NParks launches mangrove conservation area at Sungei Buloh

The National Parks Board (NParks) launched a new mangrove arboretum at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail on Monday (Oct 5).
Olivia Siong, Channel NewsAsia 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: The National Parks Board (NParks) launched a new mangrove arboretum at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail on Monday (Oct 5), as part of its efforts to conserve native mangrove species.

The arboretum - a place where plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes - spans five hectares and is expected to have about 35 native "true" mangrove species. This means that they are plants that only grow in the mangrove environment.

Said Mr Wong Tuan Wah, director of conservation at NParks: “We want to increase the number of species in Sungei Buloh itself so that there is one focal point for people who want to study mangroves. For example, when researchers, scientists, students and visitors come and visit Sungei Buloh, they will be able to see all these types of mangroves in one location. So, it is a good opportunity for conservation, outdoor education and outreach as well."

The initiative boosts the conservation of rare mangrove species, such as the Eye of the Crocodile, which is listed as globally endangered, with only about 200 mature trees in the world.

Mr Wong added: "By bringing back this rare endangered species, we are actually increasing the biodiversity of the mangrove habitat as well. With all these mangrove species, we are bringing a lot of diversity, not only in plant diversity, but also animal diversity.

“A lot of these intertidal animals, marine animals, depend on these mangrove species for survival. So by bringing back all these mangrove species, we hope that in time to come, there will be an increase in this intertidal fauna diversity as well."

The arboretum was opened by new Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who also planted a locally endangered mangrove tree.

In his speech, Mr Khaw said that he hopes the arboretum can be "a focal point" for Singaporeans who "may not fully relate or appreciate" the importance of mangrove swamps and how they "impact our quality of life". He added that mangroves bring many benefits, including preventing coastal erosion.

Mr Khaw also said more than 200 years ago, mangroves occupied about 13 per cent of the island. However, the number has shrunk to about 0.5 per cent.

Said Mr Khaw: “At the end of the day, physical infrastructure is not easy, but is the easier part because with an enlightened Government and some money, top-down we can do a lot of things with this hardware.

“But it is the social infrastructure which has to be ground-up, where Singaporeans, the people themselves, who believe in it, believe in the cause and be part of that and they on their own will be (asking) the Government, why don't you do this, why don't you do that faster."

Starting Monday, about 2,000 mangrove trees will be planted along a 500-metre stretch at Sungei Buloh over two years. Students, volunteers and community partners will be invited to plant and monitor the seedlings, collected from various mangrove forests in Singapore.

As this NParks initiative is also about raising the awareness of the public with regard to mangroves and conservation, it has plans to install educational signs, as well as roll out outreach programmes in the near future. A three-hour hands-on education programme - for children aged between four and six - is expected to take place by the middle of next year.

Kikkoman Singapore, the local manufacturing facility of Japan-based soy sauce manufacturer Kikkoman Corporation, also announced a S$500,000 sponsorship for the new mangrove arboretum.

- CNA/wl/xk


Sungei Buloh gets new mangrove conservation area
AsiaOne 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail's new arboretum is expected to plant 2,000 native mangrove trees along a 500-metre stretch over the next two years, the National Parks Board (NParks) said in a press release on Monday (Oct 5).

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An arboretum is a place where plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes. The designated area is expected to house about 35 native "true" mangrove species. This means that they are plants that only grow in the mangrove environment.

One such species NParks highlighted is the Eye of the Crocodile, a globally and critically endangered species with only around 200 mature trees in the world.

Manufacturing company Kikkoman Singapore has announced a $500,000 sponsorship for the new conservation area.

New Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan who launched the arboretum on Monday, said: "Mangrove conservation is key to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and in this regard, we place great importance on the establishment of the mangrove arboretum. Sungei Buloh is also home to the largest tract of mangrove forest on mainland Singapore.

"The arboretum will serve as a focal venue for conservation, education and outreach activities. It is an important project that will contribute to the conservation of mangrove plant species through propagating and planting of native mangrove species," he added.

In line with its aim of reaching out to the community, students, volunteers and other community partners will be invited to participate in the nurturing, planting and monitoring of these seedlings collected from various mangrove forests in Singapore.

NParks will also introduce a series of new interpretive signs and outreach programmes at the aboretum.


Mangrove field opens at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
LAURA ELIZABETH PHILOMIN Today Online 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE – A new mangrove arboretum that will be home to half the world’s 70 “true” mangrove species — those that grow only in the mangrove environment — has been launched at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve by the National Parks Board (NParks), with a donation of S$500,000 from Kikkoman Singapore to mark its 30th anniversary.

The arboretum — or collection of trees — will have 2,000 mangrove trees from 35 native species planted progressively along a 500m stretch at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail, which is currently open to the public as part of the reserve’s latest extension along Kranji Way. NParks will install signs with information on various mangrove species at the arboretum. Among the species to be featured include the globally critically-endangered Eye of the Crocodile trees, which got its name from breathing pores on its trunk that resemble crocodile eyes.

Mangroves provide habitats for animals and prevent coastal erosion. NParks’ director of conservation Wong Tuan Wah said at the launch today (Oct 5) the initiative came about after a study found that Sungei Buloh housed 30 out of 35 native mangrove species in Singapore. “So with this new initiative now, we want to increase the number of species in Sungei Buloh itself so that there’s one focal point for people who want to study mangroves,” he said, adding that the initiative would also replenish and increase the biodiversity of the mangrove habitat.

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan helped to plant one of the first 200 trees, together with Mr Yuzaburo Mogi, honorary chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for Kikkoman Corporation. Kikkoman staff, student volunteers and other community partners will continue the planting process over the next two years, starting this month. Kikkoman Singapore will also sponsor a three-hour education programme for children between four and six years old starting in June next year.

Schools are one of the community partners regularly called on, among them River Valley High School student Micaiah Chua, 16. He and his schoolmates will be transplanting 30 mangrove saplings of six different species, which they collected from Changi Beach in April and were growing in school for the past few months as part of a conservation project.

“I (was not) very familiar with mangroves, (but) from my project and from coming here today, I’ve actually learnt much more; for example, identifying the species of mangroves (and) why conservation is so important,” said Micaiah.


'Living gallery' to help conserve mangroves here
Carolyn Khew, Straits Times AsiaOne 6 Oct 15;

An area will be set aside at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve for a living gallery of mangrove trees, comprising about half of the true species in the world, in a move to conserve these plants.

The 5ha area at the reserve's coastal trail will include a nursery and have, in two years' time, 2,000 native trees across 35 true species - those that grow only in mangroves or intertidal conditions.

The collection of trees, or arboretum, is an initiative to conserve Singapore's dwindling mangrove species. They now cover about 0.5 per cent of Singapore's land area, compared with 13 per cent in 1950.

Mr Wong Tuan Wah, director of conservation at the National Parks Board (NParks), said that just like any other plant, young mangrove saplings are susceptible to being eaten up by animals in the intertidal area or swept away due to water currents.

"What we want to do is to nurse them in the arboretum, in the nursery... until they are of suitable size (and) they are big enough to withstand all these physical conditions," said Mr Wong. "Once they are about 1m, or big enough, we will plant them into the intertidal area or into the mudflat in such a way they can withstand the conditions, or elements of the sea."

The mangrove species which will be planted include the globally critically endangered Eye of the Crocodile, or Bruguiera hainesii. Singapore has 11 of these in places such as Pulau Ubin, and none in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; there are only about 200 trees of this species globally.

According to the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website, mangroves can store three to five times as much carbon dioxide as tropical trees, easing the effects of climate change. NParks also noted that their roots offer hiding places for young fishes and shrimps, and their branches offer shelter and nestling areas for birds such as herons.

Mangrove planting at the new arboretum is well under way, as 80 students planted some 200 mangrove saplings yesterday.

Institute of Technical Education College East student Tan Yong Qing, 22, together with his schoolmates, planted about 30 saplings. "This is the first time we are doing this... It makes you feel good because you're helping nature," he said.

During the launch of the arboretum yesterday at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan planted a locally endangered mangrove tree called the Dugun with Mr Haruhisa Takeuchi, Ambassador of Japan, and Mr Yuzaburo Mogi, honorary chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of Japan soya sauce maker Kikkoman. Kikkoman Singapore created a $500,000 sponsorship for the mangrove arboretum to mark its 30th anniversary.

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Barn owl pops by PM Lee's office for a visit

AsiaOne 6 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE - Seems like even barn owls are taking refuge from the haze.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong snapped a photo of the bird at the Istana at around 12.48pm. The post has since gotten 25,183 likes on Facebook.

PM Lee wrote: "The owl came to visit us again today. Maybe he is taking shelter from the haze."



MP and parliamentary secretary Baey Yam Keng also posted a close-up shot of the barn owl on his social media pages on Monday, writing: "Happy to meet the famous Istana barn owl today". Mr Baey was at the Istana in the afternoon for the swearing-in ceremony for the four newly-appointed parliamentary secretaries.

Two years ago on Nov 20, a similar barn owl had flown into the building overnight. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Jurong Bird Park were enlisted to help release it back into the wild.

PM Lee said in his posting then: "The Istana grounds are a green refuge for many species of birds and animals. We should preserve and create many such green spaces all over our island, so that in our urban environment we can enjoy the natural flora and fauna of Singapore."

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Indonesia: Palm oil producers call for government support

thejakartapost.com 5 Oct 15;

The Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki) says the government should provide support and pay close attention to the national palm oil industry to ensure that it continues to grow in the midst of the country’s economic slowdown.

“There should be supports from the government so that this industry can survive and dominate the international market,” said Gapki chairman Joko Supriyono as quoted by Antara news agency in Jakarta on Monday.

He said the ongoing fluctuations of the rupiah exchange rate had hurt palm oil companies in Indonesia, especially those with huge US-dollar debts.

“In the current slowing economic condition, many business players are tightening their belts, thus, we need support from the government,” he added.

Meanwhile, Palm Oil Agribusiness Strategic Policy Institute (Paspi) executive director Tungkot Sipayung said palm oil companies had always been blamed as parties most responsible for land and forest fires.

He said the government needed to thoroughly check their sources before naming palm oil companies and their officials suspects in land and forest fire cases.

“Land and forest fires have brought losses upon all parties. This is a fact we have to be aware of. The incidents are triggered by a range of factors such as existing regulations that allow land clearing using risky slash and burn practices, problems in the management of state forests and the current long dry spell,” said Tungkot.

Among the relevant regulations are Law No.32/2009 on environmental protection and management, which allows local people possessing 2-hectare or smaller plots of land to open their land using the slash and burn method, he added. (ebf)

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Malaysia: Clear weather expected after Oct 10, says Meteorological Dept

The Star 6 Oct 15;

PETALING JAYA: Haze levels continued to drop after a torrid weekend that saw seven areas facing very unhealthy levels.

As of 5pm yesterday, 18 areas recorded an unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API), compared to 28 at 11pm the previous day.

An API reading from 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy; and 301 and above, hazardous.

Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said this was due to the tropical storm Mujigae, which was expected to make landfall in China yesterday.

“Once it hits China, the wind will revert to typical inter-monsoon winds that are light and variable and we don’t expect to have any transboundary haze,” she said.

“As you can see, it is already improving slightly. And there should be clear weather after Oct 10.”

However, the falling trend remains subject to no new tropical storms forming in the region.

Che Gayah said the region would usually see three to four tropical storms in October and only two had occurred so far.

“Mujigae is one while the other, Choi-wan, developed somewhere over the east of the Philippines but is moving towards Japan ... so it is too far away to have much impact on the wind here.”

She added that lately it had been very difficult to carry out cloud seeding because for safe operating procedure, a minimum of 1.6km of runway visibility was required.

“We are always on standby to carry out cloud seeding but this month we have only managed to cloud seed once – on Oct 2.”

Che Gayah also noted that the Fire Hazard Map in Indonesia was still in red.

“This means it is dry there, easy to catch fire and that fires would be very hard to put out.”

Haze maps on the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre website shows that winds from Kalimantan and Sumatra are blown west and beyond Peninsular Malaysia.

No strong chemicals used in cloud seeding ops
M. KUMAR The Star 6 Oct 15;

PETALING JAYA: The Defence Ministry has denied rumours that the Royal Malaysian Air Force is using strong chemicals to make rain.

The rumour which was spread via a viral text message advised people to stay away from the rain as it apparently is harmful to the skin.

Ministry spokesperson Lt Commander Karimah Awi said that the rumour was not true.

“It is false and the only one who is responsible to inform about the chemical composition for cloud seeding is the Meteorological Department,” she said when contacted Monday.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry also denied the rumours.

Minister Datuk Madius Tangau said the chemical used in the cloud seeding operations is Natrium Chloride, or table salt.

“This salt is safe and has no bad side effects on the environment and health of the public.

“I would like to clarify that the quantity of the salt used for cloud seeding operations has not changed and no other chemicals have been added," he said in a statement on Monday.


Panel meets again over worsening haze condition
The Star 6 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Haze Committee is reconvening today to discuss further action in view of the worsening haze situation.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this was the third time in three weeks that the committee was meeting.

“I have asked to discuss a few issues for the well-being of the rakyat and to take action in handling transboundary haze,” he told reporters after the ministry’s monthly assembly here yesterday.

The committee also consists of representatives from the Education Ministry, Health Ministry and National Security Council.

Dr Wan Junaidi said previous discussions had included the Department of Environment’s (DOE) Air Pollutant Index system.

“This time around, among the actions to be taken will be the giving out of face masks and awareness campaigns nationwide,’’ he said.

According to the DOE, the API reading for southern Sarawak was within the moderate range.

Around noon in Kuching, the API was 51; Samarahan, 59; Sri Aman, 64; Sibu, 55; and Miri, 48.

On a related note, Dr Wan Junaidi said he had yet to fix a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart to further discuss a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries on transboundary haze.

“The MoU will outline six strategies, including prevention and suppression of forest fires, zero-burning process for jungle clearing and peatland management,” he said.

Meanwhile in Petaling Jaya, pharmacies are seeing brisk sales in face masks and medication for respiratory illnesses.

A pharmacist in the bustling SS2 area here said medicine and relief for dust allergies, asthma, blocked nose and cold plus lozenges were flying off the shelves.


Hundreds stranded by Langkawi runway closure
The Star 6 Oct 15;

GEORGE TOWN: Hundreds of tourists and locals were stranded after 13 departure flights were cancelled at the Langkawi International Airport in Kedah.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), which revealed this in a statement, said the runway in Langkawi was closed for three hours and 15 minutes as visibility was only 500m at 8.25am yesterday.

“The runway was reopened at 11.40am when the visibility improved to 700m,” it added.

The Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in Langkawi were 129 (at 7am), 143 (11am) and 156 (3pm).

In Bayan Lepas and Butterworth, horizontal visibility was 2km at 3pm.

Meanwhile, isolated rain in the morning in several areas in Penang failed to clear the haze.

The API readings at the monitoring station at 3pm in Prai was 125, Seberang Jaya 2, 141 and Universiti Sains Malaysia 142.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said face masks would be given to police on outdoors duty.

“They will have to wear face masks to minimise the negative effects of the haze.

“We are carrying out road blocks as usual,” he said.


Public, private universities to monitor haze in their areas
KAREN CHAPMAN The Star 6 Oct 15;

PETALING JAYA: All public and private universities and higher learning institutes will monitor haze levels in their area and decide whether to postpone academic and non-academic activities or close the institutions.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the ministry was aware of the haze situation and its possible effects on the health and well-being of students and staff.

“The ministry is also monitoring the situation through various mechanisms, including the Air Pollutant Index from time to time,” he said in a statement.

Idris said the higher learning institutes are also required to prepare internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for the reference of their staff and students.

“The health and wellbeing of all students and staff is of the utmost priority,” he said.

About 7,000 schools in 11 states in the peninsula were closed yesterday and today.


Perlis fishermen’s income affected
The Star 5 Oct 15;

KUALA PERLIS: The worsening haze has affected the livelihood of almost 1,500 fishermen in Perlis, said state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Mat Hassan.

He said on Monday that about 800 fishermen from Kuala Perlis and nearly 700 from Kuala Sungai Baru and Kuala Sanglang had to find alternative income if the haze did not improve.

"They cannot go out to sea due to a visibility of less than 500 metres and as a result the prices of fish have gone up as catches have declined by half," Mat, who is also Kuala Perlis state assemblyman said.

However he said these fishermen could still survive as the Government had given them subsistence allowance of RM300 per month for their daily needs, he said. - Bernama


Sarawak sees reprieve from haze
YU JI The Star 5 Oct 15;

KUCHING: For the first time since Sept 19, there is a hint of blue skies in Kuching.

On Monday morning, the visibility was 4km, a clear improvement from the 2km on Sunday evening.

The air quality also continued to improve through the morning.

By 2pm, the Malaysian Meteorological Department was reporting a horizontal visibility of 8km.

According to the Department of Environment, the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading for southern Sarawak were all within the moderate range.

Around noon in the state capital the API was 51; Samarahan (59); Sri Aman (64); Sibu (55) and Miri (48).

The improvement in air quality was attributed to changing wind directions.

However, in Kalimantan, many parts remained shrouded in thick haze, reported the Singapore-based Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre.

The Terra satellite detected 267 hotspots in Borneo on Monday morning, almost all of which were in the Indonesian portion of the island.

The Central Kalimantan town of Palangka Raya had a reported API of 686, while Pontianak in West Kalimantan, the nearest Indonesian town to Kuching, had a reading of 103.

The Singaporean National Environment Agency is reporting that some haze from Kalimatan has been observed to have spread to the sea areas south east of the island nation.


Fishermen Advised To Avoid Fishing Along Shipping Routes
Bernama 4 Oct 15;

KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- Fishermen are advised to avoid fishing along routes frequently used by cargo and container ships during the haze.

Fishermen need to be alert and choose a safe location to catch fish to avoid boat collision incidents," Kuala Terengganu Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Logistics (District 9) director, Lt Com Mohamad Zainal told Bernama here today.

He also encouraged fishermen, especially coastal fishermen to use fiberglass boats that provide compass or navigation tools when going out to fish.

"We understand fishermen will go out to sea because it is their source of income but watch the weather and visibility conditions prior to going out. If possible, use a compass if visibility is limited so as not to get lost in the middle of the sea and to avoid any untoward incidents," Mohamad said.

Meanwhile, a check by Bernama around the city here found that there were still some schools continuing with activities outside the classroom despite the air pollutant index reading being at an unhealthy level exceeding 100.

-- BERNAMA

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Forest fires in Indonesia choke much of south-east Asia

Weeks of acrid haze have caused flight delays, school closures in Malaysia and respiratory problems for thousands
Oliver Holmes The Guardian 5 Oct 15;

The illegal burning of forests and agricultural land across Indonesia has blanketed much of south-east Asia in an acrid haze, leading to one of the most severe regional shutdowns in years.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Indonesia needs to convict plantation companies for the noxious smoke, created by the annual destruction of plants during the dry season. Burning the land is a quick way to ready the soil for new seed.

“We want Indonesia to take action,” he was quoted as saying by the state news agency Bernama, adding the smog was affecting the economy. “Indonesia alone can gather evidence and convict the companies concerned.”

In Singapore, races for the swimming world cup – the FINA World Championship – were cancelled on Saturday. A marathon in Malaysia on Sunday was also abandoned and all schools were closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of people in Indonesia and Malaysia have sought medical treatment for respiratory problems. The annual burning is decades old and Indonesia has faced mounting pressure to end the practice.

Scientists say the pollution could surpass 1997 levels when the haze created an environmental disaster that cost an estimated US$9 billion in damage.

“If the forecasts for a longer dry season hold, this suggests 2015 will rank among the most severe events on record,” said Robert Field, a Columbia University scientist based at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

In Singapore, news websites post near-hourly updates on the danger of being outside. Some shops were providing free masks for children and elderly people.

“Healthy persons should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion ... Persons who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention,” it said.

Following a public outcry, ten Singaporean companies that manufacture paper products announced on Monday they do not source wood from five firms in Indonesia suspected of contributing to the haze.

Greenpeace says the fires, mostly from peatland, kill roughly 110,000 people a year in the region through associated conditions.

Indonesia has deployed 20,000 security forces police to water bomb the fields and use chemicals to artificially induce rainfall. It also says it has investigated companies and ordered four to suspend operations.

The country is the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, according to the World Resources Institute thinktank. Jakarta promised last week at the United Nations to curb emissions by 2030.

Singapore had offered to send C-130 aircraft to Indonesia to conduct cloud seeding operations and Chinook helicopters to douse the forest fires but Jakarta refused the offer, Indonesian state news agency Antara said.

“We will first strive to overcome [the fires] by ourselves. So far, there has not been any agreement with Singapore [about dealing with these fires],” cabinet secretary Pramono Anung was quoted as saying.

Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi has said Jakarta’s efforts were not enough and it should seek more regional help. The Malaysian minister of defence said on Twitter he had fallen ill due to the haze and warned Malaysians to stay indoors.

AFP news agency contributed to this report

Malaysian PM urges Indonesia to act on smoke-belching fires
AFP Yahoo News 5 Oct 15;

Malaysia's premier has urged Indonesia to act against those to blame for raging fires that have blanketed Southeast Asia in smog for weeks, as Malaysian schools closed again Monday over health concerns.

The regional environmental crisis has caused flights and major events to be cancelled, and forced tens of thousands of people in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore to seek treatment for respiratory problems.

"They (plantation companies) are operating there, we want Indonesia to take action," Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama late on Sunday.

"Only Indonesia alone can gather evidence and convict the companies concerned."

The blazes flare annually during the dry season as fires are illegally set to clear land for cultivation on Indonesia's island of Sumatra and in the Indonesian portion of Borneo island.

Singapore consumer and environmental groups called Monday for a commercial boycott of "irresponsible" companies contributing to regional air pollution through the fires.

The non-government Singapore Environment Council and the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) issued an approved list of 10 paper-making companies.

The 10 have declared that they do not buy or use any materials from Indonesian producers which are facing legal action by Singapore.

Five firms operating on Sumatra, including global giant Asia Pulp and Paper, have received legal notices from Singapore which could result in huge fines.

They were the first companies openly named by Singapore as potential culprits under a newly activated law allowing the island republic to sue overseas firms found to have contributed to serious haze outbreaks.

Air quality was again in the officially "unhealthy" range in Singapore on Monday after a brief respite over the weekend.

CASE urged Singaporeans to "send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers' goodwill should not be taken for granted and consumers will not support companies which are environmentally responsible and/or have contributed to the environmental disaster year after year".

Experts have warned that this year's flare-up is on track to equal or surpass an infamous 1997 haze outbreak that sent pollution soaring to record highs and caused an estimated $9 billion in economic damage across the region.

Indonesia has sent more than 20,000 troops, police and other personnel to fight fires in an effort that has included waterbombing and chemically induced rainfall.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo's office said he was "very serious in tackling the forest fires" but dry weather caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon posed a challenge.

Presidential spokesman Ari Dwipayana told AFP that companies found to be responsible for lighting fires could have their business permits revoked, but added: "All this takes time."

Malaysian authorities ordered school closures last month due to bad air quality, and over the weekend announced schools across much of the country would close again on Monday and Tuesday.

Bernama said Najib, speaking on a trip to Italy, added that the haze was also affecting Malaysia's economy.

Indonesia has for years faced pressure from its neighbours to act but the haze recurs annually to varying degrees.

Singapore officials last week expressed impatience with Indonesia, and Malaysia's Najib said the three countries must work together to formulate an effective strategy to tackle the annual environmental disaster.

Poor air quality forced the cancellation of major events at the weekend.

In Singapore races in the FINA World Championship -- swimming's World Cup -- were called off on Saturday, and one of Malaysia's biggest marathons set for Sunday in Kuala Lumpur was cancelled.

Some local Malaysian football league matches have also been shelved.


Low visibility causes boat crash in Sumatra as haze hits Thailand
Today Online 6 Oct 15;

JAMBI/BANGKOK — Two persons were killed in a speedboat crash caused by poor visibility in the Indonesian province of Jambi, which has been enveloped in thick haze for months.

Skipper Daenk Manggata, 45, said he was unable to see well when docking the vessel amid thick haze on Sunday morning (Oct 4), sending the speedboat into a column before it capsized with 18 on board.

A crew member, identified as 26-year-old Amirduin, and 60-year-old passenger Subaidah were killed in the incident while the rest of those on board were rescued by port officials and bystanders, reported Jakarta Globe.

Local authorities estimated visibility at just 100m at the time of the accident.

The accident in Jambi, which is on the island of Sumatra, comes amid one of South-east Asia’s most serious environmental pollution, which has persisted for about a month.

Schools in Malaysia and Singapore have closed when the haze has been heavy, sports events have been cancelled and tourism operators are fretting. Health authorities across the region have warned people to avoid exercise on bad days.

The haze has also spread to Thailand yesterday, the first time it has reached hazardous levels so far north, highlighting the regional nature of a problem that is being blamed on Indonesia’s inability to prevent big plantation companies from burning forests to clear land for new trees.

Thai environment officials said the level of pollution from Indonesia has risen sharply in the south of the country, near the Malaysian border, and health authorities were issuing face masks and opening hotlines to provide advice.

Dr Wijarn Simachaya, the director general of Thailand’s Pollution Control Department, told The Associated Press that “the situation is getting worse”.

“We didn’t think it would be bad this year, but it is,” he said.

Indonesia has come under pressure in the past few weeks to contain the annual haze crisis, which is caused by slash-and-burn agriculture on Sumatra island and the Indonesian part of Borneo island.

Companies seeking to clear land for palm oil and pulp wood plantations have been accused of encouraging the fires that often smoulder for weeks in underground peat deposits.

The problem has been exacerbated this year by the El Nino weather phenomenon, which has brought unusually dry conditions.

Indonesia says more than 200 companies, most of them from South-east Asia, are being investigated on suspicion of causing fires.

The Indonesian police said yesterday that one company from Australia, palm oil plantation operator PT Kayung Agro Lestari (KAL), and one from China were among them.

A representative of KAL, a subsidiary of PT Austindo Nusantara Jaya Agri, said it was “not accurate to call KAL an Australian company” and that only 0.01 per cent of it was owned by an Australian citizen. He said the company was cooperating with the investigation.

The police did not identify the Chinese company.

Indonesia has repeatedly declined offers of help from neighbouring countries to help put out the fires. AGENCIES


How to keep up the pressure against haze
NISID HAJARI Today Online 6 Oct 15;

Singapore is starting to look like Beijing or New Delhi. That is because you cannot see it through the haze. Smog has disrupted outdoor events, forced schools to close and sent commuters running for their surgical masks.

Singaporeans know why. Every year during the dry season, farmers and plantation companies light fires on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo to clear land for farming and for the production of paper and palm oil. Wind carries the smoke across the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea.

An especially bad episode in 1997 caused regional outrage and an estimated US$9 billion (S$12.8 billion) in economic damage. Nearly two decades later, in 2013, air pollution readings in Singapore and Malaysia topped 400 and 700, respectively. (Anything above 301 is considered hazardous.) An El Nino weather pattern this year has raised fears that smoggy skies could persist into 2016.

On paper at least, regional governments have finally heeded calls to do something about the problem.

Last year, Indonesia ratified an agreement that calls on countries to combat burning and share information. In May, the government extended a moratorium on clearing forests and peat land. Local laws are tough: Anyone responsible for setting fires can be sentenced to 15 years in jail and fined up to US$350,000. Singapore, where several big paper and palm-oil companies are headquartered, has established fines of up to S$2 million for corporations that enable or condone burning that pollutes the city-state.

Businesses have begun to regulate themselves. Many have adopted zero-deforestation pledges, while industry groups have established certification for sustainably produced palm oil, which is sold at a premium. Companies can also buy credits to offset their purchases of uncertified palm oil, thus funding what remains a niche market.

Haze measures need time

The challenges are obvious, of course. Many of these measures will need time to have an impact. Under Indonesia’s decentralised system, instituted in 2001, the central government has little sway at ground level, where local officials often profit from existing arrangements. Enforcement is weak.

Small-scale farmers may be responsible for much of the burning. Pinpointing the source of fires is complicated by overlapping land claims. Chasing down and arresting peasants would be time-consuming and fruitless. Indonesian authorities would be better off educating farmers about the dangers of burning and helping them pay for more expensive, alternate land-clearing techniques.

That hardly means the government is helpless, though. As bad as the air may be in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, it is positively apocalyptic in places like the Indonesian province of Kalimantan, on Borneo, where a pollution index reached nearly 2,000 last month. The authorities could try encouraging local watchdog groups by increasing rewards for whistleblowers.

Prosecutors need to deter would-be scofflaws by winning more high-profile cases like the one that recently resulted in a US$25.6 million fine against the palm-oil company PT Kallista Alam, for setting fires in Aceh province. At the very least, the central government could help identify offenders by more readily supplying concession maps for a regional monitoring system, and speeding up plans to consolidate conflicting land-use maps into a single, accepted version.

Companies could do more, too. Even if they adhere to strict standards themselves, they face no penalties for failing to scrutinise how their suppliers conduct business, or how the land they buy was cleared.

Most effective of all might be a strategy to target these companies’ funding. Banks, sovereign wealth funds and private-equity investors could urge better behaviour by restricting their loans and investments to companies that adhere to environmental, social and governance standards that can be independently audited. Singapore’s Monetary Authority could have an immediate impact by establishing stewardship codes to guide investment decisions by local banks and government-linked entities.

Customers also have a role to play. They can demand better labelling of products that use palm oil to highlight those using sustainable producers. More countries could follow the lead of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, which intend to import only sustainably-sourced palm oil.

At some point, this year’s haze will give way to blue skies. Only sustained pressure, from several angles, will keep it from returning. BLOOMBERG

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nisid Hajari, who is based in Singapore, writes editorials on Asia. He was previously managing editor and foreign editor of Newsweek magazine, as well as managing editor of Newsweek International.

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Jakarta declines Malaysia's aid offer to put out fires

New Straits Times 5 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesia has turned down Malaysia’s offer to help put out fires in Sumatera and Kalimantan which have been named the main cause of the current cross-border haze.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said his ministry, the Defence Ministry and relevant agencies were prepared to assist Indonesia, but the latter was not receptive to any form of assistance.

“We’re angry and frustrated about this (haze), but there’s nothing much that Malaysia can do as the problem is based (in Indonesia).

“The public must understand that the haze is not caused by us. If it’s an internal issue, we could have detained the offenders and brought them to justice.

“But, we can’t do so with Indonesian companies involved in slash-and-burn and open burning. Even Malaysian-owned companies in Indonesia are subject to their laws,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Wan Junaidi said a number of Malaysian-owned companies had declared that they did not practise slash-and-burn clearing of the jungle, but it was still up to Indonesia to investigate the matter and take action.

“We believe Indonesia is taking action against the people who caused this,” he said.

On Singapore’s move to take legal action against Singapore-owned companies in Indonesia, Wan Junaidi said it was feasible as it was in accordance with its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014.

He said Malaysia, however, did not have an act to sue the parties responsible for burning activities in Indonesia. However, he said, such an act was still in its proposal stage in the ministry.

Wan Junaidi said the ministry had been requesting for a one-day meeting with Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Minister, Siti Nurbaya Bakar to, resolve the transboundary haze issue, including discussing details of the Transboundary Haze Act similar to Singapore’s.

“I had requested for a one-day meeting, yet there has not been any reply from Indonesia so far. We can only resolve this if both parties sit together.”

Speaking on environmentalists’ calls for Malaysia’s top leaders to push the Indonesian government to take action against those conducting open burning, Wan Junaidi said: “We can’t make assumptions without knowing if they have or haven’t taken action.

“Indonesia has investigated about 200 companies to date. There is also open burning done by the locals. We’ve been informed that they are stepping up enforcement.

“It doesn’t matter whether its Indonesian, Malaysian or Singaporean companies, Indonesia must take a tough stance against anybody who does it.

“They must have a strong political will to enforce the law,” he said.


All countries involved should help solve haze issue: Dr Subra
PRIYA PUBALAN New Straits Times 5 Oct 15;

BUTTERWORTH: Malaysia needs to make use of its position as the Asean chairman and combat haze issue that hits the country annually the Health Ministry said today.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said that it is high time for all Asean countries to collaborate and curb the haze issue instead of blaming Indonesia solely but not giving solutions.

"Solutions to curb haze should be the main priority of Asean because not only Malaysia but Brunei, Singapore and other neighbouring countries are affected too.

"The issue had gone worse after schools were ordered for closure affecting the education system of the country," he said today after the state’s AGM 2015 meeting held at The Light Hotel today.

Dr Subramaniam said Indonesia must not be the only country solving the epidemic matter but all countries should involve and help solve the haze crisis.

Meanwhile, in another development, Dr Subramaniam who is also the MIC president, said the party is strongly against any quarters which speaks ill of the demolition of vernacular schools in Malaysia.

He said Tamil schools will never be demolished by the government and it is protected under the Malaysian Constitution.

"MIC will not tolerate with any party which speaks ill or spreading false news about the demolition of vernacular schools.

"MIC is strongly against quarters that spread news about the government's so called intention to abolish tamil schools.

"Please bear in mind that vernacular schools are protected under the Malaysian Constitution and no one, I repeat, no one has the rights to question it," he added today.


Penang MCA Wants Indonesia To Compensate Malaysia
Bernama 4 Oct 15;

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- Penang MCA has called on the government to ask the Indonesian government to compensate Malaysia for the losses incurred in tackling the haze issue.

Its chairman, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, said this was because Malaysia had been suffering the choking haze each year, which was caused by forest fires in Indonesia.

"It is ridiculous for them not to solve this problem. I think we should ask them to compensate...Children can't go to school and yet you don't have time for them to replace.

"At the same time, nobody will come to visit Malaysia. Our hawkers' businesses have also dropped by 30 per cent. I think medical expenses for most people have also gone up (due to haze)," she told reporters at the Mid-Autumn Gathering here tonight.

Chew, who is also Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister, also advised parents, as well as nursery and kindergarten operators, to limit children's outdoor activities.

-- BERNAMA

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Indonesia: Air quality in West Sumatra again hits ‘dangerous’ level

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post 5 Oct 15;

Air quality reached officially dangerous levels on Sunday in many parts of West Sumatra as a result of worsening haze as the province’s international cycling race Tour de Singkarak (TdS) reached its second day.

The “dangerous” level was hit in the central and eastern parts of the province, as the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) station in Bukit Kotoabang, Agem regency, recorded the particulate matter (PM10) at 488 per cubic meter (µg/m³) at 11 a.m., though the level decreased to “unhealthy” with a PM10 of 337 µg/m³ at 2 p.m.

According to the government’s existing guidelines, air quality is considered “healthy” if its PM10 level stands below 50 µg/m³, “moderate” when the level stands between 50 and 150 µg/m³, “unhealthy” between 150 and 350 µg/m³, “very unhealthy” between 350 and 420 µg/m³ and “dangerous” when it surpasses 420 µg/m³.

Last week, GAW station reported PM10 was measured at 436 micrograms µg/m³, the highest level recorded this year.

Station head Edison Kurniawan predicted that smoke from land and forest fires would continue to blankest West Sumatra for the next two days.

“[Haze] will continue since there are still hot spots in South Sumatra and Jambi and West Sumatra is still dry, so the air tends to be unhealthy,” Edison said on Sunday.

He had, he said, advised the TdS organizing committee that from the first stage of the race, beginning at Carocok Beach in Pesisir Selatan regency, until the fifth stage ending at Payakumbuh, the air quality would reach the “unhealthy” level, while from the sixth stage until the end of the ninth stage at Gandoriah Beach in Padang Pariaman regency, the level would be either “moderate” or “healthy”.

“We have made our analysis and, so far, it’s turned out to be correct. Of course, the committee has the right to decide whether the race continues,” Edison told The Jakarta Post.

In Padang, the capital of the province, the haze was lighter than the previous day, while in Solok city and Solok regency, where dozens of international cyclists reached the finish line of stage 2, the smog was very thick, with visibility below 500 meters and an acrid stench of burnt wood. The race stretches a total 163.2 kilometers.

Most people in the regency went about their business without wearing a protective mask, though some covered their noses with their shirts or scarves.

Efendy, a local resident who went to watch the cycling race at Sumani, near Lake Singkarak, said the thick smog had blanketed the regency for a month.

“The government still hasn’t distributed masks. Many school kids don’t have masks either, since if you want to buy one, you have to go to Solok city,” the 49-year-old said on Sunday.

Thick smog has similarly been blanketing Tabalong regency in South Kalimantan, especially in the western parts of the regency close to forest and plantation areas.

“Forest fires in protected forest in Gunung Batu Kumpai, Jaro district, have been burning for four days, destroying hundreds of hectares of the forests,” Tabalong Production Forest Management head Yandi Sa’ban was quoted as saying by Antara news agency on Sunday.

- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/10/05/air-quality-west-sumatra-again-hits-dangerous-level.html#sthash.YUL72eGA.dpuf

Jakarta intensifies haze battle as hot spots rise
Francis Chan and Shannon Teoh, Straits Times AsiaOne 5 Oct 15;

Indonesia has deployed 2,100 more troops to help fight fires in South Sumatra after a sudden surge in hot spots yesterday.

With these reinforcements, there are now about 3,700 soldiers and policemen in the province trying to control the blaze behind the thick haze, which has not only blanketed many parts of Indonesia, but also close neighbours Singapore and Malaysia in recent weeks.

The authorities in Malaysia have ordered nearly all schools to close for the next two days, while flights at three airports were temporarily affected - as air pollution hit hazardous levels in Peninsular Malaysia.

The impact of the transboundary haze prompted Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to raise concerns yesterday over Indonesian President Joko Widodo's three-year timeline to resolve a decades-old crisis. "While we are grateful that the Indonesian government is doing what they can to solve the issue, we think the plan takes too long for us to see the effectiveness," he said.

Mr Joko told the BBC last week that it would take three years to solve the haze problem caused by illegal forest fires as preventive measures would take time to kick in. Mr Zahid, however, said the steps being mooted by Indonesia must be implemented and not remain as proposals.

Malaysian Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid yesterday ordered all schools, except those in Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak, to suspend classes today and tomorrow. The closures, prompted by "very unhealthy" air, according to Malaysia's Air Pollutant Index (API), are the third in under a month, and affect the most number of states. Malaysia's API and the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) used by Singapore and Indonesia are closely related - readings over 100 are deemed unhealthy.

At least seven areas in Malaysia recorded "very unhealthy" readings, while the API in Shah Alam, just west of Kuala Lumpur, dipped into the "hazardous" range. Of the 52 areas that Malaysia monitors, more than 20 had unhealthy air.

Singapore enjoyed relatively clearer skies yesterday, with the PSI reading dropping from a range of 144 to 178 at 1am to between 78 and 92 in the moderate range as at 8pm. Today, the air quality is expected to be in the high end of the moderate range (51-100) and low end of the unhealthy range (101-200).

Indonesia, however, was not as fortunate. Satellites yesterday detected 1,840 hot spots over Sumatra island, with 1,340 concentrated in oil palm, rubber and pulpwood plantations in South Sumatra's Ogan Komering Ilir regency. Kalimantan, another island badly hit by forest fires and the haze, had 257 fires, with 108 in the central region.

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency said the lack of clouds above South Sumatra meant cloud-seeding operations would not have any impact, "but several water-bombing helicopters will be shifted to Ogan Komering Ilir and Musi Banyuasin".

Central Kalimantan is the worst hit among Indonesia's provinces. PSI levels in its capital Palangkaraya peaked at 1,949 yesterday morning.

Mr Joko said he is keeping a close eye on the firefighting efforts. "We will keep putting out fires by air and land... let's all do our part to help put out the fires, and resolve the haze."


Police question foreign firms over forest fires
The Jakarta Post 5 Oct 15;

The National Police are investigating two foreign companies for alleged involvement in causing land and forest fires in Central and West Kalimantan.

National Police spokesperson Agus Rianto identified the two companies as Chinese-owned PT ASP and Australian-owned PT KAL.

“Two foreign investors are currently under investigation, namely, PT ASP [in Central Kalimantan] and PT KAL [in West Kalimantan],” Agus said on Sunday as quoted by kompas.com.

The government has recorded a total of 42 million hectares of land on fire in Sumatra and Kalimantan while the police are currently working on 238 cases.

Agus added that of the 238 cases, 191 involved individual perpetrators while 47 involved corporations.

“Two hundred and five people have been named suspects in individual cases while 11 people have been named suspects in the corporate cases. Seventy-two people have been detained,” he said.

A prolonged dry season and arid peatland have resulted in forest fires, which has led to spreading haze in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Singapore as well as parts of Malaysia.


Govt to provide compensation for haze victims
Ayomi Amindoni, thejakartapost.com 6 Oct 15;

The government is planning to provide compensation for haze victims in six provinces across Sumatra, a minister has said.

Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa said on Monday that Indonesian people who were unable to work as a result of the haze currently blanketing areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan would receive cash assistance of Rp 900,000 (US$62.30) per person.

"They will receive a daily compensation payment of Rp 10,000 for 90 days. So, each person will get Rp 900,000. Now, we are still calculating the exact number of victims," said Khofifah as quoted by tempo.co on Monday.

The minister said the government considered that 25 percent, or around 1.2 million haze victims were on a low income because they were family welfare card (KKS) holders.

She further said the compensation budget would be taken from the State Treasurer’s budget department. “We are still discussing the matter with the National Development Planning Agency [Bappenas] and the Finance Ministry,” she added.

Khofifah also said that the government had continued to monitor the handling of the fires to ensure that logistical supports could reach everyone affected.

“We want to make sure that logistical support for people remains adequate for safety,” she said.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said that based on NASA satellite data, at least 1,820 hot spots were identified across 13 regions as of Sunday.

BNPB head of data information and public relations, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said the most severe fires were in ​​Sumatra, among its 1,563 hot spots. South Sumatra had the highest number of hot spots, with 1,340. Jambi recorded 131 hot spots, Lampung 57, Bangka Belitung 22, Riau nine and just one in Riau Islands.

Similarly, at least 257 hot spots in Kalimantan had not yet been extinguished as of Monday. Central Kalimantan recorded 108 hot spots, followed by South Kalimantan with 71, West Kalimantan with 51 and East Kalimantan with 27.

Limited visibility has disrupted flight schedules in several areas. The visibility in Jambi and Pekanbaru has reduced to only 500 meters while in Sintang, South Kalimantan, it is only 400 meters. In Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, haze has reduced visibility to only around 100 meters.

Sutopo said the BNPB had dispatched seven helicopters and water bombing aircraft, as well as one Casa aircraft, to extinguish fires. In addition, a joint police-military team comprising 1,594 personnel had been deployed to South Sumatra to reinforce the existing fire task force.

"Now there is a total 3,694 personnel deployed to extinguish the fires," he said. (ebf)

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Malaysia: Govt reviving idea of Bakun dam powering Peninsular Malaysia

AWAINA ARBEE New Straits Times 5 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Plans are afoot to revive a proposal first mooted 17 years ago which could see Sarawak’s massive Bakun hydroelectric dam distribute electrical power to Peninsular Malaysia.

The idea was initially proposed in 1996, but was later shelved due to the 1998 economic downturn.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit said the move would see sufficient energy supplied to the whole country.

“This plan was originally mooted in 1996 when I was one of the pioneers tasked with exploring the possibility of transferring power from the Bakun dam to the rest of Malaysia.

“The initial plan was to channel electricity to Sematan, Sarawak and to Tanjung Piai, Johor in the peninsular," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after opening the Asean Energy Business Forum 2015, here today.

James added that the 2400MW dam can generate enough power to distribute energy not only to Sarawak but also the rest of the country.

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Greenpeace takes aim at Thai tuna firm, urges end to alleged abuses

Reuters 4 Oct 15;

Environmental activist group Greenpeace on Monday urged the world's largest manufacturer of canned tuna, Thai Union Group Pcl, to free its supply chains of destructive fishing practices and alleged labor abuses.

It warned Thai Union, which makes the U.S. "Chicken of the Sea" brand and counts Wal-Mart and Costco Wholesale Corp among buyers, that the fishing methods it and its suppliers employ have serious environmental impacts and carry reputational risks.

The Greenpeace action comes as Thailand faces pressure from the European Union to clean up illegal fishing practices or face a trade ban.

It could also jeopardize Thai Union's plan to acquire U.S. rival Bumble Bee, which awaits approval from U.S. antitrust authorities.

Greenpeace said it would work to make "every single customer" aware of the alleged abuses, until Thai Union took responsibility and demonstrated real leadership.

"We can no longer allow Thai Union Group and its brands around the world, including Chicken of the Sea, to sacrifice the world's oceans and jeopardize workers at sea," Greenpeace official Graham Forbes said in a statement.

Greenpeace said two fishing methods primarily used by Thai Union result in by-catch, or fish that was not targeted but caught inadvertently, and are often associated with illegal fishing and rights violations.

Thai Union, formerly known as Thai Union Frozen Products Pcl, said in a statement it was committed to responsible sourcing and legal compliance to ensure all supply chains were treated with respect and human rights upheld.

"We call on Greenpeace to enter into an open and transparent dialogue with Thai Union so that together we can work towards achieving our shared objectives," it said.

Thailand, the world's third-largest seafood exporter, was given six months by the EU in April to address issues such as ensuring all fishing vessels were registered, had registered equipment and were fitted with a Vessel Monitoring System.

Labor abuses in the Thai fishing industry are well-documented. Since 2014, the United States has put Thailand on the bottom-ranked Tier 3 in its annual Trafficking in Persons report.

In its 2015 TIP report the U.S. State Department said some Thai and migrant workers were subjected to forced labor on Thai fishing boats with some remaining at sea for several years or paid very little or were threatened and beaten.

The commission will decide in December whether Thailand's seafood exports should be blacklisted.

Brussels also warned Taiwan last week that it was not doing enough to tackle illegal fishing.

(Reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Khettiya Jittapong; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

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Chile, U.S. pledge to fight illegal fishing, create marine parks

LESLEY WROUGHTON AND GRAM SLATTERY Reuters 5 Oct 15;

Chile said on Monday it will create one of the world's largest marine conservation parks, and Washington announced two new marine sanctuaries and an increased drive against illegal fishing to help protect the world's oceans.

Addressing the second annual "Our Ocean" conference in the coastal town of Vina del Mar, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said the protected area would include remote Easter Island, part of Chile's territory some 3,800 km (2,361 miles) west of the capital Santiago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

The inhabitants of the island, the Rapa Nui, say they have been petitioning the government for years for more protection of fishing stocks, to guard against the overfishing of species such as tuna and swordfish.

A separate park will protect other island chains, including the Pacific's Juan Fernandez archipelago, where disputes have arisen between commercial and artisanal fishermen.

"Its creation allows us to protect the biodiversity and richness of the sea surrounding the islands," said Felipe Paredes, the mayor of Juan Fernandez, famous for being the site where the sailor said to inspire Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe was marooned in the 18th century.

Together, the parks host one of the highest densities of indigenous marine species on the planet and will cover around 1 million square km (386,100 square miles) of ocean, Bachelet said.

"This is Chile's contribution to the ocean, so that our children and grandchildren may enjoy what we are doing here," Bachelet told attendees.

U.S. SANCTUARIES

Meanwhile, in the United States, two marine sanctuaries will be created in Maryland and in Lake Michigan off Wisconsin, U.S. President Barack Obama said in a video address to the conference.

The proposed U.S. sites - a 14-square-mile (36-square-km) section in the Mallows Bay-Potomac River waters of Maryland and an 875-square-mile (2,265-square-km) portion of Lake Michigan - will be the first new national marine sanctuaries declared by the U.S. government since 2000.

He said he was scouting out more sites.

"We also have plans in the works for yet another significant (park) in the Atlantic, and we're working with senators engaged in that particular area to make that happen," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told the conference.

Kerry also said negotiations were underway on a new marine-protected area arrangement between sites in Cuba and the United States in which the two former Cold War-era rivals will share scientific research data.

Growing illegal and unregulated fishing was a major issue the U.S. wanted to tackle, Kerry said. "There is literally too much money chasing too few fish," he said, adding: "We have to make illegal fishing harder to get away with."

He said the United States would launch Sea Scout, a new global initiative to prosecute illegal or unregulated fishing networks around the world.

The United States will also begin tracking seafood from harvest or production to market entry, starting with species considered to be most at risk of being caught illegally or mislabeled, Kerry said.

The United States will also launch pilot projects in the Philippines and Indonesia to turn ocean waste into energy, Kerry said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will provide data and technical assistance, including a space-based monitoring sensor.

And the European Union will seek to increase its marine-protected areas from 6 percent of EU territorial waters to 10 percent by 2020, said Karmenu Vella, European commissioner for the environment, maritime affairs and fisheries.

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton and Gram Slattery, Additional reporting by Peter Cooney in Washington; editing by Rosalba O'Brien, W Simon and Jonathan Oatis)

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Toughen climate action every five years, U.N. draft suggests

Alister Doyle PlanetArk 6 Oct 15;

All nations should agree to toughen curbs on greenhouse gas emissions every five years under a U.N. accord to combat global warming due in December, according to a first suggested text of a U.N. agreement on Monday.

The 20-page accord, slashing a previous text of more than 80, is a step towards a deal due at a summit in Paris from Nov. 30-Dec 11 by narrowing down core elements of an agreement. It leaves many details unclear, such as the role of carbon markets.

While the draft gives no details of how quickly curbs would have to be ratcheted up, regular reviews are vital because the United Nations says national plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions are not strong enough to keep temperatures below a U.N. ceiling of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times.

The text, drawn up by the two U.N. experts who oversee the talks among almost 200 nations, suggests all countries should publish plans for tougher action every five years under the Paris accord, which maps out actions beyond 2020.

Some nations want reviews only once every decade, or only for rich countries.

"Work towards a new universal climate change agreement was today strengthened through the issuance of the first comprehensive draft of the agreement," the U.N. Climate Secretariat said in a statement of the draft.

Almost 150 nations, including major emitters led by China and the United States, have submitted plans to the United Nations for curbing greenhouse gas emissions blamed by the U.N. for causing more floods, droughts and heatwaves.

The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), which fears rising sea levels, welcomed the new text as preserving key options such as rising funds to help developing nations.

"The contours of the package are coming together; most of the world has submitted a plan for action; and political momentum is as high as it's ever been," said Amjad Abdulla of the Maldives, chief negotiator of AOSIS.

"But the devil is in the details," he said. It is unclear how far nations will accept the draft as a basis for the Paris accord.

Jennifer Morgan, of the World Resources Institute think-tank, said the text was a "helpful launching pad for reaching common ground" for preparatory talks in Bonn, Germany, in two weeks' time.

The draft leaves many options open - such as a long-term goal that might mean phasing out fossil fuels.

Environmental group Greenpeace said the text lacked a clear push for renewable energies. "It's a reasonable length but the Paris agreement should not rely on false solutions, such as nuclear power," said Martin Kaiser of Greenpeace.

(Editing by Alison Williams)

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India leads Asia's dash for coal as emissions blow east

Krishna N. Das and Tommy Wilkes Reuters 6 Oct 15;

Deep in the thickly forested hills in its east, India last month started production at what it hopes will in five years be Asia's biggest coal mine.

At the open-cast mine, which involves the clearing of more than 18,000 hectares (44,500 acres) of land, noisy excavators are busy digging for coal that will feed a huge power plant being built nearby to fuel India's energy-hungry economy.

India is opening a mine a month as it races to double coal output by 2020, putting the world's third-largest polluter at the forefront of a pan-Asian dash to burn more of the dirty fossil fuel that environmentalists fear will upend international efforts to contain global warming.

Close to 200 nations are set to meet at a United Nations summit from Nov. 30-Dec. 11 to hammer out a deal to slow man-made climate change by weaning countries off fossil fuels.

China has promised to restrict public funding for coal and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trumpeting investment in renewable energy, but in Asia's biggest economies the reality is that coal is still regarded as the easiest source of energy.

"Environment is non-negotiable but we can't live without coal. You can't wish away coal," said Anil Swarup, the top official in India's coal ministry, who is leading the push to open new mines like Magadh, in poor but resource-rich Jharkhand state.

"There is a temporary drop in demand, but no question of reducing coal output. We are well short of coal required in the country."

ASIA KEEPS DIGGING

China, India and Indonesia now burn 71 percent of the world's newly mined coal according to the World Coal Association, with new European and North American consumption negligible as their countries turn to cleaner energy.

Other Asian nations are increasingly looking to coal to power their economies too, with Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam opening new plants, pushing the Asia/Pacific region to 80 percent of new coal plants.

"Coal is still the most cost competitive power generation fuel, and in the end that's what matters most for emerging markets," said Frederic Neumann, Co-Head Of Asian Economic Research at HSBC in Hong Kong.

Asia's developed nations, too, are finding it hard to kick the coal habit.

Japan's use has reached a record after shrinking its nuclear industry and it plans to build another 41 new coal-fired units over the next decade.

Australia's exports of thermal coal rose 5 percent to 205 million tonnes in the last financial year and are to increase by a further 1 million tonnes this year, driven by increased demand from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

The rush to burn more coal comes as the world's major economies, including leading emitters China and the United States, have agreed to start cutting greenhouse gases over the next 15 years ahead of the U.N. climate change summit in Paris.

India has rejected any absolute cuts, arguing that its per capita emissions are far below the world average and that it needs to emit more as it grows to beat poverty.

In a climate-change policy statement released last week, New Delhi promised to slow the rate at which its greenhouse gas emissions rise by a third by 2030.

Coal will remain the dominant source of its energy for decades, India said, but it pledged to invest in cleaner coal technology, modernize old power stations and plant trees to absorb up to three tonnes of carbon dioxide.

THE NEW CHINA?

Magadh mine is the biggest of the many New Delhi will open to hit an annual coal target of 1.5 billion tonnes by 2020, raising its production above the United States but less than half the amount China currently burns.

Some 20 km from Magadh, along a bumpy track through mud-hut villages, lies a second vast coal pit launched last year. By 2018 another two mines will open nearby - combined, the mines in this one district alone will at peak generate as much coal as Poland, the world's ninth largest producer, delivered last year.

The United Nations has agreed a goal of keeping warming below a ceiling of 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to avoid the worst impact of climate change including more droughts, extinctions, floods and rising seas.

Sticking to that goal would require world emissions to start falling now and India's to peak within a few years, said Glen Peters at the Oslo-based Center for International Climate and Environmental Research, but India's coal drive makes that near-impossible as its extra emissions outweigh any savings from more solar and wind power.

Because of its low-quality, twice as much Indian coal is needed to produce the same amount of energy as the best Australian coal.

If India burns as much coal by 2020 as planned, its emissions could as much as double to 5.2 billion tonnes per annum - about a sixth of all the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere last year - Peters said.

That would see India follow a similar path to China whose emissions, after growing slowly at the turn of the century, jumped when dozens of new coal power plants came on line.

"If these coal targets are met, there could be a turn (in India's emissions), with a steep increase. China is starting to stumble; India could replace that," said Peters.

He said India could replace the United States as the world's second largest emitter by 2025. "This is something no one would have expected."

(Additional reporting by Aaron Sheldrick in TOKYO, Henning Gloystein in SINGAPORE and James Regan in SYDNEY; Editing by Alex Richardson)

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