Philippines: Future of whale shark tours under scrutiny

Cebu Daily News 24 Jun 13;

Should the whale shark tours in Oslob town be scrapped permanently to avoid harming the marine creatures?

Any recommendation to do so would have to factor in the impact it would create on the livelihood of Oslob fisherfolk and residents, incoming Rep. Wilfredo Caminero of Cebu’s 2nd district said.

If it continues, the Italy-based non-profit organization Phsyalus said Oslob town should at least strictly enforce the “no touching” policy on tourists if they cannot stop them from feeding the whale sharks.

Caminero said thousands of Oslob locals who directly benefit from the whale shark tours will be affected specifically the fisherfolk who bring the tourists close to the whale sharks.

He said resorts and shops that service the foreign and local tourists will also suffer from the cancellation of the whale shark tours.

“A lot of factors should be considered before reaching a decision on that matter. Are there any environmental laws violated?,” Caminero said.

While saying he is against the cancellation of the whale shark tours, Caminero said he will abide by the decision of the Regional Development Council (RDC).

Phsyalus said their five-month study on the effects of the human activities on the whale sharks in Oslob town showed that the creatures sustained wounds caused by contact with propellers on the boats used by the tourists who feed them.

The whale sharks abound in Tan-awan Oslob, where they are fed with krill locally known as uyap by registered boatmen in the town.

In their count, about 246 tourists visit Tan-awan on weekdays and 643 tourists on weekends.

While a local ordinance prohibits tourists from touching or getting close to the whale shark, Physalus recorded 1832 ‘active touches’ of the whale sharks equating to 29 touches per hour.

“The feeders have also been observed to occasionally stroke the sharks and push them away in an attempt to discourage the shark and communicate to the animal the non-intention to feed,” the study reads.

About 89 percent were initiated by the feeders that touch the mouth of the whale sharks. “The stress related to disturbance can be high enough to displace the shark from the area,” Phsyalus said.

It said frequent human contact can have a detrimental effect on the whale shark population by eliminating important feeding areas or migration corridors.

As of July 31, Physalus identified 62 individual whale sharks measuring from three meters to seven meters. Most of them are juvenile sharks.

“We strongly believe that proper information and education are the foundation of environmental conservation, and this is the reason why this report is open to the public,” said Alessandro Ponzo, president of the Italian-based Physalus.

“Physalus understands the importance of tourism as a source of livelihood for the local community, but to make it a real long-term alternative and to improve the welfare of the community it has to be done in a sustainable way,” he said. /Marian Z. Codilla and Peter L. Romanillos

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Conservation hell Vietnam pulls plug on park’s UNESCO recognition

Thanhniennews.com 24 Jun 13;

Indicative of deeper malaise of poor management of protected areas, critics warn

In what was apparently a face-saving move, Vietnam opted to withdraw its nomination of a major national park for UNESCO heritage status two days ahead of an annual session that opened June 16 in Cambodia.

But even if Vietnam had gone ahead with nominating the Cat Tien National Park, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization would have probably rejected it following a recommendation to the effect by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The IUCN, which had conducted a thorough evaluation of the park, urged UNESCO in a report this month “not to inscribe the nomination of Cat Tien National Park” for failing to meet World Heritage criteria.

But dismayed conservationists say this is not just a question of Cat Tien, which has already been recognized as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, losing another title.

More important is that the failure should serve as a wake-up call for Vietnam to actually manage its natural heritage rather than simply get recognition for it, they say.

“For the past few years, Vietnam has been all about 'winning' recognition,” Pamela McElwee, an assistant professor of human ecology at Rutgers University in the US who has researched extensively on Vietnam's protected areas, said.

“But then after having received this international attention, authorities don't follow up to ensure the cultural or environmental values they won recognition for… are conserved,” she told Vietweek.

Conservationists cite the example of the world-renowned Ha Long Bay, where winning international attention has not halted serious environmental problems like coal mining and unregulated dumping of waste into the bay.

In 2011 Ha Long Bay, twice recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, made it to the list of New Natural Wonders of the World in a campaign marred by allegations that organizers asked candidates to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees.

Critics also said the voting methods were shrouded in secrecy.

After Ha Long scooped the new honor experts had expressed concern about its preservation. But the site has continued to suffer from increasing pollution due to industrial and urban development, coal mining, and tourism.

Another example is the rampant deforestation of the World Heritage site Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, home to the world’s longest cave with a stream and mysterious deep lakes, in the north-central province of Quang Binh.

Just this month a Quang Binh court handed down jail terms to 12 people in a high-profile case of illegal logging of rare trees in the park.

The park director was censured and a deputy director was dismissed for failing to handle the case properly and quickly after it was detected despite an outcry.

A study released last May by UK-based conservation group Flora and Fauna International said law enforcement is absent at the park, with illegal logging and transportation of timber being rampant and done openly.

Conservationists say such cases are emblematic of the poor management of Vietnam’s World Heritage sites and other protected areas in terms of conserving biodiversity.

Not achieving World Heritage recognition for Cat Tien National Park would certainly affect tourism to the site since many people use the UNESCO list as a way to seek out and promote unique places, experts say.

But on the bright side, McElwee said: “This will encourage authorities to look at how they might better address the multiple threats to Vietnam's protected areas and prioritize action above accolades.”

Cosseted conservation

Located 100 kilometers northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Cat Tien is home to around 1,700 precious plants and more than 700 species of animals and birds, several of which are endangered.

Eleven ethnic minority groups live around the park.

After the discovery of a population of Javan rhinos in 1992, the park was declared a rhinoceros reserve and received worldwide attention.

Of 30 national parks and scores of other protected areas spanning forests and wetlands across Vietnam, “Cat Tien has received the highest attention and the largest investment for conservation from the government and the international community,” Vu Ngoc Long, a human ecologist who heads the HCMC-based Southern Institute of Ecology, told Vietweek.

But the killing of Vietnam’s last rhino in the park in 2010 dealt a major blow to the biodiversity conservation there.

From 1998 to 2004 the WWF alone invested US$6.3 million in the park, with up to $600,000 earmarked for rhino conservation work.

From the mid-1990s, a number of organizations were involved in efforts to conserve the remaining Javan rhino population in Cat Tien, but conservationists have blamed land conversion and a growing local population for threatening the animal’s habitat, which has been cut in half since 1988 to about 30,000 hectares today.

Vietnam’s legal system incorporates a large number of globally accepted principles on environmentally sustainable management, and it is one of the few countries with a biodiversity law, a World Bank report said in 2010.

But in practice, such provisions are minor considerations in land use and infrastructure-planning decisions, it added.

Conservationists say the death of the last rhino in Cat Tien should be a bitter lesson that funding alone by no means assures the survival of wildlife.

The failure to win the UNESCO recognition “reflects a serious concern in the international community that Vietnam is just not taking the effective conservation of its protected areas seriously,” Jeremy Carew-Reid, director of the Hanoi-based conservation group International Center for Environmental Management, said.

The IUCN said in its report to UNESCO that since the discontinuation of a major conservation project - funded by the WWF - in 2004 and the decline in other project activities, management support in Cat Tien “has been reduced dramatically and overall management capacity may also have declined.”

The report quoted the park staff as saying that “local tourists pose the biggest risk to the biodiversity.”

It also identified rampant poaching as a current threat to the park.

Speaking to Vietweek two years ago, Tran Van Thanh, then Cat Tien director, lamented that his 130 rangers faced an uphill task in patrolling the 74,000-hectare (182,000-acre) park.

Each of them, who were paid around VND3 million a month, had to be on duty for 22 days in a row and stay in the forest on their own.

Since then no major headway has been made in terms of personnel or their wages.

Experts point out that even if rangers manage a protected area well they get little pay or recognition, so it comes as no surprise that people become corrupt easily and the entire system suffers.

“A requirement for being nominated for international recognition ought to be excellence in management - unfortunately it is not, as we see in the case of Cat Tien,” McElwee said.

Fading faith

The IUCN also expressed concern about plans to build two hydropower stations on the Dong Nai River in the eponymous province some 35 km north and upstream of the park.

The dams have faced fierce opposition from conservationists who warn if built they would totally alter the marine environment in the park and inundate forests.

The planned construction of these two dams “had a major bearing on the recommendation of the IUCN against recognizing Cat Tien,” Long, the Vietnamese expert, said.

The opponents of the dams also say the impacts are beyond estimation since it is not only about the park but also the lives of millions of people living in downstream areas in Binh Duong Province and HCMC.

Conservationists say in energy-hungry Vietnam, which relies on hydropower for about 40 percent of its electricity needs, many dam builders claim their actions as being taken in the “national interest.”

But the fact is they are driven purely by the desire to make profit at any cost, they say.

The pace and scale of hydropower and road development are proceeding with scant regard for Vietnam’s remaining biodiversity and protected areas, experts say.

Even the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are contributing to this rapid degradation with support to hydropower and road projects which are having serious negative impacts on protected areas, they add.

“Protected area managers in Vietnam are not given the status and authority required to safeguard their territory from poorly planned and executed infrastructure within and upstream of important biodiversity,” Carew-Reid, the Hanoi-based expert, said.

An increasing number of lawmakers, government agencies, environmental groups, and local administrations have joined the opposing camp, saying the two Cat Tien dams must be scrapped.

But they are not too sure if their concerns will be heeded.

“The dam developer has been lobbying so aggressively,” Trinh Le Nguyen, executive director of People and Nature Reconciliation, one of Vietnam's few locally based conservation groups, said.

The National Assembly, Vietnam’s legislature, has the final say on the fate of the dam, but it has not fixed a time slot to even debate it any time soon.

Nguyen Van Dien, the current Cat Tien director, declined to say whether he is against or for the building of the dams.

“All I can say is that everything has to be carried out in accordance with the law,” he told Vietweek.

But he and other Vietnamese experts concur that conservation efforts in the country are all too often undermined by people with vested interests.

They say that when developers want the land, power and money do the talking and environmental conservation has no chance of winning.

With Vietnamese authorities saying they will submit the application for Cat Tien’s recognition this September, conservationists say the country risks rejection again if it fails to stop the building of the two dams.

The fallout from the construction will also be irreversible, they warn.

“If Vietnam allows the dams to go ahead, the country will knowingly go against its international commitments to biodiversity conservation,” Long said.

“In so doing, Cat Tien will lose the [UNESCO] recognition forever.

“But the most important thing is no one will ever believe that Vietnam is serious about preserving natural heritage.”

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Australia: Attorney-General wants Japanese whaling outlawed before next hunting season

ABC News 23 Jun 13;

Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus wants the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to outlaw Japanese whaling before the start of the next whale hunting season.

Australia has challenged Japan's right to conduct its whaling research program in the Southern Ocean in the ICJ.

Public hearings are due to start this week.

The Attorney-General says Japan's whaling is in breach of international law.

He says Australia has tried numerous times, unsuccessfully, to resolve its dispute with Japan outside the court.

"Australia and Japan have both filed very lengthy legal argument and factual argument with the ICJ," he said.

"Australia's case is that Japan is in breach of its obligations under international law and should stop these so-called scientific whaling activity that it's carrying on in the Southern Ocean."

He says Australia and Japan remain strong friends, despite their dispute over whaling.

"Australia and Japan agree that the ICJ is the best place to resolve a dispute between friends," he said.

"Australia values its very long standing and important relationship and friendship with Japan."

Australia and Japan in court battle over whaling
Thomas Escritt PlanetArk 26 Jun 13;

Australia will try to persuade judges that Japan's scientific whaling program is commercial whaling in disguise in a case between the countries that opens in The Hague on Wednesday.

Japan introduced scientific whaling to skirt a commercial whaling ban under a 1986 moratorium. It argues it has a right to monitor the whales' impact on its fishing industry.

But Australia, which filed its case at the International Court of Justice in 2010, says Japan's scientific program in the Southern Ocean is a cover for commercial whaling.

"More than 10,000 whales have been killed as a result of Japan's so-called scientific whaling program since the moratorium commenced in the mid-1980s," Mark Dreyfus, Australia's attorney general, told reporters this week.

"We do want the whaling to stop, and we say that Japan's whaling program is in breach of its international obligations," added Dreyfus, who will present Australia's opening arguments at the court on Wednesday.

Japanese diplomat Noriyuki Shikata said the Japanese Whale Research Programme yielded essential information about the age distribution and proportion of males to females in the Antarctic whale population, helping decide if stocks were recovering.

"There are about 515,000 minke whales in the Antarctic, and Japan's research is taking only about 815 a year," Shikata said.

"This is below the reproductive rate and ... very sustainable."

Nonetheless, environmental campaigners condemned the practice.

"Commercial whaling, whether conducted openly or under the guise of science, is a cruel and outdated practice which produces no science of value," said Patrick Ramage, director of the whales program at the International Fund for Animal Welfare in London.

"All necessary research on these whales can be done by non-lethal means," said John Frizell, a whales campaigner at Greenpeace. Neither group is involved in the case.

Both countries have agreed to be bound by the court's ruling. Japan's court filings are not yet public.

While Australia has many backers - New Zealand has filed a brief in support of its case - support for a complete whaling ban is not unanimous.

Norway, which never agreed to the whaling moratorium, continues to whale commercially and has declined to intervene in the case.

Its fisheries minister Lisbeth Berg-Hansen told has parliament it was up to Japan to decide how it wanted to conduct research into whales.

(Additional reporting by Alister Doyle in Oslo and Lincoln Feast in Sydney; Editing by Sara Webb and Alison Williams)

Whaling's day in court is a sea change for conservation
Representatives from the Australian government are facing their Japanese counterparts to end 'scientific whaling'. The survival of the species depends on it
Georgina Kenyon guardian.co.uk 26 Jun 13;

It’s been a long, tenacious, 20-year fight by lawyers and conservationists to get to this point. Today, representatives from the Australian government are facing their counterparts from Japan in the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to end Japan's so-called "scientific whaling".

Japanese accounts are unconvincing as to what "scientific whaling" in fact means, but it is understood to be related to food security – in other words, supporting a trade in whale meat for food. As such, "scientific whaling" may be little more than a cover for the continual slaughter of thousands of whales in the Antarctic each year, feeding a commercial industry behind an unnecessary culinary habit - similar to killing sharks for shark-fin soup.

Despite the intergovernmental International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) ban on commercial whaling since 1986, Japan has continued to slaughter whales, having been granted a special permit from the United Nations to do so. Since 1986, Japan has killed 14,000 of them.

Over the past 20 years, many campaigners have been frustrated by the IWC. Indeed, it has had a fraught history, where Japan and a few other countries have continually been accused of "buying" support to continue whaling from developing world countries.

However, wildlife campaigners such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) are upbeat about the outcome of the court case. They say that while the IWC may have let Japan continue to kill whales, Japan has in fact been breaking compliance with at least seven international treaties to do with protecting marine life. As a result, environmentalists largely believe Australia has a good legal case, and the outcome will mean the end of the right for Japan to continue the mammals' mass slaughter.

This court case is just one example of the "sea change" in environmental campaigning – and how legally savvy conservationists have had to become. Largely gone are the days when a demonstration or a petition could sway governments to behave differently.

Further, over the past decades campaigners have become skeptical of intergovernmental organisations and their power to act effectively or quickly to save precious species and the environment. The slaughter of whales is just one example; others are the poor efforts by governments to agree on an effective climate deal to control carbon emissions into the atmosphere, or to prevent the ongoing slaughter of elephants and rhinoceroses to sell trinkets and so-called medicines.

Many conservationists believe that environmental law will become increasingly important to hold countries to account over environmental crimes. Some lawyers foresee court cases involving developing world countries taking wealthy countries to court, for example, over their failure to keep promises about reducing carbon emissions.

The ICJ, however, is not a criminal court. Each party will present its case and judges can ask questions of the parties. It is expected that the court will come to a conclusion within six months of this case. Australia hopes that the ICJ will demand that Japan ceases whaling in the Antarctic. If that is the case, it is expected that Japan will abide by such a decision. If not, the United Nations Security Council could enforce a judgement of the ICJ.

This whaling case, however, starkly shows Australia’s inconsistent morals when it comes to protecting wildlife and wilderness areas. While Australia has the moral high ground over Japan in this case, it can hardly be proud of many laws that are truly damaging to the environment and wildlife. Indeed, Australia seems to have a better track record of protecting species in international waters than those on our own soil.

For instance, it is currently legal in Australia to mine and log in state forests and also in some national parks. There have been few campaigners who can stand up to mining companies successfully. We may criticize Japan over its cruelty to whales, but we pick and choose our battles when it suits us. For in a culture focused on profits, the mining industry is winning over wildlife.

However, despite its poor record on wildlife on its own soil, you can’t help but hope for Australia to win its day in court. The future of the survival of whales depends on it, and there is no place for this brutality in the 21st century.

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Icelandic Fin Whale Hunt Resumes, Stirs Debate

Laura Poppick LiveScience.com Yahoo News 23 Jun 13;

Icelandic whalers angered environmentalists around the world this month by resuming their hunt for the endangered fin whale — the second largest marine mammal after the blue whale. But the hunt may not threaten the population as terribly as some fear.

Two of the 184 fin whales permitted by this summer's quota have hit port so far last week, according to the Icelandic Directorate of Fisheries. For many whale conservationists, that's two too many for a species that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature listed as endangered in 2010. The Natural Resources Defense Council has drafted a public petition urging the U.S. government to impose economic sanctions on Iceland in response to the hunt, and groups around the world have taken similar action. An online petition addressed to the Dutch government has gathered more than 1 million signatures this month.

But Gisli Vikingsson, head whale researcher with Iceland's Marine Research Institute, argues the endangered species listing is misleading, and that this summer's hunt will not seriously threaten the mammal's vitality. Whereas the Southern Hemisphere fin whale population — which once constituted 80 percent of the world's population — suffered greatly from 20th-century commercial whaling and has failed to rebound, the North Atlantic population has grown in recent decades. [Images of Whales: Giants of the Deep]

"There are several fin whale populations in the world, although it is all called one species," Vikingsson told LiveScience. "The sole reason for the poor status of this species is the Southern Hemisphere."

Vikingsson estimates the central North Atlantic population could be as high as 25,000 individuals, based on a survey conducted in 2007. Given this population size, Vikingsson does not believe this summer's quota of up to 184 individuals will threaten the North Atlantic stock.

"We have firm grounds to believe that there is an abundance, even using a precautionary approach," Vikingsson said.

Iceland has defied the wishes of whale conservationists since 1986, when the government refused to abide by the International Whaling Commission's global moratorium on whaling. They did instate a ban on commercial whaling from 1989 through 2006, but continued hunting for research purposes.

"Icelanders, we live from the resources of the sea," said Asta Einarsdottir, senior legal expert with the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries. "So [whaling] is really part of our culture and tradition and our well-being."

The majority of the fin whales caught are destined for Japan, where the market has strengthened since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. In fact, fin whale hunting was cancelled in 2011 and 2012, primarily due to the economic downturn in Japan after Fukushima, The Guardian reports.

"This is done with much precaution, so we would never take the last whale," Einarsdottir told LiveScience. "It is of utmost importance to us."

Even so, many others consider whale hunting a gruesome industry. "Much of the whale meat within Iceland is eaten by curious tourists rather than locals. Tourists mistakenly believe that whale meat is just another 'traditional' Icelandic dish but instead, are helping to keep this cruel industry alive," according to a statement this month by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC).

The U.S. government also opposes commercial whaling. "We urge Iceland to honor the ban on commercial whaling and the international trade of whale meat," said Ryan Wulff, U.S. commissioner to the International Whaling Commission, according to the communications officer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Iceland has developed a vibrant whale watching industry and is becoming quite an ecotourism destination, so it would be unfortunate if the decision to resume fin whaling had a detrimental effect on that momentum."

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Best of our wild blogs: 23 Jun 13

Singapore got wildlife, meh?
from Lazy Lizard's Tales

Rocky Changi with nudis and more
from wild shores of singapore and Psychedelic Nature and Peiyan.Photography and Wonderful creation

#11 Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
from My Nature Experiences

On top, Inside, and Within
from Pulau Hantu and Enigmatic Crustaceans (and other spineless wonders) and The Wild Western Submerged Reefs

Life History of the Banded Demon
from Butterflies of Singapore

Could Climate Change Worsen Southeast Asia’s Forest Fires?
from Southeast Asia Real Time

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Palm oil companies behind Singapore smog: Greenpeace

AFP 22 Jun 13;

AFP - Fires on Indonesia's Sumatra, which have cloaked Singapore in record-breaking smog, are raging on palm oil plantations owned by Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean companies, environmental activist group Greenpeace International said.

"NASA hotspot data in Sumatra over the past 10 days (11-21 June) has revealed hundreds of fire hotspots in palm oil concessions that are owned by Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean companies," the group said in a statement received by AFP.

Singapore's smog index hit the critical 400 level on Friday, making it potentially life-threatening to the ill and elderly, a government monitoring site said. On Saturday morning, the reading was at 323, still in the "hazardous" zone.

Parts of Malaysia close to Singapore have also been severely affected by the smog this week.

"Fires across Sumatra are wreaking havoc for millions of people in the region and destroying the climate. Palm oil producers must immediately deploy fire crews to extinguish these fires. But really cleaning up their act starts with adopting a zero deforestation policy," said Bustar Maitar, head of Greenpeace Indonesia's forest campaign.

The Indonesian environment minister Balthasar Kambuaya said Friday that a team has investigated eight companies suspected to be behind the fires and promised to reveal the companies' names after the probe.

A senior presidential aide Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said Friday that the fires happened in concession areas belonging to Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) and Asia Pacific Resources International (APRIL).

"It is very clear that the fires are in APP concessions and APRIL. We need to settle this matter," he told reporters while showing the distribution of fires from 1 to 18 June in concession areas in Riau.

APP, the world's third-largest paper producer said in a statement late Friday that "ground verification" detected "only 7 points that are actually forest fire, affecting around 200 hectares of land".

"They are under and being controlled by approximately a thousand fire fighting crews and their team. Our team's preliminary investigation found that 5 of the fires were set by the community to clear land for crops and 2 cases are still under investigation", APP added.

APRIL could not be reached for comment.

Indonesia stepped up its fire-fighting efforts Friday by deploying aircraft to artificially create rain and to water bomb the blaze.

The haze crisis has caused a dramatic escalation in tensions between tiny Singapore and its vast neighbour, with the city-state repeatedly demanding that Jakarta steps up its efforts to put out the fires.

Two NGOs take the lead to expose suspect firms
Straits Times 23 Jun 13;

Jakarta - Even as government agencies pleaded that they needed on-the-ground checks before naming suspects behind the haze-producing burning, two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) took on the task of mapping satellite images of hot spots onto land concession maps to identify the companies whose lands were burning.

Over the past two days, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Greenpeace have gone public with these names.

Several companies, however, have said the concession maps are partially inaccurate.

The NGOs agree.

Dr Nigel Sizer, director of WRI's Global Forest Initiative, told The Sunday Times that these discrepancies only show the need for all parties to be more transparent on the issue.

"If companies are saying the data is wrong, they should step up and put their maps on the table, and we'd be able to compare the discrepancy," he said.

"If you want to criticise the data, more accurate and updated data has to be available."

Observers say part of the problem is that discrepancies abound in such items as concession maps and permits, so information at the district level may differ from that in Jakarta.

Fixing this, Dr Sizer said, is a key aspect of preventing fires of this kind in future.

Then there are cases in which even companies that are involved may not be aware of.

For instance, hot spots have been detected on land listed as PT Surya Dumai Agrindo's, which is linked to First Resources.

First Resources has clarified this permit expired "many years ago and was never developed by the group".

However, more up-to-date information WRI has seen shows the company still listed as a palm oil concession in government data.

As Greenpeace South-east Asia's forest campaigner Yuyun Indradi noted: "The lack of government transparency makes it very hard for independent monitoring: concession maps are incomplete, data is lacking and we clearly have weak enforcement of laws."

Zakir Hussain


Plantations say settlers to blame for starting fires
They admit existence of hot spots on their concessions, and claim fires are being put out
Zakir Hussain Indonesia Bureau Chief In Jakarta Straits Times 23 Jun 13;

Major pulp and palm oil companies admit there have been fires in their concession areas in Indonesia, but denied suggestions by officials and watchdogs that they were responsible for them.

They said they followed strict no-burning policies and demanded their contractors do the same.

But fires in neighbouring areas or parts settled by local communities were the issue, they said, adding that they had worked to put these out.

The companies' comments come as Indonesia's Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya, visiting Pekanbaru, identified eight of them, and said they were Malaysian-owned.

"If there is enough evidence, we will take them to court," he added.

At least 14 companies are being investigated, he said, and others may be named in the coming days.

Sime Darby Plantations, whose companies PT Bhumireksa Nusa Sejati and PT Tunggal Mitra Plantation (PT TMP) are among the eight named, had said it "is unable to exert control over activities beyond its operating areas and where it is occupied by others".

For instance, area residents lived on some 2,474ha of its 13,836ha TMP concession.

Sime Darby spokesman Leela Barrock added that TMP had been telling settlers on its lands not to carry out open burning, but it was ignored.

Last Friday, the World Resources Institute released data indicating that half the fires had begun on timber and oil palm plantations. The largest number of hot spots were in areas belonging to Royal Golden Eagle, of which Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (April) is part, and Sinar Mas Forestry, which supplies to Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), it said.

Yesterday, Greenpeace released its analysis, saying there were "hundreds of fire hot spots in palm oil concessions that are owned by Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean companies".

In a statement, April said these claims were "inaccurate and not consistent with the facts".

Yesterday afternoon, it said there were three fires in its concessions, covering some 20ha, but they had been contained and firefighters were extinguishing them.

"April confirmed that all fires it had detected originally started outside of its concession areas and had spread into its concessions," it said.

APP said ground checks found that only seven of 74 hot spots reported on June 20 in its suppliers' area in Riau were forest fires, affecting 200ha of land. An early investigation found that "five of the fires were set by the community to clear land for crops and two cases are still under investigation".

"We do not practise, and highly condemn, slash and burn activity for its detrimental impact on the environment," managing director Aida Greenbury told The Sunday Times.

Hot spots had also been identified on concessions listed as belonging to Singapore-listed Wilmar and First Resources.

First Resources said permits for some areas had expired many years ago and the land was never developed by the group.

A Wilmar spokesman said it had not been developing any new land in Sumatra.

"Hence the fires could not have been caused by us," he added.

"We have, however, discovered a few small holders with land near our plantations who have been burning to clear their land. We have reported them to the local authorities."

Greenpeace has called on big palm oil companies like Sime Darby and Wilmar to check whether their suppliers are involved in the burning.

Mr Bustar Maitar, who heads its forest campaign in Indonesia, said: "Fine words only go so far, but can these companies guarantee that they are not laundering dirty palm oil onto international markets?"

zakirh@sph.com.sg

Additional reporting by Lester Kong in Malaysia

Indonesia Names Names as Singapore Air Deteriorates Again
John O'Callaghan and Randy Fabi Jakarta Globe 22 Jun 13;

Singapore’s pollution index climbed back to “hazardous” levels and air quality deteriorated in the Malaysian capital on Saturday as Indonesia came under heavy pressure to bring fires from slash-and-burn land clearing under control.

Indonesia has deployed military planes to fight the blazes on Sumatra island from illegal burning that typically takes place in the June to September dry season to clear space for palm oil plantations. The fires are unusually widespread this year and the smog is the heaviest in Singapore’s history.

Companies behind the fires would find no refuge in Singapore, Foreign Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said on Saturday, even as he acknowledged limits in international law to deal with firms that operate outside the city-state.

“We will do everything we can,” he told a news conference.

Indonesia blamed eight companies for the fires on Friday, including Jakarta-based PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology (SMART) and Asia Pacific Resources International (APRIL).

The Indonesian government, which said it would take action against anyone responsible for the disaster, is expected to name the rest of the companies on Saturday.

Singapore has warned the “haze” – which has fuelled fears about health problems and raised diplomatic tension in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia – could last for weeks, or even longer.

On the sixth day of the thick smoke, Singapore’s pollution index returned to the “hazardous” zone with readings above 300. It hit a record of 401 on Friday afternoon, a level considered potentially life-threatening for the ill and the elderly.

The smell of burned wood filled the air and visibility was poor, with buildings shrouded in a grey gauze. Streets in the clean and green city-state, which usually enjoys clear skies, were far less crowded than on a typical Saturday when people go out to shop, meet in outdoor cafes and have fun at the park.

The Ministry of Education advised public schools to cancel all activities planned for the holiday month of June.

StarHub Ltd, a cable television and Internet provider, said it was providing a free preview of more than 170 channels over the weekend “as we stay home to escape the unbearable haze”.

The cost of the smog for Singapore, a major financial centre and tourist destination, could end up being hundreds of millions of dollars, brokerage CLSA said in a report.

In Malaysia, the haze spread north. Air quality in Kuala Lumpur, the capital, and in several surrounding areas worsened into the “unhealthy” zone. The air quality was now “unhealthy” in 17 areas of Malaysia and “very unhealthy” in one area.

Hadi Daryanto, the general secretary of Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry, said a team led by Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan was now in Riau province on Sumatra “to find out the exact locations of the hotspots”.

“But we have to be very careful in any legal action,” he said. “We have to really find out what happened, why the fires happened and so on. This could be due to negligence, too.”

Indonesia has earmarked around 200 billion rupiah ($20 million) to handle the disaster. Seven military aircraft were deployed for water bombings and cloud seeding.

“The majority of hotspots in Riau are inside APRIL and Sinar Mas concessions,” senior presidential aide Kuntoro Mangkusubroto told Reuters on Friday.

An APRIL statement said it and third-party suppliers had a “strict no-burn policy” for all concessions in Indonesia.

An analysis of satellite maps and government data by Reuters and the think-tank World Resources Institute also revealed spot fires on land licensed to Singapore-listed First Resources Ltd and Indonesia’s Provident Agro. The analysis did not reveal the cause of the fires or who was at fault.

A spokeswoman for Golden Agri Resources, SMART’s Singapore-listed parent, said it knew of no hotspots on its concessions.

Despite the “zero burning” policies, the environmental group Greenpeace said many producers and traders drive deforestation and destruction of peatland by buying palm oil from third-party suppliers or on the open market.

“Fine words only go so far but can these companies guarantee that they are not laundering dirty palm oil on to international markets?” Greenpeace said in a statement.

“The lack of government transparency makes it very hard for independent monitoring: concession maps are incomplete, data is lacking and we clearly have weak enforcement of laws.”

Sime Darby: No fires in our operating areas in Indonesia
The Star 23 Jun 13;

PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Plan­tation has clarified that there are no fires in any of its operating areas in Indonesia.

In a statement, the company said it strictly abided by its zero burning policy in its operations.

Among the hot spots reported in Riau, where the peat and forest fires are raging, is an area within a Sime Darby Plantation company, PT Tung­gal Mitra Plantation’s (PT TMP) concession area.

The company said the total concession area of PT TMP was 13,836ha, with 2,474ha occupied by local communities.

“PT TMP is unable to exert control over activities beyond its operating areas and where it is occupied by others.

“Nevertheless, PT TMP will continue to monitor the situation, cooperate with local authorities and assist with its fire prevention teams to ensure that any hazards are managed appropriately,” it said.

Meanwhile, Asia News Network (ANN) reported that the big companies which Indonesian officials and watchdogs said might be responsible for the fires behind the haze had rejected these claims, saying they did not square with facts on the ground.

The rebuttals came as Indonesia’s Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya said in Pekanbaru, Riau, yesterday that 14 companies were being investigated – up from eight on Friday.

He said they would be named, adding that some were from Malaysia.

Golden Agri-Resources, SMART, say no fires in their concessions
Channel NewsAsia 22 Jun 13;

SINGAPORE: Singapore-listed Golden Agri-Resources and its Indonesian subsidiary PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology (SMART) on Saturday said that there were no hotspots or fires in the concessions they hold.

They also said they welcomed inspection by authorised parties of all their operating areas, and that they will cooperate in any such inspection.

In a statement released on Saturday, the two companies also reiterated that they were absolutely against burning.

Golden Agri-Resources and SMART said they were deploying all their resources and working closely with the Indonesian government and other relevant parties to put out fires.

These relevant parties include civil society organisations, local communities and other growers.

The two firms said they were committed to a multi-stakeholder approach to find solutions for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Their contractors who clear land must also comply with their zero burning policy, said the firms.

Golden Agri-Resources and SMART also said that they will release the coordinates and locations of their estates in Sumatra in due course.

They are currently preparing the details.

- CNA/jc

Three companies rebut haze claims
S Ramesh Channel NewsAsia 22 Jun 13;

SINGAPORE: Three companies -- Asia Pacific Resources International (APRIL), Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), and Sime Darby -- have issued rebuttals after being named by Indonesia's Senior Presidential Aide Kuntoro Mangkusubroto as being among several responsible for fire hotspots in Riau Province.

In a statement released to the media, Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) said Indonesia's accusation requires verification.

"They do not correspond with intensive monitoring on-the-ground conducted by APRIL in its own concessions over the past several weeks nor with information on Friday from Indonesia's official national body for Meteorology, Climate and Geophysiccs, which identified 13 hotspots in Riau, none of which are on APRIL's concessions," APRIL said in a statement.

The company said the Director General of the Ministry of Forestry, Bambang Hendroyono, had confirmed Friday the fires causing the haze were mostly occurring on community land, not forestry concessions.

APRIL said it had maintained a "strict no-burn policy in its concessions" since it began operations in 1994.

It added the small number of fires within its concessions over the past three weeks were spread from those that began outside its concessions and were extinguished by its fire fighting teams.

Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) also said it does not practise, and "highly condemns" the slash and burn activity for its detrimental impact on the environment.

The company said it is deeply concerned about the forest fires and resulting haze in Riau, Sumatra, and is urging others to support it in implementing "zero burning and zero deforestation practices".

APP said its fire fighting crews and community members have been working to control the fires in its suppliers' concessions.

"The task is very complex because of the combination between strong wind, high temperature and the fact that the fire has reached peat land," APP said in its statement.

APP added that it welcomes opportunities to work with NGOs, companies, communities and governments to address the haze problem.

Malaysian plantation giant Sime Darby, which runs PT Tunggal Mitra, has also denied reports of any fires on its property.

Sime Darby Plantation said there were no fires in any of its operating areas in Indonesia, and that it strictly adheres to a zero burning policy in its operations.

Tunggal Mitra Plantation covers almost 14-thousand hectares, the majority of which is used for planting and development.

Sime Darby said there are some parts occupied by local communities, and that it is unable to exert control over those areas.

- CNA/ac/jc

Haze update: Companies reject claims they were behind fires
Zakir Hussain, Indonesia Bureau Chief in Jakarta Straits Times 22 Jun 13;

THE big companies who officials and watchdogs say may be responsible for fires behind the haze have rejected these claims, saying they do not square with facts on the ground.

The rebuttals come as Indonesia's Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya said in Pekanbaru, Riau on Saturday morning that 14 companies are now being investigated - up from eight on Friday.

He had said they would be named on Saturday, adding that some of the eight are from Malaysia.

One of his deputies, Mr Arief Yuwono, added that the presumption of innocence until proven guilty still applied, Antara News Agency reported.

Such claims, a spokesman for Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) told The Straits Times on Saturday, "require verification".

"They do not correspond with intensive monitoring on-the-ground conducted by APRIL in its own concessions over the past several weeks nor with information on Friday from Indonesia's official national body for Meteorology, Climate and Geophysics (BKMG)," she said in a statement.

A spokesman for Golden Agri-Resources, which is part of the Sinar Mas conglomerate but run separately, said there were currently no hotspots on its concessions.

"Only mechanical means such as excavators and bulldozers are used in our land preparation," it said.

Officials and non-governmental watchdogs had on Friday said the majority of the hot spots in Riau province from June 12-20 were inside concessions belonging to companies affiliated to Royal Golden Eagle, of which APRIL is part, and Sinar Mas Forestry, which supplies to Asia Pulp and Paper.

There were also fires on concessions listed as belonging to Malaysia's Sime Darby and Klau River, as well as Singapore-listed Wilmar and First Resources.

On Saturday, Greenpeace International released its analysis of Nasa hotspot data over June 11-21, saying this revealed "hundreds of fire hotspots in palm oil concessions that are owned by Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean companies".

But several of these companies named said that they followed strict no-burning policies, demanded their contractors do the same, and in fact worked to put out fires in neighbouring areas.

And while the permits for lands may be listed as belonging to them, they were not conducting activities on these concessions.

First Resources said permits for some areas identified had expired many years ago and the land was never developed by the group.

Sime Darby Plantations said it had no control over activities beyond its operating areas, where the land may be occupied by others.

It noted that reports of hot spots in Riau included an area within its company PT Tunggal Mitra Plantation's (PT TMP) concession area, but of the 13,836ha concession, some 2,474 ha are occupied by local communities.

"PT TMP is unable to exert control over activities beyond its operating areas and where it is occupied by others," it said. But it will help manage hazards, it added.

APRIL had also cited comments by forestry officials over the past two days, who said hot spots were mostly occurring on community land, not forestry concessions.

It admitted there had been "a small number of fires" within its concessions over the past three weeks, but said they were all spread from fires that began outside these concessions and quickly extinguished by its fire fighting teams.

Greenpeace, however, called on big palm oil companies like Sime Darby and Wilmar to check whether their suppliers are involved in the burning.

Many big palm oil producers and traders are driving deforestation and peatland destruction by purchasing palm oil from third-party suppliers or on the open market, it said.

Mr Bustar Maitar, who heads its forest campaign here, said: "Fine words only go so far, but can these companies guarantee that they are not laundering dirty palm oil onto international markets?"

The NGO however admitted that lacking and inaccurate data posed a challenge, citing incomplete concession maps.

Read more!

PM Lee urges Singaporeans to be prepared for prolonged period of haze

S Ramesh Channel NewsAsia 23 Jun 13;

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged the nation to be psychologically prepared for a prolonged period of haze due to the dry season and monsoon winds.

He said this is because of the dry season and monsoon winds.

Speaking at a townhall meeting at Ang Mo Kio GRC and the Sengkang West Division, Mr Lee said PSI readings will fluctuate day to day and hour to hour.

However, Singaporeans must take this in their stride, adapt and continue with their lives.

The Prime Minister emphasised that Singaporeans also must avoid speculation and clarify rumours.

He added that they can do so by checking the haze microsite.

Mr Lee also urged everyone to help their neighbours especially older Singaporeans and young kids.

He said the community clubs have air conditioned haze shelters and more are being created throughout Singapore.

On the supply of the N95 masks, Mr Lee noted that the government is urgently delivering them to GPs, clinics, pharmacies and retailers, and there is no need to hoard or panic-buy the masks.

- CNA/fa

Shanmugam issues warning to companies responsible for haze
Tan Qiuyi Channel NewsAsia 22 Jun 13;

SINGAPORE: Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam said Singapore will offer no succour nor refuge to companies responsible for illegal fires in Indonesia that have caused the haze affecting Singapore.

He said that there were limits in international commercial law to what Singapore can do about companies operating outside the country, but the Attorney General has been asked to look into this.

The minister said Singapore will do "whatever it can", though the key to taking those responsible to task still lies with Indonesia.

He said: "Let us be clear about it. This is not slash-and-burn, this is not an act of nature by itself. These are actions by companies for commercial profit… I cannot send my police officers in there to investigate… We have to depend on Indonesia to give us the evidence and tell us what is happening."

On the recent comments of Indonesian Minister Agung Laksono chiding Singapore for behaving "like a child", Mr Shanmugam reiterated Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's position that it is not productive to trade accusations.

Separately, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa was also quoted saying that the Indonesian government would not issue an apology to Singapore for the haze crisis.

"I'm not sure that we're asking for an apology. What we want is for the problem to be solved. That's really the point," said Mr Shanmugam.

In an unprecedented move, Singapore will send two ministers to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brunei at the end of June to discuss the haze issue.

Mr Shanmugam said Second Minister for Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu will accompany him to the meeting.

"We have decided this matter has to be discussed at the ASEAN Ministerial Meetings, because it's a regional problem," said Mr Shanmugam.

Indonesia has so far declined any help from Singapore to douse the fires.

A 2004 study by the Max Planck Institute of Meteorology estimated that carbon emissions from the Indonesian peat fires in 1997, the year the region experienced its last major haze crisis, was equivalent to up to 40 per cent of the average annual global carbon emission from fossil fuels.

"We've had a cocoon within Singapore economically and in every way... (but) much of what happens within Singapore can be deeply influenced by what happens in the region," said the minister.

- CNA/ac/jc

Haze: AGC asked to look into possible local actions against companies responsible
Woo Sian Boon Today Online 22 Jun 13;

SINGAPORE - Singapore has asked its Attorney-General to “look into” what actions can be done locally towards the errant companies which have contributed to the haze engulfing the city-state for the past week, said Minster for Foreign Affairs and Law K Shanmugam in a press briefing this morning.

He said: “We will do everything that we can. We will offer no succour or refuge if the actions have indeed been illegal in Indonesia and impacted on Singapore”.

First and foremost, however, Mr Shanmugam said that he hoped to see “strong firm effective action” taken against them in Indonesia as “that’s where the action are taking place”.

When asked to respond to remarks made by several Indonesian ministers yesterday, Mr Shanmugam said that “people can judge for themselves” while reiterating that Singapore’s main focus is on solving the haze crisis and that it would not be “productive to be trading accusations”.

Mr Shanmugam also repeated Singapore’s commitment to offer assistance to Indonesia while adding that the matter will be brought up during the ASEAN ministerial meeting held next week in Brunei.

Singapore cannot ‘do nothing and say nothing’ about haze: Shanmugam
Woo Sian Boon Today Online 23 Jun 13;

SINGAPORE — Noting that the raging forest fires in Sumatra have a “global environmental impact” - on top of the choking haze that has shrouded the Republic for the past week - Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam urged Indonesia to take “decisive action” and repeated Singapore’s commitment to offer assistance “at all levels” to address the situation.

Speaking at a press conference today held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Shanmugam also responded to criticisms that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been ineffective in fixing the longstanding haze issue.

He added that he has directed the Attorney General to look into what actions Singapore can take against errant companies that were proven to have “contributed in some way” to the problem. By this weekend, the authorities will have a clear idea of what is within their powers.

On the provocative remarks made by some Indonesian ministers towards Singapore’s reaction to the haze, Mr Shanmugam reiterated that it is “not so productive to be trading accusations”. “We are used to being called a little red dot,” he said. Referring to comments made during the 2006 haze episode by Indonesia’s then-Forestry Minister M S Kaban, Mr Shanmugam added: “Previously... another Indonesian minister said that we should be thankful for the oxygen that the Indonesia’s forests give us so why are we complaining about the haze. Those sorts of attitudes, I think people can see are not best designed to deal with the problem.”

“Likewise, comments to say we are childish because we are complaining when the haze reaches hazardous levels... people can judge for themselves. Our primary focus really is, solve the problem.”

Still, he pointed out that these comments - which do not carry “the same tone of cooperation” which Singapore has enjoyed with Indonesia over the years - do not “characterise all of our dealings with Indonesia”.

In response to Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa’s latest remark that Indonesia will not apologise for the haze, Mr Shanmugam said that Singapore is not looking for an apology. “What we want is for the problem to be solved and that’s really the point,” he said.

Mr Shanmugam stressed that the haze was a transboundary problem and the Singapore Government’s “primary duty has to be safeguarding the health and security of Singaporeans. We cannot allow this situation to continue and do nothing and say nothing”.

Outlining all the steps that Singapore has taken over the past few days to engage the Indonesian government - including trips to Jakarta made by ministers and officials to attend meetings and speak with their counterparts - Mr Shanmugam noted that to date, the Republic’s offer of assistance such providing resources to put out the fires has not been taken up by Indonesia.

Nevertheless, Indonesia has agreed to bring forward a meeting of ASEAN environment ministers which was originally scheduled to be held in August.

Mr Shanmugam said that he will also be bringing up the haze issue at an ASEAN ministerial meeting held in Brunei next week. He will be accompanied by Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu.

Mr Shanmugam said: “Depending on what steps are taken - because we have to see concrete results in terms of the impact on us - we’ll have to decide what other fora this has to be discussed.”

‘DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND’ INDONESIA’S NON-RATIFICATION OF TREATY

When asked to comment on criticisms on the lack of concrete actions over the years and the perception of ASEAN as a “paper tiger” which is toothless to take member states to task, Mr Shanmugam said that he understood such sentiments and conceded that “there are limits to what regional bodies can do”.

“Nevertheless, ASEAN and international organisations prove a useful and important platform for issues to be raised and countries have to then account for their actions and that by itself has had in the past, effect (and) impact in the conduct of countries,” he pointed out.

He noted that Indonesia remains the ASEAN member state which has not ratified the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution that was inked in 2002.

“But for some reason which is difficult for us to understand, the Indonesian parliament has taken the view that this treaty is not in the interest of Indonesia. I say difficult to understand because it helps the Indonesian people as much as it helps anyone else because they are also suffering from the haze.”

On whether there was a need to bring up the haze problem to international bodies such as the United Nations, Mr Shanmugam said that the option was open and it has “not been ruled in or out”.

Turning his attention to the errant companies - the Indonesian government has identified eight firms, including Jakarta-based Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Asia Pacific Resources International which also have links to Singapore - Mr Shanmugam said the Singapore authorities will know “what we can or cannot do by this weekend”.

He added that first and foremost, he hoped to see “strong firm effective action” taken against errant companies in Indonesia as “that’s where the actions are taking place”.

“We would really like to see firm quick action, and any assistance we can render in that respect, we will do so, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

On the mitigation measures rolled out domestically, Mr Shanmugam assured Singaporeans that there will be enough N95 masks as they are being manufactured here. “Let’s not underestimate the problem, it has serious consequences, both economically and for the country as a whole. That’s why... we have been taking this seriously.

In response to criticisms made by some who questioned why the Singapore Government cannot do more about the situation, Mr Shanmugam said: “If it was within our control we will never allow this to happen. My point to Singaporeans is we will continue to do our best, please understand the limitations of international relationships and foreign policy and the fact that every country is sovereign and we have limited control over what happens in Indonesia.”

“The deep unhappiness of Singaporeans over what is happening is entirely understandable, and my own belief is that most Singaporeans also understand that Singapore is doing what it can and these are not being caused within Singapore.”

Singapore will 'take all steps' to protect citizens
Leonard Lim Straits Times 23 Jun 13;

Singapore intends to do what it can within the framework of international law to protect its citizens against the haze, said Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday.

"Our primary duty has to be safeguarding the health, security of Singaporeans," he told Singapore and international media. "We cannot allow this situation to continue, and do nothing and say nothing."

Later, in a separate briefing with local reporters, he said: "We have to take all steps regardless of how it may be viewed by our neighbours... even if it means that our neighbours are upset."

In international law, countries have a duty to control actions within their boundaries when they cause an environmental impact on other countries, he said, citing the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development adopted at a 1992 United Nations conference.

While Singapore will be pursuing this point at Asean meetings in Brunei this week, Mr Shanmugam, who is also Law Minister, signalled it may also be prepared to turn to other international fora to press its case if it came to that.

But first it will see what steps are taken through the Asean meeting and whether there are concrete results for Singapore. Asked to elaborate on which other meetings the haze issue could be raised at, he replied: "We will calibrate and decide where else this needs to be raised."

In 2006, Singapore raised the haze issue at a United Nations forum, but this was said to have drawn the ire of some Indonesians.

S'pore exploring action against culprits
But primary ability to take steps against firms causing haze lies with Indonesia: Shanmugam
Leonard Lim Straits Times 23 Jun 13;

While the primary ability to act lies with the Indonesians, the Singapore Attorney-General is investigating what can be done against firms involved in causing the haze, Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday.

"We will offer no succour or refuge if the actions of the companies have been deemed illegal in Indonesia and impacted on Singapore," he said during a briefing to reporters.

The stern warning came a day after the Indonesian government named some firms in Riau province involved in the blazes, and which have Singapore links.

The minister pointed out that "serious" issues of jurisdiction and international law need to be considered, so he has asked the Attorney- General to look into what can be done to such companies if there is proof that they contributed to the haze.

Mr Shanmugam, who also holds the Law portfolio, said he expects to know what Singapore "can or cannot do by this weekend".

But the primary ability to act lies with the Indonesians as the firms are located there, he stressed.

"We would like to see strong, firm, effective action taken against them in Indonesia, because that's where they are, that's where the actions are taking place, that's where their offices are, the senior people.

"We'd really like to see firm, quick action and any assistance we can render in that respect, we will do so."

Singapore also needs to depend on Indonesia to provide evidence on who is involved, the minister said.

"Indonesian investigation authorities need to be on the ground, I cannot send my police officers in there to investigate," he said.

"That will be a breach of Indonesian sovereignty and Indonesia will not agree to that."

On its part, Singapore has offered assistance on several levels to combat the fires, he revealed.

These range from aircraft to technical assistance and offers of manpower.

Mr Shanmugam said: "It has yet to be taken up. And (in) 2005, we offered assistance of our aircraft and that was accepted, but this time that offer has not yet been accepted."

In 1997, Singapore also helped in Indonesia's firefighting efforts by providing computers, global positioning systems and a Singapore Armed Forces C-130 aircraft and crew.

Acknowledging that the haze has been a longstanding issue, Mr Shanmugam told reporters that it did not just have an environmental impact on Indonesia or the region, but also a global one.

"In 1997... studies suggest that the carbon dioxide emission from peat fires has contributed to a substantial part of global carbon dioxide emissions in that year. Therefore we have urged Indonesia to take decisive action.

"This is not slash and burn, this is not an act of nature by itself, these are actions by companies for commercial profit."

He also referred to Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa's remark last Friday that they would not apologise to Singapore for the haze.

Mr Shanmugam said: "I'm not sure that we're asking for an apology. What we want is for the problem to be solved, that is really the point."

Q&A: Limitations to what can be done about haze
Straits Times 23 Jun 13;

Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam took questions from the media on the haze yesterday. The following are edited excerpts.

Q: The latest comments from Indonesian ministers are that they won't apologise. Do you think they are taking this situation seriously? What else can be done to convey the seriousness to them?

"What we think of their comments, I think Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said what he thinks, so has Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

"I think it's really not so productive to be trading accusations. We are used to being called a little red dot and previously when the haze problem occurred, other ministers have said we should be thankful for the oxygen that the Indonesia forests give us, so why are we complaining about the haze?

"Those sort of attitudes, I think people can see are not best designed to deal with the problem.

"Likewise, comments saying we are childish because we are complaining when haze reaches hazardous levels, I think people can judge for themselves. Our primary focus really is, solve the problem.

"Are they taking this seriously? I think my counterpart, Foreign Minister Marty (Natalegawa), has said Indonesia will not apologise. I'm not sure that we're asking for an apology.

"What we want is for the problem to be solved, that is really the point.

"What else can we do?

"Internationally... I've taken some pains to explain the limits of international law, international relations.

"Basically it's difficult to intervene in the internal affairs of another country to set right something.

"That principle is sacrosanct subject to a few exceptions. In the absence of (a) treaty of obligations, I mentioned that Indonesia has yet to ratify the treaty, the other things that we can do, I have outlined - the Asean ministerial meeting, the other fora.

"These are not without implications or consequences, everyone understands that. If we raise them, talk about them, then there are consequences from raising these."

Q: From how Asean countries discuss this issue, how can it be changed to come up with a better result or solution?

"Asean has looked at it, there's a treaty (Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution) that's in place.

"All countries have signed it, all have ratified it, except Indonesia.

"Of course, if it ratifies the treaty, then this becomes binding obligations.

"But for some reason which is difficult for us to understand, the Indonesian Parliament has taken the view that this treaty is not in the interest of Indonesia.

"I say difficult to understand because it helps the Indonesian people as much as it helps everyone else because they are also suffering from the haze."

Q: There's some disenchantment among Singaporeans that Asean is a paper tiger, nothing has come out on it regarding the haze.

"I can understand the feelings that people have. These are not feelings that are unique to Singaporeans.

"Very often, people in individual countries get upset with international organisations, be it the United Nations or, in this case, Asean.

"But in international law and international relations, as I have explained previously, there are limits to what regional bodies can do vis a vis the territorial sovereignty and the right of countries to take steps within their own countries.

"Nevertheless, Asean and international organisations prove useful and important platforms for issues to be raised and countries have to then account for their actions.

"And that by itself has had, in the past, impact on conduct of countries."



More air-conditioned 'haze shelters' to be created for public
S Ramesh Channel NewsAsia 22 Jun 13;

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday said more air-conditioned 'haze shelters' will be created for the public at Residents’ Committees and Community Clubs.

MP for West Coast GRC Foo Mee Har said her constituency would extend the Community Club’s opening hours in case residents need access to air-conditioned rooms.

The club will be open from 9am to midnight, said the MP in a Facebook post. Residents’ Committee Centres will also extend their opening hours to 9am-10pm.

Ms Foo said constituency officers will continue to monitor the situation and adjust opening hours accordingly.

Deputy Prime Minister and MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Teo Chee Hean said the Elias Community Club has also set aside a room for residents who feel discomfort and need a place for a few hours to shelter from the haze. The room will be open from 9am-10pm.

In a Facebook post, the prime minister said he was heartened by the kindness of Singaporeans when faced with the haze.

He said some were distributing herbal tea and masks to needy residents while others were opening up their air-conditioned homes to strangers.

The prime minister urged Singaporeans to unite and help one another through this difficult period.

Mr Lee said the government was also making sure Singaporeans who need N95 masks would be able to get them.

He however pointed out that most Singaporeans do not need the masks unless they have medical conditions like asthma, or have to do strenuous outdoor work.

He said the government will distribute 1 million N95 masks free to low-income households, and push out more masks to retailers, and urged people not to panic buy or hoard masks as there are enough to go round.

In the same Facebook post, Mr Lee said he had sent Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan as his Special Envoy to deliver his letter to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The prime minister said he had shared Singaporeans' grave concern over the haze, urged Indonesia to take action, and offered help, including aircraft for cloud seeding.

Indonesia's Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya had promised Dr Balakrishnan that Indonesia would consider Singapore's offer and explore how to follow up on the suggestions.

Meanwhile, constituencies have also begun receiving their stocks of N95 masks from the Ministry of Health.

Minister for National Development and MP for Sembawang GRC Khaw Boon Wan said they are being made available to residents who need them.

He said this was being done progressively over the weekend and that priority is being given to those who need them for medical reasons.

- CNA/jc

PSI computation based on US regulations: NEA
Kimberly Spykerman Channel NewsAsia 22 Jun 13;

SINGAPORE: It may seem that PSI readings do not tally with what you see outside, but the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Saturday that a standard set of methods and equipment that is based on the United States' Environmental Protection Agency regulations is used to measure PSI.

The National Environment Agency monitors five key pollutants -- sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate matter -- and the 24-hour PSI reflects the pollutant with the highest concentration averaged over a 24-hour period.

During the haze, the PM10, or particles 10 microns and smaller, is the predominant pollutant.

Authorities have also urged Singaporeans to refer to the 24-hour PSI reading rather than the three-hour figure.

Indrani Rajaram, project director of Pollution Control Development at NEA, said: "The three-hour PSI is something that was introduced in 1997 during the 1997 smoke haze period. This index is an indicator only because it will correspond to what you see outside your window but it's not the index used to assess the impact of air pollutants on the health."

The three-hour PSI reading is unique to Singapore and is not used in any other country.

Second Minister for Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu also reiterated on Saturday the importance of the 24-hour PSI reading.

She said: "To us, that is the best measurement for both the concentration of the particulate and the duration of the exposure. Scientifically that has been the benchmark method across various jurisdictions, used by many countries."

Separately, Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim said the haze was different from a virus and that “a lot depends on your state of health and the lack of exposure”.

He added: “So far we have set the right tone by allowing the various agencies to make their own assessment but we want to keep Singaporeans informed of the right thing because there is too much misinformation circulating about the haze."

Some have questioned the accuracy of the PSI readings, but NEA said the readings are calculated based on guidelines from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

PSI readings are derived from 11 ambient air monitoring stations mostly located in schools.

Each of the five pollutants has its own analyser which stores data and transmits it via a wireless modem at regular intervals to a data management system at the Environment Building. The system uses a special software to compute the PSI based on data feeds from the various stations.

However when it comes to deciding whether to head out, authorities said the public should look to health advisories which are pegged to 24-hour PSI readings.

Joseph Hui, Deputy Chief Executive of NEA, said: "Short-term exposure according to the advisory for today for individual is OK... In the case of an asthmatic for example, even the walk to the MRT may be too much for them. So preferably try not to go out, but if they have to, put on the mask."

- CNA/ac/jc

NEA spells out how PSI is compiled

Agency also explains the rationale for measuring haze the way it does
Straits Times 23 Jun 13;

On a hot day, looking at a thermometer would tell you precisely what the temperature is where you are.

Many seem to think the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), Singapore's main indicator of air quality, works the same way. They expect it to correlate to the haze they see or smell around them at that moment.

This has given rise to some disquiet about the PSI readings in recent days, as the haze conditions worsened. Some members of the public expressed concerns when the posted PSI values - averaged over the past three or 24 hours - turned out different from what they observed.

Yesterday, the National Environment Agency (NEA) spelt out just how it compiles the PSI and why it does it that way.

It explained that it uses a specific way of collecting air samples over time and measuring the amount of micro-particles in them to determine their quality.

It also requires a wider base of samples, taken from various parts of the island to get a better picture of how polluted the air is across the country.

The NEA said that its methods and equipment to measure pollutants are based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency standards.

The PSI is derived from measurements at 11 ambient air monitoring stations located at places such as Temasek Polytechnic and Nanyang Technological University.

Five key pollutants are measured separately. But the PSI is not a composite index. Instead, it reflects the pollutant of the highest concentration.

But just how does the NEA measure levels of tiny particles in the air like PM2.5 and PM10 and translate them into a PSI reading?

An air sample is drawn into a chamber where particulate matter sticks to a filter;

Then, a beta ray (a form of radiation) is passed through the filter;

The particles on the filter would weaken the ray's intensity, and how dim it gets tells you how much particulate matter there is;

These readings are then averaged over three or 24 hours before they are fed into a standard set of indices, based on the health impacts of the pollutant at different observed levels. This translates the reading into a PSI.

NEA said yesterday that health advisories will continue to be based on the 24-hour PSI and PM2.5 values as those are what there is most scientific evidence for.

It explained that the 24-hour PSI is also the best indicator for the health impact of prolonged exposure to the haze than shorter-term measures, which can fluctuate quite a bit over the course of the day. This was evident yesterday, for example, when Singapore enjoyed blue skies in the afternoon when the haze seemed to clear temporarily.

Summing up small particles
Straits Times 23 Jun 13;

Singapore is blanketed by its worst haze in 16 years. But what goes into air quality measures?

What is the PSI?

The Pollutant Standards Index, or PSI, is Singapore's main indicator of air quality.

It measures five key air pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and PM10, which is particulate matter 10 microns or smaller in size - about one-seventh the diameter of a strand of human hair.

The reading reflects the pollutant with the highest concentration.

Any reading above 100 is considered unhealthy, and anything higher than 300 is hazardous.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has been publishing hourly updates of its three-hour average PSI reading on its website. For example, the three-hour average at 3pm is taken from readings from noon to 3pm.

This means that the PSI at, say 3pm, is not strictly speaking a reflection of the haze you might see around you at that time, but an average of the situation over the previous three hours at various recording stations around the island.

Each hour, the NEA also publishes the 24-hour average PSI for the past 24 hours. The 24-hour PSI is from readings over the past 24 hours, averaged out. This reflects the sustained exposure levels that a person might face, and is said to be a better indicator of the health impact of the haze.

What is PM2.5?

PM stands for particulate matter, while PM2.5 refers to very fine particles that are less than 2.5 microns in size - a thirtieth of the diameter of a human hair.

The NEA also publishes hourly PM2.5 readings, averaged over 24 hours, which measure micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre.

Readings above 40 trigger health advisories. At 9pm yesterday, the 24-hour PM2.5 reading was 199-242 µg/m3, varying by geographical area.

Where does particulate matter come from?

Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, can come from many sources all around us, such as burning plants, automobiles and natural sources like volcanic eruptions. It can even be formed in the atmosphere by chemical reactions. In this latest case, much of it comes from burning plant matter in Sumatra.

What are the health effects of PM2.5?

Because these very fine particles can get farther into the lungs and pass more easily into the bloodstream, long- and short-term exposure to PM2.5 can cause cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks and strokes. PM2.5 exposure is linked to increased hospital admissions and emergency department visits for respiratory effects. These include asthma attacks as well as increased respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Concerns about the health effects of PM2.5 levels have led governments to push for the use of higher quality diesel fuels in vehicles since these produce exhaust fumes with less of these tiny particles. Efforts to raise fuel quality have been ongoing for many years, quite separately from concerns over the haze that comes and goes.

Why is the PM2.5 reading better than the PSI in some regions and worse in others?

Climate researcher Matthias Roth, an associate professor of geography at the National University of Singapore, said the distribution of PM10 and PM2.5 depends on the burning source. Different areas in Singapore may have been affected by haze from different spots in Indonesia, which may vary in their vegetation or soil composition.

Why does the PSI peak in the evening and drop overnight?

The wind tends to drop in the evening, meaning smoke accumulates then, said the NEA. But calmer breezes do not bring as much haze from Sumatra, so the PSI falls some hours later.

Professor Roth said this could partly be because the sun's heat helps the air to rise and mix. Without this, pollutants could be trapped near the surface.

Dr Grandey from Censam suggested a few other possibilities. Some pollutants are produced or destroyed by sunlight. So the amount of sunlight may affect the pollution to some extent. Or the daily pattern could just be spurious. But more research and analysis would have to be done to test these theories, he said.

What filters out PM2.5?

Ministry of Manpower guidelines say employees who work outdoors for sustained periods and have health conditions that make them susceptible should be issued with N95 masks or other protective devices when the PSI goes above 100.

And high-efficiency particulate air filters (Hepa filters) can remove particles that are as small as 0.3 micron in size.

Grace Chua


WP statement on haze situation
Today Online 22 Jun 13;

SINGAPORE - The Workers' Party has issued a statement on the haze situation in Singapore. The statement is as follows:

The Workers' Party is concerned with the haze situation that is affecting everyone in Singapore.

We note that the Government has convened a task force to monitor and to act on the situation. We stand ready to support the initiatives of the Government in responding to the haze.

We welcome the Government’s efforts in giving priority to protect the health and safety of Singaporeans, especially the vulnerable groups. The Workers’ Party calls on the Indonesian Government to do its utmost to extinguish the fires with urgency.

We also urge the Indonesian Government to invest more resources to curb the slash-and-burn practices in the plantation sector. Indonesia has been a good friend and neighbour to Singapore and is respected as an influential nation in ASEAN. We hope that Indonesia will do its best to bring the haze issue to a close.

In this difficult situation, we have seen many Singaporeans from all walks of life helping one another.

We ask that Singaporeans continue to look out for each other and check on neighbours, colleagues and friends. Singaporeans are a resilient people; we will live through the smoke to see a clear sky.

Lee Li Lian
Deputy Webmaster, The Worker’s Party
Member of Parliament for Punggol East SMC

Support for Govt's efforts to get Jakarta to douse fires
Toh Yong Chuan Straits Times 23 Jun 13;

The authorities' efforts to persuade Indonesia to do more to douse the fires causing the haze received support from different quarters yesterday, ranging from an opposition party to ordinary Singaporeans at Speakers' Corner.

Punggol East MP Lee Li Lian, who is also the Workers' Party's (WP's) deputy webmaster, said in a statement that the party stood ready to "support the initiatives of the Government in responding to the haze".

"The WP calls on the Indonesian government to do its utmost to extinguish the fires with urgency. We also urge the Indonesian government to invest more resources to curb the slash-and-burn practices in the plantation sector."

She ended on an optimistic note, calling Singaporeans a resilient people who will "live through the smoke to see a clear sky".

Meanwhile, the first public protest at Hong Lim Park against the haze was poorly attended despite being touted on several prominent websites, including The Online Citizen.

It was organised by writer Patrick Low, 68. He tried to coax passers-by to pen their frustration on banners with the words, "Singaporeans unite against the deadly haze".

The Sunday Times counted four signatures in one hour, and Mr Low claimed that 12 people had signed over the course of the day. He said he would be passing the banners to the Indonesian Embassy.

And at a separate event at Hong Lim Park in the evening, 26-year-old trainee lawyer Wilson Foo hit out at the Indonesian government for not tackling forest and plantation fires over repeated years.

Don't get mad, get organised
Chua Mui Hoong, Opinion Editor Straits Times 23 Jun 13;

The haze this week has dominated conversations, hogged attention and generally caused us all in Singapore much grief.

The three-hour Pollutant Standards Index has crept to historic highs, reaching 401 at one point on Friday.

We've all smarted from it and choked on it.

And I'm not just talking about the smog caused by fires burning in the Riau province forests in Indonesia.

I'm talking about Singaporeans smarting from and choking on the callous indifference of Indonesian ministers and officials to Singaporeans on this issue and their shameless attempts to shift the blame.

On Monday, Forestry Ministry official Hadi Daryanto was quoted as saying that the slash-and-burn method of clearing land for cultivation was used not only by local farmers "but also employees of oil palm investors, including Singaporean and Malaysian companies".

"We hope the governments of Malaysia and Singapore will tell their investors to adopt proper measures so we can solve this problem together."

This is a valid point.

But as Singapore made clear, it can do so only if Indonesia named the companies responsible, so the government here can take action. Consumers too are up in arms: Name the companies and we know what to do, said numerous Facebook posts.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said he thought Singapore's requests for Indonesia to identify the culprits were "redundant" as "we are fully aware of the impact and consequences and the need for action".

The Indonesians have named some companies this weekend. That's welcome, even if it comes about a decade late, considering that the haze is an annual affair and enforcement action should have been taken promptly after each episode. But still, late is better than never.

What's needed next is for green groups and consumer groups to look into the details and organise campaigns to mobilise consumers to put pressure on the commercial players to stop open-burning methods all down their supply chain.

But the remark that takes the cake came from Mr Agung Laksono, the minister coordinating the haze response in Indonesia. He told reporters in Jakarta: "Singapore should not be behaving like a child and making all this noise.

"This is not what the Indonesian nation wants, it is because of nature."

At this point, the PSI shot up to stratospheric levels. That's the Pour Salt (into wounds) Index.

Forest burning is not an act of nature. It is a wilful act of greedy company executives and irresponsible farm owners, condoned by officials who close an eye to such practices.

I considered writing an open letter to Mr Agung, inviting him and his pals to come to Singapore to enjoy the Sumatra forest-laced air.

They could stay in naturally ventilated Sentosa chalets, or al fresco accommodation on the beach under the stars. Drive around in open-top trucks. But maybe it's better to ask them to hotfoot it down to Riau instead.

At this stage, I told myself, don't get mad. Get even. In particular, get organised.

Unlike some folk online who think the Singapore Government has waffled/ not done enough/ massaged PSI numbers, I think Singapore ministers are doing their best with a bad situation in such a cross-border issue. When Indonesian ministers complain that Singapore is making too much noise, you know the diplomatic and government channels are feeling our officials' sustained verbal pressure.

Leaders are constrained by diplomatic conventions. Private citizens are free to say what we think. But we should direct our ire at the right channels.

Get organised. Lawfully, of course, and civilly. The people of Singapore have not made it clear enough to the Indonesian authorities that we are fed up of smarting from and choking on the haze year in and year out, and just as fed up with their inaction and insensitivity.

The haze is an annual affair. Indonesia hasn't ratified the 2002 Asean transboundary haze pollution treaty signed by other members. Singapore has offered technical and financial assistance to Indonesia to fight the fires.

Each year, the heat and rhetoric level goes up with the PSI. And then the rains come, or the winds blow elsewhere, and the issue fades - until the next year.

More coordinated and sustained action is needed this time. A big protest at Hong Lim Park would be ideal, but is hard to pull off given the hazardous air outdoors - although that hadn't stopped intrepid campaigners from getting one going yesterday.

But a social media campaign is useful.

Start a SMASH movement: Singaporeans Mobilise Action to Stop the Haze.

Use social media to organise to help ourselves. Some have already done this to good effect: getting Singaporeans to donate masks to distribute to low-income families, and persuading companies to stop outdoor work to protect workers from the hazardous air. These are all laudable.

Some energy can also be spent harnessing Singaporeans to speak out on the haze to persuade the Indonesian authorities to take this more seriously. With companies being identified, it's also time for consumer protests and boycotts.

Sign a petition like this one: www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_and_Prevent_the_Yearly_Haze/?email

Join the Haze Elimination Action Team (H.E.A.T) group on Facebook, led by university professor Ang Peng Hwa. The page says H.E.A.T "is a group of volunteers who want to breathe fresh air outdoors".

The group started in 2007 raising funds for an educational effort in Jambi, which has not seen major fires. It's being revived "to mobilise anyone in the region interested to join; to mount an education campaign for farmers; to boycott companies identified as offenders; to raise funds for the above effort".

We can all get creative. Netizens can haze out blogs and websites with protest photos. Send e-mails to protest the haze to the Indonesian embassy. E-mail relevant government departments in Jakarta. Share information on the commercial activities of the companies on whose land and concessions the burning is taking place.

Staying indoors this weekend because of the haze? Be a keyboard warrior. We can do our part to SMASH the haze.

Read more!