist at the Oceanographic Research Center, said the issue should be a shared concern for the nation’s scientific community, given the wealth of marine life here.

He said Indonesia and the Caribbean were the two maritime regions with the richest biodiversity in the world. Because of this, he said, the country should strive to have at least one taxonomist covering each of the taxons, or categories, of marine species, such as crustaceans, mollusks and algae.

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Best of our wild blogs: 23 Sep 11

WWF Movie Preview: Dolphin Tale
from Green Drinks Singapore

Green Corridor via Sunset Way
from Macro Photography in Singapore

Eco warriors Unfazed by Gloomy Weather at Pandan Mangrove!
from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore and Reflections on a Saturday Morning

Animal picture of the day: world's tiniest rhino for World Rhino Day
from Mongabay.com news by Jeremy Hance

Read more!

Our CBD is losing its green edge

As parks disappear, Singapore's downtown loses part of what makes it so attractive
Richard Hartung Today Online 23 Sep 11;

"Great cities are defined as much by their parks and open spaces as they are by their architecture," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said when plans for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation were announced in 2003. The city spent more than US$100 million (S$129 million) on 20 parks in that downtown area.

In Seoul, the government spent about US$280 million on the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project and created a new park in the middle of the city.

In contrast, patches of green here in Singapore seem to keep disappearing. One of the latest is Robinson Green, in the heart of the Central Business District.

At the end of June, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) announced that it had launched the commercial site at Robinson Road/Cecil Street for sale. A sign invites companies to submit a bid to the URA so they can turn the park into an office building.

While Robinson Green is tiny, it's an oasis of trees and flowers that brings a brief respite to workers pausing for a break or rushing past. And despite plans for small "pocket parks" in the urban centre, Robinson Green's demise seems emblematic of a continuing loss of greenery in the CBD.

Singapore used to seem more focused on greenery. Indeed, the National Parks Board states that "Singapore's development into a Garden City started four decades ago with the establishment of the greening programme. The driving force behind this was the former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who identified a green Singapore as a key competitive factor in attracting foreign investments to the country".

New plans, however, have brought change. The end of Robinson Green is part of Master Plan 2008, which the URA says will guide Singapore's development "over the next 10 to 15 years".

The Master Plan is in turn part of the Concept Plan, a "strategic land use and transportation plan to guide development in the next 40 to 50 years".

When the URA released the Master Plan in 2008, few other than developers may have looked seriously at what would change in the coming decade. The Plan shows that Robinson Green, along with nearby Telok Ayer Park, are among the "interim green" areas slated for redevelopment. The lawns above Tanjong Pagar MRT station, in contrast, are "park/open space" areas. Even some of that greenery seems to be disappearing, though, following the sale of land at Peck Seah Street earlier this year.

It is easy to sell off green spots and build buildings. It's far harder to retain the greenery that differentiates Singapore's downtown from the many drab valleys of skyscrapers elsewhere in Asia.

By eliminating these pocket parks, Singapore seems out of sync with trends in other cities and risks losing the greenery that makes it so attractive. The Sustainable Cities database says that Copenhagen and Chicago, for example, are among a number of cities actually acquiring more land to create small parks.

An increasing body of research also shows the importance of urban parks. Georgia Institute of Technology professor Joe Hughes, for example, found that "parks play a role in market restoration, value creation, job creation, green space development and neighbourhood stabilisation". Other research shows that urban parks are part of what attracts everyone from Fortune 500 companies to knowledge workers.

Admittedly, it can be hard to prove the value of these green spots. As former mayor of Bogota Colombia Enrique Peñalosa said, "we cannot prove mathematically that wider sidewalks, pedestrian streets, more or better parks make people happier, much less measure how much happier. However if we reflect, most things that are important in life cannot be measured either: Friendship, beauty, love, loyalty are examples. Parks and other pedestrian places are essential to a city's happiness".

Studies by Rotman Research Institute researcher Marc Berman do, however, help demonstrate that parks benefit people. The Wall Street Journal reports that Mr Berman found "performance on memory and attention tests improved by 20 per cent after study subjects paused for a walk through an arboretum" whereas "no cognitive boost was detected" when they strolled down a busy street. Even "a quieter city street with interesting natural elements to look at" can help, Mr Berman found. A stop in a place like Robinson Green might actually improve performance.

Rather than losing the tiny parks and open spaces in the CBD that help make Singapore green and bring so many benefits, perhaps it's time to re-examine the headlong rush into building and consider how to preserve or expand what makes Singapore so attractive.



Richard Hartung is a consultant who has lived in Singapore since 1992.

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