NEA calls for second tender to assess former landfill as location for multi-storey recycling facility

Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 4 Aug 17;

SINGAPORE: Every few minutes, a truck turns into the gravelly path off Lim Chu Kang Road, raking dust off the ground as it lumbers past. Depending on what it is carrying - whether plant waste or construction materials - the truck will deposit its contents at one of more than 10 recycling companies that lease plots of land within Sarimbun Recycling Park.

Some plants will turn horticultural waste into compost, while many recover sand and metals from construction waste. It is a busy, but somewhat chaotic facility. That could change in the near future.

More than three years after plans for a multi-storey recycling facility at the park were mooted, the National Environment Agency (NEA) called for a tender in May to study the ground conditions there.

“The National Environment Agency (NEA) routinely reviews the use of space by the waste management industry to see how our land resources can be maximized,” it said in a statement to Channel NewsAsia.

NEA’s tender, published on the government’s e-procurement portal, GeBIZ, called for a geo-environmental and geo-technical study for the Recycling Park, attracting seven bids.

They range from between S$370,000 and S$3.6 million. While the contract is pending, NEA said the study is expected to start in the “third quarter (of) 2017” and will take about a year to complete.

“The study will provide technical data, such as the strength and stability of the ground, and soil and ground water conditions, to help NEA in its planning on the use of the site.”

IMPORTANT TO STUDY SOIL STRENGTH, OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: EXPERTS

According to NEA’s website, Sarimbun Recycling Park used to be part of a landfill site known as the Lim Chu Kang Dumping Ground. Operations at the original facility began in 1976, and closed in September 1992.

The website said the land will require 30 to 40 years to stabilise, before it can be used for “more permanent developments”. Experts Channel NewsAsia spoke with said the geo-technical and geo-environmental studies called for by NEA are especially critical to investigate soil conditions at former landfills.

A geo-technical study typically assesses the stability and strength of the soil before construction begins, said Professor Chu Jian, Director of Nanyang Technological University’s Centre for Usable Space. “Solid waste is completely different from soil. You have to investigate the geo-technical properties of the solid waste as well. For example, solid waste contains lots of organic matter and organic matter will decompose with time.”

In other words, Prof Chua said, the decomposition of organic matter could cause the ground to sink.

Unlike reclaimed land where “clean sand” is deposited and will not have a negative environmental impact, the soil at a landfill can also be contaminated with heavy metals and other toxic materials, said Prof Chu.

“When you build a structure, you have to dig foundations and so you disturb the ground and this construction process might cause some disturbance and may cause contaminates to be leeched out,” he said.

A geo-environmental study is important to investigate all these issues, Prof Chu said.

NEA CONDUCTED ANOTHER FEASIBILITY STUDY IN 2014

The studies come three years after plans to build a Multi-Storey Recycling Facility (MSRF) were first discussed with tenants at the site In a notice sent in October 2014 and seen by Channel NewsAsia, NEA told tenants that they had appointed a consultant to carry out a feasibility study on the viability of such a multi-storey facility for the waste management industry.

"Faced with growing land scarcity and a need for a sustainable recycling eco-system to handle the increasing amount of waste and recyclables generated locally, the government has commissioned this feasibility study to look into creating a viable solution to optimise land use and create more space to support the growth of the waste management industry," the notice read.

In 2016, Singapore's overall recycling rate remained at 61 per cent, some way off from the government's target of 70 per cent by 2030.

The notice said the facility would house different tenants and recycling operations under one roof. It said the study would also explore the possibility of incorporating common facilities such as weighbridges, meeting rooms and a vehicle parking depot.

According to the notice, the study would include a topographical survey, soil investigation that would entail drilling boreholes to obtain soil samples for testing, as well as a "broad environmental impact assessment".

The project was said to be an “inter-agency” task force comprising NEA, the Urban Redevelopment Authority and JTC Corporation. Media reports said the URA had identified two possible sites, one within Sarimbun Recycling Park, and another site in Lim Chu Kang.

When asked about how the the latest study differs from the feasibility study conducted in 2014, JTC and NEA said they have been working together to explore the feasibility of a “multi-storey, multi-tenanted facility for recycling companies”.

“An update on the project will be provided next year, following consultations with various stakeholders.”

Channel NewsAsia understands more concrete plans were shared with some tenants towards the end of last year, including a detailed impression of the facility.

Some tenants Channel NewsAsia spoke with said they had shared with the authorities that a multi-storey recycling facility would not suit their line of work, if for example, high heat was involved in decomposing recycled wood.
Source: CNA/mo

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Malaysia: Mega projects off Johor hit fishermen livelihood

EILEEN NG Today Online 4 Aug 17;

JOHOR BARU — Mr Firdaus Abdul Rahim drove his boat slowly back to Jetty Pak Ngah in Kampung Pendas, Johor, heaving a sigh of relief that his catch for the day was good.

He has been out at sea since 4am and managed to net some 4kg worth of fishes and crabs — a good haul considering that his catch has been affected for the past few years by the numerous real estate projects surrounding the village along Sungai Pendas.

“I am lucky today. Five years ago, the average catch for the day is around 10kg. Now, we are lucky to be able to get 5kg,” the tanned rotund 35-year-old said when TODAY visited the idyllic village, located about 30km from Johor Baru.

“As a result, our income has dropped from an average of RM3,000 (S$951) a month to RM1,500.”

Fishermen like Mr Firdaus used to fish solely on Sungai Pendas, which spills out into the Johor Strait.
The river is a lifeline to the local community, that includes some 250 licensed fishermen in the Tanjung Kupang sub district in Gelang Patah.

Kampung Pendas is among the nine villages in Tanjung Kupang where most of the inhabitants make a living catching catfish, snapper, groupers, flower crabs, flat head lobsters and barracudas, but their way of life is increasingly threatened by dwindling fishery stocks as a result of a slew of development around the area.

Besides the mega US$100 million (S$135 million) Forest City housing development, there are also other ongoing projects, including the expansion of the Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Tuas Port.

Adding to the locals’ concern is the ongoing construction at the mixed township of Sunway Iskandar at Iskandar Malaysia, currently taking place further inland but is expected to expand outwards towards Sungai Pendas in the near future.

Many have been quick to blame Forest City’s developer Country Garden Pacific View as the culprit following land reclamation work for the development that will sit on four man-made islands off Johor.

As a result of the ongoing projects, there have been reports of habitat damage as well as increased sedimentation in the waters, leading to extraordinary blooms of green algae that smothered the already-stressed seagrass areas — feeding grounds for various marine life.

This has resulted in less fishery stocks, forcing many fishermen to go further out to sea — including to Johor Strait and the Strait of Malacca — to try their luck.

Middleman Shalan Jum’at, who grew up in Kampung Pendas, buys the catch from fishermen like Mr Firdaus to sell it to customers who come to his wooden dwelling perched right next to Jetty Pak Ngah.

He is a familiar face in the village, as his family has been there for three generations. Mr Shalan pays fishermen RM4 to RM8 per kg more than other middlemen in the area for their catch — in cash — making him one of the more popular middlemen.

“Previously, I can get up to 60kg worth of catch a day from the fishermen, but now it is only about 10kg. Some fishermen even come back with hardly anything,” he said as he deals with demands from clients who come to him to buy fresh fish and other marine animals for their restaurant businesses and own consumption.

About 100m away from Mr Shalan’s shack sat a group of men in a shaded area, catching up with one another while smoking their cigarettes.

Mr Ridhwan Yazid who was resting with his friends after an early morning start at sea said he has to take an hour’s journey to the Strait of Malacca nowadays because of dwindling supplies, as a result of development in the area.

“Life is harder now,” he said as he sipped his teh tarik. “I have taken a second job fixing boats to make ends meet.”

The job is not permanent and, as a result, the income is not fixed.

Still, the 23-year-old is luckier than his peers. His wife is a teacher and they can still depend on her salary to cover their cost of living.

Further inland, a boat chugging into Sungai Pendas carries Mr Mohd Sharil Shafiee and two of his friends with their catch of the day — fish and crabs — still clinging onto their net.

They have just returned from the Strait of Malacca, where they have strung up a 2km-long net the night before. Mr Mohd Sharil refused to reveal how much they managed to get that day, simply saying the catch was “modest”.

He also took a part-time job to repair motorcycles as he can no longer depend solely on his income as a fisherman to support his family of three, which includes his wife and 18-month-old daughter.

“What else can I do but work doubly hard nowadays for my family,” he said with a shrug.

Travelling farther out to sea has its dangers, too.

Sometimes the fishermen inadvertently venture into Singapore waters or where the Tuas Mega Port is being built, which would result in the Republic’s coast guard chasing them away.

There is also the danger of encountering smuggling boats in the middle of the night, said the fishermen. What these boats do if they are being chased by marine police is that they will ram the fishing boat so that the marine police will go to help them — then the smugglers will get away.

Besides affecting the livelihood of the fishermen, the developments have also affected their living environment. Heavy vehicles passed by the two-lane road leading to the Kampung Pendas, while modest single-storey, semi-concrete and wooden houses along the route have to put up with noise and dust pollution.

Many residents have complained that their houses are full of dust even with the windows and doors shut. They could not hang their freshly laundered clothes outside to dry, as doing so would mean ending up with clothes covered in a layer of dust.

Administrative officer Muhamad Sofi Juhari, whose mother runs a nasi lemak stall in front of their house, said: “There was is a thick layer of dust on the tables every day, which my mum needs to wipe a few times a day."

“The food has to be constantly covered to ensure that it is dust free,” he said, although he conceded that it is less dusty now as the lorries do not ply the road as much as before.

He said villagers on motorbikes and bicycles have complained about sore throats and irritated eyes due to dust inhalation and particles in their eyes as they traverse the road.

In response to the local community's concerns, Country Garden’s international communications director Wong Chia Peck told TODAY that the company has been taking proactive measures to minimise the impact of the Forest City project on the environment and surrounding waters.

This includes appointing one of Malaysia’s top sea grass research teams from University Putra Malaysia (UPM) to replant the seagrass affected by its reclamation work and monitoring the health of flora and fauna in the surrounding areas.
It has also appointed a local environment consultant to perform a quarterly shoreline monitoring to assess any occurrence of sedimentation and erosion.
“We’ve engaged consultants to set up an Environmental Management Unit, comprising environmental professionals, that is on-site throughout the duration of the project. It is responsible for the daily, weekly and monthly environmental monitoring, in coordination with independent environmental laboratories to ensure that water quality is not compromised during reclamation,” she said.

“Full-spectrum analysis of water quality is carried out on a monthly basis within a laboratory environment. It is complemented by daily real-time and continuous monitoring through the Online Monitoring Systems (OMS), where devices are placed at strategic locations to capture water quality and the results are transmitted real-time, via the Internet, to the Department of Environment and other key stakeholders.”

She said the company has heard the locals’ feedback regarding noise and dust, and pointed out that traffic caused by lorries its contractors operate has reduced by almost 90 per cent.

This is because a 5.8km highway connecting the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) Highway directly to Forest City has been operational in stages since last October, reducing the need to drive through the village.
“As part of our ongoing CSR (corporate social responsibility) efforts, we have also spent RM2.7 million on village road maintenance and repairs, even though we are not the only company with lorries using these roads,” she added.

Meanwhile, Sunway Iskandar management said, while it has not started any development at the Pendas waterfront, it has, however, taken several measures such as conducting detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) to ensure the impact of its project is minimised.

“To the best of our knowledge, we have taken every step to ensure minimal disruption to the environment especially the waters, within set guidelines,” the management said in a statement to TODAY.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, a spokesperson from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it is “unlikely that the developments in Tuas have affected the livelihoods of fishermen in Johor”.
“In developing our new port in Tuas, we have undertaken Environmental Impact Assessments to ensure minimal impact on the environment. In addition, the Tuas Port development works are carried out under the close monitoring of a stringent Environmental Monitoring and Management Programme, which includes setting spill limits for dredging and reclamation filling works and water-quality monitoring,” said the spokesperson.

“MPA has worked in partnership with marine experts and public volunteers to conserve and relocate local coral colonies around the Sultan Shoal Lighthouse during the development of the new Tuas Port. MPA will continue to ensure that Tuas Port has minimal impact on the environment.”

On how Singapore responds to Johor fishermen who stray into the area, the spokesperson noted that the developments are located within the Singapore port limits.

“The waters around the project area are well-defined and marked as a working area. Port marine notices are regularly issued to inform the shipping, harbour and pleasure craft communities to keep clear of the area for their safety. Entry of other vessels other than the approved working craft is strictly prohibited within these project areas,” the MPA spokesperson added.

As of press time, there was no response from Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport. The Port of Tanjung Pelepas comes under its jurisdiction.

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Malaysia, Tanjung Kupang: Nature's treasure trove

Chuah Bee Kim New Straits Times 4 Aug 17;

Like many other fishermen in villages that dot the seaside subdistrict of Tanjung Kupang, Shalan Jum'at has seen an increasing influx of Malaysians and foreigners wanting to hire guides like him to discover the natural beauty in this corner of southwest Johor.

The 30-year-old's life now is a far cry from the time his neighbourhood in Kampung Pendas here was regarded as a sleepy hollow that was too far off the grid for many urbanites.

The advent of development such as nearby Forest City, and a boom in eco-tourism have opened Shalan's eyes to the potential of the natural wonders in the sea and rivers that lie just at his doorstep.

"Rapid development has changed the face of Tanjung Kupang for the better.

”It prompted me to grab the opportunities by diversifying my skills.

"Though I cherish the good old days, when my family solely relied on the sea for our livelihood, I know I must face the changes around me head-on.

"I still go about my work as a fisherman, but I also train youths in the village to become eco-warriors.

“I teach them to seize opportunities around them by imparting entrepreneurial skills," said Shalan.

The subdistrict of Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah, has a population of 11,000; 245 of them are registered fishermen.

Nine years ago, Shalan co-founded Kelab Alami, an outfit that enables villagers and school pupils to learn more about the rich marine eco-system and environment there.

The area is known for its rich sea grass nearby Pulau Merambung and the Sungai Pulai estuary, which are teeming with marine life such as sea horse, starfish and a myriad of other species.

When reclamation work for Forest City began two years ago, the project's master developer, Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd, began lending its support to Kelab Alami's grassroots initiative.

The master developer also adopted five schools in the subdistrict and provided free tuition for hundreds of pupils as part of its corporate social responsibility.

This has worked well for Shalan, who earns the respect of the local youth who are part of Kelab Alami.

Some of these youngsters returned to the club and now work as marine researchers and facilitators. Others have become entrepreneurs at Forest City and its surrounding traditional villages.

Shalan also met his wife, Dr Serina Rahman, through his work in Kelab Alami.

The couple have been training youths to become marine researchers and trainers for school pupils in the programmes conducted by the club.

Serina, 31, who is a conservation scientist and environmental anthropologist, relocated from Kuala Lumpur to Kampung Pendas in 2008 for a research project.

When she married Shalan four years later, the couple continued to bring pupils from nearby schools to conduct site research and expeditions to evoke awareness about the area's natural treasures.

"The children were as young as 10 when I first met them. We trained them to become citizen researchers and eco-tourist guides.

"Those that I met when I first came here are now grown up. They can present slides and give talks on environmental issues in the village.

"The tourists love it when the local youths share with them about things in their own village," said Serina, who is a down-to-earth person, despite her academic credentials.

She holds a doctorate in Applied Sciences from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and a bachelor's degree from Cardiff University of Wales, United Kingdom.

When talking about depleting marine life in some parts of the country, Serina said it was an issue affecting the entire world.

"It is a global phenomenon where marine food stocks face a threat of being wiped out by 2050.

"The best we can do is rebuild and resort to species re-stocking.

"The master developer of Forest City is funding Kelab Alami," she said.

Serina said the club became a platform to mentor pupils from the nine villages in Tanjung Kupang.

Kelab Alami members inform each other about work and interning opportunities available in the development of the mega project.

"This club benefits the local children in various ways. As Internet connection is not good in some parts of Kampung Pendas, and most of the older fishermen and their families aren't Internet-savvy, our members will knock on their doors whenever there is news of job opportunities in Forest City," she said.

Nur Afiqah So'ot, 19, is among the many youngsters who joined Kelab Alami as a child and developed an interest in nature and conservation.

"As a child, I used to love playing marbles and all sports that boys like to play. But the club enabled me to learn about farming and the rich marine life that we have.

"I hope to become a scientist one day. I am hoping to pursue a degree in biodiversity and conservation," said Nur Afiqah.

Mohammad Irfan Yazid, also 19, initially dreamed of becoming an architect. But now, he has set his sights on becoming a scientist, specialising in the study of mangrove forests, which is in abundance in his village. For now, Irfan is helping out at a motorcycle workshop located in Forest City.

"I also dabble in making and selling burgers. I’m running an 'ikan bakar' (grilled fish) stall in the village. I am learning all these entrepreneurship skills from Shalan," Irfan said.

FREE TUITION

"The tuition sessions come with complete meals for pupils and these have benefited them as they make preparations for their Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) this year," Zulkiflee said.

He said SK Tanjung Adang was among the five schools adopted by Country Garden Pacificview.

The other four schools were SK Tiram Duku, SK Tanjung Kupang, SK Murni Pok and SK Pendas Laut.

"No other developer has done this and we appreciate the developer's effort under its corporate social responsibility programme," he said.

Country Garden Pacificview corporate communications head, Aeron Munajat, said the developer supported Kelab Alami because its activities helped youths develop their confidence and self-esteem as well as their social and interpersonal skills.

"As a responsible member of the community, Country Garden Pacificview helps to increase awareness about the environment in this area as the community is surrounded by natural treasures some are not aware of.

"We are looking at a collaboration to set up a Nature Centre, which will boost eco-tourism in the area in the future. Eco-tourists also love the young ambassadors of Kelab Alami," she said.

Aeron said events such as ‘buka puasa’ (breaking of fast) during Ramadan and gatherings, as well as donations of cattle and other items during big celebrations such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha, have strengthened ties between the community at Forest City and folk in the surrounding villages.

She also paid tribute to the teachers of the five adoptive schools for their willingness to stay back after school hours to provide tuition in four subjects for the pupils who were taking their UPSR this year.

"We are also launching a free Mandarin tuition class for the villagers this month. We hope that all our effort will give the local community a sense of inclusiveness."

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Ant man

They're not all pests, says expert who found three species here that were not seen for 40 years
Jose Hong Straits Times 4 Aug 17;

While others cannot wait to get rid of ants, Mr Gordon Yong collects them - at least 30,000 to be precise, with around 3,000 pinned down and mounted on cards that carry a description of the species with their names.

Not names like Princess Bala or Barbatus (characters from the movie Antz) but Myopopone castanea, or vampire ants. Yes, they do suck blood (see other report).

He may be only 25 but Mr Yong is already an expert and has rediscovered three species in Singapore that were not seen for 40 years. And the science teacher is on a mission to update the Republic's ant records, something last done almost 100 years ago.

The mounted ants are now mostly stored at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, while the rest are at Hong Kong University, where he did a one-month internship studying ants.

On his fascination with the tiny insects, he said that ants have carved their own world around us with farmers and warriors, and those vampires.

"You can't really see the difference with your eyes, but once it's under the microscope, it's really a whole new world. I really like how they're so different."

And he can rattle off a list of interesting ant facts. For instance, some have no eyes and only the queen and male ants have wings.

He said the leaf-cutter ants in Brazil, which live in huge colonies of millions of individuals, can change the entire forest around them by cutting down huge amounts of greenery. The ants then use this greenery to cultivate underground gardens of fungi for food.

Singapore has giant ants - each about the size of a one-dollar coin - that are a common sight in the rainforest, though they can be seen only at night.

Mr Yong's interest is only about two years old, sparked by a field trip to Sri Lanka in the third year of his bachelor's degree course in life sciences at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Although the trip was to study ecology in general, after much field work, he realised how special ants were.

"Ants are kind of like mini-human civilisations. As a civilisation they act in certain ways - for example finding food, how they hunt and how they communicate with each other," he said.

An ant, he continued, would have to think about how it should let the nest know that it has found food, or call for help to transport the food, even dismembering it if it is a large insect or a carcass.

He already has three published academic papers to his name, with three more in the works.

His love for the six-legged creature becomes more pronounced when challenging people who view all ants as pests. Fewer than 10 species of ants can be considered pests in Singapore, he said. And at last count, Singapore had 235 species of ants.

But Mr Yong believes there may be many more species here.

He referenced his latest paper, published last month, which showed that in 9.5 man-hours, around 53 ant species were collected on Pulau Ubin.

Besides showing the diversity of ants on an island about 1.6 per cent the size of the mainland, it demonstrated that there are many more yet-to-be-identified species in Singapore.

"Because we found so many ant species in so few man-hours on a small island like Pulau Ubin, we can only imagine that a larger area in Singapore would yield many more ant species," he said.

Mr Yong conservatively estimates the number may be between 300 and 350.

"A lot of people think that there are just red ants, black ants, big ants, small ants. That is the biggest misconception.

"The diversity of ants is really great, even in a small country like Singapore."

Mr Yong said that all the different ants play specific roles in the ecosystem, and that removing any one of them in a place with so little forest such as Singapore might have unknown and unintended consequences.

He said only five people in the past five years have researched the ants of Singapore. And he may be leaving the colony soon.

After graduating from NUS last month, the Ministry of Education scholar went straight into his new job as a science and mathematics teacher at Tanjong Katong Secondary School.

For now, he said he will continue as an independent researcher whenever he gets the free time. He may even integrate his passion for ants with his science lessons in the future, though he is not sure what form this would take.

Dr Wendy Wang, the entomological curator at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, praised Mr Yong's research.

"It's impressive that despite his youth and relative inexperience, he has put in extraordinary effort in unravelling a lesser-known component of insect fauna in Singapore, and sharing his discoveries with a wider audience.

"His work, in collaboration with other young ant enthusiasts, provides valuable insights into the ants, an otherwise nondescript group of insects commonly misunderstood to exist only as pests."


T. REX ANTS

Scientific name: Tyrannomyrmex rex

Where to find them: In forest environments

Special characteristics:

• Their mandibles - insect jaws - are tiny, similar to the stubby arms of the Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaurs they are named after.

• They are, unlike the fearsome dinosaurs, timid

creatures that freeze up and roll into a ball when approached by others, moving away only once they leave.

• It is unknown what they eat.

VAMPIRE ANT

Scientific name: Myopopone castanea

Where to find them: In forest environments

Special characteristics:

• The ants feed on the blood, or the "hemolymph", of their own larvae.

• They will bite tiny wounds into the abdomen of the larvae with their mandibles, causing scarring, and then suck the blood out from the holes.

'EYELESS' ANT

Scientific name: Liomyrmex gestroi

Where to find them: In forest environments

Special characteristics:

• This species lacks a common name, and the worker ants are blind, though the queen ants are not.

• In the Philippines, these eyeless ants have been found living in entire termite colonies, though it is not known whether they rely on the termites for food or whether the relationship between the two insects is less predatory.

TRAP JAW ANT

Scientific name: Odontomachus simillimus

Where to find them: In urban environments

Special characteristics:

• The mandibles of these carnivorous ants extend straight from their head.

• The mandibles will snap shut on prey that come close, with enough force to crush or even kill them. One can even hear them snapping when there is nothing between them.

• That is how the ants earned their "trap jaw" reputation.

BIG-HEADED ANT

Scientific name: Pheidole megacephala

Where to find them: In urban environments

Special characteristics:

• The soldier ants of this species have disproportionately big heads, hence the name of the species.

• These ants are also extremely invasive, and have spread across much of the world, displacing native ant populations.

• They may not be native to Singapore, and the academic literature points to either an African or Asian origin.

Read more!

97 smuggled Indian star tortoises to fly back from Singapore to India

Preparations to create suitable environment for them back in India have already started. Their health will be constantly monitored in Wildlife SOS Field Station in Koppal. They will be released back in natural habitat in North Karnataka after a period of six months of observation.
India Express 3 Aug 17;

At least 97 endangered Indian Star Tortoises, which were smuggled into Singapore, will soon be brought back to India where they will be released back into their natural habitat. Karnataka Forest Department and Wildlife SOS have taken the responsibility of repatriating the Indian Star Tortoises from Singapore. The Chief Wildlife Warden of Karnataka Sri Anur Reddy travelled to Singapore along with Wildlife SOS co-founder Kartick Satyanarayan to carry out discussions regarding the repatriation.

Both of them reached ACRES wildlife rescue centre in Singapore to carry out the spot inspection of the tortoises who are currently under observation and quarantine. After this, request letters were sent to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna), Customs and DGFT to issue necessary permissions to get back the tortoises.

“Inspection of tortoises revealed that 85 tortoises were in good health & fit for immediate repatriation. Remaining 12 are under treatment & will be repatriated once they recover,” said Sri Anur Reddy. Geeta Seshamani co-founder Wildlife SOS said, “Indian Star Tortoise is a rare and endangered species of land tortoise that is often poached from the wild and sold internationally for pet trade or for use as ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.” They are protected under under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and listed under Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna), which regulates international trade of wildlife.

The tortoises will be accompanied by a team of Veterinarians from Wildlife SOS India and ACRES Singapore. Preparations to create suitable environment for them back in India have already started. Their health will be constantly monitored in Wildlife SOS Field Station in Koppal. They will be released back in their natural habitat in North Karnataka after a period of six months of observation.

Read more!

Asia needs to close natural catastrophe protection gap: MAS' Ravi Menon

Insurance protection against natural catastrophes has not kept pace with economic development in the region, says the MAS managing director.
Channel NewsAsia 3 Aug 17;

SINGAPORE: Mechanisms must be put in place to insure that Asian prosperity is not set back by the economic and social disruptions that natural disasters bring, said Mr Ravi Menon, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), on Thursday (Aug 3).

"We must put in place mechanisms for the effective assessment, management, and transfer of disaster risks. Advances in technology, innovation, research, and market integration put us in a strong position to address these challenges," Mr Menon said in a speech at the Institute of Catastrophe Risk Management (ICRM) Symposium.

In order to do so, he outlined four key enablers: Technology and data, production innovation, research and development and an interested ASEAN market.

Under tech and data, the MAS official cited the use of big data analytics, which is "at the core" of Singapore’s Natural Catastrophe Data Analytics Exchange. The system aggregates a variety of data sources, including economic loss and exposure data, as well as drone and satellite data, to create a comprehensive database of Asia Pacific natural catastrophe risk, he explained.

NEW INSURANCE PRODUCTS NEEDED

He also noted that insurance protection against natural catastrophes had not kept pace with economic development in the region.

While Asia has accounted for almost half the world's economic losses from natural disasters over the last 20 years amounting to more than US$900 billion, less than 5 per cent of those losses in developing Asia were insured, he said. By comparison, the figure is at 40 per cent in developed countries.

"Insurance can and should play a bigger role to reduce the financial impact of natural disasters and improve disaster resilience," he said.

Towards this end, he called for product innovation as seen in new forms of insurance products and solutions, such as index-based and parametric insurance. "These make pay outs based on catastrophe events hitting pre-defined parameters such as hurricane wind speed or earthquake magnitude", thus removing the need for loss adjusters to survey the extent of losses, he said.

A local start-up co-founded by NTU graduate Alex Chen and Professor Haresh Shah called Asia Risk Transfer Solutions has developed such a risk analytics platform, he noted.

He also called for the use of research and development to close the natural catastrophe protection gap, saying Singapore has made good progress in fostering a natural catastrophe research ecosystem.

"Since its launch in 2010, ICRM has emerged as Asia’s leading research institute in catastrophe risk," he said. Besides leading the Natural Catastrophe Data Analytics Exchange, it has also been involved in 16 core research projects, such as conducting seismic analysis for Sumatra and flood risk assessment for Jakarta.

Lastly, he called for improved access by insurers to an integrated ASEAN market to "enable greater risk diversification beyond national boundaries".

"Last year, ASEAN member states made a commitment to liberalise by 2025 the cross-border supply of international Maritime, Aviation and Goods-in-Transit (MAT) insurance, catastrophe reinsurance and remaining classes of reinsurance."

The majority of member states have already committed to liberalise MAT insurance and are aiming to substantially liberalise catastrophe reinsurance by 2019, Mr Menon said.
Source: CNA/jp

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Malaysia: Lure of the much prized sea cucumber

MOHD FARHAAN SHAH The Star 4 Aug 17;

KOTA TINGGI: A huge mothership sits in international waters while dozens of smaller boats crewed by Vietnamese fishermen, some armed with guns, encroach on Malaysian territory in search of a prize catch – sea cucumbers, which are abundant in the waters off eastern Johor.

Roaming nearly 1,400km from home and at sea for up to two months, including the time spent fishing off Sedili here, the fishermen are guided by state-of-the-art navigation systems.

When their holds are full, they return to the waiting mothership to fill its freezers and cold rooms with sea cucumbers and fish.

At the end of their “tour” the whole fleet returns to Vietnam with tonnes of delicacies that are worth millions, especially in China.

The growing issue of encroachment is causing serious problems for local fishermen, who are intimidated by their bigger vessels and weapons.

The raiders also use pukat harimau trawler nets, which cause massive environmental destruction as they scrape along the seabed and damage corals.

The local market for fish has been affected, with prices rising by more than 50% on average since last year.

Ikan kembung (mackerel), which used to cost about RM6 per kg, has shot up to between RM10 and RM12.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) southern region director First Admiral Adon Shalan said these boats were now a problem as their skippers knew the loopholes to stay out of trouble.

“Every time they see our patrol boats, they immediately head to international waters to avoid being caught,” he said.

However, he added, MMEA had some success in detaining Vietna­mese fishing vessels and their crew in the past few months.

MMEA had also stepped up its operations against encroaching foreign fishing vessels but Adm Adon believed that the syndicate to which they belonged had local informers spying for them.

“Each time we managed to locate the vessels and deployed assets to catch them, they would immediately leave for international waters,” he said.

“We do not have the jurisdiction to catch them as they are in international waters.

“And even when we do catch them, their syndicate has pockets deep enough to appoint lawyers for them,” he said, adding that the fishermen were also able to pay the fines imposed.

He added that MMEA had gathered information that some of these crews had parang and firearms on board.

“We hope the new Abu Bakar Maritime Base at Middle Rock will help us monitor and act against illegal activities in Johor waters,” he said.

A source said MMEA has advised the fishing community on the eastern side of Johor not to engage the Vietnamese vessels in any way for their own safety.

On May 23, the Johor Fisheries Department detained 22 Vietnamese fishermen, aged between 19 and 45, and seized RM5mil worth of sea cucumbers from three boats.

The source said serious government action is needed because fines alone did not deter the offenders.

“We need to seize their boats and jail them for committing economic sabotage,” the source said.

An expensive and exotic delicacy
GAN PEI LING The Star 4 Aug 17;

PETALING JAYA: Imported dried sea cucumbers, a luxurious delicacy during Chinese New Year reunion dinners, can fetch up to RM3,200 per kg at traditional medicine stores.

Depending on their size and origin, the dried sea cucumbers, or hai shen in Mandarin, cost between RM760 and RM3,200 per kg at stores in SS2 here.

The cheapest is the finger-sized South African tu shen while the most expensive is the arm-sized Australian tu shen.

Hai shen from Australia is considered the best among Malaysians but those looking for cheaper choices opt for alternatives from other countries, said a shopkeeper who declined to be named.

Larger forms of South African tu shen sell from RM1,555 to RM2,300 per kg, compared to different sizes of the Australian variety that start at RM1,600 per kg.

Retiree Irene Lim, 72, said she buys 1kg of dried sea cucumber a year for her family of five.

“I cook it once every three or four months, during special occasions like Chinese New Year and ancestors’ prayers,” she said.

Her favourite types are imported from Australia and Papua New Guinea.

She buys these from wholesalers for RM800 to RM1,200 per kg.

Five years ago, she used to buy them for RM600 to RM700 per kg.

She said the Chinese believe dried sea cucumber can cure arthritis.

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Indonesia: Efforts ongoing to put out peat fires in Jambi

Jon Afrizal The Jakarta Post 3 Aug 17;

A joint effort to extinguish peat fires around the Sayang River in Sadu district, East Tanjung Jabung regency, Jambi, has been ongoing since Thursday morning.

Personnel from the local police, the Manggala Agni Fire Brigade and the Fire Agency, with support from local communities, are working together to put out fires that have been burning the area since Wednesday. However, numerous hot spots and a lack of firefighting equipment have hampered efforts.

Sadu Police chief Adj. Comr. M. Tohari said the team dispatched to extinguish the fires comprised eight police officers, eight Manggala Agni personnel, five Fire Agency officers and dozens of local people.

“We are still looking to extinguish the fires,” Tohari said on Thursday.

The fires are spread across around 10 hectares of peatland. Authorities previously tried to stop the fires when they broke out on Wednesday but they ceased the operation that night.

A separate string of fires started in and around Mencolok village, Mendahara Ulu district, East Tanjung Jabung, on Wednesday.

East Tanjung Jabung Disaster Mitigation Agency official Rizon Wilyadi said that a team was dispatched to extinguish the fires. “We are working toward putting out the fires [...],” he said, adding that the number of hectares of land burned down in the area was not known. (ebf)

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Indonesia: Java’s northern coastal area threatened by subsidence

The Jakarta Post 3 Aug 17;

National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) head Bambang S. Brodjonegoro has said Java’s northern coastal area is facing a daunting threat, namely land subsidence.

“What I’ve seen is that the island’s northern coastal area is threatened [by subsidence]. We cannot hope for a magic wand or a god to prevent Java’s northern coastal area from sinking further,” said Bambang as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday. He was speaking during a national work meeting held by the Environment and Forestry Ministry in Jakarta.

Bambang believed the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development’s (NCICD) reclamation and giant seawall projects could be the answer to the problem.

“The government must make efforts to protect the people. But they themselves must be ready to embrace the changes,” said Bambang.

He said Java’s northern coastal area was different from the Maldives, an archipelagic country also threatened by land subsidence. He further said that without belittling the geographical challenges the Maldives was facing, it had a much smaller population than Java Island.

Bambang said Java’s northern coastal area had a huge population. Greater Jakarta, which is part of the area, has 20 million people, he added.

“Tangerang, Bekasi, Cikarang and Karawang are all located along the northern coast. If you’ve heard about the tidal flooding, it happens not only in Semarang but also in Pekalongan, Tegal and many more places,” he said. (ecn/ebf)

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Vietnam: Land subsidence, rising seas threaten Mekong Delta

VietNamNet Bridge 3 Aug 17;

The sustainable development of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta faces many threats, especially the rising sea level, worsening land subsidence and declining sedimentation, Dr Le Xuan Thuyen of the University of Natural Sciences has warned.

Speaking at a seminar last Thursday in HCM City titled "Challenges for sustainable development of the Mekong Delta," Thuyen said: "The delta is formed by sediments and fairly steady sea levels. Now the two elements are no longer present and so the delta is facing an uncertain future."

The delta used to receive an average of 160 million tonnes of sediment a year, enough to fully cover it to around 2mm depth thick, he said.

But by 2004 the sedimentation had decreased by a third and could decline further in future because of the construction of dams upstream, he said.

In addition, land is sinking at 10 times the rate sedimentation is forming new land, he said.

A published study showed that coastal areas and mangrove forests in the delta are sinking by around 3cm a year while other places are subsiding by over 1cm.

Human activities also affect the delta’s situation, such as the construction of dams which block sedimentation and thus cause erosion along the banks of rivers and streams.

The use of water upstream increases salinity levels as less fresh water flows back to meet seawater.
Dr Dao Ngoc Canh of Can Tho University said irrigation systems controlling floods and saline intrusions in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle and Dong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds) regions increase the amount of land available for agriculture but cause the loss of water storage capacity.

Floods distribute silt and nutrients along the delta, and a cessation increases the risk of erosion in the delta, he said.

Consequently, the delta is shrinking at its mouth, he warned.

Seeking solutions

Thuyen said the biggest challenge is the lack of full understanding of the delta, which easily leads to wrong conclusions.

Experts said if sea levels rise by one to two metres in the 21st century, the extent of coastal submersion in developed countries would increase by several times compared to the likely submersion in case of a moderate rise.

Thuyen said the delta should have long-term solutions rather than short- or medium-term ones to resolve these problems.

"Solutions need to be researched and considered carefully.”

The delta has a coastline of nearly 1,000km and hundreds of kilometres of rivers and tributaries, and these require a large outlay for building sea dykes and embankments.
VNS

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Best of our wild blogs: 3 Aug 17

Jam-packed June and July at the Sisters Islands Marine Park
Sisters' Island Marine Park

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Man fined S$10,000 for smuggling ivory products

Channel NewsAsia 2 Aug 17;

SINGAPORE: A 33-year-old man has been fined S$10,000 for smuggling ivory products into Singapore, said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority in a joint news release on Wednesday (Aug 2).

Do Trong Hoang, whom Channel NewsAsia understands is from Vietnam, was stopped after he arrived at Changi Airport on Jul 14. AVA had received a tipoff about a potential sale of illegal ivory bird cage accessories and informed immigration authorities.

Two ivory bird cage accessories were found in his luggage and four ivory bracelets were found on him and his family who were travelling with him.

Do was arrested and the ivory products were seized.

It is an offence in Singapore to import, export, possess or sell any wildlife parts and species that are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna or Flora (CITES).

If convicted of illegally importing the ivory products, Do could be jailed up to two years, fined up to S$500,000 or both.

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