Indonesian President Eyes New Anti-Logging Policies Before End of Term

Novi Lumanauw Jakarta Globe 7 Jun 13;

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has reaffirmed his commitment to fight the country’s ubiquitous illegal logging, and said he will present more environmental policies before his presidency ends next year.

“I am fully committed to protect our forest and and fight against illegal logging, I have to admit there’s still a problem and challenges that need an answer, but they will be answered when public awareness and understanding improve,” Yudhoyono said during his visit to Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior ship in Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta on Friday.

Yudhoyono said he would issue more policies geared toward environmental protection before his presidential term ended in October next year. He also said the government was committed to planting one billion trees annually.

The president emphasized that Indonesia faced the dual responsibilities of creating jobs and raising living standards for the archipelago’s poor, while fulfilling its responsibility as guardian to some of the world’s great rainforests.

“We can do both of them at the same time, our economy can grow significantly while the environment remains the same. It’s difficult,” he said, “but we will not give up.”

On May 13, Yudhoyono signed a two-year extension to a logging moratorium. The moratorium is part of a $1 billion bilateral deal with Norway to reduce the impact on the nation’s forests.

The moratorium has been welcomed in principle but several activist groups and observers have criticized the lack of enforcement.

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Philippines: Lowly ‘labahita’ may yet help heal Tubbataha atolls

DJ Yap Philippine Daily Inquirer 9 Jun 13;

MANILA, Philippines—They aren’t the most beautiful fish in the sea, but the labahita may just be what the Tubbataha Reefs need to regenerate after being bruised by the intrusions of two foreign vessels earlier this year.

With the presence of labahita, also known as surgeonfish, two atolls in Tubbataha may heal in 30 to 40 years from the damage inflicted on them by the groundings of a US Navy minesweeper in January and a Chinese fishing boat in April, an expert said.

LIFESAVER The surgeonfish, a tropical bony fish known locally as “labahita,” may yet help heal the Tubbataha atolls from the damage inflicted by the groundings of a US Navy minesweeper in January and a Chinese fishing boat in April. GREGG YAN/WWF-PHILIPPINES

On the eve of Coral Triangle Day, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines paid tribute to the reef-dwelling surgeonfish for its potential pivotal role in the regeneration of the World Heritage Site located in a remote spot in the Sulu Sea.

“Perpetually browsing on algae, forever ignored because of their dull colors, these little lawn mowers are the secret to Tubbataha’s recovery,” WWF-Philippines communications manager Gregg Yan said of the fish so named for the sharp, scalpel-like spikes on their tail.

Coral scientist Al Licuanan proposed the regeneration of the damaged atolls after a recent diving expedition to Tubbataha by a team of researchers and environmentalists, according to WWF-Philippines.

“The key to it all might be surgeonfish,” Licuanan said.

The constant grazing of the fish on algae keeps the seaweeds from taking over the freshly exposed rock, allowing coral larvae to resettle on the scars left by the groundings of the two vessels, he said.

“With enough luck, the scars should heal in 30 to 40 years,” Licuanan said.

Licuanan led the team of researchers, park rangers and environmentalists from the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO), the Department of Science and Technology, WWF-Philippines, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, and De La Salle University to assess the damage caused by the groundings.

Chinese poachers

On April 8, a 48-meter-by-8-meter fishing vessel from China carrying 12 suspected poachers got stuck on an atoll in Tubbataha, destroying 3,902 square meters of coral, including a number of massive

500-year-old Porites corals sheared cleanly in half, WWF-Philippines said.

The vessel was confiscated and the poachers charged and fined.

The incident happened three months after the minesweeper USS Guardian ran aground on another atoll in Tubbataha on Jan. 17.

Salvors had to dismantle the vessel piece by piece to save the reef from further damage.

The last part of the warship, the stern, was removed from the reef on March 30.

By the time the ship was completely removed, some 2,345 sq m of coral had been destroyed, WWF-Philippines said.

The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is located in the center of the Sulu Sea. It protects nearly 100,000 hectares of high-quality marine habitats including three atolls and a large area of deep sea.

Tubbataha is home to whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and Napoleon wrasse. It supports more than 350 species of coral and about 500 species of fish and for this, it has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).

The marine park also protects one of the few remaining colonies of breeding seabirds in the region, according to Unesco.

Tourists welcome

Tourists are welcome in Tubbataha, and a 12-hour, live-aboard cruise can be booked in Puerto Princesa City. But strong waves confine recreational diving to the months of April, May and June, WWF Tubbataha project manager Marivel Dygico said.

“Tubbataha earned its moniker from visiting Samal tribesmen who called it ‘long reef,’ after the exposed coral formations revealed daily by the tide,” she said.

The rich biodiversity in the Tubbataha waters translates into unrivaled productivity, according to WWF-Philippines.

“Whereas a typical square kilometer of healthy coral reef yields up to 40 metric tons of seafood yearly, Tubbataha generates over 200,” the group said.

Fishing within the marine park is not allowed, leaving the fish and other marine life in its waters to enrich the farther reaches of the Sulu Sea with spawn.

Coral Triangle

WWF-Philippines’ Yan described Tubbataha as the “undisputed jewel of the Coral Triangle,” a marine area encompassing portions of the tropical waters of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.

The Coral Triangle is home to 30 percent of the world’s coral reefs, 75 percent of coral species and almost 3,000 species of fish, according to TMO.

“Ocean currents carry larvae from the Coral Triangle to other parts of the world, supplying the globe with marine resources. It is the geographic center of global marine biodiversity and an international priority for conservation,” TMO said.

Coral Triangle Day, a global celebration of the epicenter of the world’s marine biodiversity, is marked on June 9 each year, in conjunction with World Oceans Day, observed the day before, TMO said.

Reef degradation

About 85 percent of the reefs in the Coral Triangle are in decline, with the Philippines leading in reef degradation, World Resources Institute said in a recent study called “Reefs at Risk.”

As of 2010, only 1 percent of Philippine reefs, including Tubbataha, are in excellent condition, and about 40 percent are in poor condition, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said.

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Study finds shipwrecks threaten precious seas

Matt McGrath BBC News 8 Jun 13;

A new report identifies the world's most dangerous waters for shipping and says accidents pose a particular danger for some of the most ecologically important areas.

The research says the worst accident hotspots are in the South China Sea, the Mediterranean and North Sea.

Losses are more likely in the future as the number of ships is expected to double, the authors warn.

The study has been carried out for WWF International.

The number of ships traversing the world's oceans has increased substantially over the past 15 years from around 85,000 vessels to 105,000.

While the overall number of accidents taken place has fallen, the WWF report states that many that do take place happen in areas of significant environmental interest.

Since 1999, there have been 239 shipping accidents in the South China Sea and East Indies, an area sometimes called the Coral Triangle, where three quarters of the world's coral is found.

"This is the top accident area because of its associated with tramp streamers, older vessels and unregulated flags of convenience," said Dr Simon Walmsley from WWF.

"The probability is the next accident will be in one of these places, and we've already seen... a Chinese fishing boat and a US navy vessel running aground on a world heritage site in the Philippines."

As well as the South China Sea, the other major accident hotspots identified include the East Mediterranean, the Black Sea, the North Sea and around the British Isles.

General cargo ships account for more than 40% of vessels lost at sea while fishing boats account for nearly a quarter. More than half of all accidents are caused by foundering where a boat sinks because of rough weather, leaks or by breaking in two.

The big concern for the authors though is that shipping is likely to double in the next 20-30 years and vessels will be going to riskier places. They point to new ports being built to transport coal from Australia that would bring more traffic towards the Great Barrier Reef.

"In some parts of the world we think the risk is too great for vessels," said Dr Walmsley.

"If there is a spill for instance in the Arctic, there is no method at all for cleaning oil under ice, it doesn't exist, the risk there is absolutely huge. The biggest cod stock in the world is in the Barents sea, if ever we had an oil spill there, it could wipe out livelihoods for decades."

The authors call for increased regulation, in particular to curb ships operating under flags of convenience, which they argue are a significant part of the problem. They also say that climate change models predict an increase in storm surges in the future could impact shipping.

This view on the impact of climate is challenged by Captain Rahul Khanna, who has guided oil tankers through the world's oceans for 15 years. He is now a risk consultant with Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty insurance.

"Ships are made to withstand these natural forces," he told BBC News.

"I personally have experience storms and hurricanes and negotiated them on a well founded ship. Generally, I don't think this will increase accidents as such."

What the industry is concerned about is people. Earlier this year, Allianz produced its annual report on shipping losses. Despite the impact of technology and training, the human element is still the biggest risk factor.

"Clearly in the economic challenges of today people are trying to sweat their assets," said Hugo Kidston, editor of the report.

"They are trying to get their crews to work hard, and in areas like the Baltic this can be a very intense operating environment, so the human element is the big challenge."

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Great Barrier Reef: World Heritage in Danger?

Shrinking coral and failing government may land the reef on a "list of shame."
Brian Handwerk National Geographic 8 Jun 13;

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is losing coral at an alarming rate—and may soon lose its prestigious status as one of the world's great natural treasures as well.

The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has warned that without the urgent implementation of sustainable management improvements, the reef could land on its list of World Heritage in Danger as early as 2014.

"World Heritage in Danger is essentially the list of shame, and we've got real concerns that UNESCO may put the Great Barrier Reef on this list," said WWF-Australia's Richard Leck. "That's not the outcome that anybody wants," Leck added, noting that national prestige and some $6 billion in annual reef-related tourism could both take a hit.

A government-funded Australian Institute of Marine Science report published last year in the journal PNAS echoed the shockingly bad news from earlier studies, concluding that the reef has lost half of its coral cover during the past 27 years—a period that roughly coincides with its listing as a World Heritage Site.

The reef, which stretches for some 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) off northeast Australia's Queensland coast, is the largest structure on Earth built by living organisms. It has been battered by storms and beset by an invasion of crown-of-thorns starfish that choke off the natural ecosystem. The reef faces global challenges like warming temperatures, as well as more localized problems including water-fouling runoff pollution, coastal port development, dredging, and increased shipping thanks to a booming local coal industry.

Concerned by the pace of reef deterioration, as well as government-approved port expansions and dredging operations that threaten to damage it, the World Heritage Centre and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) did a comprehensive report on the state of the reef's conservation last March. The group made a series of recommendations, and officially requested that Australia revamp plans to manage the reef.

"We asked for an independent scientific assessment of the Gladstone Harbour [the port project at the gateway to the southern part of the reef] and the impact that development is having on the reef, and asked to have no new port development in areas outside of existing and long-established major port areas," said Fanny Douvere of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre. "We also asked for a strategic assessment that will foresee longer-term sustainable development of the reef area. The reef is about the same size as Italy, so it's normal that the Queensland government wants to develop things in the area. But it has to be done in a sustainable manner, and there are quite a few projects already happening."

But thus far the response of Australian authorities (including in the State Party Report on the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area) appears to have fallen far short, especially in terms of water quality improvements and coastal development. A progress report and draft decision recently released by the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, ahead of the June 17 World Heritage Committee meeting in Cambodia, said "urgent and decisive action is needed" to address the reef's woes, including halts to threatening coastal development projects.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN "further recommend that the Committee consider the Great Barrier Reef for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 38th session in 2014 in the absence of a firm and demonstrable commitment on these priority issues by the State Party."

Environmentalists Give Government Failing Grades

WWF-Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society have already released their own scorecard grading the governments' plans, progress, and management of the Great Barrier Reef. Both the Australian and Queensland authorities earned failing grades.

"We've had a really good look at the [World Heritage Centre] recommendations and all the publicly available information we can find on what the government has done, and we found that it wasn't particularly good, so we've expressed a lot of concern that the government won't demonstrate substantial progress," said WWF-Australia's Richard Leck.

Leck said the government has failed to move forward in some key areas. "Reducing pollution from farms and not developing ports out of existing areas—none of those commitments are being made, and that has us concerned that UNESCO may have no choice."

Australian authorities, on the other hand, maintain that the reef is in good hands as "one of the best managed marine protected areas in the world," according to the Australian and Queensland governments' Great Barrier Reef Ports Strategy on future development plans.

Queensland has also pledged $35 million annually for projects to improve reef water quality. And Tony Burke, Australia's Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population, and Communities, has commissioned an independent review of the Port of Gladstone due by June 30 that the agency calls "a key component of the Australian Government's response to the 2012 decision of the World Heritage Committee regarding the ongoing protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Property."

"We have made substantial progress in addressing the recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee including agreement to conduct one of the most comprehensive strategic assessments ever undertaken in Australia," Burke said in February. "The strategic assessment will assist in future planning for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area by determining where sustainable development can occur, the type of development that will be allowed, and the conditions under which development may proceed."

Reef Suffering "Death by a Thousand Cuts"

The Great Barrier Reef, actually a group of more than 2,800 separate entities along Australia's eastern coast, is home to a staggering diversity of marine life, from mollusks and fish to sea turtles and aquatic plants.

But Terry Hughes, who heads the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies headquartered at James Cook University, describes it as currently "suffering death by a thousand cuts."

"We have affected their survival, growth, and reproduction, which is the real reason why coral cover has been declining for many decades," he said. "Coastal reefs have been obliterated by runoff of sediment, dredging, and pollution. Once-thriving corals have been replaced by mud and seaweed."

Queensland farmers use seven times more nitrogen-based fertilizers than they did 50 years ago, Hughes said, and have far more land under cultivation. Coal mining has doubled each decade during the same time frame. "The expansion of mining has been accompanied by major rail and port development, near-shore dredging, and unprecedented growth in shipping," he explained.

Hughes says the crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks that have decimated parts off the reef are merely a symptom of its problems, not the cause. Some scientists believe that dredging and nutrient runoff fuel phytoplankton blooms, which in turn feed starfish larvae so well that they explode in numbers. Others believe that systemic changes to the reef food chain mean that fewer young starfish are being eaten by predators.

"The well-documented decline in coral cover highlights UNESCO's concerns about the dwindling universal heritage values [a set of standards that qualifies a site for inclusion on the World Heritage List] of the Barrier Reef. The key question now is, what are we going to do about these losses?" Hughes said.

"To increase coral cover, we need to improve the conditions that help them reproduce, survive, and grow. The capacity for coral recovery is impaired on a reef that is muddy, polluted, or overfished. The ongoing decline of corals demonstrates that the Great Barrier Reef is very poorly positioned to recover from future bouts of coral bleaching or to cope with accelerating coast development and new coal mines."

Hughes hopes to see both Queensland and Commonwealth governments control pollution, curb dredging, and ban new coal ports while reducing the use of carbon-emitting coal.

"We need a bold plan for transforming how the Great Barrier Reef catchment is used," he added. "The Commonwealth's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has almost no capacity to influence two major drivers of change that are increasingly affecting the reef—activities on land and in Queensland coastal waters that degrade water quality within the GBR World Heritage Area, and global climate change."

Australia's recent Energy White Paper, under then-Minister of Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson, would instead grow both coal and gas exports, and produce more than double the number of 2001 ship dockings by 2020.

WWF-Australia's Richard Leck says that environmentalists understand the concerns of those who favor economic development, but that time is running short to act on behalf of the reef. "WWF doesn't want to see industries shut down in Queensland, or farming and fishing. But we really do believe this year is a crucial period of time for the Great Barrier Reef. With the UNESCO meeting in June and a national election here in September, it's a rare opportunity to focus people's minds on the future of the reef. With the level of decline in coral cover, we've already seen that there isn't that big of a window to make commitments to turn this around."

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Cod stocks recover after years of overfishing

Survey suggests effective management means levels are increasing – but stocks won't be sustainable for at least a year
Fiona Harvey The Guardian 8 Jun 13;

Cod could be in for a revival at the fish counter as stocks recover after being overfished for decades.

Eating cod has been regarded as close to a crime by environmentalists, and consumers have been urged to opt for alternatives such as gurnard.

But a survey by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and other fisheries organisations suggests that effective management means cod is increasing. The standards body, which certifies certain fisheries as sustainable as a guide for consumers, said that on current trends cod would soon qualify for its certification.

Richard Benyon, the fisheries minister, recently confessed to the Guardian that cod – in batter, with mushy peas – was his favourite fish.

But cod aficionados will have to wait a bit longer before tucking in with a clear conscience: stocks will not be sustainable for at least a year and possibly two or three, said Claire Pescod of the MSC: "Things are a lot better than they were, but we can't let up just yet."

Chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said he would be waiting for a full certification by the MSC before putting cod back on the menu. "I'm more keen than anyone to see British cod back on the 'fish to eat' list, but I can't in good conscience promote eating fish from a stock that it is still below what scientists consider safe limits, while fishermen still have to throw much of it back dead into the sea," he said.

"If you know your cod is from a boat catching in a selective and low-impact way, or a trawler on the CCTV scheme for discard-free cod, then that's the best choice you can make for British cod."

Some green campaigners were cautious, saying a full recovery could still take many years. Paul de Zylva of Friends of the Earth said: "We would expect some recovery of cod stocks because of the closure of the North Sea cod fisheries. But this does not mean stocks have recovered to high enough levels.

"We're in this near extinction mess – and the North Sea cod fisheries were closed – precisely because industrial commercial fishing has stripped fish stock to the bone. The UK used to be self-sufficient in fish for all 12 months of the year. Now we're using our own fish stocks for just six months."

He said taking species off the danger list too soon would just repeat the cycle of overfishing. "It's pointless to declare that cod and other species are recovering if they are still far from being at safe levels where adult fish reproduce, their offspring survive and overall levels are sustained."

A handful of other species that have been overfished are also showing signs of improvement: Dover sole caught using trammel nets in the western channel, North Sea herring caught by drift net, and cockles from the Thames Estuary. But red gurnard may be less safe than thought – there is not enough data, according to the MSC, to say for certain how stocks are faring.

The brighter prospect for cod comes in Project Inshore, a survey of 450 of the UK's inshore fishing grounds carried out by the MSC and other fishing organisations, with government backing.

The organisation said: "Cod stocks in the North Sea – often perceived as a species to avoid – continue to show a strong recovery and are now close to a level where they could meet the MSC standard. The report shows that strong management measures have made a positive impact and that – once stocks have reached the required levels – all other areas of the fisheries are ready to enter an MSC full assessment."

On red gurnard, the MSC called for more data and more government investment in greater monitoring. "While a shortage of data doesn't mean that the fisheries are inherently unsustainable, that data will be increasingly important as the species gains in popularity and catches increase."

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Mexico approves measure to save world's rarest marine mammal

WWF 7 Jun 13;

The government of Mexico has taken a decisive step to save the vaquita - a porpoise threatened by extinction - and to promote sustainable fisheries in the upper Gulf of California for the benefit of fishers and their families, says WWF-Mexico.

The new regulation, called an official norm, comes after over 38,000 people from 127 countries signed WWF's petition to Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto requesting measures to save the vaquita and allow fishers to continue to earn a living through sustainable fishing.

A critically endangered vaquita caught in a gillnet.
© National Geographic Stock/Flip Nicklin/Minden Pictures / WWF

“With this norm, drift gillnets - one of the nets used in artisanal shrimping operations in which vaquitas die incidentally - will be gradually substituted, during a three year period, for selective fishing gears that does not kill this porpoise, but that allow fishers to keep earning their livelihoods. The effective application of the norm requires the participation and commitment of local fishermen. The optimal use of the net requires the development of particular skills; therefore, the support of the government and other organizations through training and temporary compensation programs will be essential along the fisher´s learning curve,” said Omar Vidal, WWF-Mexico’s Director General.

“It represents a major opportunity to promote sustainable fisheries in the region and to protect this Mexican porpoise. WWF acknowledges the commitment of the Mexican government to save the vaquita from extinction”, added Vidal.

Of all cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), the vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is the only one endemic to Mexico, has the most restricted distribution (it only lives in the upper Gulf of California), is the smallest (reaches a maximum length of 1.5 meters) and faces the highest risk of extinction.

It is estimated that less than 200 vaquitas currently survive. Its main threat is incidental entanglement and drowning in drift gillnets used to catch shrimp, sharks, rays and other fish. Vaquitas also continues to die trapped in gillnets used in the illegal fishing of totoaba, a fish which is also endangered.

The new regulation establishes shrimping standards in Mexico and defines the fishing gears permitted in different zones of the country.

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Best of our wild blogs: 8 Jun 13

12 Jun (Wed): Talk on "Singapore’s Underwater Meadows" by Dr. Len McKenzie
from teamseagrass

Southern Expedition dive photos and stories by Debby Ng
from Mega Marine Survey of Singapore

Surveying the Deep
from Pulau Hantu and Cryptic Critters on Whips, Crinoids, and in the Dirt

Spotted Wood-owl nesting at Dairy Farm Crescent
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Book Review: Hornbills of the World – A Photographic Guide
from Bird Ecology Study Group

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Forests mostly secondary

Straits Times Forum 8 Jun 13;

I refer to the article, Green Gems, by Lea Wee (SundayLife!, June 2).

In it, she made several statements concerning the forests of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, referring to them as "primary forests".

For example, she writes: "These undisturbed primary forests have been called the green lungs of Singapore…"

This gives the impression that the whole catchment reserve is now covered with undisturbed primary forest.

As one who has worked as a professional forest ecologist and who carried out a quantitative survey of the reserve in 1992, I have to say that it is not correct to state that the forests are all primary forests. The vegetation there consists mostly of secondary forest, with some small patches of primary forest scattered here and there.

Wong Yew Kwan
Former commissioner for Parks and Recreation

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PUB on extracting groundwater

Straits Times Forum 8 Jun 13;

PUB, the national water agency, thanks Dr Wong Ming Keong for his letter ("Extracting groundwater could cause S'pore to sink"; Monday).

Even if groundwater was available, any extraction must be done in a safe and sustainable manner.

That is precisely why the PUB has commissioned a study of Singapore's hydro-geology.

We will also study both the negative and positive examples of other cities before making such a major decision.

For example, places that are using and managing groundwater in a sustainable manner include Orange County (California) and Perth (Western Australia).

The Orange County groundwater system currently provides approximately 70 per cent of northern and central Orange County's drinking water, while approximately half of Perth's drinking water will come from secured deep groundwater sources by 2022.

The PUB has appointed an international panel of hydro-geological experts to advise us on potential groundwater exploratory projects.

The experts have many years of experience in groundwater resource assessment and management in many countries, and will provide independent advice.

The public can send feedback through the PUB's 24-hour call centre on 1800-284-6600.

Young Joo Chye

Director, Planning and Policy

PUB

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Indonesia: Seawater intrusion grows in Jakarta

Theresia Sufa The Jakarta Post 7 Jun 13;

Environmental experts have predicted that Jakarta may suffer seawater intrusion in 10 years should the administration fail to take preemptive measures.

“Currently, seawater intrusion has reached Lapangan Banteng square in Central Jakarta and Blok M in South Jakarta. The administration should control the number of artesian wells and restore mangrove plants along the coast of Jakarta. Otherwise, in 10 to 15 years, Jakarta will face a groundwater scarcity,” Cecep Kusmana, head of the Environment and Natural Resources Management study program with the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), said on Wednesday.

He said the condition may also affect the structure of high rises because the metal used in the
construction of the building foundation would be corroded.

The uncontrolled use of groundwater for household and industrial purposes is blamed for the sinking of Jakarta. According to Cecep, the subsidence has reached 7 centimeters per year.

The IPB’s landscape management program head, Hadi Susilo Arifin, suggested the administration equip the city with more blue open spaces (RTB) such as lakes and dams.

“The administrations of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Bekasi and Cianjur should contain more rainwater in lakes and dams, and not only rely on green open space,” he said.

He added that almost all developers reclaimed or reduced the volume of blue open space due to houses and commercial premises.

“What people don’t realize is that the lakes or dams are actually represent added value for housing complexes because they give a beautiful view and better air,” Hadi said.

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Malaysia: No eating shellfish in Sabah due to toxic red tide

Kristy Inus New Straits Times 7 Jun 13;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Fisheries Department today warned the public to refrain from eating shellfish due to the high toxin level caused by the red tide phenomenon.
Sabah Fisheries Department director Rayner Stuel Galid said the level collected from the samples here was around 700 Mouse Unit (MU), where the lowest limit considered as dangerous for humans is 400 MU.

The red tide phenomenon traced at Sabah's west coast waters since late last year, is expected to continue for another month.

"While it has reduced from over 1,000 MU previously, it is still poisonous level and the health warning issued before this stays.

"We remind the people not to disregard this due to the health risks that could lead to fatality ... So please refrain from collecting and eating shellfish," he said.

Rayner added that the unpredictable weather between hot and wet spells is one of the contributing factors that the phenomenon lasted so long, as the algea related to the toxic thrive in this condition.

"We expect it to end by July but that depends on the weather. The monitoring will be done all year long to detect the toxin level," he added.

Earlier this year, three people in Sepanggar and Inanam died from red tide poisoning after eating cockles collected from Sepanggar Bay waters.

Symptoms of shellfish poisoning due to red tide include tingling of the lips and tongue, depending on the severity of the poisoning.

The symptoms may progress to a sensation of ‘prickling of pins and needles’ and then loss of control of arms and legs, followed by breathing difficulty.

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Malaysia: Bird watching from the garden

Yvonne Ang The Star 8 Jun 13;

When volunteers help to count birds, it helps scientists understand the health of the environment.

Mention conservation and everyone’s mind readily sprints to orangutans in lush rainforests or baby turtles clumsily making their way into the deep blue sea.

But how about sitting comfortably in one’s own garden for 30 minutes and counting birds? Next weekend, this is the very thing volunteers from all over Malaysia will be doing to help preserve our environment.

On June 15 and 16, MY Garden Birdwatch (MYGB) will be holding its annual survey of garden birds in Malaysia. Now in its fourth year, MYGB was initiated by the birdwatching chapter of the Malaysian Nature Society.

Modeled after Britain’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ Big Garden Birdwatch, this “citizen science” programme contributes to conservation through the observation of garden birds, utilizing the public as the muscle of the programme.

Citizen science is a term coined for conservation programmes that promote the involvement of everyday folk in observations of wildlife.

“I have been doing the MYGB count for three years and this will be my fourth,” quips Mark Ng, MNS’ Selangor Branch Bird Group coordinator.

“This is the little bit that I can contribute as a citizen ‘scientist’ to help gather data over the years. I will continue to count as long as the project is on.”

The wildlife of interest for MYGB are garden birds – especially (but not limited to) 28 birds from the 740 bird species found in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, and the environments being observed are the very places we all live in!

Many of the birds highlighted in the MYGB birdlist are frequently spotted in an urban setting, much like a garden in a typical Malaysian residential area.

Data submitted from the public goes through a verification process by a group of experts before it is accepted to ensure the quality of the data.

Half an hour might not seem like much, but every single MYGB observation is important because it contributes towards a better understanding of the surrounding environment and how bird populations react to environmental factors.

Birds have long been used as an indicator of the health of the environment as used by Birdlife International’s Important Bird Areas, where birds are used to identify key sites for conservation.

Anyone who is interested in being a citizen scientist on June 15 and 16 should visit www.mygardenbirdwatch.com and run through the “How To” section to understand the mechanics of the count (there really are only two steps!).

There are also some useful tips such as:

> Keep a low profile when you are counting for the survey. Standing in the middle of the garden in a bright red shirt might shoo the birds away.

> If you are counting in your own garden or backyard, station yourself at the window or porch so that your presence does not scare the birds away.

> If you are counting at a neighbourhood green patch, resist the temptation to walk to the other end of the park. Simply record the birds that can be seen from where you are.

Do you count the birds that fly overhead? Do you count the birds that keep chirping away but can never be seen? The answers are all in www.mygardenbirdwatch.com, a site from where you can also download a convenient count sheet and listen to the calls of birds.

After the survey, the number of birds observed can be submitted online at the MYGB website. Those who are taking part should remember that the 30-minute count time should be adhered to strictly as the consistency of the observation period is important when comparing the data throughout Malaysia.

Observations that exceed or are less than 30 minutes are disqualified from the count. Although it may seem harsh, it is a necessary step in ensuring the integrity of the data obtained.

The MYGB survey is suitable for people of all ages, and can be done with or without a pair of binoculars. Birdwatching can be a lot of fun when done in the company of friends and family or even as a way to relax on the weekends – after all, there’s nothing like the rejuvenating powers of the natural environment.

Tashia Peterson, co-coordinator of MYGB2013, believes that this will be a fun activity for the family and a good way to introduce birds to children. She and her family have themselves been involved in the bird survey for the last two years.

Participants are encouraged to spend a few minutes paying attention to their neighbourhood birds prior to the survey to make identification easier. A good time to observe birds is between 7am and 11am, and 4pm and 6pm, when the birds are most active.

What happens if birds decide not to grace your garden with their presence on the day of the survey? The submission of a survey result that says “no sightings of birds” is just as valid, if that is indeed what the participant saw!

Following concerted efforts to raise the profile of MYGB this year, many more volunteers have come forward to run their own activities across the country in conjunction with the MYGB survey.

“Since its inception some four years ago, MYGB has taken root nationwide,” says Mohd Rafi Kudus, MNS’ Bird Conservation Council chairman, under which MYGB is organised.

“The dream will be realised when a large portion of Malaysians do the count naturally as a habit. The ultimate goal will be the protection of birds in our towns and villages!”

In Kuching, birdwatchers from MNS’ Kuching Branch have held basic birdwatching talks and mock counts in schools.

In Cameron Highlands, a local NGO, the Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (REACH) organised a picnic seminar to promote the survey and birdwatching.

Meanwhile, in Selangor, the MNS Selangor Branch Bird Group has also profiled MYGB at national events like the Youth Environmental Expo 2012, besides holding an introductory session at Taylor’s University College in Subang Jaya. Representatives from various states have also been working hard to recruit more counters for the survey.

“It gives me great satisfaction to see parents and their children participating in this project,” says Andy Lee, the Outreach Leader for MYGB 2013. “This motivates me to continue counting for many, many more years.”

In many ways, the MYGB survey is all about the public’s participation in conservation. Indeed, it’s only through the involvement of ordinary people that this survey, and the environment we all live in, can thrive.

Download your own handy pocket guide to some Malaysian birds at www.mygardenbirdwatch.com. Many birds can be seen (and heard!) on YouTube. Just iSnap this page for an example.

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