Four Zika clusters closed; no new cases in Singapore for third day running

Channel NewsAsia 4 Oct 16;

SINGAPORE: Four Zika clusters were closed on Tuesday (Oct 4), according to data on the National Environment Agency's (NEA) website.

The clusters at Joo Seng Road, Ubi Ave 1, Balam Road and Hougang Avenue 7 have all been declared closed after no new cases were reported there in the last two weeks.

Three clusters remain open - the main one at Aljunied/Sims Drive, as well as the Elite Terrace and Sengkang Central clusters. The Aljunied/Sims Drive cluster saw three new cases in the last fortnight, and the other two clusters had none.

NEA data also showed that no new Zika infections were reported in Singapore for the third consecutive day. The last confirmed case was reported on Oct 1.

As of Tuesday, a total of 399 locally transmitted Zika cases have been confirmed in Singapore.

- CNA/dt

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Malaysia: Contamination forces Semenyih plant to be closed again

JOASH EE DE SILVA and CLARISSA CHUNG The Star 5 Oct 16;

PETALING JAYA: The Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant has been forced to shut down again due to contamination, leading to water disruption in Selangor for the second time in a fortnight.

The plant, which was brought to a halt two weeks ago causing water cut to over 330,000 premises, was forced to cease operation at 10am yesterday.

Several areas in Petaling, Sepang, Hulu Langat and Kuala Langat districts faced water disruption from 11pm on Monday.

Green Technology and Environment Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said the odour was noticed on Monday night which forced the shutdown.

“The treatment plant will resume operation when there is no more odour pollution in the Semenyih river,” she said in a statement yesterday.

Wong said the culprit responsible for the source of pollution had been traced to a factory located next to a building material company at 22 1/4 Mile, Jalan Sungai Lalang, Semenyih.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and officers from the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) and state Economic Planning Committee went to the factory yesterday to inspect its operations.

“MPKj closed the premises while waiting for the Department of Environment (DOE) to collect evidence of the contamination,” Wong added.

Wong said the case had been referred to the DOE for further action and investigation under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and if convicted, the culprits could face a maximum fine of RM100,000 and/or five years in jail.

In addition, local authorities could revoke their licences and stop all business operations.

“No appeals will be heard as their irresponsible action affected over 1.8 million residences in the state,” she said.

Azmin said the factory had been found to be operating without a licence.

He added that MPKj had seized all equipment on the premises and the Hulu Langat District and Land Office would seize the land.

“In the long run, the state government will station teams at a few locations to monitor the river and ensure its cleanliness,” Azmin said in a statement yesterday.

“We urge the DOE to take responsibility to ensure all industries around the river basin abide by the law.”


Factory source of recent Sungei Semenyih contamination
The Star 4 Oct 16;

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor state government has identified the culprit responsible for the source of pollution that resulted in the shutting down of the Sungei Semenyih Water Treatment Plant.

Green Technology and Environment Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong, in a statement on Tuesday, identified the firm as being located near Taman Sri Haneco in Semenyih.

Wong said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali with officers from the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) and State Economic Planning Committee (Upen) went to the factory to look at its operations on Tuesday.

"MPKj has closed the premises while waiting for the Department of Environment to collect evidence of the contamination," Wong said in statement.

She said there was no activity at the factory since it was confirmed that it was the source of the contamination at Sungei Semenyih.

The closing of the treatment plant two weeks ago caused water cuts to over 300,000 households.


Company ordered shut for releasing foul emission into Sungai Semenyih
DAWN CHAN New Straits Times 4 Oct 16;

SHAH ALAM: A company operating near Sungai Semenyih, identified as the culprit behind major odour pollution here, has been closed and sealed and had its land confiscated.

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, through his Twitter account @azminali, said the action was taken against an illegal company following the detection of a foul odour by a river surveillance team at 11pm and 11.40pm yesterday at Kampung Rinching Hilir.

He added that he had instructed Air Selangor, Luas and the Department of Environment to take swift action.

Luas, Kajang Municipal Council and Air Selangor have been at the site have been at the site at Batu 22¼, Semenyih, since last night, when the surveillance team detected the foul odour.

Azmin, who also visited the site this morning, said Luas lodged a police report at 2.45am today on the matter.

“The company conducted its activity without a licence.

MPKj (Kajang Municipal Council) has sealed the premises and seized all of its equipment.

The land office (Hulu Langat land and district office) has been directed to seize the land.

“The land office and MPKj have been directed to act against the owner of the land and the industrial activity there within seven days.

The state government will not compromise with any party, individual or company which sabotages or pollutes the river.

“As a long-term measure, the state government will appoint a river surveillance team and enforcement to be placed along several locations.

“Air Selangor has been directed to deploy all assets to minimise the impact of a water disruption and take steps to lessen the shutdown duration,” he said.


Selangor to shut illegal waterway businesses
The Star 6 Oct 16;

SHAH ALAM: Selangor has directed local authorities in the state to immediately shut down all illegal plants and businesses located along main rivers and tributaries.

State Environment Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said the Department of Environment (DOE) had also been directed to show no mercy to those responsible in pollu­ting Sungai Semenyih over the past few weeks.

She said local authorities, DOE and Selangor Water Management Board (LUAS) had been ordered to work closely to beef up enforcement along the rivers, especially those used for water supply.

“We have to carry out 24-hour vigilance so that the culprits would not dare repeat this irresponsible act,” Wong said

She added that the recent contamination of Sungai Semenyih was clearly a case of how those responsible took the law for granted.

She said the number of enforcement personnel would be increased at the various agencies to provide more bite.

“All the agencies will have to do their own monitoring and ensure that those who have been issued with licences to operate a business do not flout environmental regulations,’’ she said.

Wong said that stern action would be taken against those responsible for the contamination at Sungai Semen­yih which caused water disruptions to more than 330,000 households in the Klang Valley.

The state exco member said the state government viewed the case very seriously and pledged tough action against the culprits.

“Investigation papers have been opened and the probe is ongoing,” said Wong, adding that the DOE and other agencies had obtained samples and other evidence from the site.

She said the contamination of Sungai Semenyih should not have occurred in the first place, adding that preventive measures must be taken by the relevant parties to prevent a recurrence.


Agencies checking on 120 factories operating along Sungai Semenyih
JADE CHAN The Star 7 Oct 16;

SEMENYIH: Enforcement officers from three agencies have started a joint operation to check on some 120 factories operating along Sungai Semenyih.

This follows the closure of an illegal factory that was said to be the cause of the water contamination in the Klang Valley.

It was jointly conducted by the Kajang Municipal Council, Hulu Langat Land Office and Department of Environment (DOE).

“During the operation, we confiscated goods and sealed off the premises of another factory found to be operating illegally.

“The team inspected eight premises, four of which had their licences revoked for flouting trade licensing, waste disposal and town planning bylaws,” said council’s public relations head Kamarul Izlan Sulaiman.

The factory site was located on agriculture land, so non-related activities were considered illegal.

“We issued a notice for the operator to stop all activities and to submit a report on their effluent disposal method within three days,” said Kamarul.

A visit by The Star saw workers from Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd cleaning up the site while officers from Selangor Water Management Authority assisted in coordinating and enforcement works.

“We started cleaning and disposal work on Tuesday. Because of the large amount of waste, we will need about a week,” said Kualiti Alam Scheduled Waste Action Team consultant Datuk A. Mariasoosay.

Items found at the site included used engine oil, containers of sodium sulphate and a few types of chemicals.

“We have also taken samples of the soil and water. These samples will be tested and the results given to the DOE which will then decide what needs to be done,” he said.

Air Selangor Group said that the scheduled recovery plan of water supply to consumers was progressing well following the closure of the water treatment plant due to pollution.

“The plan is an effective measure to ensure that consumers do not experience water supply interruption for extended period,” said the group’s corporate communications head Amin Lin Abdullah.

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Malaysia: Villagers get to witness jumbo relocation

CHAN LI LEEN The Star 5 Oct 16;

SUNGAI SIPUT: Kampung Ulu Chemor villagers got first class tickets to watch the relocation process of elephants in their own backyard.

Several children even skipped school yesterday to catch National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC) officers and state Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) rangers in action, assisted by two trained female elephants.

The five-hour operation involved an adult female and two male calves which were relocated to the Royal Belum State Park.

Villagers watched intently as the trained elephants, Abut and Rambai, were deployed to calm the two calves so that NECC and Perhilitan personnel could get near enough to sedate them.

Abut and Rambai then moved closer to the wild female elephant, which had earlier been tranquillised with darts, and stayed by her side while officers secured her legs with chains.

The wild female elephant, which has been named Mek Chemor, was later led by Abut and Rambai to a waiting heavy truck.

Then, it was the turn of the two youngsters, now named Mat Kinta and Mat Manjoi, to be loaded onto the truck with Mek Chemor.

NECC elephant unit head Nasharuddin Othman said the wild elephants were part of a bigger herd believed to have lost its way while moving between the Korbu Forest Reserve, Chemor and Tanjung Rambutan.

“We think there could be five more of them out there,” he said, adding that Mek Chemor was believed to be the mother of one of the calves.

According to Nasharuddin, Mek Chemor was more than 30 years old and weighed over three tonnes.

“The calves are perhaps around three years old and have not been completely weaned,” he said at the end of the five-hour exercise, adding that Perhilitan officers would continue to monitor the whereabouts of the other wild elephants.

Village chief Panizan Abdul Hamid, 58, said villagers have had their crops and fruit trees either eaten or destroyed by wild elephants since February.

“One villager suffered significant losses when all his fish died after the elephants took a dip in his fish pond. Occasionally, we find elephant droppings here and there,” he added.

Among those spotted in the crowd was 13-year-old Mohd Dinish Haikal Samsudin who, when asked if he had skipped school, declared: “It’s an elephant-watching holiday for me today.

“I’ve never seen them in real life. I even managed to touch the ones that are tamed,” added Mohd Dinish Haikal excitedly.


Three wild elephants relocated to Royal Belum Forest Reserve
NABILAH HAMUDIN New Straits Times 4 Oct 16;

IPOH: The three wild elephants caught in Ulu Kuang last Wednesday (Sept 28) have been successfully relocated to the Royal Belum Forest Reserve in Gerik, today.

The elephants were caught by the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) after they had destroyed plantations in Ulu Kuang, Chemor.

The trans-relocation operation was also assisted by the National Elephants Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah, Pahang, involving 18 staff.

The centre’s Elephant Unit head Nasharuddin Othman said the elephants were detected on Sept 30, a day after the operation to track them was launched.

“It took us five days to complete the process because we also needed help from two female guide elephants, named Abot and Rambai, from our centre," he said.

Nasharuddin said the three elephants were believed to have strayed from their habitat in the Korbu Forest Reserve.

He said the elephants involved were a three-tonne female and its two calves, aged between two and three-years-old.

“We will continue monitoring the situation and will catch the remaining four to five elephants to prevent them from destroying the plantations.

“The elephants can go as far as Tanjung Rambutan,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hulu Kinta assemblyman Datuk Aminuddin Md Hanafiah said he had received complaints from villagers on the elephants that had encroached into their plantations.

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Indonesia: Fate of mangroves lies in shrimp aquaculture

Muhammad Ilman, Senior advisor of Wetlands International Indonesia in Bogor
Jakarta Post 4 Oct 16;

Mangroves are extremely important for mitigating global climate change and protecting communities from storm surges, coastal erosion and tsunami. They also provide food, building materials and medicine.

Indonesia has the largest areas of mangroves in the world. Unfortunately, the country’s shrimp industry is causing massive mangrove deforestation.

In a study for which I am one of the researchers, we contend that mangrove conservationists in Indonesia should work together with shrimp producers to save mangroves. Here is why.

For Indonesian, mangroves are crucial for the local economy. They directly support shrimp industries that earn about US$1.5 billion annually from exports alone, supporting the livelihoods of more than 1 million Indonesian people.

The facts showed that shrimp is the most important species in the country’s fishery sector.

Unfortunately, the benefits of shrimp come with costs, particularly to the mangrove ecosystem. Our study suggested that Indonesia’s mangrove area shrank from about 41,000 square kilometers in 1800 to 31,000 sq km today, mostly because of shrimp aquaculture.

There were many events that led to the disappearance of mangroves in the past, but the real tragedy occurred in 1998 when the Asian financial crisis devalued the Indonesian rupiah and consequently increased the value of exported shrimp in local currency.

At the same time, there was a world shortage of shrimp caused by a virus in shrimp farms elsewhere.

As a result, communities rushed to convert mangroves into shrimp ponds on an unprecedented scale to meet the demand for shrimp. In less than five years, the new shrimp farms had converted more than 4,000 sq km of mangroves, a scale that took decades in the previous shrimp farm expansion era.

The loss and degradation of mangroves had a dramatic impact on both the environment and the economy. Globally, an extra 0.19 Pg of carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere annually from the disturbed ecosystem, equivalent to the emissions from the Australian electricity, gas and water supply sector.

Locally, degraded mangroves exposed settlements and community assets to coastal erosion, wave inundation, storms and decreased fisheries productivity.

Shrimp aquaculture is not only Indonesia’s most important fishery sector, but it is also the most dangerous threat to the country’s mangroves.

Demand for shrimp is always high and is set to double by 2030, amounting to 600,000 tons a year for Indonesia. Statistically, this may not be a problem as Indonesia currently has about 8,000 sq km of shrimp ponds to fulfill this projected demand.

But the problem is shrimp pond productivity.

Despite the current government’s efforts to improve this situation, in the last five years Indonesia produced average of 400,000 tons per year and managed to export about 160,000 tons a year.

Large ponds are not in production because of technical and financial problems.

Only 6,000 sq km are active and most of them are traditional farms on the east coast of Kalimantan. The farms are unusually producing less than 100 kg per ha per year because the farmers lack the technical capacity to deal with the unique environmental conditions.

The best managed and resourced ponds at the same region could produce up to six times this much.

If the government continues with its current business-as-usual approach to shrimp farm production, high shrimp demand will continue enticing farmers to convert more and more mangroves into shrimp ponds, the easiest and least expensive way to increase production.

Our analysis showed that another 6,000 sq km of mangroves are in danger of conversion in the next two decades to balance the shrimp demand and production.

There is another danger present: oil palm plantations. Overlayed maps of oil palm plantation concession areas and mangroves areas in Indonesia revealed that the government has allocated more than 1,100 sq km of mangroves for plantations.

With this allocation, future concession holders could convert mangroves into oil palms with few legal constraints.

The Indonesian government actually has always showed favoritism to conserve mangroves. This can be seen in the creation of a (potentially) powerful institution to manage mangroves effectively, a multi-stakeholder group named the National Coordination Team for Mangrove Management (KKMN).

The KKMN’s task is to oversee implementation of Presidential Regulation No. 73/2012, the National Strategy for Mangroves Management (SNPEM), which operates under a no-net-loss principle to halt the loss of mangroves.

Unfortunately, the SNPEM approach is a business-as-usual strategy and fails to identify the seriousness of the shrimp farm threat. In fact, both shrimp farm expansion and oil palm plantation issues are nearly absent from the document.

Without straightforward policy intervention over the issues, the SNPEM could fail to prevent a repeat of the past tragedy.

The world shrimp demand would most likely continue increasing over the next two decades. To deal with the situation, Indonesia’s mangrove conservationists should make peace with their adversaries, the shrimp producers.

By helping them put the current shrimp production system back on track, shrimp producers would not only satisfy demand but also restore vast abandoned farms back into being mangroves.

We estimate that government investment to improve shrimp production alone could avoid the disappearance of 6,000 sq km mangroves in two decades.

If the effort is combined with revoking oil palm concessions on mangrove areas and maintain other threats (urban development, timber exploitation and mining) at a moderate level, the potential loss of mangroves may be reduced to only 230 sq km in the next two decades.

The writer is a doctoral researcher at the University of Queensland, Australia, and senior advisor at Wetlands International Indonesia.

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Indonesia: Confiscated Napoleon fish to be released into natural habitat

N.Adri N.Adri The Jakarta Post 4 Oct 16;

Dozens of Humphead wrasse, also known as Napoleon fish, confiscated during an operation in Balikpapan waters last week will be returned to their natural habitat, a conservation officer has said.

The head of the Balikpapan work unit at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry’s (KKP) Pontianak marine and coastal resources management agency (BPSPL), Ricky, said the Napoleon fish were seized from the machine vessel KM Nagama Biru 01 when it passed through Balikpapan waters in the middle of last week.

“We are looking for the right location to release the Napoleon fish,” he said on Monday.

Ricky said the Bontang waters, around 350 kilometers north of Balikpapan, could be a suitable release site for the Napoleon fish because the area had healthy coral reefs. It was also likely that the protected fish species would be returned back to their original habitat in Derawan Islands, Berau, East Kalimantan, he went on.

The confiscated fish are currently quarantined in a facility rented by the KKP at Pelabuhan Rakyat in Kampung Baru, Balikpapan. Conservation officers feed the fish and replace the sea water in their ponds at least once a day.

The KM Nagama Biru 01’s captain earlier claimed the 180 Napoleon fish were bought from fishermen in Derawan Islands. The vessel was intercepted by a sea security patrol on its way to Bali.

BPSPL Pontianak surveys reveal Napoleon fish in Derawan Islands, which comprise Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban and Maratua islands, are on the brink of extinction. “There has been an excessive exploitation of Napoleon fish in the area,” said Ricky. (ebf)

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Indonesia: One step back in effort to curb plastic waste

Stefani Ribka The Jakarta Post 4 Oct 16;

No charge: A minimarket attendant provides a plastic bag for a customer on Jl. Palmerah Selatan in Jakarta on Monday. Plastic bags are now free of charge.(JP/Donny Fernando)

In less than a year, the country has taken a step back in plastic waste management, as retailers have stopped charging for plastic shopping bags.

Kezia Grace Nauli, an 18-year-old university student, was puzzled when finding out that a plastic bag at the supermarket or other retail stores would no longer cost her.

“Rp 200 [15 US cents] per bag might seem like nothing, but I do think it has an impact on reducing plastic waste,” she said on Monday.

The decision to scrap the plastic bag charge was made by the Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo), effective since last Saturday.

Its move goes against the government’s call to reduce plastic waste, as the latter previously urged retailers to charge customers for plastic bags.

The idea to charge for plastic bags was put forward in the wake of the government’s goal to cut 1.9 million tons of waste from the 68 million tons of waste projected in 2019.

In 2015 alone, the country produced 64 million tons of waste, with plastic shopping bags accounting for 14 percent of the trash, according to data from the Environment and Forestry Ministry.

The government’s call to reduce waste was followed up by a ministry circular requiring retailers to charge Rp 200 per plastic bag, during a trial period from Feb. 21 until May.

The circular’s policy was enforced in 23 cities. In June, the ministry announced the trial would continue until it issued a regulation in July and expanded the coverage to 514 cities and regencies.

However, no regulation has been issued and Aprindo claims the absence of one has given various parties, especially in the regions, the chance to intervene and complain to retailers over the fee.

“Regional administrations, civil societies and police officials have investigated some of our members, trying to determine the legal basis of the plastic bag charge and urging us to free the public from paying. The biggest public objection has been voiced in Palembang [South Sumatra province],” Aprindo chairman Roy N. Mandey told a press conference on Monday.

Aprindo also attributes the public’s objection to uneven implementation of the policy, with regional administrations in 10 cities setting the fee at Rp 1,500 to Rp 10,000 per bag.

The objection contradicts data from the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) and the ministry itself that shows public acceptance of the policy.

In March, a YLKI survey revealed 26.8 percent of customers accepted the policy and understood why they were being charged, while the ministry’s survey — from February to May — said 87.1 percent of customers brought their own bags when shopping.

Retailers say they will continue giving plastic bags for free until the ministry issues a regulation. “We support the government’s pay-for-plastic policy, but we just need a clear regulation. We don’t seek profit from it because we use the money to buy plastic again,” Roy said.

The ministry says it plans to issue a regulation in November.

Tuti H. Mintarsih, the ministry’s director general for dangerous toxic material and waste management, said her side had prepared a draft and shared its content with regional administrations.

Separately, the Olefin, Aromatic and Plastics Industry Association (Inaplas) has challenged the ministry’s waste data. Inaplas says total plastic bag production per year only reaches 1 million, instead of 9 million that makes up for 14 percent of total waste.

Inaplas business development chairman Budi Sadiman estimated that plastic bag production dropped 25 to 35 percent in the first half owing to the pay-for-plastic policy, among other factors.

“We agree with this pay-for-plastic program, but it would be better if the government reduced waste by fixing its waste management system first and foremost,” he said.


Pay for plastic bag campaign hits snag
The Jakarta Post 6 Oct 16;

The government’s environmental protection program has hit a serious setback after the country’s major retailers decided to stop charging for plastic bags on the grounds that they did not have any legal basis for continuing the so-called pay for plastic bag program.

The retailers’ decision to stop supporting the pay for plastic bag campaign has once again indicated the lack of commitment on the part of the government in reducing the surging use of plastics in Indonesia, now the world’s second-largest plastic waste producer after China.

We deeply regret the termination of the program because it occurred when people had begun to accept the initiative. Shoppers’ positive responses could be seen at many major retailers, especially in Jakarta. Many people had voluntarily begun to carry their own bags although the charge for plastic bags was relatively insignificant. The people’s response was quite encouraging as it indicated they were willing to do their part to help reduce plastic waste.

The Environment and Forestry Ministry, in cooperation with the Association of Indonesian Retailers (Aprindo), launched a trial program for the pay for plastic bag campaign in February. Under the five-month program, which formally ended in June, shoppers were required to pay Rp 200 (1.5 US cents) per bag. Almost all modern retailers in the country’s major cities took part in the program, although some of them, mostly outside Java, stopped the program due to people’s objections.

In its explanation, Aprindo said it decided to halt the program last week because the existing regulation issued by the Environment and Forestry Ministry was valid only until June, the end of the trial program. The association is waiting for a new ruling from the ministry to resume charging for plastic bags.

The ministry has not given any statement in relation to the termination of the plastic bag charge but it previously said it would issue a new regulation with some improvements if the program saw positive results.

We strongly recommend the ministry continue the program and issue a new regulation for its implementation with some modifications, especially related to the charge imposed. Rp 200 is certainly too low, but charging shoppers more than Rp 2,000 per bag, for example, could create controversy.

Besides setting a realistic charge, the new regulation should also clearly stipulate the types of retailers that have to participate in the program. It is important to explain to the public that the proceeds from plastic bag sales will be used for environmental protection efforts and will not go to the retailers’ coffers. This could prevent retailers being accused of taking advantage of the program.

According to a study published by the journal Science, Indonesia produced 3.2 million tons of plastic waste in 2010, second most after China. About 1.29 million tons of that ended up in the ocean, while some floated along the country’s polluted rivers.

In addition to the plastic bag charge, more programs are needed to curb the mounting plastic waste, such as promoting recycling. If realized, the government’s plan to impose excise duty on plastic packaging would be also helpful to curb the surge in plastic usage.

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Indonesia: 550,000 ha of forestland in W. Nusa Tenggara in critical condition

Panca Nugraha The Jakarta Post 5 Oct 16;

About 550,000 hectares of forestland or half all the forests in West Nusa Tenggara are in critical condition because of illegal logging, a top official said Tuesday.

“We recorded 555,427 hectares of forestland in the province in critical condition. This is 52 percent of our total forests. The causes are illegal logging, illegal trade and encroachment,” West Nusa Tenggara Forestry Agency head Husnanindiaty Nurdin said.

The province has recorded a total of 1.07 million hectares of forestland, comprising protected forests (449,141 ha or 41.91 percent), production forests (448,946 ha or 41.89 percent) and conservation forests (173,636 ha or 16.2 percent). Of the 555,427 ha, 157,358 ha are in severely critical condition.

Husnanindiaty said the office had uncovered at least 146 cases of illegal logging from 2011 to 2015. “In 2016 until September, we found 27 cases,” she said.

From the 27 cases, 33 trucks carrying logs, 313 cubic meters of processed wood and more than 3,700 logs were confiscated.

She said her office lacked human resources to monitor forests. “One forest ranger monitors 13,000 ha of forestland,” she went on. (evi)

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Indonesia: World Bank, Denmark Chip In for Indonesia's Forest Management

Ratri M. Siniwi Jakarta Globe 4 Oct 16;

Jakarta. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has launched a new project to improve forest management and help out communities living near forest areas in Indonesia.

The initiative, officially called "Promoting Sustainable Community-Based Natural Resource Management and Institutional Development Project," is backed by a $17.5 million grant from the World Bank's Forest Investment Program and 40 million Danish kroner ($60 million) from the Danish International Development Agency.

"This initiative puts into action the concept of sustainable forest management and helps reduce emission from deforestation and forest degradation," Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya said in a statement on Monday (03/10).

The five-year project is expected to help the Indonesian government integrate policies and legislations concerning forest management, form new partnerships and increase the skills of local administrators.

"Communities living near forest areas are often dependent on produce from the forests to earn their income, but increasing threat to forest lands is making these communities more vulnerable to poverty," Rodrigo Chaves, World Bank country director for Indonesia, said.

Danish Ambassador Casper Klynge said Denmark's contribution is meant to help the Indonesian government reduce threats to forests, including widespread fires.

"This grant complements our earlier support for the Ecosystem Restoration Concessions model, where forest-based livelihoods and management of forests with the involvement of local communities are also essential," Casper said.

The new project will be implemented in 10 locations in Indonesia.

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Indonesia: New Hope for Indonesia's Pangolins and Helmeted Hornbills on World Animal Day

Ratri M. Siniwi Jakarta Globe 4 Oct 16;

Jakarta. While the world celebrated World Animal Day on Tuesday (04/10), 2,500 delegates from around the globe continued the fight for wildlife conservation at the 17th Conference of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

CITES has been the largest conference on trade controls for 500 endangered species of flora and fauna around the world.

So far, the conference saw several items of good news, such as a global ban on the world's most traded mammal, pangolins.

This creates a gleam of hope for Indonesia's critically endangered Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica), as populations have declined by 80 percent in just more than two decades due to illegal trade.

The ban was unanimously agreed on by 182 nations, but ironically, according to the Guardian news outlet, Indonesia opposed the move to protect the species.

Last Sunday, the conference also agreed to adopt stronger regulations on conservation of the critically endangered helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil), which is highly vulnerable to trade for its rare red "casques," or ivory.

"This is a great victory for the helmeted hornbill that has been ruthlessly hunted for its red ivory as the elephant has been killed off for its ivory," said Noviar Andayani, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Indonesia program. "Many have heard about the elephant ivory crisis and now it is time to hear more about the helmeted hornbill ivory crisis and take swift action to save it."

The tropical forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Myanmar are home to the majestic species, which is known for its distinguishable laugh-like calls. Then birds are mainly hunted for their tail feathers for use in traditional attire.

According to the Wildlife Conservation Society, helmeted hornbills are also critically endangered due to habitat degradation.

Those pushing for the conservation of elephants and rhinoceroses can celebrate also, after CITES deciding on going against Swaziland's proposal to continue trade of southern white rhino horn, and a proposal by Namibia and Zimbabwe to be allowed to sell ivory to raise funds for conservation.

The three countries believe the money generated from the rhino horn and ivory trade could help their efforts to conserve the African elephant (Loxodonta) and white rhino (Ceratotherium simum).

The CITES conference began on Sept. 24 and will end on Wednesday.

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Synthetic rhino horn ready 'in two years'

Matt McGrath BBC 5 Oct 16;

The man behind attempts to develop synthetic rhino horn has told the BBC that he hopes to have a "bio-identical" product ready to market in two years.

Matthew Markus, CEO of Pembient, believes that introducing a highly similar but manufactured horn could help stem the rhino-poaching crisis.

Here at the Cites meeting the plans have been condemned by conservationists as "too risky".

Campaigners want the species body to ban synthetics from endangered animals.

Rhino start-up

Over the years, the development of human-made alternatives to some natural species has seen some success.

Orchids produced in the laboratory have served as an alternative for collectors while a synthesised version of the chemical that's found in bear bile has been accepted in traditional Chinese medicine.

Now, a number of start-ups are seeking to develop alternatives for rhino horn and elephant ivory.

The most advanced is said to be a company called Pembient who believe they are very close to producing solid, horn-like material.

"Earlier this year, we produced low fidelity prototypes, they are solids but they don't have all the properties of rhino horn and we are working now to produce these high quality bio-identical solids," CEO Matthew Markus told BBC News at the Cites meeting.

"The higher fidelity prototypes may take two years and that's unless all this flak scares investors off."

The "flak" that Mr Markus is talking about is the opposition from conservationists and wildlife campaigners to his ideas.
They are concerned about anything that could make the current rhino poaching surge worse.

The number of rhinos killed for their horns has risen dramatically over the past nine years. In 2007, just 13 rhinos were killed in South Africa. Last year, that number was 1,175.

At a side event here in Johannesburg, campaigners vociferously denounced the synthetic rhino idea.

"We are very concerned that these synthetic products would provide a cover for illegal trade," said Lee Henry from WWF.
"How are enforcement officers on the ground supposed to distinguish between the two?"

Illicit market

But for Mr Markus, that inability to readily differentiate between his product and the real thing is exactly what he's hoping to achieve.

"This is an illicit market, these people are not supported by states, so here counterfeits especially if they are exactly the same should have a very disruptive effect.

"The only thing that guarantees that you are getting the product you think you are getting is the product itself, if you can destroy the uniqueness of that product through bio-fabrication, I think that's a win."

Mr Markus acknowledges that his approach is not without risk - but he maintains that the synthetic model has been well scrutinised and is less of a threat than his opponents maintain.

But campaigners are not convinced. They are concerned that the synthetic materials could inspire new markets and make the situation for the rhino even worse.

"In traditional medicines, people prefer wild products, that's seen as more valuable - they don't want products from farms or synthetic markets," said Lee Henry.

"For a species like rhino that are being decimated by poaching for their products, do we want to test this now? I think its too big a risk to take, history has shown that when you create alternative products it doesn't reduce demand for the genuine article."

Here at Cites some countries have argued that synthetic products derived from endangered species should come under the regulations of the Convention.

So if something is made from the DNA of a rhino that is on Appendix I, then all trade in those synthetic products should be banned as well.

The Cites secretariat will assess the position but it will be next year before there is any clarity on whether they have the power to regulate or not.

Matthew Markus says he will accept any outcome based on science and impartial regulation. But banning his products, if they ever reach the market, would be a mistake he says, if people are serious about stopping rhino poaching.

"The fastest way to shut a market down is to support counterfeiters and not prosecute them."

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Planet at its hottest in 115,000 years thanks to climate change, experts say

Global warming is said to be bringing temperatures last seen during an interglacial era, when sea level was 6-9 meters (20-30ft) higher than today
Oliver Milman The Guardian 4 Oct 16;

The global temperature has increased to a level not seen for 115,000 years, requiring daunting technological advances that will cost the coming generations hundreds of trillions of dollars, according to the scientist widely credited with bringing climate change to the public’s attention.

A new paper submitted by James Hansen, a former senior Nasa climate scientist, and 11 other experts states that the 2016 temperature is likely to be 1.25C above pre-industrial times, following a warming trend where the world has heated up at a rate of 0.18C per decade over the past 45 years.

This rate of warming is bringing Earth in line with temperatures last seen in the Eemian period, an interglacial era ending 115,000 years ago when there was much less ice and the sea level was 6-9 meters (20-30ft) higher than today.

In order to meet targets set at last year’s Paris climate accord to avoid runaway climate change, “massive CO2 extraction” costing an eye-watering $104tn to $570tn will be required over the coming century with “large risks and uncertain feasibility” as to its success, the paper states.

“There’s a misconception that we’ve begun to address the climate problem,” said Hansen, who brought climate change into the public arena through his testimony to the US congress in the 1980s. “This misapprehension is based on the Paris climate deal where governments clapped themselves on the back but when you look at the science it doesn’t compute, it’s not true.

“Even with optimistic assumptions (future emissions reduction) will cost hundreds of trillions of dollars. It’s potentially putting young people in charge of a situation that is beyond their control. It’s not clear they will be able to take such actions.”

The paper, submitted as a discussion paper to the Earth System Dynamics journal, is a departure from the usual scientific process as it has yet to be peer reviewed and has been launched to support a legal case waged by a group of young people against the US government.

Last year, 21 youths aged between 8 and 19 years old filed a constitutional lawsuit against the Obama administration for failing to do enough to slow climate change. Hansen and his granddaughter are parties to legal challenge, which was filed in Oregon and asserts that the government has violated young people’s rights to life, liberty and property.

Recent studies have cast doubt over whether the world will stay with an aspirational temperature target set in Paris
Hansen, who has become increasingly outspoken on climate change since retiring from Nasa in 2013, said he recognized some scientists might object to publicizing the paper so soon but that “we are running out of time on this climate issue.”

The courts need to step in to force governments to act on climate change because they are largely free of the corrupting influence of special interests, Hansen said. He repeated his call for a global tax to be placed upon carbon emissions and said that fossil fuel companies should be forced to pay for emissions extraction in the same way the tobacco industry has been sued over the health impact of cigarettes.

“The science is crystal clear, we have to phase out emissions over the next few decades,” Hansen said. “That won’t happen without substantial actions by Congress and the executive branch and that’s not happening so we need the courts to apply pressure, as they did with civil rights.”

Several recent studies have cast doubt over whether the world will stay with an aspirational target set in Paris of a 1.5C limit on the average global temperature rise. This guardrail, and even the 2C limit agreed by 195 nations, appears dependent on as-yet undeveloped technology that would remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Under this scenario, huge emissions cuts would be supplemented by a widespread conversion to biofuels that would be burned for energy. The emissions from this energy would then be buried underground. Some sort of futuristic technology that sucks CO2 directly from the atmosphere may also be required.

Hansen said this is a “dubious” proposition because it requires a vast change in land use at a time where a growing global population will require more food. There are also major doubts whether technology to capture CO2 and lock it underground, often touted as a panacea by the fossil fuel industry, will be developed in time to help avoid the dangerous sea level rise, drought, heatwaves and disease spurred by warming temperatures.

Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that carbon dioxide levels will not drop below the symbolic 400 parts per million (ppm) mark in our lifetimes – the highest concentration of CO2 since the Pliocene era 3m years ago.

The environment of this time, where sea levels were around 65ft higher than today and trees were able to grow near the north pole due to a lack of ice, is a “bellwether for what future climate might be like,” according to Bruce Bauer, a scientist with NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information.

Michael Mann, a prominent climatologist at Penn State University, agreed that CO2 removal will be required if the world was to avoid 1.5C warming although the 2C limit “could likely be achieved without negative emissions, but it would require urgent action, as I have argued myself is necessary.”.

Mann added that Hansen’s paper is “interesting” but tackles a huge range of topics and is unconventional in its use as a tool to support a legal case.

“Along with the paper being publicized prior to peer review, this will certainly raise eyebrows about whether or not this breaches the firewall many feel should exist wherein policy agenda should not influence the way that science is done,” Mann told the Guardian via email.

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Best of our wild blogs: 4 Oct 16

Mangrove flora surveys with R.U.M. volunteers
Restore Ubin Mangroves Initiative

Juvenile White-Bellied Sea Eagle Fishing @ SBWR Eagle Point - 2Oct2016
sgbeachbum

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