Indonesia: New study estimates 618 tigers in Sumatra, calls for deforestation to be curbed

Today Online 6 Dec 17;

SINGAPORE — Despite higher densities of Sumatran tigers in the Indonesian island’s well-protected forests, the critically endangered big cat still faces a high risk of extinction unless deforestation can be controlled, said researchers of a new study.

Published in the Nature Communications journal on Wednesday (Dec 6), the study estimated Sumatra to be home to about 618 tigers, slightly higher than the 565 previously estimated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Tiger densities had increased nearly 5 per cent a year from 1996 to 2014, likely indicating a recovery from earlier poaching. Tiger densities in primary forests were 47 per cent higher than in degraded forests.

But due to forest loss and degradation, as well as greater fragmentation of sub-populations, the total potential population on the island declined by 16.6 per cent from 2000 to 2012.

“Our results are a mixed bag for tigers. The loss of key tiger habitats is causing significant conservation challenges for Sumatra – and in particular for this critically endangered species,” said Dr Matthew Luskin, a research fellow at the Nanyang Technological University’s Asian School of the Environment. He led the study, titled Sumatran Tiger Survival Threatened By Deforestation Despite Increasing Densities In Parks, in partnership with researchers from the Smithsonian Institute and the San Diego Zoo Global in the United States.

The “disproportionate loss” of higher quality lowland and hill forest and primary forest habitat, as well as fragmentation, has offset the higher tiger densities and led to a potentially higher threat of extinction. Sustained expansion of oil palm plantations, forest degradation and poaching continue to threaten the few remaining tiger populations on the island, the researchers wrote.

Only Gunung Leuser and Kerinci Seblat national parks were found to have robust populations with more than 30 breeding females. These two populations are crucial, but the researchers noted that Kerinci Seblat lost nearly 13 per cent of its forested area from 2000 to 2012 and remains a “poaching battleground”.

“Safeguarding the remaining expanses of primary forests, such as Gunung Leuser National Park, is now absolutely critical to ensuring tigers can persist indefinitely on Sumatra. Largescale reforestation is unlikely,” said Dr Mathias Tobler of the San Diego Zoo Global, the study’s senior author.

The team obtained data from other researchers but also spent a year conducting expeditions through Sumatra’s national parks and adjacent non-protected areas, mounting hundreds of motion-activated cameras. Using the footage, tigers were identified by the unique pattern of stripes and this allowed researchers to track their movement.

The findings suggested that while tigers regularly used human-dominated landscapes immediately outside national parks, this was relatively poor habitat.

The team also developed new methods to estimate the number of tigers in each remaining forest patch of Sumatra.

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Indonesia may delay implementation of Paris Climate Agreement

Antara 7 Dec 17;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia, along with other signatory countries, may delay the implementation of the Paris Agreement, because negotiation on the pact`s basic guidelines has not yet been completed, an official said here on Wednesday.

"Our target is to complete the basic regulation by 2018, but now (after the 23rd Conference of Parties in Bonn, Germany), there is no clear rule or guidance on the pact, which was initially planned to be implemented by 2020," the Environment and Forestry Ministry`s Climate Change Director General, Nur Masripatin, said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

In terms of curbing the greenhouse gas, for example, the pact`s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) only highlighted the general rules for the implementation but did not mention the clear number of emissions.

The standardization set by NDC only mentioned that the regulations issued by the signatory countries should be ambitious, clear, and transparent, she noted.

However, members of the agreement may translate the general rule with their own terms and conditions. Therefore, the NDC should mention all basic features and other details that have to be incorporated in the regulation.

The first NDC set by Indonesia has put some details on the preventive measures, steps on adaptation, international commitments, and the clear and transparent information, as well as the system on account of curbing the emission, Masripatin explained.

These kinds of features, she added, should be agreed by all members, in order to evaluate the carbon stock accurately by 2020, she emphasized.

Hence, the general rule on the pact`s implementation should be completed by all members during the next 24th COP in Poland in 2018.

The next COP also should discuss on "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation/REDD+,? which has been rejected by most developed countries, she revealed.

"If the first session of the COP`s meeting (CMA-1) is adopted by Poland, our next move will be to conduct other negotiations on the details. Our concern now is that the basic guideline has not yet been completed. Therefore, the Paris Agreement would not be effective by 2020," she reiterated.

The member countries now are adopting the guidelines issued by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to measure the emission, she explained.

However, all members need to agree on the standard evaluation of the conversion, because some 170 of 196 signatory countries of the Paris Agreement have different NDC standards.

During the 23rd COP Fiji in Bonn, Germany, held from Nov 6 to 17, Masripatin remarked that most country members are grouped into several forums based on the countries` interests.

The Like-Minded Group of Countries (LMCs), which represents a coalition of more than 60 nations, is comprised of three different groups, namely Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America-Caribbean.

The group is backed by China, India, and Arab nations, which have planned to separate the mitigation efforts (on curbing emission) regulated in the NDC for the developed and developing countries.

As a result, now, the basic guideline on the Paris Agreement`s implementation is hard to be completed and agreed by all members.

Hence, controlling the earth`s temperature to below two degree Celsius by 2030 would remain a hard challenge for the signatory countries of the Paris Agreement.

Reported by Virna P Setyorini
(UU.KR-GNT/A/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Heru Purwanto

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Indonesia cyclone death toll more than doubles to 41

Agence France-Presse Jakarta Post 6 Dec 17;

A tropical cyclone that pounded Indonesia's main island of Java has killed 41 people, the country's disaster agency said Wednesday, more than double the initial toll, with tens of thousands displaced by severe flooding and landslides.

Among the victims of Cyclone Cempaka were 25 people killed by a single landslide in East Java last week, the agency said.

The initial cyclone death toll was 19. Some 28,000 people have been displaced by the storm, which hit Indonesia's most populous island last week.

"Almost five thousand homes have been damaged and more than three thousand others were inundated by flooding," said agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

The destruction from the cyclone came as the rumbling Mount Agung volcano on the neighboring resort island of Bali threatened to erupt, forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes.

Cempaka has moved away from Indonesia, but Nugroho warned that more flooding and landslides still could happen. Indonesia is prone to natural disasters and is often hit by floods and landslides.

A landslide on Bali in February killed 12 people, including three children. In September last year, almost 30 people died in devastating floods and landslides in Garut, West Java.

Cyclone Cempaka kills at least 19 in Indonesia
Channel NewsAsia 29 Nov 17;

JAKARTA: A tropical cyclone which hit Indonesia's main island of Java has triggered severe flooding and landslides which left 19 dead, an official said on Wednesday (Nov 29).

Landslides claimed 15 lives in east and central Java, while four others perished in floods unleashed by Cyclone Cempaka.

"Thousands of homes, hectares of agricultural land and public facilities are also flooded," said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for Indonesia's disaster agency.

The destruction from the cyclone comes as the rumbling Mount Agung volcano on the neighbouring resort island of Bali threatens to erupt, forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes.

Cempaka is expected to move away from Indonesia later Thursday, but more flooding and landslides could follow in its wake, the agency said, adding that it urgently needs blankets, clothes and inflatable boats.

Indonesia is prone to natural disasters and is often hit by floods and landslides.

A landslide on Bali in February killed 12 people, including three children. In September last year, almost 30 people died in devastating floods and landslides in Garut, West Java.
Source: AFP/ec

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Indonesia: Roaming elephants, tiger trouble Jambi residents

Jon Afrizal The Jakarta Post 6 Dec 17;

Residents of Sarolangun and Kerinci regencies in Jambi have complained about wild animals entering their villages and wreaking havoc on their plantations.

Muslim, a resident of Sipintum village in Pauh district, Sarolangun regency said a herd of wild elephants had often wandered into the village's plantation in the past month, damaging the plants and huts there.

"We ask the authorities to take the elephants back to their habitat, so they don't keep coming into our village," he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

The herd of seven elephants has damaged 9 hectares of plantation land and one hut, Pauh district military commander, Capt. Sutego said. He urged residents to restrain themselves from harming the protected species.

"We ask the residents not to act rashly. We can find a mutually beneficial solution,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents of Semurup village in Kerinci regency face a similar problem. They have been reluctant to go to their fields in recent days, fearing attack by a tiger that has been spotted nearby.

"We hope that the authorities take action soon. If nothing is done, the tiger might come into the village," a resident named Uwo told the Post.

Indonesian Conservation Community (KKI) Warsi head, Nur Kholis, said in the past seven years 14 people had fallen victim to tiger attacks, while two people died after confrontations with elephants. On the other hand, 18 tigers and seven elephants had been killed by poachers.

"These incidents tell us that there is an imbalance in nature," he said. "A damaged ecosystem causes conflicts between humans and animals.” (kmt/rin

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UN signals 'end' of throwaway plastic

Roger Harrabin BBC 6 Dec 17;

The end of the era of throwaway plastic has been signalled by UN environment ministers meeting in Kenya.

They signed off a document stating that the flow of plastic into the ocean must be stopped.

Scientists welcomed the statement, but were unhappy the agreement was only based in principle, with no firm targets or timetables.

Ministers say it's a milestone because it shows governments, industry and the public that a major change is needed.

Vidar Helgesen, Norway's Environment Minister, has been leading the UN debate on plastic pollution.

He told BBC News: "What we came here with was the need for action. The starting point was aiming for zero emission of marine litter. So it's effectively a breakthrough for zero emission of plastic into the ocean."

He admitted that this was really only the start of action against plastic litter.

Li Lin from WWF International told BBC News: "Today we have seen quite good progress on marine litter and micro-plastics.

Waste comparisons by country

"We would just like to see this agreement implemented by governments, business, NGOs and consumers as quickly as possible. Because this issue is urgent."

We know plastics are already damaging life in the sea, but we don't know how much more damage it can take before whole ecosystems start to be affected.

The seas after all are also beset with climate change, acidification, dead zones, and multiple types of pollution.

Delegates here hope governments will be prompted to move faster with their own national policies to clamp down on waste plastic, rather than just waiting for UN resolutions.

But stopping plastic litter will require new technology - and new attitudes from the public. Among the many pollution challenges facing mankind, this is arguably one of the hardest.



UN resolution calling for targets to tackle ocean plastic waste rejected by US, China and India
Exclusive: Final agreement 'stresses importance of long-term elimination' of litter from our seas
Tom Embury-Dennis The Independent Online 6 Dec 17;

A United Nations agreement that would have called for specific, internationally-agreed goals to tackle plastic waste in our oceans has been rejected by the US.

Several countries, including China and India, also refused to include in the resolution a call on nations to adopt any reduction targets, but US officials “were clearly leading the discussion on this”, a source at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi told The Independent.

Countries did agree that the world needs to stop plastics from entering the sea, but the final resolution published on Wednesday has no timetable and is not legally binding.

Governments will instead establish an international taskforce to advise on what UN environment chief Erik Solheim has dubbed “an ocean Armageddon”.

China is by far the biggest producer of plastic waste. In 2010 it is estimated to have mismanaged almost nine million tonnes of it. However the US fails to feature in the top 10, according to World Atlas.

A deal was eventually struck that keeps a demand for a reduction target out, in exchange for a pledge that “stresses the importance of long-term elimination” of plastics going into the oceans.

Instead of targets, the resolution “urges all actors to step up actions to by 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds” and “encourages” member states to “prioritise policies” that “avoid marine litter and micro plastics entering the marine environment”.

Politicians say the agreement is important because it will clear the way for much tougher policies and send a signal to governments and business.

Vidar Helgesen, Norway’s environment minister and a leader of the UN debate on plastic pollution, told the BBC it was a “breakthrough for zero emissions of plastic into the ocean”, but admitted it was only the start of the action that will be needed.

Mr Solheim, UN environment head and undersecretary-general, said: “We need to phase out what we don't need, make what we do need with better materials, and recycle all the plastics that we use.

"I'm very optimistic that in 20 years, we will see a much more circular economy."

More than eight million tonnes of plastic goes into the oceans every year. With an estimated 300 million tonnes of it now littering our seas, it is estimated there will be more plastic than fish by 2050.

It is thought our seas now contain about 51 trillion microplastic particles – 500 times more than the number of stars in our galaxy.

This pollution is harming more than 600 species worldwide amid what many are now regarding as the sixth mass extinction of life on Earth.



Ocean plastic: clean it up, but avoid the mistakes of global climate policy
Malcolm David Hudson, Associate Professor in Environmental Sciences, University of Southampton
The Conversation Yahoo News 11 Dec 178;

In early December 2017 the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi announced a resolution on marine litter and microplastics. The move was widely welcomed as the emerging “plastic oceans” crisis has become starkly clear.

It is estimated that 8m tonnes of plastic waste finds its way in to the ocean each year, and it is notoriously difficult to remove. The impacts are increasingly apparent: great rafts of plastic are congregating in ocean gyres, blame games have broken out between neighbouring countries, and marine species face poisoning from the associated toxins.

There may even be direct risks for humans, especially the 400m or so poor people who depend critically on fish for their food. As yet fisheries are more threatened by over-exploitation and climate change, but we are now finding plastics in our marine ecosystems and even in food like mussles and oysters.

Timely – but not binding

Given the urgency of the problem, a more decisive global leadership is needed and so the UN’s announcement is certainly timely. Its resolution on marine litter and microplastics is the first genuine global attempt to tackle the problem. It aims to eliminate marine litter in the long term, urging counties to take action by 2025, to “prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds” and “encourages” them to “prioritise policies” that “avoid marine litter and micro plastics entering the marine environment”. Among other promising points, an international working group will be set up to seek legally binding options to tackle marine litter, and it is encouraging to see that almost 40 countries have signed up to the voluntary #CleanSeas campaign since its launch in February 2017.

The elephant in the room here is the lack of any binding targets. Under pressure from key players like the US, China and India, UNEP has backed off putting in targets or binding commitments, although it was reported that the US was at least engaged in the discussions. It is worth noting that China is the biggest emitter of plastic marine litter and along with the US and India has a very large plastic manufacturing sector.

Alarming parallels
There are alarming parallels with the past two decades of attempts to tackle climate change. Evidence that greenhouse gases emitted by human activities were causing more energy to be trapped in our atmosphere has been increasingly clear since the mid 1990s, but vested interests combined with the need for equitable treatment of developing countries means that progress has been painfully slow – so slow that it will now be much harder to stay within the 2°C limit that scientists view as potentially manageable for future generations. Even now, while the evidence is clear and the impacts are painfully apparent round the world, the US has backed out of the 2015 Paris agreement.

But we are are capable of better. In the 1970s and 80s we faced another major environmental threat. Pollutants used in refrigerants (chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs for short) were damaging the ozone layer, which acts as a protective screen from the worst of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Alarm bells were ringing as skin cancers increased, and scientists predicted a catastrophe within decades.

That time, despite the now-familiar lobbying and stalling by industry, who argued that the science was uncertain and that more evidence was needed, the world got together. The Montreal Protocol was agreed in 1987 and since then the harmful chemicals have been phased out or managed more effectively. We have seen the ozone layer recovering towards pre-1980s levels and, in a positive unintended consequence, the phasing out of chemicals that are also potent greenhouse gases.

We humans have a mixed track record. The recovering ozone layer shows that we can, if we have the will and the leadership, get to grips with even the most wicked of environmental problems and turn things round. But, as our attempts to deal with climate change have shown, progress can be slow and getting everyone working together remains fraught with difficulty.

We should not forget that plastics have revolutionised our lives – I am typing this on a plastic keyboard, for instance, while wearing a plastic fibre fleece, and looking through plastic lenses in my glasses. Any change will be tough and could have economic consequences.

But however important plastic seems to our lives, we depend even more on the health of the oceans for our well-being and for that of the planet. Right now attempts to get the world together to deal with plastic waste and ocean pollution are at a crossroads; at least it’s good news we have made it this far.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. .

Malcolm David Hudson receives funding from the Blue Marine Foundation for research into microplastics and marine biodiversity. He is a member of Greenpeace, RSPB and the UK Wildlife Trusts

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Best of our wild blogs: 6 Dec 17

Changi seagrass meadows are alive!
wild shores of singapore

Registration now open: 10 Dec (Sun) Explore Ubin mangroves by kayak
Celebrating Singapore Shores!

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Singapore stands ready to contribute to a pollution-free world

MASAGOS ZULKIFLI Today Online 6 Dec 17;

As Singapore marks the 40th anniversary of the cleaning up of the Singapore River, its radical transformation from an open sewer to a clean recreation spot and source of drinking water shows how countries can move towards a pollution-free world with vision and determination.

This was a point made by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli, as he delivered Singapore’s National Statement at the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi on Tuesday (Dec 5).

Below is Mr Masagos’ statement, which underlined Singapore’s approach to sustainable development and the importance of intergovernmental cooperation in tackling transboundary pollution.

As a densely populated city state, Singapore, from its early days, has had to grapple with the challenges of balancing economic development with preserving a clean, green and liveable environment.

Pragmatic policymaking based on sound economic principles and science, a focus on long-term planning, and the ability to mobilise popular support have been crucial in Singapore’s sustainability journey.

Such an approach is no less relevant today as we tackle pressing environmental challenges such as climate change and pollution.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the cleaning up of the Singapore River, a herculean endeavour that aptly reflects our approach to sustainable development.

In the 1970s, the Singapore River was terribly polluted and was literally an open sewer.

As part of a long-term plan to meet burgeoning water needs, we worked hard over a decade to clean up the catchment area of the Singapore River, resettling thousands of farms, factories and street hawkers. The support and involvement of the people of Singapore were crucial.

Today, the Singapore River has been radically transformed. It is clean and beautiful – a place for recreation, and a source of drinking water.

Sound policy-making, long-term thinking and the mobilisation of broad support are just as relevant today.

For example, to tackle air pollution, Singapore has steadily enhanced our air quality standards for industry and transport over the years, taking into account economic and health studies on the impact of air pollution.

On this evidence, we have crafted policies to justify incentives to encourage the early replacement of older and more pollutive diesel commercial vehicles with new models that meet Euro 6 standards. We have also imposed a volumetric diesel tax.

Over the long-term, these policies bring benefits in improved air quality.

This in turn gives better health for our citizens and sustains a liveable environment for our people. They also discourage the use of fossil fuels and help fight climate change.

National efforts to address pollution are critical, but they are insufficient. Pollution is also a regional and international issue that requires multi-lateral action.

As countries work together to address environmental problems, we similarly need to apply the principles of sound policy-making, long-term thinking and mobilising broad support.

ENSURING CLEAN AIR AND WATER

Let’s take air pollution. Under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, Asean members have been working together to prevent, monitor and mitigate haze.

All Asean members have ratified the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

The successful implementation of this agreement will go a long way towards achieving a haze-free Asean by 2020.

This has also sent a strong signal to agro-companies to adopt sustainable practices. The regional and world communities do not condone forest burning to clear them for agriculture.

Second, ensuring clean seas and oceans is another area where national policy intersects with international efforts.

Singapore has a direct interest in keeping our waterways clean, because we collect and treat every drop of water, both used water and stormwater, for potable use.

To address sea-based marine pollution, we have rolled out initiatives on clean and green shipping, some of which go beyond the standards set by the International Maritime Organisation.

Third, we ensure that our solid waste is well managed within our shores and not dumped into the sea.

We have done this well; but we do not stand still because we strive to become a Zero Waste Nation.

Technology will play a big role and we will invest in R&D to achieve this. We will also involve our citizens and industries to play their part to reduce waste in the first place and separate waste properly to maximise resource recovery. Ultimately, very little should go to the landfill, and nothing to pollute the sea.

Climate change is closely interlinked with pollution. Our policies should also aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve them together. As nations come together to address climate change, part of this lies in how we also address pollution.

Our policies should also aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as we try to tackle pollution from gas emitters.

In Singapore, for instance, we not only adopt policies to promote cleaner and greener transport, but have also announced a freeze on private transport growth while growing public transport options.

Such policies will preserve the environment and fight climate change at the same time.

Singapore will also be introducing a carbon tax in 2019 to send an economy-wide price signal to encourage emissions reductions and the adoption of low-carbon technologies.

It will complement our wide-ranging climate mitigation measures to achieve our pledge under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We know that as companies adopt energy-efficient alternatives to reduce their carbon footprint to avoid this tax, they will inevitably also reduce emission of other pollutive substances.

Ultimately, change comes from each citizen being aware and inspired to care for the environment.

That is why Singapore is designating 2018 as the Year of Climate Action, when we rally the whole nation to come together to do our part for the environment and our climate.

Beyond strengthening co-operation between countries, international bodies like UN Environment also play an important role in mobilising support from all stakeholders, including the citizens of each country.

Government efforts alone are not enough. We need the support of citizens and businesses for sound environmental policies that bring long-term benefits but require near-term adjustments on their part.

Hence, I am glad to see many more ground-up initiatives in Singapore to promote sustainability and fight climate change.

Civil society groups such as Singapore Youth for Climate Action, #LepakinSG, PM Haze, Plastic Lite, Zero-Waste SG, WWF-Singapore, Forum for the Future, and Save that Pen are encouraging Singaporeans to shop sustainably.

Plastic-Lite Singapore has initiatives to reduce the use of single-use plastics. Such ground-up efforts are bearing fruit as companies respond to consumer demand, for example, by getting their products certified for sustainability.

Businesses in Singapore are also joining the fight against climate change and pollution. For example, the Singtel Group, a major Singaporean telecommunications company, has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions across its Singapore and Australian operations.

Siloso Beach Resort has pledged to procure sustainable palm oil and use environmentally-friendly toiletries. Other companies that have pledged effort to reduce pollution, including carbon emissions, are City Development Limited, and Swire Pacific Offshore.

The efforts by our civil society groups and companies are highlighted in the voluntary commitments that they have submitted.

Let me end by returning to the story of the Singapore River. The restoration of the Singapore River is testament that with vision, determination and unity, we can take concrete steps towards a pollution-free planet. Singapore stands ready to contribute.

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Indonesia: Diseases spread as Pekanbaru flood worsens

Rizal Harahap The Jakarta Post 5 Dec 17;

Flooding from the overflowing of Siak River in Pekanbary, Riau, has reportedly worsened and triggered the spread of various diseases in the area.

Five days into the disaster, floodwaters have reached Palas and Meranti subdistricts, Rumbai district, and Bambu Kuning subdistrict in Tenayan Raya district.

According the Pekanbaru Social Affairs Agency, 3,567 households or 10,887 people have been affected by the flood.

“Those subdistricts are densely populated areas. Most of the inundated houses are located at the Siak riverbank and its tributaries,” Pekanbaru Social Affairs Agency head Chairani said on Tuesday.

Pekanbaru Health Agency head Helda S. Munir said several contagious diseases, such as diarrhea, influenza and pruritus had started to spread among the flood victims.

“Victims of natural disasters are always vulnerable to those diseases," she said.

Helda added that the agency's flood response focused on school-aged children who will be facing their end-of-semester exams.

“Children are the most vulnerable to contagious diseases," she said. "We need to keep them healthy so they can sit their exams."

The Pekanbaru Health Agency has readied dozens of medical personnel at special posts, Puseksmas (community health centers) and district offices affected by the floods.

"So far, no one has had to be hospitalized because of a contagious disease," Helda said.

“We have told residents who feel unwell or itchy to go to the nearest health center for a free check-up.” (kmt/ebf)


Two children die as floods strike Medan
Apriadi Gunawan The Jakarta Post 5 Dec 17;

Heavy downpours in North Sumatra in the past few days have caused landslides and flooding that have claimed at least two lives.

Two children died in floods in Medan Maimon district, Medan city, on Sunday, local authorities said. The victims M. Noval, 4, and M. Ikhsan, 7, were reportedly washed away when floods hit their homes in the city.

The floodwater also inundated roads in Medan and caused traffic congestion, including in front of North Sumatra Police headquarters on Jl. Sisingamangaraja.

Landslides were also reported in Adiantkoting village, North Tapanuli regency, on Monday following days of heavy rain. The landslides blocked the road connecting Tarutung to Sibolga regency.

One resident, Udin, said he had to stay overnight in his car as he could not pass the road because of the landslides.

“I waited for more than nine hours stuck in Adiantkoting village,” said the Sibolga resident, who wished to travel to Medan.

The head of Medan Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Edison Kurniawan said the rain was expected to last for several more days.

“There is still the potential for heavy rains in the next few days so people need to be alert for floods, landslides and heavy seas around North Sumatra,” he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. (vla/rin)

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Indonesia: North Jakarta, Thousand Islands inundated with tidal floods

The Jakarta Post 5 Dec 17;

Thousand Islands and North Jakarta were inundated by rising sea levels on Tuesday.

Cleaning workers under the authority of the Public Facility Maintenance Agency (PPSU) in Penjaringan, North Jakarta tried to hold off the seawater using sandbags as residential areas became inundated.

Penjaringan sub-district head Depika Romadi said sea levels had increased due to the rainy season while the construction of the sea-dike was yet to be completed.

“The sea-dike is still under construction, leaving a gap of 50 meters, so seawater can inundate the area,” Romadi said, as quoted by kompas.com. Reportedly, the flood waters reached 90 centimeters but recede to 10 centimeters.

OK OCE Mart in Muara Angke, Penjaringan was also inundated. The mart coordinator Sugiyanto said the mart had not been impacted by seawater flooding since it was officially opened in June.

“We tried to use sandbags to keep the water out [of the mart],” Sugiyanto said.

Besides OK OCE mart, water also inundated the parking lot of Muara Angke low-cost apartment, the local firefighters station and the police office.

In Thousand Islands regency, at least three islands were inundated following a tidal surge on Tuesday morning. Untung Jawa, Tidung and Lancang islands were inundated by some 20 to 50 centimeters of water.

“It is rare that [the islands] become inundated,” said Tidung Island resident, Anwar. (wnd)

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Indonesia: Five more orangutans released into Kehje Sewen forest

N.Adri The Jakarta Post 5 Dec 17;

The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) on Monday released five more orangutans into Kehje Sewen forest in East Kutai regency, East Kalimantan, adding the number of orangutans brought into the forest to 80 individual animals. This is the 14th release of the protected species since the group started the initiative in 2012.

“The release of the five orangutans is also part of a celebration of the first World Wildlife Conservation Day,” said BOSF executive director Jamartin Sihite on Monday.

He said Monday’s release would be the last release for 2017.

It was not by coincidence that one of the orangutans released by BOSF included a six-year old male orangutan named Santa. He was rescued from captivity in Muara Wahau, around two hours drive from Kehje Sewen, in 2014. At that time, Santa still showed signs of the wild behavior needed for his release.

When rescued, Sihite said Santa was too young to be released so he was put into a forest school in Samboja Lestari. The rehabilitation and reintroduction center managed by BOSF is located in Samboja district, 50 kilometers north of Balikpapan.

“He is a six years old now and ready to be released into the wild. We are very happy that we could release the orangutans, including Santa, into their natural habitat before Christmas,” said Sihite.

East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) head Sunandar Trigunajasa said he was grateful and thanked all parties that had been involved in the conservation of orangutans and their habitat.

“After a long rehabilitation process by BOSF, the orangutans could be finally released into the forest,” said Sunandar. (vla/ebf)

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Red list: thousands of species at risk of extinction due to human activity

Unsustainable farming, fishing and climate change has intensified the struggle for survival among vulnerable animals and crops, says IUCN at the release of its latest list of endangered species
Justin McCurry The Guardian 5 Dec 17;

Thousands of animal species are at critical risk of going extinct due to unsustainable farming and fishing methods and climate change, a conservation group has warned as it released the latest red list of endangered species.

In a rare piece of good news, the International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN] praised New Zealand for its success in turning around the fortunes of two species of kiwi, prompting it to upgrade them from endangered to vulnerable.

The struggle for survival among at-risk animals – and now crops – has intensified as a result of rising human populations, economic development and drastic changes in the natural environment caused by global warming, the IUCN said.

Craig Hilton-Taylor, who heads the group’s red list unit, said species were going extinct at a faster rate than at any time in human history.

But he drew encouragement from New Zealand’s example. “It’s all a rather sad picture, but the red list also gives us hope and shows us that conservation can work,” he told reporters at the list’s publication in Tokyo.

The IUCN aims to cover 160,000 species by the end of the decade, he added.

The group, which received funding for this year’s list from the Japanese automaker Toyota, assessed the status of 91,523 species, of which 25,821 are threatened, 866 are extinct and 69 extinct in the wild. It said 11,783 species are vulnerable, 8,455 are endangered and 5,583 critically endangered.

Among the most prominent species now regarded as endangered are the Irrawaddy dolphin and finless porpoise found in parts of southeast Asia.

The group blamed their plight on human activity, including the use of fishing nets. “Gillnets hang like curtains of death across rivers and trap everything that comes into contact with them,” said Hilton-Taylor.

In addition, Australia’s western ringtail possum slipped from vulnerable to critically endangered after its population plunged by 80% over the past decade.

Once widespread in the peppermint and eucalyptus forests of Western Australia, the animal can now be found only in a few fragmented habitats and is prone to heat stress at temperatures above 35C (95F) – an increasingly common phenomenon in that part of the country.

The IUCN said three reptile species on Christmas Island, an Australian territory just south of Indonesia, had gone extinct in the wild: the whiptail-skink, the blue-tailed skink and Lister’s gecko.

“We’re not 100% sure of the cause but it is almost certainly linked to the presence of invasive species” such as the yellow crazy ant, Hilton-Taylor said.

The Okarito kiwi and the northern brown kiwi, however, have mounted a modest recovery thanks to conservation work and a campaign to control predators such as rats, stoats and possums.

More than 40 species of New Zealand birds have already died out and many others remain threatened, including the kiwi.

The example of the Okarito and northern brown kiwi showed “conservation can and does work,” Hilton-Taylor said, adding that the population of the former has risen from 160 in 1995 to about 400-450 now.

“Government agencies and community groups in New Zealand came together and really turned things around,” he said.

Three species of wild rice, along with two of wild wheat and 17 types of wild yam were listed as threatened due to deforestation and urban expansion, coupled with the pressures created by intensive agriculture.

“The importance of food security unites the entire Asian continent,” said Naohisa Okuda, director of the biodiversity policy division at Japan’s environment ministry.

“We should be very concerned about the survival of these crops, because their loss could jeopardise the bowls of rice we eat in the future.”



IUCN Red List: Wild crops listed as threatened
Helen Briggs BBC News 5 Dec 17;

Wild relatives of modern crops deemed crucial for food security are being pushed to the brink of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

More than 20 rice, wheat and yam plants have been listed as threatened on the latest version of the IUCN's Red list.

The wild plants are being squeezed out by intensive farming, deforestation and urban sprawl, say scientists.
Modern crops can be crossbred with their wild cousins to safeguard foods.

''To lose them would be a disaster,'' said Dr Nigel Maxted of the University of Birmingham, who is co-chair of the IUCN's specialist group on crop wild relatives.

''It would be much more difficult to maintain food security without them.''

Insurance policy

Commercial crops have lost genetic diversity. They are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which may bring drought, diseases and new pests.

Work is under way to breed new varieties of grains, cereals and vegetables by crossing them with tough, wild species that can grow in a range of habitats, such as mountains, deserts or salt marshes.

These efforts rely on protecting plants related to modern food crops at the sites where they grow in the wild as well as preserving their seeds in gene banks.

The first systematic assessment of wild wheat, rice and yam has led to the listing of three types of rice, two types of wheat (used to make bread) and 17 types of yam.

Marie Haga is Executive Director of The Crop Trust, an international organisation that is working to safeguard crop diversity.

She welcomed the inclusion of wild crops on the Red List.

''The IUCN has high legitimacy among decision makers and the general population, so it's extremely interesting that they are putting these wild relatives on their Red List,'' she told BBC News.

''I hope that will contribute to raising the awareness even further that we've got to take action, and we've got to take action now.''

Wild relatives of crops act as ''an insurance policy for the world'', she added.


Most of the wild rice crops that are threatened with extinction grow in South East Asia, while a few are found in Africa. The wild wheat plants that are of concern are found mainly in the Near and Middle East, including war-torn areas that are off-limits to conservationists.

Yams feed around 100 million people in Africa alone. Paul Wilkin of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said conservation work is being undertaken to make sure that wild yam plants are available to provide food and medicines worldwide, now and in the future.

''They will also be sources of key traits to breed improved, future-proof crop varieties,'' he said.

"These assessments enable the most threatened species of yams and other crop wild relatives to be prioritised effectively for conservation actions."

The economic value of crop wild relatives is put at US$115bn per year to the global economy.
Other Red List entries

In addition to wild crops, the IUCN highlighted other flora and fauna that have been added to the latest update of the Red List:

*Entanglement with fishing nets and overfishing have caused steep declines in the Irrawaddy dolphin and finless porpoise, with both species moving from Vulnerable to Endangered

*Three reptiles found only on Australia's Christmas Island have been declared extinct in the wild

*Australia's western ringtail possum is in dramatic decline due to the increasingly hot and dry climate in Western Australia and predation from red foxes and feral cats

(A third of snakes and lizards native to Japan are listed as Threatened, due to habitat loss, collection for the pet trade and the introduction of predators such as the Japanese weasel.

But there is a success story; kiwis in New Zealand are recovering thanks to conservation efforts.

An effort to wipe out predators such as stoats and ferrets, as well as raising chicks in captivity to release in the wild, has boosted the number of two species of New Zealand's native bird.

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