Indonesia: Coal mining slump a blessing in disguise

Mohammad Faisal Jakarta Post 16 Feb 15;

The growth of the coal-mining industry, which has diminished in the last two years, is expected to slump even further this year following weakening demand for coal in the world market. This has been worsened by the more recent tumbling price of oil as the world’s main source of energy, which has discouraged the conversion of energy use from oil to coal.

The diminishing growth of the coal-mining sector has contributed to a decline in government revenue over the last two years. Since coal has become Indonesia’s major export commodity, the weakening of coal exports has resulted in a declining trade performance of Indonesia’s non-oil and gas sector, and in turn, contributed to an overall trade deficit in the past three years.

However, the diminishing shine of the coal industry has its bright side. This is because the increasing amount of coal-mining activity in the past decade has not only resulted in serious environmental degradation, but also enhanced the proliferation of corrupt and clientelistic practices in the regions.

The previous rapid growth in coal demand not only benefited large coal-mining firms, but also increased the escalation and dispersion of small-scale coal mining activities, particularly after the decentralization of the coal sector in 2009. Law No.4/2009 on mineral and coal mining grants the province and district governments new authorities for issuing coal mining licenses for Indonesian companies, cooperatives or individuals, which covers an area of less than 50,000 hectares.

Since then, the magnitude of small-scale coal mining activities has increased tremendously. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry records that 9,662 permits were issued for small-scale coal mining by regencies as of 2011. Of these permits, only 3,778 were supported with the necessary documents without any outstanding legal issues.

Local governments have benefited from these mining operations through accepting large royalty payments from miners. In some coal-rich regencies, the revenues generated from coal royalties can be worth several times more than the contributions made by land and building taxes. The high profitability of small-scale coal mining has encouraged many regencies to allow these mining operations to operate without considering their detrimental impacts on the environment and the surrounding communities.

Many of these small open-pit coal mines are near residential areas, polluting rice fields and fish ponds and triggering landslides and floods.

Besides being an important source of local government revenue, coal has also become a source of funds for certain political groups close to local governments. Those who can obtain small-scale mining licenses in the regions are usually those who have some special or familial relationship with local government leaders, or are in some way connected to certain powerful local councilors.

Due to the high-cost politics associated with the direct elections of local government leaders since 2005, the money generated from small-scale coal mining activities has become an important source of political funding for government and political leaders participating in elections. An incumbent from a ruling political party can generate funds for a political campaign by developing a coal-mining business or issuing coal-mining licenses.

Apart from its high profitability, local politicians’ attraction to coal mining businesses is also due to the quick returns on investment compared to other booming commodities, such as palm oil. The quick returns generated by coal mining is very important for local politicians, who need to mobilize assets in anticipation of the local elections conducted every five years.

This high-cost politics and the local government’s lack of accountability have also provided a favorable environment for business actors and brokers to take advantage of the situation. Businessmen in the coal industry have often provided financial backing for the candidates for local government and legislative leaders who they think have a high chance of winning in the local elections, known as pilkada.

In exchange for financial backing, businessmen expect to gain rewards in the form of projects or certain policies in favor of their coal-mining business from the candidates they support, should they win the election.

Although the 2009 mining regulation has given greater opportunity for locals to obtain a mining permit, many have been reluctant to apply for a permit due to complications and bureaucratic red-tape in the processing of mining licenses. As a result, many locals choose to engage in illegal mining activities, frequently also supported by business actors, who serve as the financial backers and collectors of the coal extracted by local people.

These illegal activities have resulted in the extraction of millions of tons of coal per annum during its peak period.

Considering the serious problems resulting from the escalation and dispersion of coal-mining operations in the regions, the industry’s current downturn is a blessing in disguise. Weakening of coal demand has forced many coal-mining firms, particularly the illegal ones and the small- and medium-sized ones, to cease their operations.

This substantial reduction of coal-mining has reduced the frantic pace of exploitation and slowed environmental degradation in the last few years, which usually involves corrupt and clientelistic cooperation between businesses, government and political actors.

Nevertheless, if the government shows little concern for accountability and does not strengthen monitoring mechanisms overseeing the implementation of coal-sector decentralization, corrupt and clientelistic practices that have triggered rapid and careless coal exploitation will likely re-flourish once the demand for the commodity recovers. And undoubtedly, this condition is not only applicable to coal mining, but also to any other lucrative industry in Indonesia.

The writer is the research director at the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia, Jakarta

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Great Barrier Reef: late-season cyclone may ease coral bleaching threat

Peter Hannam The Sydney Morning Herald 16 Feb 15;

The threat of major coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef looks to be receding with the onset of stormier weather including the formation of the first tropical cyclone of the season likely to cross the coast.

Sea temperatures are warmer than average from about Townsville all the way down the coast to the NSW-Victorian border, creating one of the components for coral stress.

Unusually calm conditions over much of the Great Barrier Reef have also contributed to setting up possible bleaching events as clearer water lets more sunlight reach the sea floor. During bleaching events, corals expel the algae that provide as much as 90 per cent of the energy they need to grow and reproduce, killing some of them.

"Heat makes light toxic," Andrew Baird, a coral reef ecologist at James Cook University, said. "Under normal temperatures, organisms have mechanisms to deal with [more light], but you heat them, and then the light can have an impact."

Coral researchers have been watching the prospects for a tropical cyclone forming in the region that may stir up cooler water as well as making it more turbid.

"Cyclones are very good for bleaching," Professor Baird said. "They do suck the temperature out of the water."

The Bureau of Meteorology on Monday issued a cyclone watch for a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The storm, to be named Cyclone Lam, is likely to be slow-moving and may head south or cross the York Peninsula in coming days.

Australia is yet to have a cyclone cross the mainland coast so far this season.

While cyclones may help reduce the threat of coral bleaching, the storms can wreak other damage with the swells from flood events dumping freshwater and silt on the reefs.

Roger Beeden, acting director for tourism and stewardship at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, said abnormal warming in the central and southern parts of the reef had led to some "paling", an early stage of bleaching.

"The coral is a little bit stressed but it's not got to the point where it's lost all of the algae that provides most of its nutrition," Dr Beeden said.

While sea temperatures have been warm, they have not reached the levels seen during major bleaching events, such as in 1988 and 2002, he said.

Warm waters off NSW

Professor Baird said the most anomalously warm water conditions have been further south, potentially placing at risk eco-systems off the NSW coast, such as the Solitary Islands near Coffs Harbour.

Temperatures off NSW have been 2-3 degrees above normal, with readings of 26.3 degrees recorded near Sydney, according to Manly Hydraulics Laboratory.

The source of the abnormal warmth has been a large eddy forming in the East Australian Current that has moved warm waters further south than usual.

"It's almost perfectly timed to give some of the warmest temperatures, said Gary Brassington, a principal research scientist with the Bureau of Meteorology.

The eddy, though, is likely to cool and move away from the coast in coming days as northerly and north-westerly winds set in.

"It's passed its peak," Dr Brassington said.

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Climate change hampering world food production, say scientists

Jean-Louis Santini AFP Yahoo News 17 Feb 15;

San José (United States) (AFP) - The acceleration in climate change and its impact on agricultural production means that profound societal changes will be needed in coming decades to feed the world's growing population, researchers at an annual science conference said.

According to scientists, food production will have to be doubled over the next 35 years to feed a global population of nine billion people in 2050, compared with seven billion today.

Feeding the world "is going to take some changes in terms of minimizing climate disruption," said Jerry Hatfield, director at the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment.

Rainfall volatility, increased drought and rising temperatures affect crop yields, which means action must be taken, he said during a talk Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

"If you look at production from 2000 to 2050, we basically have to produce the same amount of food as we produced in the last 500 years" he said.

But globally, land usage levels and productivity will continue to degrade the soil, he added.

"If you look at the future projection for the Midwest, we have high confidence that temperatures will increase by quite a bit," Kenneth Kunkel, a climatologist at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said of the country's central grain-producing region.

Kunkel studied the impact of global warming on corn in the American Midwest where the biggest threat to food security is drought.

The area is likely to see worse drought in the 21st century than anything it witnessed in the last millennium, which poses a threat to the region's inhabitants, scientists said Thursday, on the first day of the conference in San Jose, California.

Climate change is happening so fast that humans will soon face an unprecedented situation, Kunkel said.

But James Gerber, an agricultural expert at the University of Minnesota, said that reducing consumption waste and decreasing consumption of red meat could help.

Reducing the size of herds decreases their environmental impact, which includes substantial methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.

Gerber said scientists had identified "trends that are a little bit concerning" such as a global decrease in the grain reserves that provide society with an important safety net.

He also expressed concern that the majority of grain production is concentrated in areas vulnerable to global warming.

And he didn't rule out greater use of GMOs as part of the solution.

Paul Ehrlich, president of the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University, said the problem calls for a "real social and cultural change over the entire planet."

"If we had a thousand years to solve it, I would be very relaxed, but we may have 10 or 20 years," he said.

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Best of our wild blogs: 16 Feb 15

Identify and track key future trends with the Futures Centre
from Green Business Singapore

Batik Golden Web Spider (Nephila antipodiana) @ Sungei Buloh
from Monday Morgue

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Johor fire brings light haze to north-eastern areas

Today Online 15 Feb 15;

SINGAPORE — After reports of hazy conditions in the east over the past few days, a light haze and burnt smell lingered in the air over Sengkang, Hougang and Serangoon early this morning (Feb 15), causing some to wonder if the smog had returned.

As it turned out, the cause was a fire at a landfill site in southern Johor.

In an advisory tonight, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said its Malaysian counterparts confirmed that a bush fire last Thursday evening had affected one of the cells at the landfill in Pasir Gudang in southern Johor.

The Malaysian authorities said they were working to put out the fire in the area and cap burnt areas with soil to prevent fires from recurring, it added. “They are monitoring the situation closely, to prevent the fire from spreading further.”

The air quality in Singapore remained in the moderate range today, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) ranging between 55 and 70 at 9pm. Readings peaked at 73 in the southern region at 9am, easing to 70 at 9pm.

“NEA will continue to monitor the air quality readings and notify the public if there are any changes to the PSI,” the agency said.

In a Facebook post tonight, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said the Malaysian authorities are still trying to resolve the problem. “We stand ready to assist if requested,” he added.

Last October, the NEA said the threat of serious haze appeared to have been averted for the year, with the onset of the inter-monsoon season signalling the end of the traditionally dry period in the region. But last month turned out to be drier than usual for the second year running, with the dry phase of the North-east Monsoon setting in prematurely. Last Friday, some people reported hazy skies and a burning smell in eastern areas such as Pasir Ris, Tampines and Bedok.

Slight haze in Singapore caused by fire in Malaysian landfill
AsiaOne 15 Feb 15;

SINGAPORE - Slight haze in Singapore over the past few days was caused by a fire started at a landfill site at Pasir Gudang in Malaysia, said Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan in a Facebook post on Sunday night.

He said that the fire started last Thursday and smoke from it was blown to Singapore by north-east winds.

Pasir Gudang is an industrial town east of Johor Baru.

Dr Balakrishnan said the Malaysian authorities are still trying to resolve the problem.

"We stand ready to assist if requested," he said in his post.

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Sengkang, Hougang, Serangoon residents complain of haze and smoke smell

Channel NewsAsia 15 Feb 15;

SINGAPORE: Some residents in Sengkang, Hougang and Serangoon complained of haze and the smell of smoke on Sunday morning (Feb 15).

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that these could be due to localised fires in southern Johor, blown to Singapore by the prevailing northeasterly winds. It said it is in touch with its Malaysian counterparts for their reports on the situation there. The NEA said it stands ready to provide assistance if requested.

This comes after hazy conditions were reported in the Eastern part of Singapore on Feb 13.

The air quality in Singapore remains in the moderate range. NEA will continue to monitor the air quality readings and notify the public if there are any changes to the PSI. For updates, you can go to the NEA website at www.nea.gov.sg, the haze microsite at www.haze.gov.sg or NEA Facebook (www.facebook.com/NEASingapore) and NEA Twitter (@NEAsg).

- CNA/ir

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Pasir Ris is third HDB town to have cycling path network

Olivia Siong, Channel NewsAsia 15 Feb 15;

SINGAPORE: Pasir Ris is now the third town in Singapore, after Tampines and Sembawang, to have its own cycling path network. It is part of the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) plans to build such networks in all HDB towns by 2030.

The network aims to make cycling safer and more seamless for residents. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, officially opened the completed network on Sunday (Feb 15).

The new cycling paths add 9.3 kilometres to the existing network, which had been built by the town council previously. This brings the total length of the cycling network to 13.3 kilometres.

The town council had started building cycling tracks in the early 2000s, but Mr Teo said this had imposed many impediments on cyclists and did not cover the whole town. This resulted in the cycling tracks not being well utilised.

Residents can now cycle from their homes to places like Pasir Ris MRT station, the bus interchange, White Sands shopping centre, and other key amenities. They can also ride to adjacent towns like Tampines and Changi Village through the park connectors.

Residents told Channel NewsAsia the new cycling paths could ensure the safety of cyclists.

"In the past, there was no proper path just for cycling, so sometimes we bumped into each other. But now it's much better,” commented Pasir Ris resident Mdm Heng Meng Jee.

"It was difficult to pass by the cars or the motorcycles while cycling on the side of the roads. But now that they put the cycling path on the pedestrian side, so it's much easier and much safer," said Mr Dariush Taheri, who has lived in Pasir Ris for seven years and cycles three times a week.

Bicycle crossings have also been built at two traffic light junctions at Pasir Ris Drive 3 and Drive 1, where cycling traffic to and from the town centre is heavier. The bicycle crossings run adjacent to the pedestrian crossings and cyclists will not need to dismount to cross the road.

But Mr Teo also called on road users to look out for each other even as the Transport Ministry is currently working on developing clear rules and norms for cyclists.

"Given that Singapore has land constraints, we are not that big. It is not possible to build dedicated cycling paths for all popular routes everywhere,” said Mr Teo. “So there will be situations, many situations where pedestrians, those walking and cyclists need to cross paths or to share space, and we want to avoid accidents as far as possible.”

“The less vulnerable should look out for and give way to the more vulnerable. Those who are more vulnerable should also be aware of their own vulnerability,” he added.

LTA said it is on track to bring dedicated cycling paths to more HDB towns. Yishun residents will be the next to benefit, with their dedicated cycling path network expected to be completed by the second quarter of this year. Works will also start in Taman Jurong and Changi-Simei, with completion expected by the end of this year.

- CNA/by/xq

Pasir Ris the third town to get cycling path network
YVONNE LIM Today Online 16 Feb 15;

SINGAPORE — Pasir Ris is now the third town in Singapore to have its own network of dedicated cycling paths, after Tampines and Sembawang.

With the network spanning 13.3km, residents can use their two-wheelers to get to main amenities in the town, such as the MRT station, bus interchange and White Sands mall.

Cyclists can now also ride to nearby towns, such as Tampines and Changi Village, through the park connectors.

The Government plans to build intra-town cycling paths in all Housing and Development Board (HDB) towns by 2030. The project aims to make it safer and more convenient for people to opt for this green mode of transport.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) also plans to build cycling paths that are integrated with the National Parks Board’s Park Connector Networks. Together, the two will form an islandwide, off-road cycling path network spanning more than 700km by 2030.

In December last year, a comprehensive blueprint was unveiled to transform Ang Mo Kio into the model town for being bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly by 2018.

Preliminary ideas include narrowing roads to slow motorists down, carving out an extensive network of dedicated paths segregating pedestrians and two-wheelers, as well as a 2.6km-long all-weather channel spanning Yio Chu Kang MRT Station and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park for pedestrians and cyclists.

One of these ideas, signalised bicycle crossings, has been put in place in Pasir Ris. Cyclists can now cross roads without dismounting, using dedicated crossings next to pedestrian crossings on Pasir Ris Drive 3 and Drive 1, which see more traffic to and from the city centre.

Cycling “ambassadors” have also been designated to educate residents on safe and responsible cycling.

At the launch of the Pasir Ris cycling network yesterday, Parliamentary Secretary (Transport and Health) Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said a set of rules and norms for cycling conduct and behaviour was being pieced together.

“With these in place, I believe more people would find it safer and more convenient to cycle as a mode of transport, especially for short trips within the HDB town,” he said.

Meanwhile, the LTA said residents in Yishun can also expect new dedicated cycling paths by the second quarter, while those in Taman Jurong and Changi-Simei will see cycling path networks completed by the end of this year.

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Madagascar’s New Shark Sanctuary Protects 19 Shark Species

Environment News Wire 13 Feb 15;

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, February 13, 2015 (ENS) – The New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society has assisted the Government of Madagascar to create the country’s first marine sanctuary for sharks as part of a new law to safeguard the country’s marine resources and the communities that rely on them.

At a news conference held in the capital Antananarivo February 2, government officials announced the law establishing a shark sanctuary in Antongil Bay while granting coastal communities exclusive use and management rights for local fishing areas.

The new shark sanctuary is inhabited by 19 species of sharks. A third of these species, including the great hammerhead shark and the zebra shark, are now threatened by unregulated fishing.

The new law restricts international fishing boats from operating in Antongil Bay, a 1,446-square-mile body of water slightly larger than Long Island Sound.

“With the support from Wildlife Conservation Society, we chose a participatory and collaborative approach for the development of this law and management plan and we opted for the search for a balance between fishing activities and ecological integrity to ensure rational and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources,” said Minister of Marine Resources and Fisheries Sem Ahmad.

The Wildlife Conservation Society has been working in Madagascar for over two decades, a partnership that resulted in the new shark sanctuary.

Alison Clausen, country director of the WCS Madagascar Program, said, “Long-term strategic alliances and partnerships forged with local communities, government agencies such as the Ministry of Marine Resources and Fisheries, and stakeholders during two decades of field presence of WCS investing in wildlife protection and sustainable natural resources management in Antongil Bay is key to this success.”

Madagascar’s local fisheries provide livelihoods and food security for hundreds of thousands of some of the poorest coastal communities in the world. The new law will facilitate a system of co-management between communities, fishers, and government to manage their local fish populations.

The new law legally empowers local communities to manage nearshore fishing grounds through a growing network of locally managed marine areas (LMMAs), 25 of which have already been established with the support of WCS.

The regulations of these areas, including no-take marine reserves and temporary closures, are locally designed and enforced.

By securing management and use rights of LMMAs for local communities for the first time in Madagascar, the law aims to transform marine resources from open access areas that typically result in short-term exploitation at the expense of long-term sustainability to exclusive access for local fishers, who can reap the benefits of managing their own marine resources.

The law also establishes collaborative arrangements between artisanal and industrial fishers, civil society, and government to work together on the sustainable management of fisheries in Antongil Bay.

The regulatory changes build on previous initiatives to decentralize the management of marine resources and establish local fisheries management plans and collaborative management arrangements.

At the 2014 IUCN World Parks Congress, President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina said Madagascar “already [has] positive models of locally managed marine areas, of which Madagascar is proud to be a pioneer in the Western Indian Ocean region.”

He emphasized his commitment “to establish legal and regulatory frameworks for community management of marine and coastal resources.”

Venor Rason is a local fisherman and president of the community association managing the LMMA of Analanjahana in the southern part of Antongil Bay. “We are very pleased to hear that this new law that we helped develop has been released,” he said. “It will help us manage sustainably our marine resources by limiting the number of small-scale and industrial fishers allowed to fish in the bay and by delivering fishing licenses to local professional fishers.”

Dr. Ambroise Brenier, marine technical director of the WCS Madagascar Program, said, “This pilot initiative will reduce coral reef degradation, improve abundance of endangered species of sharks, and sustain fisheries yields with long-term livelihoods and food security benefits thanks to restored fish stocks potentially reaching 100,000 coastal inhabitants living around Antongil Bay.”

“WCS looks forward to working with the Government of Madagascar to implement this new pilot fisheries co-management initiative in Antongil Bay and promote its replication to other sites,” Clausen said.

The WCS Madagascar Program works to ensure the long-term conservation of the country’s unique biological diversity with a focus on activities in Antongil Bay and other priority landscapes and seascapes such as Makira Natural Park, Masoala National Park, Nosy Be seascape and the Toliara seascape.

The Wildlife Conservation Society manages about 500 conservation projects in more than 60 countries; and educates millions of visitors at the five institutionsit manages in New York City including: the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo.

WCS’s field work in Madagascar was supported in part by The Helmsley Charitable Trust and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

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Best of our wild blogs: 15 Feb 15

Life History of the Blue Nawab
from Butterflies of Singapore

Night Walk At Lower Peirce Reservoir (13 Feb 2015)
from Beetles@SG BLOG

Plantain Squirrel eats Aristolochia acuminata fruit
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Golden Spider
from My Nature Experiences

Identify and track key future trends with the Futures Centre
from Green Future Solutions

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Two-year project to survey Bukit Timah reserve's flora and fauna to start in March

FENG ZENGKUN Straits Times 14 Feb 15;

SINGAPORE - Singapore will be conducting a year-long survey of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve's animals and plants starting from March, and the results will be published in March 2017.

The comprehensive effort is timely as the last time the reserve was surveyed on a similar scale was almost 20 years ago, between 1993 and 1997, said the National Parks Board (NParks) on Saturday.

"The findings will provide us with a sound basis for the systematic long-term monitoring and management of the reserve, and help us ensure a sustainable nature reserve for future generations to enjoy," said Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee at an event.

The survey will include NParks staff, scientists from academic institutions and people with expertise in some of the wildlife. It will focus on key groups of animals and plants that are crucial to the rainforest ecosystem, such as mammals, reptiles, butterflies, fishes, spiders, birds, amphibians, dragonflies and aquatic invertebrates. The work will also include the reserve's primary forest, which includes one of the largest forest patches in Singapore that has never been cleared by people.

Researchers and experts who were involved in the 1993-1997 survey will also be roped in. They include Mr Khew Sin Khoon, an architect who is an avid butterfly enthusiast and photographer. He is also author of the book, Field Guide To The Butterflies Of Singapore.

The reserve has at least 40 per cent of Singapore's native flora despite occupying only 0.2 per cent of its land. It is home to more than 840 species of flowering plants and more than 500 species of animals, including the rare and native ones like the Singapore Freshwater Crab.

On Saturday, MND's Mr Lee also launched a new coffee table book, Rainforest in a City, which was written by NParks volunteer Dr Chua Ee Kiam and published by the agency. Mr Lee also planted a tree as part of reforestation efforts at the new Windsor Nature Park, will be opened in 2016.

Bukit Timah reserve's flora and fauna to be surveyed
Feng Zengkun The Straits Times AsiaOne 15 Feb 15;

Nearly 20 years after the last major survey of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, one of Singapore's most important ecological oases will come under scrutiny again.

A two-year project to survey the reserve's plant and animal life will begin next month, with the results expected to be published in 2017.
The findings will be used for the long-term management of the reserve, which has at least 40 per cent of Singapore's native flora and fauna despite occupying only 0.2 per cent of the island.

"The findings will provide us with a sound basis for the systematic long-term monitoring and management of the reserve, and help us ensure a sustainable nature reserve for future generations to enjoy," said Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee, who announced the project yesterday.

The new effort is timely as the last time the reserve was surveyed on a similar scale was almost 20 years ago, between 1993 and 1997, said the National Parks Board (NParks).

The reserve is home to more than 840 species of flowering plants and more than 500 species of animals, including rare and native ones like the Singapore freshwater crab.

Public access to the reserve has been limited since last year for workers to carry out repair and restoration works.

The survey will focus on key groups of animals and plants that are crucial to the rainforest ecosystem.

It will also involve researching the reserve's primary forest, which includes one of the largest forest patches in Singapore that has never been cleared by people.

The project will involve NParks staff, scientists from academic institutions and people with expertise in some of the wildlife.

Researchers and experts involved in the 1990s survey will be roped in. They include Mr Khew Sin Khoon, an architect who is an avid butterfly enthusiast and photographer. He is also author of the Field Guide To The Butterflies Of Singapore.

Nature Society president Shawn Lum, who helped to survey primary forest tree species in the reserve in the 1990s work, plans to study the younger trees and saplings this time around to see if the forest is regenerating itself. He has already been doing this work as part of his own research with the National Institute of Education.

"This survey will be better than the last one as there are more people involved, and those returning have also become more experienced. The 1990s project was more of a warm-up," he said.

NParks to start 2-year survey of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
AsiaOne 14 Feb 15;
SINGAPORE - The National Parks Board (NParks) will be conducting a two-year-long biodiversity survey of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) in March this year.

This is to better understand the conservation status and distribution of plants and animals in the 163-hectare reserve, said NParks in a statement released on Saturday.

NParks staff, scientists from academic institutions and individuals with knowledge of some of the taxonomic groups will be undertaking the survey.

The BTNR survey will focus on key groups of animals such as mammals, reptiles, butterflies, fishes, spiders, birds, amphibians, dragonflies, and aquatic invertebrates and plants that are integral to the rainforest ecosystem.

Previously, ad-hoc research and surveys on varied species were carried out by different researchers, organisations and NParks.

NParks said that this new survey will build upon past findings, as well as the information found from a 1993 survey.

To facilitate continuity and comparability of data, researchers and experts in the field who were involved in the 1993 survey will be involved in this new survey.

The results from this survey will be used for long-term monitoring and management of BTNR which contains at least 40 per cent of Singapore's native flora and fauna.

The BTNR is home to more than 840 flowering plants and over 500 species of animals, which include rare and native species such as the Singapore Freshwater Crab, the Colugo and the Straw-headed Bulbul.

NParks added that the last time a survey of similar scale was conducted some 20 years ago between 1993 and 1997.

Results of the new survey will be published in March 2017.

New nature park at Upper Thomson to be ready by end 2016
Eileen Poh Channel NewsAsia 14 Feb 15;

SINGAPORE: The 75-hectare Windsor Nature Park at Upper Thomson will be ready by end-2016, with works for the site expected to start by the middle of this year, the National Parks Board (NParks) said in a statement issued on Saturday (Feb 14).

The area is currently a forested plot of land, bounded by Venus Drive and Island Club Road. It is also adjacent to private homes at Venus Road and serves as one of the entrances to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

The park is one of the four new nature parks which will serve as buffers to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. The other three include Springleaf, which opened to the public in November 2014, Chestnut and Thomson Nature Parks. NParks said works for the Chestnut Nature Park have commenced in 2014, and the park will be completed by end-2016, while plans for Thomson Nature Park are still in early stages.

These parks will help to "reduce visitorship pressure on the nature reserves," said NParks, by providing "alternative venues" for the public to enjoy nature-related activities

Enhancement works at the park include the building of boardwalks to complement the existing trails, NParks said. The total trail length in the park will also be expanded to 4.1km, and reforestation will be carried out.

Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee said: "Apart from being places for recreation and exercise, and some romantic hand-holding on a moonlit night, nature parks serve as green buffers for the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve as well as the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, in the sense that they help to reduce visitorship pressure on the core nature reserves by providing alternative green spaces for people to visit."

The plans are part of the Government's approach to strengthen biodiversity conservation in Singapore's nature reserves. To this end, Mr Lee announced that NParks would be starting a two-year comprehensive biodiversity survey in March for the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

The last time a survey of similar scale, covering the entire 163-hectare nature reserve, was conducted was nearly two decades ago between 1993 and 1997.

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is home to 840 flowering plants and over 500 species of animals. These include rare and native species such as the Singapore Freshwater Crab and the Colugo.

NParks, which will be leading the surveying team comprising scientists from local academic institutions and volunteers with professional knowledge of some of the species, said results from the survey will help them better manage the reserve.

Dr Lena Chan, director of NParks' National Biodiversity Centre, said: "For example, areas that have animals that are more sensitive to the public, then it's an area where it is best that we don't have so many visitors.

"And areas where we find that the species are more people-friendly, then we can allow for more visitors to go to those areas. Hence the survey allows us to say, these are the areas where you have trails, these are the areas where there might not be so many trails."

The survey will extend into the primary forest core, which contains one of the largest forest patches in Singapore that has never been cleared by man.

Results of the survey will be shared in the second quarter of 2017. Information from this latest survey will help NParks to continue to "sensitively manage" the nature reserve, first established in 1883, NParks said.

- CNA/rw/al

NParks to Start New Comprehensive Survey of BTNR
Nparks News Release

14 February 2015 – Today, Minister of State for National Development, Desmond Lee announced that the National Parks Board (NParks) will be starting a two year comprehensive biodiversity survey in March 2015, to better understand the conservation status and distribution of plants and animals in the 163-hectare Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR). The last time a survey of similar scale, covering the entire BTNR, was conducted was some 20 years ago between 1993 and 1997. Information gathered from this latest survey will help NParks to continue to sensitively manage this ASEAN Heritage Park, which was first established as a Nature Reserve in 1883.

This survey will be undertaken by NParks staff, scientists from academic institutions and individuals with domain knowledge of some of the taxonomic groups. The BTNR Survey will focus on key groups of animals and plants that are integral to the rainforest ecosystem. For animals, these include mammals, reptiles, butterflies, fishes, spiders, birds, amphibians, dragonflies, and aquatic invertebrates. The survey will extend into the primary forest core, which contains one of the largest forest patches in Singapore that has never been cleared by man. HSBC has pledged a donation and staff volunteers' support for the survey.

Over the years, ad-hoc research and surveys on varied species have been carried out by different researchers, organisations and NParks, allowing for substantial knowledge and expertise to be built up for the various taxonomic groups. This new survey will build upon this knowledge, as well as the baseline information gleaned from the 1993 Survey. It will delve deeper, focusing on interactions between a larger variety of taxonomic groups and harness new technology such as updated GIS for analysis.

To facilitate continuity and comparability of data, researchers and experts in the field who were involved in the 1993 Survey will be involved in this new survey. The results from this survey will be used for systematic long-term monitoring and management of BTNR which contains at least 40% of Singapore’s native flora and fauna even though it occupies only 0.2% of its land area.

BTNR is home to more than 840 flowering plants and over 500 species of animals. This includes rare and native species such as the Singapore Freshwater Crab (Johora singaporensis), the Colugo (Galeopterus variegatus) and the Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus).

New Coffee Table Book “Rainforest in a City”

Many of the animals found in BTNR were featured in a new coffee table book launched by Mr Lee today. Published by NParks and written by Dr Chua Ee Kiam, an active NParks volunteer and passionate nature writer-photographer, the “Rainforest in a City” is a 200-page book that showcases the habitats and unique biodiversity of BTNR and CCNR. Featuring some 477 photographs taken by Dr Chua and his team of over a hundred photographers and contributors, the book provides interesting details of more than 200 species of animals and more than 80 species of plants. The book highlights many species that have rarely, if ever, been photographed before. In celebration of Singapore’s golden jubilee, a special section pays tribute to plants and animals that are named after Singapore, or found only here. (See Media Factsheet – Coffee Table Book: Rainforest in a City for more information)

Mr Lee shared, “Flipping through this book, I was captivated by the myriad of fascinating plants and animals captured through the lenses of Dr Chua and his photography buddies. This is photographic evidence of the rich biodiversity that exists in our nature reserves. … It is timely to embark on another survey of our nature reserves now. I am happy to announce that NParks has initiated the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Comprehensive Survey, which will be carried out over two years beginning this March. … The findings will form a sound basis for systematic long-term monitoring and management of the nature reserve, and help us to ensure a sustainable nature reserve for future generations to enjoy.” (to check against delivery)

Planting trees as part of reforestation efforts for the new Windsor Nature Park

The announcement of the new BTNR Survey was made at a reforestation activity at the site of the new 75-hectare Windsor Nature Park. Together with grassroots advisor Hri Kumar and some 200 residents, NParks volunteers and school students, Mr Lee planted 100 trees to enhance the forest habitat there. Works on the new nature park will commence in mid-2015 and be completed in late 2016.

The current 75-hectare site is largely forested and rich in biodiversity. It serves as a habitat to many animals, both native and migratory. These include frogs, squirrels, dragonflies and damselflies. The freshwater streams in Venus Drive are also home to many native species such as the Malayan Forest Betta (Betta pugnax), the Common Barb (Puntius binotatus) and the Tree Fern (Cyathea latebrosa).

The intent is to sensitively enhance the forest habitats and restore existing trails. One such enhancement will be the inclusion of boardwalks to complement existing trails. Basic amenities such as restrooms and shelters will also be provided. (See Media Factsheet – Windsor Nature Park for more information)

Windsor Nature Park is one of four new nature parks which will serve as green buffers to the CCNR. These parks will help to reduce visitorship pressure on the nature reserves by providing interesting alternative venues for the public to enjoy nature-related activities. The development of these nature parks is part of a holistic approach to conserve the biodiversity in Singapore’s nature reserves.

The other three new nature parks that were recently announced to serve as buffers to the CCNR are Springleaf, Chestnut and Thomson Nature Parks. Springleaf Nature Park was officially opened in November 2014. Works for the new 80-hectare Chestnut Nature Park have commenced since the end of year, and the park will be completed by the third quarter of 2016. Plans for Thomson Nature Park are still in the early stages, and will be shared at a later date.

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Nightly buzz at Jurong for the catch of the day

Danson Cheong The Straits Times AsiaOne 13 Feb 15;

IT IS just past midnight and as the rest of Singapore winds down, the lights and motors in a little corner of Jurong are just getting started and revved.

Tucked away in Singapore's west end, the Jurong Fishery Port is abuzz with activity through the wee hours of the morning.

In a 200m-long carpark, forklifts carrying carts of ice zoom about while shirtless men, covered in the salt of their sweat and the sea, drag crates full of the day's catch.

The 46-year-old Jurong Fishery Port is Singapore's oldest and largest seafood wholesale market, where seafood comes fresh off the boats.

Last year, 51,200 tonnes of seafood passed through the market and its stalls.

Everything from red snapper to milkfish to prawns to flower crabs to even Norwegian salmon is sold here.

Scouring the 9,000 sq m cement-floor space are buyers from large supermarket chains such as Sheng Siong, along with fishmongers from neighbourhood wet markets. The latter drive their pickup trucks across the island to the fishery port to buy some of the 200 tonnes of seafood available each day.

Many of them have been fishmongers for decades. Among them are 53-year-old twin sisters Loh May Lam and Loh May Hong, who have been running a fish stall at Bukit Timah Market for more than 30 years.

"We like to come here early, so we have more time to look around," said younger sister May Lam, as she prepared her empty styrofoam boxes to be filled with fish. The sisters arrive at the market around 2am every trading day, about an hour before the action starts.
Then they slosh through icy-cold water with other buyers.

The day's catch is laid out on the floor with ice dumped over it to keep it cool. But in Singapore's heat, the ice melts quickly and the fishy-smelling water runs everywhere, in rivulets over slippers and the ubiquitous rubber boots.

"It's a fish market. Some people come here because it's interesting, but for us it's work," said the younger Madam Loh in between dodging Hokkien-yelling porters, who help to carry boxes full of fish, and picking out two baskets of prawns and sotong (Malay for squid). "We don't have a list for what to buy - we get whatever is fresh."

Prices at the market can be up to 20 per cent lower than at wet markets, so on weekends a small crowd of seafood lovers visit the place to haggle and make purchases straight from the wholesalers.

By 5am, the action winds down and most of the workers head to the canteen for breakfast.

The Jurong Fishery Port started operating in 1969 and was last renovated in the 1980s.

There are plans to give the 5.1ha space, which includes a port for docking fishing vessels, a 400m-long wharf and the fish market, a facelift.

But the authorities have not given details on when that would take place or what would be upgraded.

Wholesalers, however, have come up with their own wish lists.

Many hope the fishery port can become a bustling tourist attraction, like Fishermen's Wharf in San Francisco or Tsukiji Market in Tokyo.

"We could add another level to the market and have fish processing services there, and have seafood restaurants for the public," said Mr Lee Boon Cheow, 76, who runs High Tide Frozen Food. He is also president of the Singapore Fish Merchants' General Association.

The fishery port is underutilised, he noted. It is busy from midnight to 6am, but empty at other times. "This is one of the oldest public facilities in Singapore - look at how much Housing Board flats have changed over the years," he said.

Many are hoping the upgrade will attract younger Singaporeans to the industry.

"This is backbreaking work. Young people these days cannot do hard work," said Mr Yang Ah Ming, 72, who works as a porter hauling loads of fish and ice.

He makes about $600 a month dragging loads of between 30kg and 40kg for three hours. "I've been doing it for so long that my hands always smell of fish."

Many of the older fishmongers and wholesalers are worried they might not live to see the new port.

"They've been talking about renovating the place for so long, but it hasn't happened," said Mr Cher Chek Cher, 72, a supervisor at Teo Seng Fish Agency.

"I'm so old already. I don't know if I will be alive to see it."

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Off-the-beaten-track outings

tabla! AsiaOne 13 Feb 15;

Ms Savita Kashyap is executive director of Journeys, a heritage tour company, which operates The Original Singapore Walks. It aims to bring people to the city's best-kept secret places.

She is also a member of a walking group called Jeywalkers which is named after its founder, Jeya Ayadurai, a prominent local historian who heads an associate company, Singapore History Consultants.

The walking group explores the lesser-known corners of Singapore every Sunday.

"We typically walk an average of 12km every time," Ms Kashyap says. These are her recommendations:

The Green Corridor: One of my favourite getaways, the old railway tracks of the former Malayan Railway that ran from Tanjong Pagar station all through Malaysia up to southern Thailand.

We've walked the entire 25km in Singapore up to Woodlands station. The railway line ran through some quiet but beautiful estates.

Today, only two old stations are left standing, Bukit Timah and Tanjong Pagar. My children and husband often join the group when we explore such places.

Southern Ridges: Another favourite with the Jeywalkers is the Southern Ridges area around Pasir Panjang and Alexandra.

We love walking from Kent Ridge Park, taking the various canopy walks and bridges all the way to Mount Faber.

Along the way there are beautiful black and white bungalows dating back to pre-war times in the 1930s. Nearby at Portsdown Road is Colbar, a unique colonial-style cafe run by Mr and Mrs Lim since pre-independence days.

Changi area: Yet another place we return to regularly is the Changi area which feels like Singapore in the '60s with the small and quaint shops at Changi Village and old chalets.

Haw Par Villa: Lastly, my current favourite is Haw Par Villa which was built in 1936 and opened to the public by Mr Aw Boon Haw, the brilliant businessman behind Tiger Balm.

The park has the most unique, even bizarre, sculptures and dioramas reflecting Asian philosophy and culture and Chinese classics.

A walk around this park is not only entertaining but extremely edifying and I love taking visitors there to learn about Asian culture.

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