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NEO CHAI CHIN Today Online 19 Nov 14;
SINGAPORE — A nature group has called for Pulau Ubin to be given the same level of protection as a nature reserve, given the concentration of rare and endangered wildlife found on the offshore island.
With much knowledge gained since the 1990s on the island’s biodiversity, it is about time that Ubin be accorded a stronger level of conservation protection, the Nature Society (Singapore) said in a position paper submitted to the authorities last month.
The paper is its response to the Ubin Project, an ongoing effort to gather suggestions on enhancing Ubin’s natural environment and protecting its rustic charm.
The island is officially a “nature area”, which is defined in the Singapore Green Plan as an area recognised for its rich biodiversity, but can be developed if the need arises, the paper stated.
Under the latest Urban Redevelopment Authority Master Plan, much of Ubin is classified as “open space”, much like the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment nature reserves. But unlike them, its protection has no statutory power insofar as de-gazetting it requires legislative or parliamentary approval, the Nature Society stated.
It called for a formation of an independent committee of experts and stakeholders to review Ubin’s land-use status as a whole.
Should it be determined that Ubin deserves the status of a nature reserve, the independent committee can also weigh in on which portions of Ubin to include. Areas rich in biodiversity, including the Outward Bound School territory, should be integrated and managed by the National Parks Board (NParks).
The 18-page paper was submitted to NParks, Ministry of National Development (MND) and Urban Redevelopment Authority on Oct 27.
NParks’ conservation director Wong Tuan Wah told TODAY that the Nature Society’s proposals would be considered together with other ideas received through platforms, such as the Ubin Project’s microsite and symposiums. The society is part of the Friends of Ubin network formed earlier this year — comprising members from various heritage and nature groups, volunteers and the Ubin community — to serve as one platform for the gathering of ideas, he added.
Suggestions made by the Nature Society include capping the number of taxis and vans on the island and introducing electric small vehicles for less mobile visitors, curbing coastal erosion on the island’s northern shoreline and restricting mountain biking to areas that are less ecologically sensitive.
The abandoned rubber estates and durian orchards should also be left alone as creatures, such as woodpeckers, bulbuls, junglefowl and the greater mousedeer, have ventured into these areas for cover and to forage, as the wild undergrowth continues to become denser.
Regular nature walks conducted by volunteers could be offered in Ubin, but mass activities, such as marathons and cycling races, should be disallowed, said the Nature Society.
Also highlighted in the paper was Ubin’s flora and fauna. It has the largest intact portion of mangroves in Singapore, covering 149ha, and its diverse wildlife habitats include mangrove and tidal mudflats, secondary forests, as well as marine habitats such as seagrass beds.
Some species of plants, birds, reptiles and butterflies are only found on Ubin, such as the Brown Wood Owl and the White-Bellied Blind Snake.
As an increasing number of people visit Ubin, the current lack of clear demarcation between recreational zones and important nature areas will adversely impact natural habitats and wildlife, the society said.
Earlier this month, it was reported that at least half of 500 people surveyed online by the MND wanted to see more public facilities — including some amenities found on the mainland — such as shelters and cycling trails.
In 1992, the authorities approved a plan to reclaim part of what is now the Chek Jawa Wetlands, one of Singapore richest eco-systems. However, in 2001 when the reclamation was set to start, nature lovers and the public appealed for its preservation.
Following public consultations, the Government announced in the same year that the reclamation works would be deferred for as long as Pulau Ubin is not required for development.
The public can continue sharing their ideas on Ubin at https://ideas.ecitizen.gov.sg/a/pages/ubin.
NSS Position Paper on Pulau Ubin: http://www.nss.org.sg/report/a1abca77-eNSS%20Position%20on%20Pulau%20Ubin-1.pdf
Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 19 Nov 14;
The waters surrounding Singapore may look murky, but they could be home to species of marine creatures that are possibly new to science, a local study has found.
At least 14 such species have been discovered in the first Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey conducted here.
They include an orange-tinged sea sponge found during a reef survey, a warty-looking sea anemone burrowing in mudflats in northern Singapore, and a conical hermit crab from the seabeds near the Southern Islands.
The survey led by the National Parks Board (NParks) to study Singapore's marine ecosystems started four years ago, and is now almost complete.
Mudflat sampling was completed in April last year, while data collection at seabeds and reefs is expected to end by May next year.
And while there are still some months to go before data collection is complete, researchers have already recorded more than 80 species of sea creatures found for the first time in local waters, in addition to the 14 new ones.
Another encouraging find was the rediscovery of about 10 species of creatures such as crabs and catfish last seen here decades ago.
The zebra crab, for instance, was rediscovered in waters around the Southern Islands. The orange crab with a striped shell was last seen in the early 1960s, and repeated surveys in the 1990s had failed to find the species.
"Despite the rapid urbanisation of Singapore, this survey showed that marine biodiversity remains rich and their habitats are worth conserving," said Dr Tan Koh Siang, senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI).
Researchers from NParks, the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, and 423 volunteers also took part in the five-year project.
The three habitats surveyed - mudflats, seabeds and reefs - were chosen as these were "data deficient", said Dr Tan.
"This (survey) will serve as scientific baseline information to optimise management and conservation of marine biodiversity in Singapore," said Dr Karenne Tun, deputy director of the coastal and marine division at the National Biodiversity Centre at NParks, which led the survey.
The analysed data, which will contain information such as the distribution of the species identified and whether they are abundant, common or rare at each location, will also be compiled into a free database.
Related link
Mega Marine Survey - how to volunteer for the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey
Channel NewsAsia 19 Nov 14;
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday (Nov 18) encouraged parents to help the younger generation fight short-sightedness by bringing them outdoors, as Singapore has one of the highest incidences of myopia in the world.
Citing an article by The Economist, Mr Lee said on his Facebook page that exposure to sunlight can reduce the risk of myopia. "Exposure to daylight helps the retina to release a chemical that slows down an increase in the eye’s axial length, which is what most often causes myopia," the article stated.
This is why he suggested parents can help their children by making sure they take frequent breaks from homework, and limiting the time spent playing computer games or watching TV. He added: "During this school break, why not take them out to enjoy our beautiful parks, beaches and gardens?"
The Health Promotion Board has also been working with schools to have more outdoor activities to balance time spent on work like reading and writing, Mr Lee noted.
- CNA/kk
LINETTE LAI Straits Times 19 Nov 14;
SINGAPORE - With more wet days ahead, it is probably a good idea to keep an eye on flood-prone areas in your neighbourhood by referring to national water agency PUB's website.
Currently, the website lists 48 flood-prone areas and 55 hotspots.
The flood-prone areas refer to low-lying places with a history of flooding, while hotspots are areas that are not low-lying but have experienced flash floods.
PUB on its website said that it has reduced flood prone areas in Singapore from about 3,200 hectares in the 1970s to 36 hectares today,
Flood-prone areas include Arab Street, Stevens Road/Balmoral Road and Margaret Drive/Tanglin Road while hotspots include Orchard Road/Cuscaden Road junction, Craig Road/Tanjong Pagar junction and Lorong Ah Soo.
Pedestrians caught in a flash flood should move to higher ground and stay alert for open drains, advised the PUB. If motorists find floodwaters rising around their vehicles, they should abandon them and also seek higher ground.
The PUB's map of flood-prone areas can be viewed here: www.pub.gov.sg/managingflashfloods/fpa/Pages/default.aspx
More thundery showers likely over next two months
Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 19 Nov 14;
MONDAY'S flash floods may not be the last to blight Singapore this year.
The Meteorological Service Singapore warned yesterday that short, moderate to heavy thundery showers are expected to become a regular occurrence during afternoons and evenings over the next two months as the annual north-east monsoon season takes hold.
They could even lead to floods such as the one in Kovan on Monday afternoon, when intense rain caused water from the canal to overflow into residential areas, trapping parked cars, causing power shutdowns and flooding homes.
The first half of this month has already been wetter than usual, with 188mm of rainfall recorded so far - and the meteorological service said it will only get wetter.
Rainfall this month and the next is expected to be about 20 per cent above the long-term average of 257mm and 288mm respectively.
The north-east monsoon season usually lasts from late November to January. It is expected to cause two to four monsoon surges - periods of occasionally windy conditions, cooler temperatures and prolonged and widespread moderate to heavy rain lasting between two and five days.
"In preparation for the upcoming north-east monsoon, PUB, the national water agency, (is working) closely with the National Environment Agency... to ensure that our drains remain free flowing," both agencies said in a statement yesterday.
It added that PUB officers will remind construction sites to conduct checks on nearby public drains. They will also inspect 100 major worksites to ensure that nearby drains are in order.
Meanwhile, the Singapore Contractors Association will send out circulars to its 3,000-plus members advising them to work closely with the authorities.
The PUB said it will also monitor its 171 water-level sensors in major drains and canals, and its network of 161 closed-circuit television cameras to enable quick response during heavy storms. It plans to increase the number of water-level sensors to 200 by the first quarter of next year. Last month, PUB officers also distributed advisories containing flood precaution tips - such as storing items on higher ground or using sandbags or flood boards - to 500 residents and shop owners in low-lying areas.
Areas which have previously experienced flash floods have already put safeguards in place.
Singapore Polytechnic has taken measures including the installation of flood walls and warning sensors after floods disrupted classes in February last year.
Liat Towers, which was deluged by waist-high water in 2010, has installed six water pumps and erected flood barriers, among other measures.
Civil servant Dawn Koh, 22, said her Opera Estate backyard floods every time it rains heavily.
Her family has installed non-slip tiles, covered furniture with plastic and piled up sandbags. She said: "The drainage system in the neighbourhood is not very good and we get flooded often."
More rainy days ahead in Singapore
Today Online 18 nov 14;
SINGAPORE — Expect more rainy days ahead, with the onset of the Northeast Monsoon later this month, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS).
Already, rainfall in the first half of this month has been higher than usual and rainfall for the rest of the month and next month is also expected to be about the 20 per cent above the long-term average of 256.6mm and 288.4mm, respectively.
The MSS will issue warnings when heavy rain or prolonged monsoon rain is expected on top of regular weather forecasts. Heavy rains coinciding with high tides could lead to localised flash floods in low-lying areas. The National Environment Agency (NEA) has advised the public to exercise caution during the Northeast Monsoon season.
Typically, the Northeast Monsoon comprises a wet phase between late November and January, followed by a drier phase in February. The wet phase has moderate to heavy thundery showers that are short duration, and occur mainly in the afternoon and evening. There are also two to four monsoon surges — where northeasterly winds blowing from the South China Sea bring in prolonged rain periods, windy conditions and cooler temperatures — lasting between two and five days.
The NEA said it will be working with PUB, the national water agency, to ensure that drains remain free-flowing. The PUB will be inspecting close to 100 major construction sites to ensure that drains around the sites are free of debris, and reminding the construction industry to conduct checks on public drains in the vicinity of their worksites.
PUB will also continue to monitor road conditions in low-lying areas and hotspots through its network of 161 close circuit television (CCTV) cameras. PUB’s water level sensors, installed in major drains and canals, have been increased from 158 to 171 this year and help enable quick response in the event of a flood. PUB added it plans to increase the number of sensors to 200 by the first quarter of next year.
The public can receive the latest weather reports via www.nea.gov.sg, the MyENV mobile app, the radio traffic watch broadcast or the MSS’s weather forecast hotline (65427788).
PUB will also be releasing flood alerts via Facebook, Twitter, the MyWaters app and via electronic signage on roads. Members of the public can also call PUB at 1800-2846600 to report on any flood situation or NEA at 1800-6003333 to report choked drains.
Get set for a wetter holiday season
SIAU MING EN Today Online 19 Nov 14;
SINGAPORE — Expect more rainy days ahead with the onset of the North-east Monsoon later this month, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said yesterday.
The first half of this month has been wetter than usual, and rainfall for November and December is expected to be about 20 per cent above the long-term average of 256.6mm and 288.4mm respectively.
“Heavy rain coinciding with high tides could lead to localised flash floods in low-lying areas,” the MSS said in a joint statement with PUB, the national water agency.
In preparation for the wetter season, PUB is working closely with the National Environment Agency’s Department of Public Cleanliness to ensure that drains remain free-flowing.
Apart from reminding contractors to conduct checks on public drains near their construction sites, PUB is also inspecting some 100 major worksites to ensure that the drains around them are free of debris and smooth-flowing.
The construction sites include infrastructure developments, such as MRT stations and roads, and building projects, such as HDB flats and condominiums, belonging to a mix of public agencies and private developers, PUB said.
PUB has also increased the number of water-level sensors from 158 last year to 171 this year, and there will 200 sensors by the first quarter of next year. The sensors are installed in major drains and canals, providing real-time data on water levels and helping to improve PUB’s live monitoring of site conditions during heavy storms.
“Some of the areas where new water-level sensors will be located are Woodlands Road/Mandai Road, Lorong Ong Lye and Balestier Road. These are areas where flash floods have previously occurred,” the water agency told TODAY.
On Monday, heavy downpour across Singapore caused certain areas, including the basement car park of a Tampines condominium, to be flooded. Flash floods were also reported at Lorong Gambir, Lorong Ong Lye, Hougang Ave 1 and MacPherson Road.
As the Republic braces itself for more brolly days for the rest of the year, the meteorological service says it will issue warnings when heavy rain or prolonged monsoon rain is expected.
Nestor Corrales INQUIRER.net 18 Nov 14;
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Jojo de Lima used to go out to the shore to gather shrimps, fish, sting rays, and crabs within less than half an hour. But today, he can no longer do that.
De Lima is among the millions of Filipinos whose means of livelihood depend on the sea. But unlike before, the sea is now in a terrible state and constantly under threat, so is De Lima’s source of income.
According to Rare Philippines, a non-profit organization focused on marine conservation, more than 1.6 million Filipinos earn a living from the 873 coastal municipalities of the Philippines.
In a data gathered by Rare, nearshore fishers used to catch 40 kilograms of fish in the 1940s but the number had gone down to three kilograms in 2000.
The rapidly declining harvest of fishermen demanded more effort for them to find alternative ways, which gave way to the rise of illegal practices including dynamite fishing and the use of destructive fishing gears.
The birth of Fish Forever
The unprecedented number of illegal methods in fishing gave birth to the Fish Forever global initiative to protect marine sanctuaries and recover the damage seas.
“Rare has been in the Philippines since 2010 but it has been around the world for over 20 years,” Rocky Sanchez-Tirona, Vice President of Rare Philippines said.
Tirona said Rare partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Sustainable Fisheries group at the University of California to change the behavior of local fishermen and help stop overfishing, and safeguard the food security and livelihood of many Filipinos in the coastal areas of the country.
“Changing the norm and changing the behavior of the fishermen is very important. It’s fisheries reformed. Trying to get communities to change how they really manage their fisheries,” she said.
Rocky Sanchez-Tirona, Vice President for Rare Philippines, explains the "Fish Forever," an initiative to protect and conserve marine species, at the Quest Hotel in Cebu City. NESTOR CORRALES
Rocky Sanchez-Tirona, Vice President for Rare Philippines, explains the “Fish Forever,” an initiative to protect and conserve marine species, at the Quest Hotel in Cebu City. NESTOR CORRALES
Conservation fellows
On Wednesday, November 18, 12 conservation fellows from different parts of the country converged in Cebu City to formally kick off the Fish Forever initiative in the Philippines.
The 12 people were chosen as conservation fellows while twelve others came in as associate conservation fellows.
The group will undergo a three-year program where they will implement the Fish Forever at their sites while learning new skills and building their own capacity to effect positive behavior change in their communities.
Twelve coastal communities in the Philippines were chosen for the implementation of the Fish Forever, which includes Masinloc, Zambales; Looc and Lubang in Occidental Mindoro; Mercedes, Camarines Norte; Gubat, Sorsogon; San Carlos City, Negros Occidental; Manjuyod and Tayasan in Negros Oriental; Libertad and Culasi in Antique and Dapa and Del Carmen in Surigao del Norte.
“What made me us join Rare is because of their advocacy of behavior change,” said Melvin Maglayon, coastal resource management technician in San Carlos City.
Maglayon admitted that behavior change is very difficult but with the Fish Forever initiative they could instill in the minds of local fishermen the proper way of conserving and managing coastal resources.
He said he is optimistic that he and other conservation fellows would be able to instill behavior change in their communities.
Changing communities through Fish Forever
Through Fish Forever, Rare will provide conservation strategies to recover our damaged seas and protect our marine sanctuary.
Tirona said conservation fellows would train local fishermen in their sites from being the problem to becoming the solution.
In partnership with the local government units, Rare would have set up marine protected areas (MPAs) to protect and increase marine production.
Conservation fellows would help local fishermen to manage and improve their MPAs to allow more marine species to propagate.
Emilie Litsinger, Senior Manager of the Philippines Oceans program of Environmental Defense Fund, said Rare would also create managed access areas, where fishing would be off- limits.
Litsinger said the managed access strategy has been proven successful in aiding the fisheries of Chile, Japan and other coastal areas in Asia and the Pacific.
Litsinger stressed the importance of local enforcement system to ensure that the Fish Forever initiatives and marine protection would be well guarded.
Filipino Fishers Fish Forever
The Fish Forever Initiative of Rare goes beyond teaching the community to fish.
“The aim is not to teach a community to fish. It’s to help make sure they can fish forever,” Brett Jenks, CEO of Rare said.
Rare has also launched the Pride Campaign” to engage communities and take pride in their way of life.
Tirona said it is a series of activities that inspires local fishermen to preserve their marine resources while giving them the tools they needed.
She said the combination of fisher empowerment, capacity building and community mobilization would make the Fish Forever initiative successful.
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SIAU MING EN Today Online 18 Nov 14;
SINGAPORE — As the pace of urbanisation picks up, it is important to realise that biodiversity is linked to and can affect one’s quality of life, said Dr Lena Chan, the director of the National Biodiversity Centre at the National Parks Board (NParks) yesterday.
Biodiversity, she noted, is usually discussed in the context of pristine spaces. If you cannot stop people from moving to cities, then cities should be made richer in biodiversity to enhance the quality of life in urban settings, said Dr Chan, who delivered a lecture to more than 150 youths at the Singapore Technologies Endowment Programme — National University of Singapore (STEP-NUS) Sunburst Environment Programme.
This is why the Singapore approach has always been to create habitats or environments that are suitable for biodiversity within urban settings, she said. Dr Chan noted that Singapore developed the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in 2009 to promote biodiversity conservation. This includes considering biodiversity issues in policy planning, and improving education and public awareness on the topic, among other things.
A self-assessment tool for cities to measure progress of their biodiversity conservation efforts was introduced in 2010 and has been incorporated into the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark for Districts. To date, this tool has been used by 37 cities, including Montreal, London, Bangkok and Brussels.
The STEP-NUS Sunburst Environment Programme, which is in its second year, sees students from Singapore and across Asia — aged between 13 and 15 — attending lectures delivered by leading scientists in the fields of biodiversity, conservation and sustainability. It will also see students participate in workshops and environmental study visits, such as nature walks at the Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve and St John’s Island.
Also speaking as part of the programme, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan raised issues such as urbanisation, climate change, pollution and the depletion of natural resources in his opening address. While he noted the importance of preserving biodiversity among the untouched green areas around the world, Dr Balakrishnan also pointed out that urbanisation could be beneficial.
“If you are an environmentalist, if you want to conserve resources in the world, urbanisation is a good thing ... it’s not a bad thing because it allows us to consume (fewer) resources and yet, provide opportunities for the population in the future,” he added.
For example, he cited an example of how compact, dense and well-planned cities could spend less on building infrastructure to provide piped water and electricity to everyone.
Janice Lim Channel NewsAsia 17 Nov 14;
SINGAPORE: The monsoon season has seen heavy rain falling over many parts of Singapore in the past few weeks. Hougang and Macpherson were affected by flash floods on Monday (Nov 17).
A clip posted on Instagram shows roads in Kovan awash with floodwaters at around 2pm.
In Tampines, the basement car park of Fortune Park condominium was flooded, leaving four cars partially submerged. Mr Dinesh, who called MediaCorp's news hotline (68 22 22 68), sent in photos of the incident.
The rain has also been a dampener for companies that organise outdoor activities such as Forest Adventure. The company, which organises adventure courses, got fewer than 4,000 sign-ups for the year-end school holidays, compared to about 6,000 during the June holidays.
Last-minute cancellations are also common. Said Forest Adventure Managing Director Stephanie Besse: "For instance, on Sunday, we had about 110 bookings on the grand course and about 85 on the kids course. We ended up with only 39 people coming."
- CNA/xy
Monday blues: Flood situation in Singapore
AsiaOne 17 Nov 14;
Areas like Tampines Road, Jalan Teliti Lorong Gambir and Lorong Ong Lye experienced flash floods, with traffic still passable.
SINGAPORE - Flash floods occurred in some parts of Singapore after Monday's afternoon showers.
The Public Utilities Board sent out numerous tweets starting from 1.30pm to warn the public about the flash floods.
Areas like Tampines Road, Jalan Teliti Lorong Gambir and Lorong Ong Lye experienced flash floods, with traffic still passable.
There were flash floods at Hougang Ave 1 and Macpherson Road too.
By 2.30pm, the water levels at these affected areas started to subside. Watch this space for more updates.
Yeo Sam Jo and Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 18 Nov 14;
AAng Mo Kio has had its fair share of hairy moments this year, with the authorities receiving at least 30 cases of "monkey feedback" from residents in the town.
About half of these cases involved monkeys entering homes to steal food, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) told The Sunday Times.
This is up from just 10 instances last year, the authority said.
Between January and April this year, the AVA trapped and put down three monkeys around Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, after residents said the primates stole food from their homes regularly and that they were "fearful for their safety".
Last month, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 resident Raymond Fernando, 64, wrote to The Straits Times to complain that a monkey had entered his fifth-floor flat in Block 601. The writer, who lives alone, admitted that the animal was not aggressive, but said: "There is no guarantee it will not attack me."
In response, AVA said it is conducting "monkey control operations" around Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5. It is also working with Ang Mo Kio Town Council to reduce the nuisance.
But complaints overall have not gone up.
As of Oct 15, the authority has received 520 cases of monkey-related feedback this year from residents across the island. Last year, there were 1,860 such cases. More than 100 were about aggressive monkeys, which included the primates snatching things or biting and scratching, the AVA said.
However, out of 10 town councils that The Sunday Times contacted, including Ang Mo Kio, most said they have not received feedback on monkeys this year.
A spokesman for Tampines Town Council, though, said a monkey was spotted in Tampines Secondary School on Oct 7, and the AVA was called in to capture the animal.
Mr Louis Ng, chief executive of wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), said the group had looked into the Ang Mo Kio situation after Mr Fernando's letter was published and found that some residents there were feeding the monkeys.
"Based on the amount of feedback AVA has received this year, it is time to address the root of the problem and stop people from feeding the monkeys," he said. "The effectiveness of culling has not been scientifically proven."
Instead, Acres has suggested that the authorities keep monkeys away from residential areas through monkey herding. This involves a trained guard shooing monkeys away by tapping a stick, umbrella or net on the ground, or by using body language.
Members of the public who have feedback on monkey issues may contact AVA on 1800-476-1600.
My Paper AsiaOne 18 Nov 14;
BEST NOT TO EAT: The giant puffball mushroom is a common sight after it rains but it is unclear if they are toxic to humans. The smallest ones are about the size of a 5-cent coin, but they can grow as large as a football, says Prof Tan.
The recent heavy rain has brought an unusual sight to Hougang - a giant brain-like mushroom as wide as a person's face.
Nurse Lau Wing Lup, 30, found the mushroom while walking past a grass patch in a Buangkok View housing estate on Thursday afternoon.
He initially thought the beige-coloured mushroom was a loaf of bread, Lianhe Wanbao reported yesterday.
But as he got closer, he realised it was a mushroom that was larger than his palm and about as wide as his face.
"It had grooves and ridges so it also looked like a human brain," Mr Lau told My Paper. He saw a similar mushroom two years ago at a similar spot but the one had not been as large.
Mycology expert Tan Teck Koon said in a report two years ago that the mushroom Mr Lau found was a giant puffball.
While a common sight after it rains, the size of giant puffballs can vary greatly. The smallest are about the size of a 5-cent coin but they can grow as large as a football, said Associate Professor Tan, a mycologist at the National University of Singapore's Department of Biological Sciences.
He said the mushrooms can grow very quickly, a day after it rains. But "unlike other mushrooms, giant puffballs are quite 'tough' and may be around for a few days", he told My Paper yesterday.
"They usually grow in grassy areas and are likely to appear where they have appeared before, if the environmental conditions are suitable for them to form these large and visible fruiting bodies," he added.
But since there is insufficient research on the mushrooms here, it is unclear if they are poisonous, he said. So it is best not to eat them.
It's raining mushrooms
Linette Lai The Straits Times AsiaOne 22 Nov 14;
In recent weeks, mushrooms have sprouted up overnight all over Singapore in the wake of the wet weather.
This is because mushrooms thrive on moisture and have a very fast growth rate, said mycologist Tan Teck Koon of the National University of Singapore.
But if their rise is fast, their demise comes quickly too. They tend to be short-lived, and start to rot after two or three days.
"They can be found where there is decaying soil and plant material, which serves as a source of food for these fungi," said Associate Professor Tan, of the NUS department of biological sciences.
He estimates that there are between 100 and 200 different species in Singapore.
Last week, a large beige mushroom - known as a giant puffball - was seen on a grass patch in Buangkok View. This species can be as small as a five-cent coin or as big as a football.
Mushrooms are the reproductive structures of fungi, said Prof Tan, and they grow out of the ground to disperse their spores when conditions are right. However, not all species are edible and some may even be deadly.
He said it is a misconception that all poisonous mushrooms are brightly coloured, and warned against collecting mushrooms that look similar to edible ones sold in markets overseas.
"My advice is - don't. Many poisonous and non-poisonous mushrooms appear very similar to the layman," he said.
He said the best thing to do is to just leave the mushrooms alone.
"They don't keep well, so there is no point in collecting them," he said. "Just admire them in their natural habitat and give them a chance to sprout, expand and disperse their spores for survival."
FARRAH NAZ KARIM AND ALIZA SHAH New Straits Times 17 Nov 14;
KUALA LUMPUR: PROFITS from illicit farming in Cameron Highlands is so insane that authorities fear it will be an uphill battle to stop the illegal clearing of government land and forests in the highlands.
New revelations have suggested a gaping difference between the “official” output from land under Temporary Occupation Licences, and the actual tonnage of produce harvested from the highlands.
The New Straits Times was made to understand that some 500,000 tonnes of farm produce, from three harvests, are exported from the highlands each year. This is all supposedly from farms under TOLs. Income derived from these exports is in the region of a whopping RM1.5 billion a year.
Agricultural experts and authorities told the NST that the kind of tonnage coming out of Cameron Highlands would have been from at least 5,300ha of farmland.
However, official documents suggest that only some 2,000 TOLs were issued for agriculture in the highlands, covering an area of roughly 2,000ha.
The number of state-issued TOLs for Cameron Highlands in 2003 was 1,843. By 2012, it had increased to 2,041. Each licence is roughly for a tract of land between 0.8ha and 1.6ha. Illegally expanded farms are a different story.
The output of farm produce from 2,000ha of land in Cameron Highlands, according to agricultural experts, should logically be in the region of 180,000 tonnes a year, if harvested three times annually.
“Unless the officially allowed acreage for TOL land cultivation had been expanded by 3,300ha (from 2,000ha to tally with the output of produce from 5,300ha of farm land) since 2012, it is rather perplexing to see so much produce coming out of legal cultivation.
“Just how do you explain the difference in tonnage? Where did the rest come from? I think we all know the answer,” said the expert.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry’s Horticulture Division director Normah Othman told the NST that records showed that 50 per cent of the farm produce from Cameron Highlands were exported to Singapore.
“The up to 500,000 tonnes of produce that comes from Cameron Highlands we are talking about are all from TOL land. For every kilogramme of farm produce, the average profit is RM3,” she said.
If basic calculations are anything to go by, greedy and unscrupulous farmers have been laughing all the way to the bank, with some RM890 million every year, thanks to the dubiously sourced produce tonnage.
This latest revelation has also prompted stronger calls for a thorough audit of official data of land approved for cultivation under TOLs against farming currently being carried out in the highlands.
Malaysian Institute of Integrity Datuk Dr Mohd Tap Salleh said only by doing so would the authorities know the extent of the damage that irresponsible farmers had done.
“The institute welcomes the positive response from the state government to the suggestion by NST for a full land audit to be carried out.
“We also welcome the National Audit Department’s response that they would soon send their auditors for the purpose,” he said.
The NST had been running a series of issues besieging Cameron Highlands.
Among others, it had exposed the existence of a highly-confidential document known to those in business in the highlands as surat kuning. This “recommendation letter” is usually sent to the district office by influential figures.
This newspaper then called for a thorough audit of the highlands’ administration, including the issuance of land development permits, if the state was serious in arresting the ongoing land encroachment problem in the highlands.
Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob responded to the NST, agreeing to an audit that would cross-check the development of land against what had been set in the highlands’ development plan.
He said in the district’s planning, land-use categories had been pre-identified and marked and that “all development programmes needed to tally with the plan”.
In his statement, he denied that the surat kuning from palace officials, was among the root causes of problems that Cameron Highlands was facing, saying that it was only normal for many applicants to get testimonials and recommendations from whom they think could lend support to their applications.
He said testimonials and recommendations from all, including palace officials, were looked into, but in the end, it would be the state authorities who would decide, based on merit.
The NST has learnt that the issuance of new TOLs has been frozen since 2001.
‘Illegal clearing may have reached Perak, Kelantan’
New Straits Times 18 Nov 14;
IPOH: An environmental group has cautioned that illegal land clearing in Cameron Highlands could spill into the Perak border.
Regional Environmental Awareness of Cameron Highlands (Reach) president R. Ramakrishnan said there was a likelihood that encroachment into the Perak side of the highlands might have taken place already.
“The hilly area that forms the border of the three states, Pahang, Perak and Kelantan, is our own ‘Golden Triangle’ and is a remote place.
“Based on information received by Reach, some of the illegal clearing in Cameron Highlands has extended across the Kelantan border.
“Though it could not be verified if the same had happened in the forested areas of Perak, Reach does not reject the idea that small parts or portions may have been affected already,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Ramakrishnan, who had been vocal against the massive land clearing on the highlands for more than a decade, said the Perak Forestry Department should increase monitoring activities along the Pahang-Perak border.
He said the Perak government and state Forestry Department should take leaf from the ongoing destruction in Cameron Highlands by not allowing encroachment or giving approvals to either state agencies or companies to turn forest land into agricultural areas.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia field officer Meor Razak said the state government should not consider the idea of opening land on the Perak side for farming purposes.
He said under the National Physical Plan, the forested area on the Perak side formed an essential part of the Central Forest Spine and Wildlife Corridor.
“To do otherwise would be a blatant violation of the National Physical Plan. It is the duty of the state government to conserve and protect the rich flora and fauna of Perak.”
Meor, however, said the Perak government had already given approval to the Perak Agriculture Development Authority to develop more than 100ha of forested area in a hilly part of Kampung Orang Pawong near the Simpang Pulai-Kampung Raja road, not too far from the border with Pahang.
The matter, he said, had been referred to the State Appeal Board for a review of the approval.
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