Malaysia: Friends of the hawksbill turtle

Azhariah Kamin
The Star 14 Oct 13;

A group of dedicated young volunteers is protecting the hawksbill as best as they can, and this augurs well for the future of the reptile.

THEY come from different backgrounds, yet they have something in common: the desire to learn more about turtle conservation and protecting the environment.

One thing they admitted, though, was that before joining as volunteers at the Hawksbill Eco-Club, they knew little about turtle conservation. After they became part of the club, they learnt a whole lot more, and in the process, have fallen in love with their job.

Living along the coastline wasn’t something new for them. “Most of us were born and grew up here, so we already knew about turtles and marine life. However, it was only after we joined the club that we began learning much more,” said club chairman Nor Amri Zul, 26, in an interview with Star2 at the sanctuary earlier this year.

For the uninitiated, the Hawksbill Eco-Club was set up by a group of 12 youngsters (as full-time volunteers) who help man the Padang Kemunting Sea Turtle Sanctuary on a daily basis to create awareness and educate the public – particularly fishermen, chalet operators, schoolchildren and villagers– on the importance of protecting hawksbill turtles.

The Hawksbill Eco-Club is located at the Padang Kemunting Hawksbill Turtle Conservation and Information Centre in Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah, Malacca.

Since the club’s inception in November 2011, its members have been busy with their daily routines at the centre and undergoing occasional training by WWF, assisted by the Fisheries Department, to equip them with all the necessary skills to become full-fledged, licensed eco-tourism guides. Indeed, one of the club’s aims is to empower the local community to benefit from local eco-tourism.

According to Nor Amri, one of the main activities of the club is assisting the sanctuary through its patrolling teams. During the peak nesting season from April to September, teams – comprising WWF-Malaysia’s staff members, assistants, interns and volunteers – monitor key nesting beaches from sunset to sunrise, sometimes covering distances of almost 40km. Amri himself joins in the patrolling every day.

“Our main aims are to stop poachers from stealing freshly laid eggs, and to transfer these new eggs into a protected hatchery, with the help of the Fisheries Department and licensed egg collectors. The patrolling teams cover beaches at Kem Terendak Tanjung Bidara, Padang Kemunting, Pasir Gembur, Pulau Upeh and Balik Batu,” added the passionate turtle lover.

Amri also said that at the sanctuary, they place satellite transmitters on selected turtles to monitor their movements, and so help scientists understand the migration patterns of the turtles. Such data is useful in identifying the potential threats to turtles, and helping conservationists to come up with ways to protect these reptiles. These turtles often swim over long distances and return to Malacca’s beaches to nest.

The Padang Kemunting beach is important as it houses the sole hatchery in Malacca. The club, monitored by the Fisheries Department, regulates egg collection by the local community by giving out a restricted number of licences. All eggs collected are required to be sold to the Department for incubation and are transported to this hatchery for incubation.

The eggs take 45 to 65 days to hatch, and the hatching season is from March to September. During these months, the sanctuary allows a limited number of tourists to release the hatchlings into the sea, under the guidance of WWF personnel.

Unfortunately, egg poaching along the beach is prevalent, according to Amri. The villagers’ houses are a stone’s throw away from the nesting beach, making it easily accessible. If that is not enough, this beach is also a popular recreational spot and is lined with endless rows of chalets.

“Lighting, human presence and tourist activity on the beach at night are big concerns in this area,” explained Amri.

But there is reason for some optimism as, in recent months, a chalet operator has indicated interest in changing its operations and practices. In return, the benefit could be additional revenue from guided turtle-watching activities and hatchling releases. Padang Kemunting surely has the potential to be a turtle-friendly belt where tourism is practised in a responsible manner to sustain the natural heritage within.

For 22-year-old Nur Atirah Abd Shukor, being a member of the club has been an eye-opening experience for her.

“Being born here, I knew about the the turtles but it was a friend’s idea that we should join the club. And I said yes immediately because I always wanted to do something different. And I have been enjoying my time here (at the sanctuary).

“There’s no one specific task for us to do at the club,” said Atirah, who is also the club’s treasurer. “On a daily basis, we just do things together, like manning the souvenir counter, cleaning the turtle pond, do night patrolling to watch the turtles come ashore, be in charge of the exhibition centre, and talking to visitors and tourists who come to the club to learn more about hawksbill turtles.”

She added that the club’s funding comes mainly from the sale of souvenirs and tour packages that include sighting the nesting turtles and witnessing the hatchlings’ release; 35% of the revenue is channelled into a special fund for hawksbill conservation.

“It has been a really exciting experience for me, meeting people from all walks of life and telling them what we do here at the club in protecting our treasure – the hawksbill turtles,” said Atirah.

Mohamad Hashim, a staff member of the Fisheries Department, also volunteers at the club. He deals mainly with corporate bodies and members of the public who want to participate in the club’s activities.

Mohamad said that when he first joined the department in the late-1990s, he was not really aware of turtles and their conservation.

However, as his new job started to grow on him, Mohamad, 44, began to learn about turtles and conservation efforts. He is now so involved that he has roped in his wife to be a part-time volunteer at the sanctuary.

> The Padang Kemunting Sea Turtle Sanctuary is open daily from 10am to 4pm, except on Mondays and public holidays. Admission is free.

Volunteers play a big role
The Star 14 Oct 13;

VOLUNTEERISM is extremely important in conservation efforts for the hawksbill turtle.

According to Low Min Min of WWF Malacca, volunteers are greatly needed as they provide invaluable manpower in its daily operations which include patrolling the nesting sites and collecting data.

WWF has been on hand since the formation of the Hawksbill Eco-Club in November 2011.

“I’m so happy to see how the club has progressed in these two years. I couldn’t be more proud!” said Low in a telephone interview.

She added that the club was formed with the aim of empowering the villagers, especially the younger generation, with knowledge of eco-tourism which has long-term benefits for everyone involved.

“What we do at WWF is give these young people in Padang Kemunting village ongoing training in eco-tourism, with strict guidelines. In doing so, the club will, in return, be a role model for the local community on how to carry out conservation efforts. They stand to reap financial benefits from it while preserving the environment. It is a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

Without the co-operation of the community, environmentalists, traders and the government, WWF Malaysia’s turtle conservation programme in Malacca would not have reaped the success it enjoys today, said Low.

According to her, Malacca’s coastline saw one of the highest numbers of nestings of hawksbill turtles in 2011, a success story made possible through collaboration between the state government, non-governmental organisations and members of the public. Over 500 nestings were recorded, an achievement comparable to that of Sabah Turtle Island, one of the main nesting sites for the hawksbill turtle in Malaysia.

The inception of the Hawksbill Eco-Club is a part of the Hawksbill Malacca Eco-tourism awareness programme, whereby operators are educated about proper practices when conducting tours, without disturbing the turtles or their habitat.

Low pointed out that the young club is still in the learning stage. It needs continuous support from corporate bodies and members of the public in order to function efficiently.

“We at WWF are giving them training in doing paperwork and soliciting funds from corporate bodies. At the moment, the club members are being paid by WWF, so it would be very nice if they could start earning extra income as a club.

“I’m so happy to know that these youngsters at Eco-Club are putting aside a percentage of the club’s revenue for a special fund for hawksbill turtle conservation.”

> For more details about the Hawksbill Eco-Club, e-mail: kekal_hawksbill@yahoo.com or go to its Facebook account (facebook.com/HawksbillEcoClub).

Favourite nesting place
The Star 14 Oct 13;

MALACCA’S coastline – with its narrow beaches and facing one of the busiest shipping channels in the world – is not what one would typically consider prime turtle nesting habitat.

Nevertheless, it is the second largest nesting area for the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) in South-East Asia, after Sabah’s Turtle Island. An average of 400 nestings (exclusively hawksbill turtle) are recorded yearly by the Fisheries Department, the country’s management authority for sea turtles.

At present, four prime rookeries are home to approximately 80% of the nesting population in Malacca: Pulau Upeh (Upeh Island), Kem Terendak, Padang Kemunting and the Tanjung Dahan-Tanjung Serai stretch.‎

The hawksbill turtle got its name because of its beak that resembles the eagle’s. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful species of marine turtles due to the striking golden-brown pattern of its carapace.

Hawksbill turtles have been hunted for decades for their shells and eggs. Their shells are used as decorations while their eggs are a delicacy among the locals.

The Fisheries Rule (Turtles and Turtle’s Eggs) was enacted in 1989 to protect these eggs from being over-harvested; only licensed egg collectors are allowed to collect the eggs.

All the eggs collected are then sent to the hatchery at Padang Kemunting Sea Turtle Sanctuary for incubation.

The nesting season is from March to September – with May, June and July being the peak months.

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Best of our wild blogs: 13 Oct 13

Back-lit Macro Attempts
from Macro Photography in Singapore

Life History of Mycalesis perseoides perseoides
from Butterflies of Singapore

Failed Olive-backed Sunbird nesting
from Bird Ecology Study Group

white-bellied sea eagle fishing @ esplanade 11Oct2013
from sgbeachbum

Morning Walk At Venus Drive (12 Oct 2013)
from Beetles@SG BLOG

The Common Tree Nymph @ Upper Seletar Reservoir Park
from Beauty of Fauna and Flora in Nature

Changi Beach patrol for the LSM1103 Biodiversity field trip
from Otterman speaks

Read more!

Malaysia: Was release of genetically modified mosquitoes effective against dengue?

Taking the sting out of dengue
Chandra Devi Renganayar and Suzanna Pillay New Straits Times 13 Oct 13;

TRIALS: In 2008, it was reported that the Health Ministry would undertake an experiment to release genetically-modified mosquitoes to fight Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the main carriers of the dengue virus. Was it a success? How effective have we been in efforts to control dengue fever? Deputy director-general of Health (public health) Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim talks to Chandra Devi Renganayar and Suzanna Pillay to get an insight into efforts to combat the scourge

Question: Where were the genetically-modified (GM) mosquitoes first released?

Answer: Our original proposed trial site was in Pulau Ketam, but our preliminary surveys indicated that the site was unsuitable for the trial. Instead, a trial site in Pahang was found to be ideal and the release was conducted in this site.

The trial, the first open release of male transgenic mosquitoes in Asia, was conducted on Dec 21, 2010, in an uninhabited forest (non-reserve forest land owned by the government off Jalan Tentera/Lebuhraya Bentong-Raub) in Bentong, Pahang.

Question: What was the outcome of the trial? Were the GM mosquitoes able to eliminate the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes as intended?

Answer: The goal of the trial was to understand the dispersal (that is, how far they fly) and longevity of the male OX513A strain dispersal, compared with the unmodified wild type strain under open field conditions. This was not a suppression trial and it was not done to determine the impact of the transgenic males on the Aedes population.

The Institute of Medical Research (IMR) released 6,045 transgenic male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from the OX513A strain, along with 5,372 unmodified male mosquitoes from its laboratory strain. These two strains were marked with different-coloured fluorescent powder. Using stringent quality control, IMR ensured that the released mosquitoes were all male and cannot bite or spread diseases. The mosquitoes were recaptured using a network of adult traps.

The experiment was successfully concluded on Jan 5, 2011, in accordance with trial protocol. It was carried out in compliance with the National Biosafety Board's terms and conditions.

The dispersal and longevity of the GM Aedes aegypti and lab unmodified Aedes aegypti were similar, indicating that genetic modification (introduction of a single transgene) did not affect the biology of the mosquitoes. The longevity of the GM Aedes aegypti male was two days and the lab unmodified Aedes aegypti, 2.2 days.

Question: The experiment was reported in 2008 and, subsequently, that it was a suppression trial based on a successful field trial in the Cayman Islands. It was also reported that the field trial would be undertaken in collaboration with British-based Oxitec Ltd, an insect bio-tech company that had a proven GM technology.

Answer: Well, Oxitec did claim that their GM technology worked in the Cayman Islands. Based on this, they wanted to transfer the technology to Malaysia. But, this does not mean that we will apply this technology straightaway, especially if it is new to the country. Before any experiment is carried out in the field, it must be ensured that the site is appropriate for the release of the male transgenic mosquitoes. We need to do our own research.

The goal of the 2010 study in Bentong was to find out whether the behaviour of the transgenic mosquitoes was similar to normal mosquitoes. It was not a suppression trial to see whether the genetically engineered male mosquitoes would mate with the female mosquito population.

Question: Based on these reports, public perception was, and still is, that the experiment was to use genetically-engineered Aedes aegypti male mosquitoes to stop the spread of dengue. If this was not the purpose, why was it not clarified by the Health Ministry from the start?

Answer: When the experiment was completed in January 2011, the results of the findings were published in the IMR website and was picked up by some media organisations.

Question: What is the next move after the Bentong trial? Is the ministry planning to carry out the suppression trial and, if so, when will it take place?

Answer: There are no immediate plans for a suppression trial. As this involves research and development, it is best to ask IMR. I cannot answer for them.

Question: Doesn't IMR come under the jurisdiction of the ministry?

Answer: IMR answers to the director-general, not me. It is not under my jurisdiction.

Question: What is the dengue situation in the country? Is it on the rise?

Answer: The number of dengue cases from January to Sept 28 increased to 22,602 cases, a 38 per cent increase compared with 16,340 cases reported in the same period last year. A total of 1,149 dengue cases were reported between Sept 22 and Sept 28.

The total number of deaths from dengue also increased to 48, which reflects a 78 per cent increase from the 27 deaths reported in the same period previously.

Question: Why are we facing this situation, despite the many efforts taken to control dengue?
Answer: The increase in dengue cases is not specific to Malaysia, as other countries in the region have also reported an increasing dengue incidence. In fact, the increase is much higher in other countries in the region.

For example, Singapore and Laos have reported a 500 per cent and 1,000 per cent increase in dengue incidence compared with last year. It is a pattern in the region. You can see that the increase in Malaysia is much lower than these countries, as we have been able to control the increase through various measures.

Dengue is a cyclical endemic disease. This means there will be a cyclical rise and fall in the number of cases every few years, depending on the strain (of which there are four types) of dengue that is circulating and if the population has already built an immunity.

Source reduction measures through the elimination of mosquito breeding sites are the most effective method to control the spread of the disease. It should be noted that spraying insecticides and fogging are only a temporary means of controlling the adult mosquito population.

The public should check their premises for breeding sites and dispose of containers and stagnant water that may be a source of breeding mosquitoes.

Question: Where are the dengue hot spots in the country?

Answer: Dengue is predominantly an urban disease because of the abundance of the principal vector Aedes aegypti. Areas that have reported high numbers of cases include Selangor, Johor and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Of the 244 dengue outbreak localities in the country, Selangor heads the list with 175 localities. Johor has 24 localities and the Federal Territory, 14. In the list of 20 dengue hot spots in the country, 19 were in Selangor and the other in the Federal Territory. The public can access the latest information on dengue hot spots from the ministry's website at http://idengue.remotesensing.gov.my.

Question: What are the obstacles in the fight against dengue?

Answer: Regional influences like rainfall and climate play a significant role in the transmission of the disease. These are beyond our control. However, the disease is also influenced by the cleanliness of our environment, which we can control.

The problem is compounded by people throwing rubbish indiscriminately. The lack of efficient solid waste management strategies also contributes to the increased availability of breeding sites.

We are trying to slow the rate of increase (in cases), but we need the public to do their part as well. We have had some success in engaging the people via our Communication for Behavioural Impact, or Combi, initiative. Localities with active Combi programmes are found to be less affected by the disease.

However, public participation is lacking in some highly urbanised localities like Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor. Increased public participation and awareness in these areas is essential.

Question: What is the economic cost of dengue to the country?

Answer: Based on a study from 2002 to 2007, the immediate cost of dengue to Malaysia is between US$88 million (RM280 million) and US$215 million (RM683 million) per annum.

It is equivalent to between three per cent and seven per cent of the government's spending on healthcare.

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Guam Coral bleaching becoming prominent

Guampdm 13 Oct 13;

Biologists at the University of Guam Marine Lab are looking into a phenomenon that is affecting the coral around the island.

According to Laurie Raymundo, associate professor of biology at the University of Guam, coral bleaching occurs when the animal is under extreme stress, using up its energy resources, much like humans do when under duress. This causes the animal to change color from a vibrant hue to white.

Raymundo said if it occurs, she usually sees bleaching around late August. But she and other colleagues noticed the event occurring about six weeks ago and only getting worse in the last three weeks.

And to Raymundo's surprise, the event spanned the entire 108 square kilometers of coral around the island, not just isolated areas.

"Every place we've gone to, we've seen it," she said. "That's why we're so concerned."

Raymundo said she received a notice from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration informing her the event had reached bleaching alert level two, one of the most dangerous threat levels, according to the agency, that could possibly lead to mortality.

The cause of the bleaching is the extreme warm waters Guam has been experiencing due to the overall climate change of the planet, Raymundo said. With the lack of cloud coverage and decreased wave action, corals as far down as 50 feet are slowly being affected.

But corals closer to the surface of the water might have a better chance of surviving, Raymundo said, because they are used to the warmer temperatures. Biologists can't be sure at this point, however.

Some of the corals living around Guam are also part of a list of Indo-Pacific species proposed for protection, Raymundo said, and this bleaching event is affecting them as well.

The long-term effects of an intense coral bleaching event like this are the unlikely survival rate of the coral and the decrease in habitats for local fish.

Raymundo said, depending on the severity, it could take anywhere from weeks to years for the coral to recover or, in more extreme cases, reproduce if they do at all.

She also said that if the coral dies, local fish won't have the habitats necessary to thrive and protection from large storms such as typhoons could be put in jeopardy as well.

Raymundo said her team and others from the Guam Environmental Protection Agency are planning to dive on 50 sites around the island to assess the extent of the event and damage to the coral.

Usually, the university's Marine Lab would have the resources and help of the National Parks Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, but because of the federal government shutdown, these agencies aren't able to support any research efforts, causing a bigger burden on the remaining divers, Raymundo said.

Raymundo is hoping that the ocean nursery in Piti can be used to possibly breed more coral to replace the dead species around the island.

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Best of our wild blogs: 12 Oct 13

“Forget not our Living Forest” – botanist Joseph Lai unveils an entourage of enthralling forest denizens! Thu 17 Oct 2013: 6.30pm @ NUS LT25
from Raffles Museum News

A Short Love Note to Science
from Diary of a Boy wandering through Our Little Urban Eden

Project update 12: All creatures great and small
from Rimba

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Can Singapore 'electrify' the world?

It should lead by being first nation to switch to all-electric fleet of vehicles
Kishore Mahbubani, Straits Times 12 Oct 13;

SINGAPORE’S great weakness is that it is an absurdly small nation. Paradoxically, one great strength of Singapore is that it is an absurdly small nation. Hence, Singapore can try things out on a national scale that few other nations can dream about.

Let me suggest one such bold national project. Let Singapore become the first country in the world to have an all-electric fleet of vehicles: cars, trucks, taxis, buses, etc. Singapore can create a new chapter in world history by becoming the first country in the world not to have petrol-fuelled engines on the road. And why should Singapore do this? There will be at least three massive benefits from doing so.

Healthier population

FIRST, Singaporeans will breathe much cleaner air. Without petrol and diesel engines, there will be much less carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, particulate matter and other pollutants in the air. As a result, I have no doubt that the health of Singaporeans will improve. There will be fewer instances of asthmatic attacks, and incidents of cancer may also go down. Singapore will also become the quietest city in the world.

Economists have not yet established simple and easy ways of measuring such “positive externalities” that will flow from an all-electric fleet in Singapore. Yet, there is no doubt that the environment will improve massively. Singaporeans will become a happier nation and Singapore will become an ever more attractive destination for the best global talent. (Oops, maybe I shouldn’t say this!)

Second, Singapore would be positioning itself for the day when a global carbon tax or emissions trading system is introduced.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change just released its latest climate change report. The evidence is now irrefutable. Human activity, especially in the form of greenhouse gas emissions, is warming the planet.

Many countries will suffer the negative effects of rising sea levels and bouts of extreme weather. Singapore will be one of the biggest losers if the worst-case scenario unfolds. While Singapore is too small to make a large difference to climate change mitigation efforts, an all-electric fleet would help us deal with a global carbon tax, thus boosting national competitiveness.

Delay climate change

BY CREATING an all-electric transportation system, Singapore can help to delay climate change. How? Singapore’s behaviour alone will not make a massive difference. But bear in mind that the Asian middle-class population is about to explode, from about 500 million now to 1.75 billion by 2020. If these new middle-class citizens begin buying petrol-burning cars, the planet will be literally, not metaphorically, fried. Clearly, some powerful examples will be needed to demonstrate that the world would be better off not buying petrol-burning cars. By going all-electric, Singapore will act as a key catalytic agent to help to prevent global warming.

The manufacture of electric cars emits more carbon than that of traditional vehicles because of the energy-intensive methods used to mine, smelt and process the iron, lithium and rare earth elements that go into the batteries and other components of electric cars. But studies have shown that electric vehicles make up for this by having much lower carbon emissions when they are in use.

Most of Singapore’s electricity is generated from natural gas, a relatively clean fossil fuel. Using electric cars will result in an effective 66 per cent reduction of carbon emissions in comparison with petrol- and diesel-powered cars.

Cars as status symbols

THE third benefit of creating an all-electric fleet is that it will help to reduce the obsession with cars as a status symbol, as electric cars will simply be seen as functional vehicles to get from point A to point B. For the few Singaporeans who insist on having status symbols like Maseratis, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, I would like to strongly recommend the Tesla, the environmentally friendly status symbol. By moving to an all-electric fleet, we shift the status competition in Singapore away from having the most powerful and fastest cars to having the most environmentally friendly ones. So who should lead the charge to convert Singapore’s car fleet into an all-electric one? I think I know what is going on in the mind of any Singaporean who is reading this sentence. Every Singaporean will expect the Government to take the lead. Unfortunately, this is the wrong answer. If the Government tries a top-down strategy, there will be a lot of resistance. The only way such a massive change can take place smoothly is for it to be a bottom-up initiative.

New developmental approach

INDEED, as Singapore approaches the 50th anniversary of its independence and Singaporeans ponder on the next 50 years, the country should consider a major change of approach to the future development of the country. Singapore has been extraordinarily successful in our first 50 years because of a remarkable number of government-initiated policies. Let me just cite Singapore Airlines, Changi Airport, PSA, and the Singapore Newater story as a few examples. None of these were citizen initiatives.

However, for the next 50 years, we will need a balance of government-led and citizen-led initiatives. Making Singapore the first electric vehicle nation should be the first citizen-led initiative in the nation’s history.

Anyone who thinks that a single citizen cannot make a significant difference should look at the record of Tesla Motors and its chief executive Elon Musk. Mr Musk is giving a personal guarantee (including with his personal money) that the Tesla will retain as much second-hand value as the equivalent Mercedes.

Even more astoundingly, he has begun building charging stations so that you can drive from Los Angeles to New York in a Tesla. If you can drive across a large country like the United States in an electric vehicle, it is surely possible to do so in Singapore. No charging station in Singapore will be more than a few kilometres away. In fact, charging stations could even be installed in private parking lots and driveways.

The Government can help by creating an infrastructure that supports electric vehicles. It could also provide tax and other benefits. Currently, because of the high cost of electric vehicle batteries, such cars cost more, thus placing the vehicle in a higher tax bracket than cheaper but less environmentally friendly cars.

Even the recently introduced Carbon Emissions-Based Vehicle Scheme does not offset the higher costs. Sadly, Tesla had to close its dealership in Singapore without selling a single fully electric car after less than a year because it was not able to receive “green tax benefits” from the Government.

But the benefits that would flow from the creation of an all-electric fleet would be far greater than the tax revenues that the Government stands to lose in giving out tax benefits.

In short, it is a “no-brainer” for Singapore to become the first country in the world with an all-electric vehicle fleet. No other country can do it as easily as Singapore.

The benefits in all dimensions – environmental, health, social – will far outweigh any costs. Indeed, I cannot think of any real cost to making the change. So the big question is: Which citizen of Singapore will stand up and take the lead? If the movement succeeds, it will “electrify” both Singapore and the world. The hour has come. Let the right man or woman stand up and lead the movement.

The writer is dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. He drives a hybrid vehicle.

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Farmers welcome enhanced $10m boost to improve ops

Audrey Tan Straits Times 12 Oct 13;

FARMERS in Singapore are rejoicing that they no longer have to plough a lonely furrow, now that the Government has pumped in an additional $10 million into the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's (AVA) Food Fund to improve farm operations.

Farmers such as Mr Malcolm Ong, 50, welcomed the initiative to reduce the Republic's reliance on food imports and boost productivity in the farming industry.

"Manpower is our biggest hurdle as it is not readily available," said the fish farmer.

"By finding ways to mechanise labour-intensive areas like net washing and changing, we can be more productive."

Mr Ong estimates that an automated system to do the task would cost about $200,000.

Typically, washing and changing one net manually would take four people - or half his staff size - about half a day, the owner of Metropolitan Fishery Group said.

Other farms have similar ambitions of automating labour processes to boost productivity.

Mr Wong Kok Fah, director of Kok Fah Technology Farm, which grows leafy vegetables, said his farm had successfully applied for funds in the earlier two rounds of applications to "improve farm facilities and machines to automate our manual processes".

Now that the fund is in its third tranche since its launch in 2009, Mr Wong said that plans are in place to improve "techniques, machines and facilities" at his farm.

"This will increase possibilities of bringing in new techniques and systems to increase production and efficiency," he added.

"With the improvement, we can work towards increasing food production in Singapore."

Enhancements to the fund were announced on Thursday during AVA's inaugural food industry convention at Orchard Hotel.

These include simplified eligibility criteria that no longer require farms to submit latest income statements or productivity improvement plans to apply under the Basic Farm Capability Upgrading and Technical Boosters categories, and an extended list of equipment.

But farmers feel that more can be done to enhance food security.

Owner of Bollywood Veggies Mrs Ivy Ms Singh-Lim said the $10 million was "a pittance" considering the importance of food security as Singapore imports more than "90 per cent" of its food supply.

"The recent strike at the pig farm in Batam tells us we have to be serious about issues of food security," she said.

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Consider using ‘carrots’ to combat haze

Woo Sian Boon Today Online 12 Oct 13;

SINGAPORE — Beyond the focus on assigning blame and beefing up laws to prosecute errant companies and landowners who contribute to the haze, could “carrots” be used to incentivise stakeholders do the right thing?

This approach was brought up by several participants at an informal haze dialogue yesterday organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), which was attended by representatives from non-government organisations, academic institutions and companies from the private sector.

Assistant Professor Jason Cohen from the National University of Singapore, who specialises in climate change models, also suggested the need for more awareness among firms on the negative long-term effects of slash-and-burn practices. He cited countries such as China, Japan and the United States, which have banned such practices after evidence showed that this led to land degradation in the long run.

Others pointed out the drawbacks of the “stick” approach, such as the difficulty in pinning down errant companies due to poor satellite mapping information and long supply chains.

A member of the Haze Elimination Action Team, Ms Sumi Dhanarajan, also questioned whether prosecuting large companies was enough to push to them to take action against contributing to the haze. “For example, by targeting the companies higher up the value chain, how big an impact would that have upon reducing the haze?” she asked.

SIIA Deputy Director Chua Chin Wei acknowledged that ground engagement is difficult with the increasing number of small plantation holders in Indonesia.

“There are possibly about close two million small holders, typically holding less than 50ha of land ... we recognise that this responsibility has to lie with Indonesia. The question then of course, is to see how Singapore can play a constructive role,” he said.

Earlier this week, ASEAN leaders had approved a joint haze monitoring system developed by Singapore, which will help in the tracking down of culprits behind the haze.

SIIA Chairman Simon Tay noted that the Singapore government’s response to the haze “has been very different” compared to previous years. “That’s why also even on the ASEAN level, they’ve been pushing much harder,” he said.

Still, the participants questioned if Singapore was doing enough to help Indonesia combat the haze, whether in monetary terms or by initiatives on the ground. Woo Sian Boon

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Malaysia: 'Don't always view deforestation negatively'

New Straits Times 12 Oct 13;

KUCHING: Some people were very unhappy when deforestation took place as they worried that their villages would be destroyed, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

He said instead of feeling nervous and frustrated, they should take it positively as it was part of Sarawak's development process.

"Let us remind everyone that our state is moving forward towards greater development and success," Taib said, after witnessing the power purchase agreement signing ceremony between Sarawak Energy Berhad and a foreign company yesterday.

He said three years ago, part of the forest in Samalaju had been cleared for development of a heavy industry, adding the area today had transformed into an industrial park which attracted foreign investments.

"Because of rapid development, the state government is preparing a new township for Samalaju which is expected to be completed within two years."

Taib said the town would have hotels, better infrastructure and security to meet the expectations of local and foreign investors.

He said accommodation for workers was included in the plan, adding that at present, some workers had to travel long distances to get to work because of insufficient accommodation facilities.

"This is one of the biggest problems we are facing now.

"So, the government is putting more effort to ensure the comfort and convenience of workers."

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Shift to a new climate likely by mid-century - study

Alister Doyle PlanetArk 10 Oct 13;

Billions of people could be living in regions where temperatures are hotter than their historical ranges by mid-century, creating a "new normal" that could force profound changes on nature and society, scientists said on Wednesday.

Temperatures in an average year would be hotter by 2047, give or take 14 years, than those in the warmest year from 1860-2005 if the greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, with the tropics the first affected area, a new index indicated.

"The results shocked us. Regardless of the scenario, changes will be coming soon," lead author Camilo Mora of the University of Hawaii said. "Within my generation whatever climate we were used to will be a thing of the past."

The data suggested the cities to be hit earliest included Manokwari in Indonesia, which could shift to a new climate from 2020 and Kingston, Jamaica, from 2023 under the fastest scenario of change.

At the other extreme, Moscow would depart from historical variability only in 2063 and Anchorage in 2071.

In all, the scientists found that between 1 and 5 billion people would be living in regions outside such limits of historical variability, underscoring the impact already under way from a build-up of man-made greenhouse gases.

"Unprecedented climates will occur earliest in the tropics and among low-income countries," according to the study in the journal Nature that urged cuts in greenhouse gases to limit damage to human society and wildlife.

The tropics are most vulnerable to shifting to a new state because the climate was naturally in a narrow band, they said. The Arctic is now suffering the fastest absolute temperature rises, but temperatures have naturally swung widely in history.

However, commentators noted the study did not fully address how people may become better adapted at dealing with the warming, potentially negating some of its effects.

Skeptics who question the need for urgent action have become emboldened by the fact that temperatures rose more slowly over the past 15 years despite increasing greenhouse gas emissions, especially in emerging nations led by China.

However, leading climate scientists said last month they were more convinced than ever that humans were the main culprits for global warming, and predicted the impact from greenhouse gas emissions could linger for centuries.

HOW NATURE ADAPTS

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said the hiatus in warming was a natural variation that would not last, and the Earth was set for more floods, droughts and rising sea levels from melting ice sheets that could swamp low-lying islands.

Efforts to curb emissions could delay the average expected date for the shift to a new normal climate to 2069, according to the scientists based in Hawaii and Japan.

Other experts welcomed the study as a novel perspective on climate change - most past studies examine the climate at a fixed date such as 2050 or 2100 rather than predict the timing of a shift to a new state.

"This shows the point at which what is now an extreme year becomes the norm," Chris Huntingford of the Center for Ecology and Hydrology in England told Reuters of a commentary in Nature he wrote with Lina Mercado of Exeter University.

Huntingford noted that the study focused on a shift in mean temperatures - meaning that freak cold years in future could still be chillier than the hottest years in the historical record examined, led by 2005 and 1998.

Huntingford said the study did not fully examine the possibility that people and nature may be better at adapting to warming than expected. "It remains one of big open questions," he said.

A heatwave in 2003 in Europe, the hottest in 500 years, killed up to 70,000 people but better preparations now would reduce the toll if it were to happen again, many scientists say.

The study examined temperatures back to 1860, for which reliable records are available. The U.N. panel of climate scientists said in its report that the period 1983-2012 was likely to have been the warmest in the past 1,400 years.

For the Nature study, click here: dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature12540


IMF, World Bank heads lend clout to climate change efforts
Reporting by Valerie Volcovici, editing by Ros Krasny PlanetArk 9 Oct 13;

IMF, World Bank heads lend clout to climate change efforts Photo: Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Visitors are silhouetted against the logo of the International Monetary Fund at the main venue for the IMF and World Bank annual meeting in Tokyo October 10, 2012.
Photo: Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon

At a panel on the opening day of their 2013 autumn meeting, Lagarde and World Bank Group President Jim Young Kim said climate change was a priority for their lending institutions, the first time the two had addressed the issue together in public.

Lagarde said measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can add much needed revenue to national economies and steer countries toward the development of cleaner renewable energy.

"There are two things that they should focus on. One is get the (carbon) pricing right and we can help them with that," Lagarge said, referring to measures such as applying carbon taxes and establishing emissions trading schemes.

"The second thing we can do is gradually phase out and remove the subsidies that apply to energies, and particularly fossil energies," Lagarde said.

The subsidization of fossil fuels currently amounts to upwards of $485 billion, she said.

The IMF published a report in March making the case for energy subsidy reform.

The paper said that subsidies were expensive for governments, and that rather than helping consumers, they detracted from increased investment in infrastructure, education and health care which would help the poor more directly.

The IMF also plans to publish a report by mid-2014 providing U.S. policymakers with guidance on how to design a carbon tax within the context of broader fiscal reform and fiscal consolidation objectives.

Lagarde and Kim have put a brighter spotlight on climate issues at their respective institutions than their predecessors, stepping up efforts to reducing pollution in the absence of a global agreement on climate change.

"We think a global agreement is critical but there are things we can do right now before we have an agreement that would make a difference," Kim said.

Kim said the World Bank is focused on three major areas: ensuring sustainable energy for all countries, supporting low-carbon urban planning, and shaping "climate smart" agricultural programs.

"If we focus on those three areas, along with the effort the IMF is making on removing fuel subsidies, that's a robust response to this climate change problem," Kim said.

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Biofuel development should not compromise food security, says CFS

Committee on World Food Security also stresses policy and investment support for smallholder farmers and producers
FAO 11 Oct 13;

11 October 2013, Rome - Following a week of intense discussions, the Committee on World Food Security stressed the link between biofuels and food security, saying that the "progressive realization of the right to adequate food for all" should be a priority concern in biofuel development.

The world's most important intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder platform for food security and nutrition said biofuel development "should not compromise food security, and should especially consider women and smallholders."

The 7-11 October meeting drew nearly 750 people, including over 130 government delegations, 100 civil society and 50 private sector organizations. Following the talks, the CFS also agreed on the importance of integrating smallholder agriculture into national policies, strategies, and research aimed at boosting investment and sustainable development.

Family farmers, fishers and others whose livelihoods depend on smallholder agriculture in developing countries account for most of the 840 million chronically hungry people in the world, according to the recent UN hunger report, the State of Food Insecurity in the World.

Opportunities and risks

On the subject of biofuels and food security, informed by a report from the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on Food Security and Nutrition, the CFS noted that biofuel development encompassed "both opportunities and risks in economic, social and environmental aspects," depending on the context and practices. "In some cases, current biofuel production creates competition between biofuel crops and food crops," it added.

The CFS encouraged FAO and other stakeholders to look at ways to help countries strengthen their capacities to assess their situation with regards to biofuels, taking into account food security concerns at global, regional and national levels, and legitimate land tenure rights.

"Governments and other appropriate stakeholders are encouraged to review biofuels policies - where applicable and if necessary - according to balanced science-based assessments of the opportunities and risks they may present for food security," the Committee said.

It called on biofuel research and development partners to improve the efficiency of biofuels regarding both resources and processes, and to devise solutions adapted to the needs of all stakeholders, including those in least-developed countries, as well as women and smallholders who are most in need of access to modern energy services.

The CFS' recommendation called on R the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in The Context of National Food Security (VGGT); the Voluntary Guidelines to support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security; the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) Sustainability Indicators for Bioenergy and FAO Bioenergy and Food Security (BEFS) Approach.

Investment in smallholders

On the issue of investment in smallholder agriculture, also informed by an HLPE report, the CFS adopted a policy recommendation calling on governments, together with smallholder organizations, civil society, the private sector, research institutions and international development partners, to work together to "build a country-owned vision" designed to boost investments in smallholder agriculture.

The CFS recommended countries consider how agricultural, urban and rural sector policies, strategies and budgets could best enable smallholder access to productive assets, local, national and regional markets, appropriate training, research, technology and farm support services - especially for women.

The importance of smallholder agriculture will be highlighted in 2014 during the International Year of Family Farming.

The CFS also tackled a wide range of other issues designed to support efforts to eradicate chronic hunger and extreme poverty, including responsible agricultural investments and food security in protracted crisis situations. These discussions were slated to continue during regional consultations in the months to come.

At the end of the week, Gerda Verburg of the Netherlands was elected as the CFS Chair for a two-year term. Verburg suceeds Yaya Olaniran of Nigeria.

UN stance on biofuels 'legitimises food violations', claim campaigners
Civil society groups accuse Committee on World Food Security agreement of favouring industry at expense of small farmers
Claire Provost theguardian.com 14 Oct 13;

Farmers work in a Jatropha nursery field in Dimbokro, Ivory Coast. The Jatropha produces a seed oil that can be made into biodiesel. Photograph: Kambou Sia/AFP
Campaigners have condemned new UN recommendations on biofuels, claiming that they defend the interests of the industry rather than those of small farmers in poor countries.

Civil society groups refused to endorse the recommendations, agreed on Friday after a week of negotiations at the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in Rome, saying the result was skewed by countries supporting the biofuels industry and that governments with misgivings were ignored.

"Small-scale food producers have spoken powerfully … about the reality they are confronted with every day: that biofuels crops compete with their food production, for the land they till, and for the water that sustains them," said civil society groups. They argued that the recommendations "legitimise violations of the right to food".

The UN document acknowledged that food and energy security issues were linked, and that biofuels could compete with food crops and influence international commodity prices. It said biofuels should not compromise food security and that concerted international and national actions were important to "encourage that biofuel development and policies are in line with the objective to eradicate hunger".

However, the recommendations do not call for specific policy actions on biofuels and food security. Instead, they say governments should review biofuels policies "where applicable and if necessary" and "seek co-ordination" with food security strategies.

Civil society groups said the result was only a "minimal reflection" of concerns raised. Thierry Kesteloot, of Oxfam, said: "We regret that the whole process ended up in a decision that will not deliver tangible results … During most of the negotiations, the evidence and science were replaced by vested interests. And, while we all wait for the potential of new biofuel generations to arrive, people go hungry and land is grabbed."

In an open letter published before the talks, 80 civil society organisations called on the CFS to recognise that the promotion of biofuels is undermining the right to food, and adopt concrete recommendations to stop this. In particular, campaigners urged governments to eliminate direct and indirect subsidies for biofuels, including targets, mandates and quotas.

Industry groups issued their own statement arguing that discussions had largely excluded and disregarded the views of the private sector, and that a high-level panel of experts on food security and nutrition lacked "transparency, openness and scientific integrity" in its investigation into biofuels and food security.

In June, a report from the high-level panel concluded that biofuels have increased competition over natural resources. "Biofuels policies have been successful in developing biofuels; they now have to orient this success towards food security, which requires taking into account its various dimensions and to recognise and integrate all the potential impacts of national policies, internally and abroad," it said.

The CFS, the key UN forum for the review and co-ordination of policies on world food security, is the first UN body to take up the contentious issue of biofuels. Reformed after the 2008 food price crisis in an effort to create more space for civil society and private sector groups to negotiate alongside governments, the CFS is often hailed as the most inclusive global governance forum.

Last week's talks drew nearly 750 people, including more than 120 government representatives, almost 100 civil society groups, and nearly 50 private sector organisations.

CFS secretary Kostas Stamoulis said last week that the body's diversity is both its main asset and its biggest challenge. As a result, he warned, getting agreement on controversial issues like biofuels was bound to be difficult.

"The challenge is how to get a consensus that is still meaningful, because if you dilute it too much then it gives the stakeholders no guidance on what it is they have to do," said Stamoulis.

CFS agreements are not binding and there is no mechanism to enforce decisions, though its statements are seen as signals of the international mood and can set precedents for future discussions.

The CFS also adopted recommendations on the importance of integrating small farmers into national policies, strategy and research, calling for "country-owned visions" on how to boost investments. Small farmers, fishers, and landworkers in developing countries account for most of the 840 million people thought to be chronically undernourished, according to the 2013 State of Food Insecurity in the World report, released by the UN this month.

Negotiators at the CFS are working on a set of principles for responsible agricultural investment, to be endorsed at the 2014 session, along with an "agenda for action" for tackling food insecurity in protracted crises.

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Best of our wild blogs: 11 Oct 2013

Rifle Range Road - What a mess!!!!
from Mountain and Sea

We need unmanaged outdoor spaces to stave off namby-pambiness
from Otterman speaks

Weaving through Bidadari (Alkaff Gardens and Lake)
from Rojak Librarian

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