Checking out Changi
wild shores of singapore
Register for year-round beach cleanups at Changi, East Coast, Pasir Ris and Sembawang with NEA & PHC
News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore
What is biodiversity and why should we care?
Hantu Blog
Plant-Bird Relationship: 2. List of plants (version 2.0)
Bird Ecology Study Group
Scientists say discoveries of new flora have been possible because of a rich repository of records that sit in a herbarium at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Monica Kotwani, Channel NewsAsia 2 Jul 15;
SINGAPORE: The National Parks Board (NParks) announced the discovery of two new plant species in June, and experts say more species could emerge over the next few years.
This is despite Singapore's tropical flora already being one of the best researched in the world. Scientists have said such discoveries have been possible because of a rich repository of records that sit in a herbarium at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
DISCOVERING NEW SPECIES
NParks' principal researcher of plant taxonomy Dr Jana Skornickova came across what she thought were different species of Hanguanas. But records contradicted her find, as they showed only one species, the Hanguana Malayana, existed. She and her team monitored the Hanguana plants at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve for three more years, until they flowered and bore fruits.
She then compared them to a dried Hanguana fruit specimen kept at the Singapore Botanic Gardens herbarium. The specimen had been collected by the Gardens' first director, Henry Ridley, in 1890.
"This is quite amazing because you can actually do it with the herbarium specimens from Henry Ridley's time,” said Dr Skornickova.
“We soaked specimens from 1890. All you do is take one fruit, put it in room temperature water overnight, and next day, you can easily peel off the pulp, you can take out the seed, excavate the seed because Hanguanas are unique in the plant kingdom by having a bowl shape to almost closed-bowl shape seeds, and you need to dig out the insides of the bowl to see everything. That's when we discovered that seeds are actually quite distinct in different species."
By comparing the seeds, two new Hanguana species were identified - the Hanguana rubinea and the Hanguana triangulata.
Dr Skornickova also realised that even though records stated only one Hanguana species existed before, she said Ridley knew there were more, just that he never got round to working on it. She pointed to a note he made on the specimen record, where he left the name as just Hanguana. The word “Malayana” is thought to have been added by another botanist.
Dr Skornickova said Ridley's records have helped scientists understand the extent of environmental changes in Singapore. Ridley found the species in three different locations. But the two new Hanguana species are now only found at the primary forest in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, which includes a trail along the MacRitchie Reservoir.
Last year, Dr Skornickova also discovered a new ginger species native to Singapore. She said more discoveries are likely as research on flora has now shifted back to alpha-taxonomy, which is the discipline of detecting and classifying new species.
But these discoveries have been made easier, thanks to the herbarium, which houses more than 750,000 dried specimens and 15,000 spirit collections of plants across Southeast Asia.
"Most of the botanists who work in Southeast Asia, they basically cannot skip the Singapore herbarium because of the historical collections here,” said Dr Skornickova. “Everyone who works for almost any plant group needs to refer back to the original materials by Henry Ridley. Basically the researcher has no choice but to come to Singapore. So in that sense, Singapore herbarium is really part of our national heritage."
Dr Skornickova added the herbarium has played a critical role in the understanding of Southeast Asian flora.
- CNA/xq
Two newly discovered plant species and other gems of Singapore's flora
Audrey Tan Straits Times 10 Jul 15;
For more than a century, 26 plant specimens tucked away in the Singapore Botanic Gardens suffered from a case of mistaken identity.
The flowering herbs had been mislabelled Hanguana malayana, a black-berried plant often found growing by water. Researchers at the Singapore Botanic Gardens discovered last month that the specimens were actually two different Hanguana species new to science and unique to Singapore - the Hanguana rubinea and Hanguana triangulata.
Here's a close-up look at the two newly-discovered plant species and other precious finds in Singapore's botanical landscape.
Plants found only in Singapore
Hanguana rubinea: One of two species of plants new to science discovered by researchers at the Singapore Botanic Gardens this year. It has ruby-red fruit, from which it gets its name. The plants are found only in primary forests in four areas - Bukit Timah, Mandai, MacRitchie and Seletar. Habitat disturbance is a major problem for this critically endangered species.
Hanguana triangulata: The other plant species new to science discovered this year. This white-berried herb is named for the sharply triangular shape of the stigma (female part of the flower). It is critically endangered and can be found only in primary forests in Bukit Timah and Seletar.
Zingiber singapurense: Discovered last year in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, this species of ginger has red and white flowers. It is named after Singapore's name in Malay - Singapura.
Bruguiera hainesii: This critically endangered mangrove tree native to Singapore is also known as the Eye of the Crocodile. It was first discovered here in 2003. Out of 200 such trees in the world, two were found on Pulau Ubin. But since then, they have been planted in various places, including Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
Hoya caudata: This critically endangered climber has wiry stems only about 0.3cm thick. It was first documented in the Nee Soon Swamp Forest by researchers from the National Parks Board and National University of Singapore in 2012.
Dr Jana Leong- Skornickova with a leaf from the Hanguana rubinea plant. The ginger plant specialist stumbled upon the new species while on a routine field survey at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve in 2012.
Rediscovered
Pterospermum diversifolium: This tree native to Singapore was first documented in Pulau Ubin in 1890. It was rediscovered on the same island by NParks researchers in 2013.
Bulbophyllum singaporeanum: This orchid was first collected in 1896 by British botanist Henry Ridley. It was then presumed to be nationally extinct. But the orchid, recognised by its long green leaves and magenta and green flowers, was re-collected from Nee Soon Swamp Forest in 2009.
Samantha Boh Straits Times AsiaOne 1 Jul 15;
Singapore continues to swelter, with the hot, dry weather showing no signs of letting up.
The total monthly rainfall for this month is predicted to be 15 per cent to 45 per cent below average. Temperatures, on the other hand, are forecasted to be above average. Yesterday, a high of 34 deg C was recorded at Admiralty at 3.36pm.
But the silver lining, experts say, is that with relatively few fires spotted in Indonesia, the haze is unlikely to make a comeback for now.
According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite images, there were seven hot spots in Sumatra as of yesterday evening.
Isolated hot spots were detected in Borneo and Vietnam.
Residents in Karachi, Pakistan's financial capital, making use of a damaged water pipe to keep cool. A heatwave killed more than 1,000 people and sent 14,000 to hospital last week as temperatures hit 44 deg C, although the worst appears to be over.
Dr Erik Velasco, a research scientist at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology's Centre for Environmental Sensing and Modelling, said the low numbers mean that the risk of transboundary haze here is low.
The 24-hour PSI stood between 56 and 61 as of 8pm yesterday, which puts it in the low-moderate range. It is considered unhealthy when the 24-hour PSI crosses 100.
"And while there was haze in Riau, the wind did not bring it here," he added. A light haze is currently blanketing Dumai and several other cities in Riau .
Yesterday the Jakarta Post reported that poor visibility had disrupted flights at Dumai City's Pinang Kampai Airport over the last three days.
The National Environment Agency said last Friday that there will be an increased risk of transboundary haze here in the coming months, as the weather is expected to be drier and warmer than usual.
This is a result of the strengthening El Nino phenomenon.
Hot days with highs of up to 34°C in first half of July
Today Online 1 Jul 15;
SINGAPORE — Expect several warm days with temperatures up to 34°C in the afternoon, thundery showers as well as slight haze in the first half of this month.
Short-duration thundery showers are likely on three to five days, mostly in the late morning and early afternoon, while thundery showers with gusty winds are expected on one or two days in the morning, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) today in its fortnightly outlook.
“Slightly hazy conditions can be expected on a few days, in particular in the early morning, due to the accumulation of particulate matter under light wind conditions,” said the MSS.
On average, the daily maximum temperature for July is 30.9°C, while the daily minimum temperature is 24.6°C.
July typically has the lowest average monthly rainfall each year at 158.6mm, and the rainfall for the first half of this month is likely to be below normal, added the MSS.
Last week, the MSS warned of drier and warmer over the next few months, and a higher possiblity of the haze returning, partly due to El Nino, which are likely to further develop in the months ahead. These conditions are expected to last from June till September or early October,
Last month, dry and warm conditions were experienced on most days, said the MSS. There were thundery showers on several days, with the highest daily total rainfall for June at 69mm on June 16, in the Jurong area. Most parts of Singapore received below-average rainfall. The central and eastern parts of Singapore around Whampoa and Marine Parade, respectively, saw the lowest rainfall recorded.
The Star 2 Jul 15;
PETALING JAYA: The air quality has worsened slightly in some places in Malaysia.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said that places like the Klang Valley and Nilai had moderate air quality due to small fires at local levels during the hot and dry weather.
As of 11am yesterday, the Air Pollution Index (API) of 15 areas recorded good air quality while another 31 areas had moderate air quality, he said in a statement.
“None of the areas recorded unhealthy air quality,” he said.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department said the hazy conditions might worsen in the next two months, if the dry season continued.
“Recent observations show that Malaysia might encounter moderate transboundary haze if the heatwave continues.
Transboundary haze is the movement of haze from one country to another, explains Dr Hisham Mohd Anip, a senior meteorologist from the department’s National Weather Centre.
He said there might be an increase in haze in Malaysia and neighbouring countries, even as far as north Australia, if the dry season progressed.
“Haze is normal in the month of June to August in Malaysia because we are in the southwest monsoon season, which is considered a dry season,” he said.
Observations by the Meteorological Department also indicate that current temperatures are equivalent to a weaker version of the El Nino phenomenon.
“The intensity of this El Nino effect is predicted to increase from weak to moderate so the haze might worsen,” he added.
Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post 1 Jul 15;
A decrease in visibility due to haze over Dumai city, Riau, has disrupted flight schedules at Pinang Kampai Airport for the last three days.
Airport head Catur Hargowo said that visibility of only 2 kilometers on Tuesday had forced an aircraft operated by Transnusa to postpone landing for about 30 minutes from its scheduled arrival of 8:30 a.m. local time.
“It’s fortunate that the departure scheduled for 9:30 a.m. for the same aircraft was not disrupted by haze,” Catur told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, adding that low visibility only occurred in the morning and normal visibility of 4 kilometers eventually returned later in the day thanks to wind.
The same flight delays also occurred on Monday and Sunday.
“Pilots only take off when the visibility in Pinang Kampai is 4 kilometers as required by the standard operating procedures,” Catur said.
He added that other airports in Pekanbaru and in many major cities in Indonesia could accommodate landing with visibility of only 700 meters because of supporting equipment including runway lights and radar.
In Pinang Kampai, pilots depended only on runway markers and the control tower’s guidance due to the absence of additional equipment, he added.
Catur, however, said that haze had not affected passenger numbers.
He expressed hope that the government would extinguish the land fires soon, both in Dumai and neighboring regencies, so that haze would no longer disrupt flights.
“The haze in the meantime only causes delays, but if nothing is done about it, more serious conditions will prevail next week meaning we may be forced to close down the operation of the airport,” said Catur.
Riau Provincial Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Edwar Sanger said that apart from Dumai, mild haze had also affected Pekanbaru, Bengkalis, Pelalawan and Rokan Hilir. The haze also came partly from neighboring provinces.
“Forest and land fires also hit Jambi and South Sumatra provinces. The haze is reaching Riau thanks to the wind,” Edwar said, adding that efforts to extinguish the fires were continuing.
Based on data collected by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency’s (BMKG) Pekanbaru station from the Terra and Aqua satellites, two hotspots were detected in Dumai on Tuesday.
Other hotspots were found in the neighboring regencies of Bengkalis, Siak, Rokan Hilir and Meranti Islands.
“In total there were 45 hotspots across Riau with the biggest number of hotspots of 17 found in Pelalawan regency,” the station’s data and information section head Slamet Riyadi said.
Of the 45 hotspots, Slamet said, 27 were indicated as fire spots with a reliability level of over 70 percent. Of the fire spots, 13 were in Pelalawan, 11 in Bengkalis, two in Dumai and one in Indragiri Hulu.
Slamet blamed the situation on a lack of rain and high air temperatures.
Islands in focus: Air quality, visibility continue to drop in Riau
The Jakarta Post 2 Jul 15;
Haze from land and forest fires in Riau covering the province over the past several days has resulted in declines in air quality and visibility in a number of regions.
On Wednesday, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency’s (BMKG) Pekanbaru station, for example, detected 60 hotspots in nine regencies and municipalities across the province. Visibility in Pekanbaru, the province’s capital city, meanwhile, was recorded at only 1 kilometer, compared to Dumai’s 7 km and Pelalawan and Rengat’s 3 km.
“The drop in visibility in Pekanbaru has been followed by a decline in air quality. The Air Pollution Standard Index (PSI) board in the city shows that the current air quality is categorized as unhealthy, as the index has reached beyond 100 on the pollutant standards index [PSI],” the station’s data and information section head Slamet Riyadi said.
Declining visibility around the Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru on Wednesday morning also led to the rerouting of Citilink flight QG 936 from Jakarta to Pekanbaru to Hang Nadim Airport in Batam, Riau Islands.
Antara 1 Jul 15;
Padang (ANTARA News) - A researcher of reptiles Salvator Fakhrul Reza successfully identified 52 species of reptiles such as snakes, lizards and turtles around Karamuntiang Hills, Padang city, West Sumatra province.
"The 52 species include three orders and 12 families of reptiles," Reza said here on Wednesday.
He mentioned that the three orders of reptiles were lizards (sauria), snakes (serpentes), and turtles (testudines).
Of the 52 species of reptiles identified, as many 32 were serpentes.
Some species included in the order were Sumatran cobra (Naja sumatrana), python (Python reticulatus), and green snake from the Viperidae family, among others.
The second-largest order comprised 15 species of sauria such as geckos, giant geckos, and lizards.
In addition, the testudines order included the two families of Geoemydidae and Trionychidae, Reza stated.
"Besides the reptiles, Karamuntiang Hills has 18 species of frogs, more than 150 species of birds, and 10 species of rodents, as well," he pointed out.
Furthermore, a biologist from Andalas University, Wilson Novarino, noted that apart from the reptiles, the area around Karamuntiang Hills often serves as a resting place for Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris).
During a certain period, he added, the endangered animal often enters the biology forest areas of Andalas University, leaving behind footprints or caught passing by on cameras.
(T.KR-LWA/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Plant-Bird Relationship: 1. Introduction
Bird Ecology Study Group
Macro Photography Outings – May 2015
Bugs & Insects of Singapore
Lim Xuan Zhen MyPaper AsiaOne 1 Jul 15;
THEY are a crowd favourite in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Pasir Ris Park, but not so on the island of Sentosa.
Wild otters have apparently expanded their hunting grounds to ornamental koi ponds on Sentosa and are now targeting multi-million-dollar bungalows and even the garden pond of a hotel. Their hunting spree is believed to have started around late April and lasted about three weeks.
An employee of the hotel, who declined to be named, told My Paper that about 80 of the 200 koi housed in the hotel's pond were preyed on by a pair of otters, resulting in losses of about $20,000. About 55 of the remaining 120 were badly injured and had to be disposed of.
"They're very smart," the employee said of the otters' modus operandi.
"They come out to feed only in the wee hours, when there's nobody around, and go for the stomachs of the more valuable fish."
Based on eyewitness accounts from other staff and closed-circuit television footage, it is believed that the otters entered the hotel via the beach.
My Paper understands that the pair have eluded capture despite attempts to trap them. The hotel released the surviving 65 koi back into the pond on Friday and they have remained safe - so far.
Residents on the other side of Sentosa have similar woes. Sentosa Cove resident Maria Chandra, 51, lost $64,000 worth of koi overnight.
"I was so heartbroken," recalled the housewife in Mandarin. Her maid alerted her to the "gory scene" in her Ocean Drive home one morning in late April. The mutilated remnants of her pet fish floated belly-up in the bloody pool, with some bitten in half. Many were missing their tails, while a few struggled weakly in their death throes.
"I have lived on Sentosa for the past three years without incident, and this event coincided with the otter sightings on Singapore shores. Other koi owners in the area have also suffered from this problem," said Mrs Chandra.
She had received a letter from the Sentosa Cove management before the incident, alerting residents to wild otter sightings in the area. It reassured residents that these animals were not aggressive, but should be avoided nevertheless.
When contacted, the Sentosa Development Corporation confirmed that a letter was sent to Sentosa Cove residents, but declined to comment further.
Meanwhile, Charles Wee, 42, is no stranger to the Sentosa otter problem. The farm manager of Max Koi Farm was first alerted by a frantic call from the Chandras, who had bought their koi from the farm. According to Mr Wee, two other clients in the area have encountered similar problems, with their koi dying or disappearing overnight.
Founder and chief executive of Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) Louis Ng, 37, confirmed that the descriptions fit those of smooth-coated otters, which are bigger than the small-clawed oriental otter also found in Singapore.
"The otters are probably preying on the koi as they are easy to catch in the pond," he told My Paper. He advised members of the public against approaching the animals upon sighting them.
Should members of the public see any injured otters, they can call the Acres Wildlife Rescue Hotline on 9783-7782.
Did otters eat koi worth $80,000?
Samantha Boh Straits Times AsiaOne 9 Jul 15;
Otters that are being spotted more often in local bodies of water in recent times may have won over many hearts here with their antics.
However, they may have treated themselves to some very expensive meals - courtesy of a resort and a home in Sentosa. They are suspected of having feasted on ornamental koi, reportedly costing more than $80,000, in April this year.
Mr Ben Bousnina, vice-president of resorts at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, did not reveal the exact cost of the koi. He said they went missing at the Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa about the time otters were seen on the island.
The resort has relocated the koi from its pond temporarily.
"As the safety of our guests as well as colleagues is our highest priority, we are working closely with Sentosa Development Corporation to ensure that the otters will not be attracted to the resort," he said.
FISH IS FISH
A report in My Paper last week said that the resort lost about $20,000 worth of koi.
It also reported that a Sentosa Cove resident lost about $64,000 worth of the ornamental fish overnight in April .
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) told The Straits Times it has received feedback on only four occasions from people about otters preying on ornamental fish since the start of last year.
Meanwhile, wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) said it was normal for otters to prey on ornamental fish.
"They can't differentiate wild fish from koi and will go for the easier option," said Acres wildlife manager Kalai Vanan Balakrishnan.
His advice for people with fish ponds in areas with otters about is to either fence the ponds or cover them with wire mesh. They should also not leave leftover food around or feed the otters.
Wild otters are a fairly common sight at the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Pasir Ris Park and the Punggol Waterway, but it was only late last year that they were spotted in Sentosa Cove.
Mr Koh Piak Huat, divisional director of operations at Sentosa Leisure Management, said that while otters are not aggressive, residents are advised to keep their distance.
The semi-aquatic mammals - which can survive in both fresh and sea water - may be expected in some coastal areas.
Hence the island's management is engaging experts to understand the mammals' behaviour.
"We welcome them as part of the island's wildlife," he said, adding that the management will work to ensure the safety of both the otters and guests.
An AVA spokesman said the public should not approach, disturb or feed any wild animals they see. Trapping them is also illegal. The public can contact AVA at 1800-476-1600 to give feedback on wildlife.
A fire broke out on Pulau Ubin last week, and some residents are concerned with firefighting capabilities on the island.
Leong Wai Kit Channel NewsAsia 1 Jul 15;
SINGAPORE: Pulau Ubin residents have voiced concerns, following a blaze on the island last week which took three hours to extinguish.
On Wednesday (Jun 24), a fire broke out at a bike trail at around 9.15pm, but firefighters got to the island near midnight. The fire affected an area as big as two football fields. No one was hurt in the incident.
There are more than 30 elderly residents living on the island. They said that on weekends, about 1,000 people visit Pulau Ubin, with some staying overnight at campsites.
“Of course I worry about fires,” said Mr Ong Kim Cheng, a resident. “We'll just try to put them out with water or extinguishers. But if they can't be put out, there's nothing we can do. We'll just have to be careful not to let anything catch fire."
Another resident said they are too old to handle such emergencies, and have to depend on the police, who are on standby 24 hours a day.
The island is also home to Outward Bound Singapore, which organises training camps and other programmes. It conducts fire drills during each of its programmes on top of yearly drills with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
"I haven't seen any firefighting equipment around on the island before,” said one Pulau Ubin visitor, Mr Clarence Chng.
Mr Jonathan Yap, also a visitor, said: "I don't think anyone is prepared for a fire per se, but if there were really going to be a fire, I would probably just go to a beach."
Sometimes, workers living on Pulau Ubin come to the rescue. For instance, there are contractors that use a vehicle to water plants on the island. They would take water from the quarry to fill up about 5,000 litres in the vehicle’s tank. In times of emergencies - such as Wednesday - workers would bring water to fire sites.
"After dinner, I was in my room,” recount landscape maintenance worker, Mr Sivakumar. “Then I got a call asking for two people to go to the NPCC campsite and to bring our equipment to the fire."
Pulau Ubin residents added that there was another large bush fire last year.
According to the SCDF, for fires on Pulau Ubin, firefighters will be sent from Sengkang or Changi Fire Stations. For Sister's Island or St John's Island, they will be deployed from Marina Bay. If needed, vessels from Brani Marine can also be sent to the islands.
SCDF also said that under existing rules, buildings on Pulau Ubin must have fire alarms, fire extinguishers and hose reels. This also applies to Sisters’ Island and St John’s Island, where overnight stays are permitted. During an emergency, relevant agencies like the police and the National Parks Board will be roped in to help.
- CNA/hs
DESIREE TRESA GASPER The Star 1 Jul 15;
KUALA LUMPUR: The hazy conditions experienced in some areas in the country are due to the ongoing dry spell and lack of strong winds, said the Meteorological Department.
Department National Weather Centre senior meteorologist Dr Hisham Mohd Anip said that Malaysians need not worry too much as conditions should improve by Sunday.
“This is not a full blown haze and has nothing to do with forest fires or hot spots from neighbouring countries.
“The reason why you notice that the air isn’t so clean is because we are currently experiencing a stable atmospheric condition,” he said
This essentially means that the air is dry and there are no strong winds to move pollutants in the air.
“Due to this, you have elements such as factory smoke, vehicle smoke, dust and other pollutants clogging up the air,” he said.
Dr Hisham however said that stronger winds are expected to build up by the coming weekend.
“There should be some sort of improvement in the air quality by then.
“In the meantime, it is best to stay indoors to avoid breathing in too much of the unhealthy air,” he said.
On the possibility of a full blown haze hitting the country soon, Dr Hisham said that it was highly unlikely at the moment.
“We may experience haze nearer the end of the year,” he said.
Checks by The Star on the Air Pollutant Index (API) by the Department of Environment (DOE) revealed that most areas in the country were experiencing moderate levels of air pollutants.
As of 3pm yesterday, unhealthy API readings were recorded at Cheras and Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur. The readings were at 106 and 119 respectively.
When asked on the possibility of rain to clear the air and fill some of the dams which have recorded low water levels, Dr Hisham said that the rains were unlikely to make a significant difference this time.
“We expect some rain but not that much. The wet season will only begin in early September,” he said.
Syarikat Air Bekalan Selangor (Syabas) had previously warned that taps in the Klang Valley may run dry again due to the dry spell in July and August.
Its Corporate Communications and Public Affairs manager Priscilla Alfred said that while most dams in Selangor were above the 70% capacity, this would not guarantee that there will be no disruptions including during the Hari Raya period later this month.
The cause of the shortage was due to increased usage during the hot season and the dry spell itself.
Malaysian’s must brace for hot spell, haze
New Straits Times 1 Jul 15;
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians must brace for hotter days ahead as the country is now experiencing the south west monsoon.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said the monsoon season will bring about hot and dry weather and the dry spell is forecast to last until September.
“There will be little rain, mostly only early in the morning at the coastal areas, as well as areas south of Selangor,” she told Bernama here, today adding that weather conditions can worsen and lead to haze if there was indiscriminate open burning.
A random observation here today saw weather conditions quite hazy but Che Gayah said it could be because there was no rain over the past few days.
She further said that the condition was not due to the volcanic activities of Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra although volcanic ash was moving towards the central of Peninsular Malaysia and its altitude when passing the Peninsular was above 6,000 feet.
According to the latest satellite image on ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (AMSC), there no hotspots were detected in Peninsular Malaysia but two each in Sabah and Sarawak was detected.
A check with the Department of Environment showed that all 52 areas monitored nationwide for air quality today showed good to moderate Air Pollutant Index.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Ashok Philip said the current hot spell can cause dehydration if they sweat and do not drink enough water.
He said this can occur even if they stayed in the shade, but the condition will be severe when people are exposed to direct sunlight.
“As dehydration progresses, the affected person will start to feel weak, dizzy and disoriented or confused, as blood pressure starts to drop and body temperature rises.
“In order to stay cool and avoid heat related problems, drink enough water,” he told Bernama in an email reply today, adding that those who suffered from dehydration should move to a cool place and start sipping water.
“Please remember not to leave anyone unattended in a parked cars with the air-conditioner off and the windows up - temperatures can quickly rise to more than 50 degrees Celsius due to the greenhouse effect,” he said.
Dr Ashok also advised those who are fasting to drink regularly throughout the night and “top up” their fluid intake before starting the fast.
He said although such action may cause a little inconvenient, as it can lead to frequent visits to the toilet, that’s the price of staying cool and healthy. – BERNAMA
Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post 30 Jun 15;
The light haze currently blanketing Dumai and several other cities in Riau, namely Bengkalis, Pelalawan, Pekanbaru and Rokan Hilir, was caused by land and forest fires both from areas within Riau and from other provinces, according to the head of the Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Edwar Sanger.
“Land and forest fires have also occurred in Jambi and South Sumatra. Riau is receiving smoke from those two provinces, as winds are currently blowing from south to north,” said Edwar.
A land and forest fire post at Roesmin Nurjadin Airport in Pekanbaru, he said, had continued to extinguish fire spots through land operations and weather modification technology.
“While it is still in the medium category, the air quality in Riau has begun to worsen; therefore, our task force will strive to overcome fires in all areas, to avoid negative impacts on people’s health and activities,” said Edwar.
Based on Terra and Aqua satellite data collected by the Pekanbaru chapter of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), two hot spots were detected in Dumai on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, 15 hot spots were detected in Dumai’s neighboring regency, Bengkalis. Four hot spots were found in Siak while Rokan Hilir and Meranti Islands had three hot spots. One hot spot was found in Meranti Islands.
“In total, 45 hot spots have been detected in Riau, 17 of which are in Pelalawan regency. Three hot spots have been found in Indragiri Hulu,” said BMKG Pekanbaru’s data and information head, Slamet Riyadi.
“Meanwhile, 27 of the 45 hot spots have been indicated as fire spots with a reliability level of more than 70 percent. Pelalawan has 13 fire spots, followed by Bengkalis [11], Dumai [2] and Indragiri Hulu [1],” he said, adding that the high number of fires and hot spots in Riau was due to low rainfall and high temperatures in the province. (ebf)(+++)
Haze disrupts Pinang Kampai Airport’s activities
Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post 30 Jun 15;
Reduced visibility caused by smoke haze currently blanketing Dumai, Riau, has disrupted flight schedules at Pinang Kampai Airport over the last three days.
Airport head Catur Hargowo said the limited visibility, which reached only two kilometers on Tuesday, had forced a Transnusa aircraft departing from Halim Perdanakusumah Airport in Jakarta to delay its landing for up to 30 minutes from its initial schedule of 8:30 a.m.
“It was fortunate that the scheduled departure of the same aircraft at 9:30 a.m. was not disrupted by haze. Limited visibility occurred only in the morning and after 9 a.m., the visibility returned to normal, reaching four kilometers, as the wind dispersed and moved the smoke out of the area,” Catur told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
On Monday, the arrival and departure of a Transnusa flight serving a similar route was also delayed for half an hour due to thick haze. On Sunday, haze delayed departure and arrival schedules of three flights by around 20-30 minutes. They were Transnusa and Pelita Air flights serving the Halim–Dumai–Halim route and Transnusa serving the Dumai–Batam–Dumai route.
“Aircraft pilots will take off and land only if visibility at Pinang Kampai Airport reaches four kilometers. This is the standard operating procedure,” said Catur.
He said aircraft could land at airports in Pekanbaru and other big cities with limited visibility of only around 700 meters due to the airports’ adequate supporting equipment, such as radars and runway lighting.
“Pinang Kampai Airport does not yet have runway lighting which can direct pilots. They can only depend on runway markings and guidance from the control tower when they land or take off. That’s why pilots are more careful and don’t want to take any risks over limited visibility,” said Catur.
He said that so far, haze had not reduced the number of Riau residents traveling via air.
“The occupancy rate of Transnusa, which serves general passengers, is still around 80 percent. Meanwhile, the Pelita Air aircraft was chartered by [state-owned oil and gas company] Pertamina,” said Catur.
He hoped the government could immediately extinguish land fires both in Dumai and neighboring regencies to prevent haze that disrupted airport activities. (ebf) (++++)
Riau authorities extinguish 10 bushfires
Antara 30 Jun 15;
Pekanbaru (ANTARA News) - The fire brigade and disaster mitigation office of Pekanbaru, Riau Province, has extinguished bushfires in at least 10 locations during the period between January and June 2015.
During the six-month period, the office received reports of 78 fire incidents including bushfires, Head of the Pekanbaru fire brigade and disaster mitigation office Burhan Gurning stated here, Tuesday.
"Of the total incidents, 10 were bushfires," he noted.
In the current dry season, wild fires were easily triggered by fires used for trash burning and land clearing activities, according to Gurning.
He has sent reminders to the heads of 12 sub-districts in Pekanbaru regarding the prohibition on using fires to clear land and burn trash during the dry season.
Meanwhile, the Terra and Aqua satellites detected 207 hotspots indicating forest and plantation fires across Sumatra Island on Sunday (June 28).
"Of the 207 hotspots, 70 were detected in Riau Province," Pekanbaru Meteorological, Climatology, And Geophysics Station Head Sugarin stated.
Sugarin pointed out that in Riau, 24 hotspots were found in Pelalawan district, 18 in Rokan Hilir, nine in Bengkalis, six in Indragiri Hilir, five in Dumai, and three in Siak and Indragiri Hulu.
One hotspot each was found in Kuantansingigi, Meranti, and Kampar.
(Uu.INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Hans David Tampubolon, The Jakarta Post 30 Jun 15;
By having more than 2 million hectares of mangrove wetland area, Indonesia could play a major role in mitigating climate change.
The true potential of Indonesia’s massive mangrove area has never been properly measured and because of this, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), along with the Maritime and Fisheries Research and Development Center at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, have launched research in several wetland areas within the archipelago.
One of the selected areas for the research is the Pulau Dua wildlife reserve, some 90 kilometers from Jakarta in Serang, the provincial capital of Banten. Located in the northwestern region of the Java coastline, Pulau Dua is also one of the country’s natural mangrove ecosystems that has been facing continuous threats from the growth of residential and industrial areas.
“We want to see two things from this research,” CIFOR principal scientist Daniel Murdiyarso told The Jakarta Post.
“First of all, we want to see the amount of carbon stocked within the Pulau Dua conservation area, which covers only around 250 hectares of wetlands. Secondly, we want to measure the acceleration of sedimentation. By looking at these two things, we can estimate the Pulau Dua conservation’s capacity in stocking carbon and on how it can protect its backyards from sea erosion.
“Eventually, the significance of this research is to estimate the total potential that Indonesia has with its millions of hectares of wetlands just by looking at the final results of the research conducted in this small conservation area.”
Daniel said that the research, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), would take five years to complete.
To begin the research, CIFOR scientists and staff from the ministry had installed a sedimentation and carbon stock measurement tool called the Rod Surface Elevation Table Marker Horizon (RSET-MH) in various places near the Pulau Dua coastline.
To install the tool, the scientists need to insert several 1-meter rods, which are connected together, straight down into the ground.
“You must be sure that the rods are straight because even the slightest deviation would give you the wrong data when you try to measure sedimentation and elevation change,” one of CIFOR’s staff members, Sigit, said when he instructed a number of ministry employees and local guards on how to properly install the tool.
“Accuracy is very important for this research,” he added.
The depth of the rods inserted varies from one area to another. In Papua, according to Daniel, the scientists needed to insert at least 10 meters of connected rods while in Pulau Dua, they only needed 6 meters of them.
“If you can still push the rods downward, then you still need to add more rods, connect them and insert them further down,” Daniel said.
Once the insertion is completed, the scientists then needed to secure a handle on top of the rod. The handle contains nine holes in which measurement sticks would be inserted and these would be used as the instrument to measure elevation changes.
Other than measuring sedimentation and elevation changes, scientists are also tasked to compile data regarding medium-sized and small deadwood debris surrounding the area so that they could also learn about vegetation colonization within the area.
The measurement and data compilation are regularly conducted every six months by a team consisting of between two and four researchers until the research is complete.
“Six months later, when we return to this area and collect our first measurement, we might find that elevation changes only by some millimeters,” Daniel said.
“It might not seem much and some people might think collecting the data is boring because of the minute changes, but it is an important element for us to better understand about carbon stock potential in mangroves,” he added.
Mangroves are considered as one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet despite their ability to protect the world’s coastlines from storm surges, sea level rise and even tsunamis.
According to a report released in 2014 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), mangroves are being destroyed at a rate that is between three and five times greater than the average rates of forest loss.
The report, entitled “The Importance of Mangroves: A Call to Action”, says that the continuous destruction of mangroves has cost billions in economic damages and has denied millions of people the ecosystem services they need to survive.
The report also describes how emissions resulting from mangrove losses make up nearly one-fifth of global emissions from deforestation, resulting in economic damages of between US$6 billion and $42 billion annually.
In addition, mangroves are also threatened by climate change, which could result in the loss of a further 10 to 15 percent of mangroves by 2100.
For Southeast Asia, the report predicts that by 2050 countries in this region will potentially have lost 35 percent of the mangrove cover they had in 2000.
Ecosystem service losses in Southeast Asia from the destruction of mangroves has been estimated to be worth more than $2 billion annually over the period between 2000 and 2050, with Indonesia predicted to suffer the highest losses at $1.7 billion per year.
Daniel said that he hoped the results of the research conducted by CIFOR and the ministry would indirectly prompt all related policymakers in Indonesia regarding the importance of conserving mangroves for the future.
“If mangrove areas are continuously converted, then we will lose all of their capability to protect us,” he said.
— photos by JP/Hans David Tampubolon
Posts
visitors since Nov 07