No plastic bag surcharge as ‘greener’ disposables not better for environment

SIAU MING EN Today Online 6 Mar 18;

SINGAPORE — Often touted as “greener” alternatives to plastic bags, paper and degradable bags may not actually be better for the environment — at least not in Singapore’s case.

Compared to plastic bags, they may require as much resources to produce and have a similar environmental impact, as waste here is incinerated before going to the landfill and not left to decay.

Revealing the findings of a study commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Tuesday (March 6), Senior Minister of State (Environment and Water Resources) Amy Khor said the authorities would thus not impose a charge on plastic bags.

“Imposing a charge or ban on disposable plastic bags and substituting them with other types of disposable bags is unlikely to improve environmental outcomes,” said Dr Khor.

Whether retailers should charge for plastic bags to curb excessive consumption has been a long-running debate here. Last year, four major supermarket chains were reportedly in talks to charge for plastic bags.

The study – by National University of Singapore academic Kua Harn Wei – concluded that consumers could reduce their environmental impact by often using reusable bags and food containers instead of disposables.

Dr Khor said the Government will step up engagement with stakeholders.

Some of its measures include disallowing the use of disposables for dine-in customers at new hawker centres, such as at Our Tampines Hub, Pasir Ris Central and Yishun Park. The rule will also apply at 13 other new hawker centres that will open by 2027.

Dr Khor was responding to questions by some Members of Parliament. Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines) and Non-Constituency MP Dennis Tan asked about the possibility of imposing a levy to cut excessive use of plastic bags.

Packaging waste made up a third of the 1.67 million tonnes of domestic waste generated here last year.

About 15 per cent of the packaging waste – or about 83,550 tonnes – is made up of plastic and paper disposables, such as single-use plates and take-away food containers.

Dr Kua’s study, which began in Sept 2016, found that plastic bags designed for a one-time use had the biggest impact on the environment. Greenhouse gases are generated to make them from fossil fuels (crude oil), and when the bags are incinerated.

Some businesses offer oxo-degradable bags as a more eco-friendly alternative. But the additives that help to speed up the degradation process could interfere with the recycling process when mixed with conventional plastics.

They also require a similar amount of resources to manufacture as plastic bags.

Paper bags are derived from trees and require a large volume of water to produce. They are also unable to bag wet items.

A reusable bag used over a year could save 125 plastic or degradable bags, or 52 paper bags, Dr Kua found.

“Taking into consideration both the monetised cost and environmental impact, reusable bags emerged as the most environmentally-friendly option for carrying groceries and similar items,” said the NEA.

The study also found single-use plastic plates and containers generated the most greenhouse gases and consumed the most energy.

Paper plates require large tracts of forest land to be modified, while single-use paper boxes with plastic lining are energy-intensive to make.

Biodegradable corn-starch containers are becoming more common in Singapore. But forests may be cleared and large amounts of water are needed to grow the corn.

Meanwhile, the environmental impact of polystyrene was found to be lower, but they use up Singapore’s limited landfill space.

Porcelain plates or reusable containers used over five years could replace 3,650 single-use containers, Dr Kua found.

Dr Khor said the Government will reduce packaging waste upstream. By 2021, businesses will have to report the type and amount of packaging they put on the market and their plans for reduction. Industry consultations will start this year.

To NCMP Leon Perera’s question on microplastics – part of the growing problem worldwide of marine trash – Dr Khor pointed to anti-littering laws and beach clean-ups.

During the treatment of used water, microbeads, a form of microplastics, are also “substantially removed as sludge and disposed of by incineration”, she said.


Using 1 reusable bag over a year can replace 125 plastic, 52 paper bags: NEA study
Aqil Haziq Mahmud Channel NewsAsia 6 Mar 18;

SINGAPORE: The use of one reusable bag over a year could replace the use of 125 single-use plastics bags or 52 single-use paper bags, a life-cycle assessment (LCA) study commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA) shows.

An LCA study evaluates the environmental impact associated with the stages of a disposable and reusable item’s life cycle.

“Due to their single-use design and function, plastic bags were found to have the biggest environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use,” NEA said in a release.

“The greenhouse gases associated with the processing of crude oil used as source material to manufacture the bags, and the greenhouse gases from the bags’ incineration, contribute to climate change.”

Last year, a third of the roughly 1.67 million tonnes of domestic waste disposed in Singapore comprised packaging waste, which includes single-use disposables such as plastic bags and food packaging.

The amount of packaging waste discarded annually in Singapore is enough to fill more than 1,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.

“While single-use plastic bags are needed by households to bag waste, the excessive consumption of disposables is a waste of resources and it contributes to our carbon footprint and climate change,” NEA said.

The study covered the common types of single-use plastic and degradable bags, as well as paper and reusable bags, used in Singapore.

For comparison, researchers assumed that a family buys 50 items per week. The 50 items were placed in the different types of bags to determine how many of each type were needed to carry the 50 items.

Based on this, the study estimated that the use of 10 reusable bags, or non-woven polypropylene or nylon bags, over a year is equivalent to the use of 1,248 plastic or degradable bags, or 520 paper bags.

“Single-use paper bags and degradable bags are often seen as eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags,” NEA said. “However, paper bags need large amounts of water to make and cannot be used to bag wet items.”

As for degradable bags, the fact that some types of them – like oxo-degradable bags – are made of plastic with additives to accelerate degradation means they leave a similar environmental impact to plastic bags when incinerated.

“In Singapore, waste is incinerated and not left in landfills to degrade,” NEA said. “In addition, oxo-degradable bags could interfere with the recycling process when mixed with conventional plastics.”

Other types of degradable bags, like plant-based polylactic acid bags and corn-starch bags, require large tracts of forest land to be converted into farmland and huge amounts of water to grow their raw materials, NEA added.

“Taking into consideration both the monetised cost and environmental impact, reusable bags emerged as the most environmentally-friendly option for carrying groceries and similar items,” NEA stated.

“Other than using reusable bags, consumers can also reduce their impact on the environment by reusing single-use bags.”

FOOD PACKAGING

The same study also estimated that the use of one reusable plate or container over five years could replace the use of 3,650 pieces of single-use plates or containers.

For dine-in plates, the study found that single-use plastic plates resulted in the most greenhouse gas emissions and energy use during their life cycle as they are made from crude oil, NEA said.

“It also found that the manufacturing process for plant-based corn starch plates is energy intensive,” it added.

Similarly for take-away containers, the study found that single-use plastic containers resulted in the most greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.

“Single-use paper boxes with an inner plastic sheet, used for dishes such as fried rice, were equally energy intensive to make,” NEA said.

“Furthermore, the nature of the raw materials entails high consumption of water and the conversion of large tracts of forest land.”

This part of the study covered common types of dine-in plates and take-away containers used in Singapore. For comparison, researchers assumed that two meals were served daily.

Melamine and porcelain dine-in plates were found to have lower impact on the environment as compared to disposables, the study found, as they can be reused multiple times, taking up fewer resources and emitting less greenhouse gases during their life-cycle.

Meanwhile, the study also found that reusable take-away containers, which consume more water for washing purposes, left the same environmental impact as their disposable counterparts.

However, the study added that reusables were still more environmentally friendly in other aspects like greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. In addition, the study did not account for potential littering issues and increased landfill use arising from the use of disposables.

SOLUTIONS

Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor said a more sustainable way of reducing the environmental impact of carrier bags and food packaging is to “tackle the excessive consumption of all types of disposables”.

Based on the study’s findings, “imposing a charge or ban on disposable plastic bags and substituting them with other types of disposable bags is unlikely to improve environmental outcomes”, she added in her ministry's Budget debate speech on Tuesday (Feb 6).

“The study concluded that consumers can generally reduce their environmental impact by using reusable bags and food containers instead of disposables.”

To that end, Dr Khor said agencies will step up engagement with stakeholders to “cut down the excessive use” of plastic bags and disposables like single-use containers.

For example, she pointed out that online food delivery service, Foodpanda, is working on a trial where customers can opt out of disposable cutleries when ordering food, while consumers who brought reusable bags to supermarkets earned incentives under Zero Waste Singapore’s Bring Your Own campaign last year.

Businesses would also need to report the type and amount of packaging they put on the market and their plans for reduction by 2021, Dr Khor stated, adding that industry consultations will start this year.

“It could also be as simple as cashiers proactively asking customers at payment counters if they want a plastic bag, instead of automatically giving them one,” Dr Khor suggested.

“We will continue to support such efforts while holistically tackling the broader issue upstream by reducing all types of packaging waste at source.”

Source: CNA/hz


Tackling excessive plastic bag use: No levy in the works
NEA exploring a more sustainable approach than imposing a fee or ban, says Amy Khor
Samantha Boh and Audrey Tan Straits Times 7 Mar 18;

There are no plans to introduce a levy on plastic bags, and replacing them with degradable or paper bags may not be greener, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, said yesterday.

"Imposing a charge or ban on disposable plastic bags and substituting them with other types of disposable bags is unlikely to improve environmental outcomes," she said during the debate on her ministry's budget.

Every type of disposable bag, be it a degradable bag or a paper bag, affects the environment, be it through carbon emissions, heavy water use or significant land clearance, she said, citing a study commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

Dr Khor was replying to a question from Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC), who had asked if the ministry would consider imposing a levy on plastic bags to reduce their excessive use.

The NEA study had looked at the environmental impact of disposables, including carrier bags.

An estimate from the study is that the regular use of a reusable bag over a year could replace the use of 125 single-use plastic bags, or 52 single-use paper bags. Similarly, it also estimated that the regular use of one reusable container over five years could replace the use of 3,650 single-use plates.

Some retailers in Singapore claim that degradable bags are greener alternatives to plastic bags and offer them instead. But the study, led by National University of Singapore scientist Kua Harn Wei, also found that both types of bags require the same amount of resources to make.

Both are equally bad for the environment when incinerated.

Noting that no levy on plastic bags is being planned, Dr Khor said these bags are necessary for the responsible and hygienic bagging of waste, given the country's moist, tropical climate.

"In Singapore, a more sustainable approach is to tackle the excessive consumption of all types of disposables," she added, saying her ministry is working with stakeholders to minimise the use of plastic bags and disposables.

She said, for example, that food delivery company Foodpanda is working on a trial where customers can opt out of disposable cutlery use when ordering food.

Environmental group Zero Waste Singapore last year launched a campaign to encourage consumers to take reusable bags or containers with them to eateries and supermarkets in return for discounts or free gifts.

On its part, the NEA will explore ways to reduce the use of disposables. Hawkers at new hawker centres managed by the NEA or by NEA-appointed managing agents - such as those in Our Tampines Hub and Yishun Park - have already been prohibited from providing disposables to patrons who dine in.

In line with Singapore's Zero Waste vision, Dr Khor outlined plans to reduce packaging waste.

Last year, Singapore produced about 557,000 tonnes of packaging waste - a third of domestic waste and enough to fill more than 1,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Dr Khor noted that the voluntary Singapore Packaging Agreement has cumulatively reduced almost 39,000 tonnes of packaging waste since its inception in 2007.

More will be done to reduce packaging waste at source, she said. "By 2021, we will mandate that businesses report on the type and amount of packaging they put on the market and their plans for reduction."


No plan to impose plastic bag levy, other types of disposable bags not much greener: Amy Khor
A study found that the regular use of a reusable bag over a year could replace the use of 125 single-use plastic bags, or 52 single-use paper bags.
Samantha Boh and Audrey Tan Straits Times 6 Mar 18;

SINGAPORE - There are no plans to introduce a levy on plastic bags, and replacing them with bio-degradable or paper bags may not be that much greener.

"Imposing a charge or ban on disposable plastic bags and substituting them with other types of disposable bags is unlikely to improve environmental outcomes," said Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, on Tuesday (March 6) during the debate on her ministry's budget.

Every type of disposable bag, be it a bio-degradable bag or a paper bag, affects the environment, whether it is through carbon emissions, heavy water use or significant land clearance, Dr Khor said, citing a study commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA), which comes under her ministry.

She was replying to a question from Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC), who had asked if the ministry would consider imposing a levy on plastic bags to reduce their excessive consumption.

The study had looked at the environmental impact of various disposables, including carrier bags. One of its key findings is that the regular use of a reusable bag over a year could replace the use of 125 single-use plastic bags, or 52 single-use paper bags.

Similarly, the study also found that the regular use of one reusable container over five years could replace the use of 3,650 single-use plates.

The study, led by National University of Singapore scientist Kua Harn Wei, found that despite the claims of retailers here who offer biodegradable bags as greener alternatives to plastic bags, both types of bags required the same amount of resources to make.

Both also have similar environmental impacts when incinerated.

"The study concluded that consumers can generally reduce their environmental impact by using reusable bags and food containers instead of disposables," said Dr Khor.

In Singapore, waste is incinerated and not left in landfills to degrade.

The excessive use of plastic bags was a concern also raised by Non-Constituency MP Dennis Tan of the Workers' Party.

The latest available figure for the number of plastic bags used in Singapore dates back to 2011, when the Singapore Environment Council did a study to show that three billion plastic bags were used that year.

But the figure could be much higher.

NEA figures show that some 822,200 tonnes of plastic waste were generated in 2016, of which only 7 per cent was recycled. Of the 762,700 tonnes of remaining plastic waste, plastic bags constituted about a fifth. The average weight of a single-use plastic bag such as those distributed at supermarkets is 5.5g. This means that 27 billion bags - nine times more than SEC's 2011 estimate - were not recycled.

BETTER TO TACKLE USE OF DISPOSABLES

Dr Khor noted that plastic bags are necessary for responsible and hygienic bagging of waste in Singapore's moist, tropical climate.

"In Singapore, a more sustainable approach is to tackle the excessive consumption of all types of disposables," she added, saying her ministry is working with stakeholders to reduce the excessive use of plastic bags and disposables such as single-use food containers.

For example, Dr Khor said food delivery company Foodpanda is working on a trial where customers can opt out of disposable cutlery use when ordering food.

Last year, environmental group Zero Waste Singapore launched an innovative Bring Your Own Singapore campaign to incentivise consumers to take along their own reusable bags or containers with them to eateries and supermarkets to earn discounts or free gifts.

Other retailers, however, have been imposing plastic bag levies within their premises.

For example, Japanese lifestyle brand Miniso said usage dropped 75 per cent after it imposed a 10-cent charge per plastic bag in April.

On its part, the NEA will explore ways to reduce the use of disposables.

For a start, hawkers at new hawker centres managed by NEA or by NEA-appointed managing agents - such as those in Our Tampines Hub, Pasir Ris Central and Yishun Park - have already been prohibited from providing disposables to patrons who dine in.

PACKAGING WASTE

In line with Singapore's Zero Waste vision, Dr Khor also outlined plans to reduce packaging waste.

The Republic produced about 557,000 tonnes of packaging waste last year - a third of household waste - enough to fill more than 1,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Dr Khor noted that the voluntary Singapore Packaging Agreement has cumulatively reduced almost 39,000 tonnes of packaging waste since its inception in 2007.

She said: "We will continue to support such efforts while holistically tackling the broader issue upstream by reducing all types of packaging waste at source.

"By 2021, we will mandate that businesses report on the type and amount of packaging they put on the market and their plans for reduction. We will start industry consultations this year."

Read more!

S$3.6m scheme launched by Municipal Services Office for small-scale infrastructure work

Today Online 6 Mar 18;

SINGAPORE – A new S$3.6 million scheme will allow the Municipal Services Office (MSO) to help with small-scale infrastructure projects over the next two years, said Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu in Parliament on Tuesday (March 6).

The Local Infrastructure Projects (LIP) scheme for small-scale infrastructure on State Land in 2018 will look into matters such as the installation of handrails at footbridges, and lighting along footpaths, for example.

Ms Fu said that while there are well established funding schemes such as the Land Transport Authorty’s (LTA) Walk2Ride Scheme and the Ministry of National Development’s (MND) Estate Upgrading Programme, “funding gaps for small-scale infrastructure at the local level do exist from time to time.”

As a result, the MSO piloted a small funding scheme in 2014 to plug the gap, and it received some 140 infrastructure requests. Minister Fu, who also oversees the MSO, said: “These are small scale but nevertheless important requests that make a positive different to residents’ daily living, such as having handrails up a footbridge crossing Geylang River, and lightings along a footpath near Punggol Point LRT station.”

The success of the pilot prompted the MSO to launch the LIP scheme, she added.

Besides the new scheme, the MSO also worked with other government agencies, Town Councils and residents to “reduce overlaps and duplications, plug gaps in the municipal landscapes and deliver better living experiences for our residents,” said Ms Fu.

The MSO was formed three years ago to improve coordination for cross-cutting issues between multiple agencies, such as the provision and maintenance of local infrastructure, and the hoarding of items in Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats.

Minister Fu pointed out that government agencies, Town Councils and the MSO have made good progress in improving municipal service delivery. While it took 16 working days in end-2015 to resolve 90 per cent of “complex feedback involving multiple parties”, it now takes 11 working days.

The MSO’s OneService (OS) platform for residents to provide feedback and access information saw the number of registered users increasing by 43 per cent to 114,000 in 2017, while the number of cases submitted doubled to 153,000.

The OS App, which was introduced in 2015, had six reporting categories then for residents to report municipal issues to government agencies. That has expanded to 11 categories, and covers not just municipal issues under the purview of government agencies, but those of town councils and private entities. For instance, residents are now able to report indiscriminately parked share bicycles to the operators via the OS app.

In the coming year, residents will also be able to use the OS channels to perform transactions, participate in community events, and provide feedback and comments on local improvement programmes, said Ms Fu.

She added: “In the long term, we hope to make the OS channels a onestop platform to address their municipal needs comprehensively.”

While there are more efforts from agencies to work together, Ms Fu acknowledged that “there remain municipal issues falling in grey areas” that the MSO can help with.

She said that the MSO is focused on inter-agency processes that are not apparent to the public, such as dealing with pigeon-related nuisances, animal hoarding, and the management of outdoor areas.

In the case of pigeon-related matters, the town councils oversee the cleaning of common areas, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority takes enforcement action against pigeon feeders, while the National Environment Agency takes enforcement action if there is high-rise littering. The MSO helped to formulate end-to-end workflows to clarify roles and responsibilities, and tighten coordination in the handling of such cases, said Minister Fu.

She added: “Moving forward, MSO will continue to engage our residents and stakeholders to identify more of such grey areas where we can improve coordination and support the agencies and Town Councils in their efforts to serve residents better.”

Read more!

Ubin getaway for wheelchair users

Island tour by initiative aiming to raise awareness about accessibility
Rahimah Rashith Straits Times 7 Mar 18;

After a stroke limited movement on the left side of Mr Jurani Basri's body, the 22-year-old gave up playing football with his friends and would rarely go far from his home in Sengkang.

But last Friday, he journeyed as far as Pulau Ubin, with 119 other wheelchair users, their caregivers and volunteer chaperones. It was made possible by community initiative Wheels@Ubin (W@U), which aims to raise awareness about accessibility in Singapore.

Many of the wheelchair users and the disabled were on the island for the first time.

This is the second W@U event. The first, in 2015, enabled wheelchair users to celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday on the island.

Accompanying the group for a tour of Ubin island were W@U co-founder Dennis Quek, 55, and Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee.

Said Mr Lee: "Wheels@Ubin demonstrates how the community can partner the Government and private organisations to build an inclusive society.

"This is a key thrust of the third Enabling Masterplan, and we will continue to work with the community to make our spaces accessible and inclusive."

The third Enabling Masterplan is a national road map that guides initiatives to better coordinate services for the disability sector, from last year till 2021.

Mr Lee, who is also the Second Minister for National Development, urged more people to step forward and make more shared spaces accessible to all, including the elderly and people with disabilities.

Besides touring the island, the participants watched musical performances by students of Republic and Ngee Ann polytechnics, as well as visited the Singapore Navy's museum in Changi Naval Base.

Mr Quek said that the activities are a reminder "to our wheelchair-bound friends and able-bodied people that being disabled is not being 'un-abled' ".

SMRT taxis also played a part in the Friday excursion, ferrying 115 people in the group from their homes to Changi Sailing Club, where they boarded the navy's utility craft.

Said Mr Jurani: "(The trip) allowed me to go out and make friends, and take my mind off my disability."

Read more!

‘Strategic’ food farms to get more funding help from AVA

LOUISA TANG Today Online 6 Mar 17;

SINGAPORE — Farmers who want to make the leap to more productive farming systems will receive co-funding of up to S$2 million from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), nearly triple the current cap of S$700,000.

The increased co-funding, under the AVA’s Agriculture Productivity Fund’s productivity enhancement component, will be given to “strategic food farms” producing commonly consumed items – hen eggs, leafy vegetables, food fish, quail eggs and bean sprouts.

“Many farmers have told us that they are happy to adopt more productive technology. Advanced greenhouse systems with environmental controls and automation, which can double production, can cost around S$4 million. We appreciate that this poses challenges,” said Senior Minister of State for National Development Koh Poh Koon on Tuesday (March 6).

And because several rounds of trials may be needed before farmers commit to a particular technology or system, the Government will introduce a new test-bedding component to the Agriculture Productivity Fund, said Dr Koh at his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate in Parliament. It will provide 70 per cent co-funding for test-bedding projects, with a cap of S$500,000.

For farms growing ornamental fish, aquatic plants, birds, crocodiles, mushrooms, cattle, goats, and frogs, the AVA will continue to provide 30 per cent co-funding of up to S$300,000 for productivity enhancement and up to S$100,000 for test-bedding projects.

The S$63 million Agriculture Productivity Fund was launched in 2014. Of the 140 applications as of the end-February, the AVA has approved 105 projects from 68 farms and committed about S$12 million.

The authorities will also do more to ensure farms have skilled local manpower, said Dr Koh. Temasek Polytechnic will launch a new Earn and Learn work-study programme to attract graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to the aquaculture industry.

Under the programme, participating farms can receive incentives of up to S$15,000 for each graduate to defray training costs. Six food fish farms including Barramundi Asia, Apollo Aquaculture Group and Metropolitan Fishery Group have pledged their support.

The starting monthly salary of the ITE graduates under the programme is S$1,200 to S$1,600.

Of the eight who have applied, one has been recruited while the rest will know next week if they are successful. They will begin their 12-month stint next month.

And to help increase demand for local produce, Dr Koh announced that SG Farmers’ Markets will be brought to the heartlands by August. The first one was held at Serangoon Gardens’ myVillage mall last September.


More help for local farmers to improve productivity with technology: Koh Poh Koon
Channel NewsAsia 6 Mar 18;

SINGAPORE: To better support the agriculture industry in improving productivity, Senior Minister of State for National Development Koh Poh Koon said that the Agriculture Productivity Fund (APF) will be enhanced.

"Many farmers have told us that they are happy to adopt more productive technology. However, new farming systems require heavy capital investments. Advanced greenhouse systems with environmental controls and automation, which can double their production can cause around S$4 million," he said.

The funding cap for projects under the Productivity Enhancement (PE) scheme will be increased from S$700,000 to S$2,000,000.

The PE will also include a new test-bedding fund which will allow farmers to test new technology and run trials before committing at a commercial scale, with a funding cap of S$500,000 for food farms that want to try new solutions.

Under the new APF scheme, the categories of farms have also been tweaked.

Farm categories have been streamlined from three to two. Farms under Category 1 will remain the same, which includes commonly consumed items like hen and quail eggs, leafy vegetables, bean sprouts and food fish.

Farms under Category 2 will now include all other types of farms, such as ornamental fish farms to mushroom farms.

Dr Koh also gave an update on APF applicants since launch in 2014. As of end February, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority has received 140 applications for the APF. Of those, 105 projects from 68 farms have been approved with about S$12 million committed so far.

Applications for the enhanced APF will be accepted from May 1.

TRAINING A SINGAPOREAN WORKFORCE

Under a new "Earn and Learn" work-study programme, ITE graduates will join Temasek Polytechnic to undergo a one-year programme to train at aquaculture farms, Dr Koh announced.

"It will provide a talent pipeline to ensure our farms have skilled manpower to undertake transformation and innovation. ... I hope that our farmers will take this opportunity to create a positive learning experience for the graduates. This will encourage our young talent to enter and stay in the industry," said Dr Koh.

The students will undergo training in aquaculture skills with a focus on high density urban farming. It will include knowledge areas such as nutrition and feed, disease management, and husbandry and breeding.

Currently, eight ITE graduates have submitted their applications to the programme. The starting salary for ITE graduates undergoing this programme is between S$1,200 and S$1,600.

Source: CNA/fs


Farmers in Singapore to be given more help to raise productivity
Audrey Tan Straits Times 6 Mar 18;

SINGAPORE - More help will be given to farmers in the Republic to buffer against any global food supply shocks due to climate change.

This will be done on three fronts - making it easier for farmers to get financial help to adopt technology, growing a pipeline of talent through work-study programmes, as well as rolling out initiatives to boost demand for local produce such as organising more farmers' markets.

These were announced by Senior Minister of State for National Development Koh Poh Koon on Tuesday (March 6) during the debate on his ministry's budget.

On the provision of more financial help, Dr Koh said that enhancements will be made to the existing Agriculture Productivity Fund to make it easier for farmers to employ technology. This will be done by raising the co-funding cap from $700,000 to $2 million for food farms that produce eggs, food fish, leafy vegetables and bean sprouts.

"Many farmers have told us that they are happy to adopt more productive technology. However, new farming systems require heavy capital investments. Advanced greenhouse systems with environmental controls and automation, which can double production, can cost around $4 million," Dr Koh said.

The increase in co-funding cap will help farmers take this leap, he added.

However, Dr Koh noted that not all available technologies in the market can be adopted wholesale in Singapore, due to varying local conditions.

To this end, farmers will be given assistance in testing these new systems prior to large-scale deployment, to ensure that the technology can be adapted to our local conditions and products.

"We will now introduce a new test-bedding component to the Agriculture Productivity Fund to co-fund up to $500,000 for food farms that want to test-bed new solutions," he said.

Dr Koh was responding to Non-Constituency MP Leon Perera and Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who had asked for updates on Singapore's agricultural sector.

Singapore imports more than 90 per cent of its food, but the 200 food farms here help to buffer the nation against global supply disruptions due to factors such as climate change.

Dr Koh said various government efforts will strengthen the ecosystem and operating environment for local farms.

He added: "But as the industry matures, we also need to start looking at the wider food value chain. We will continue to work towards creating an enabling environment to keep our local agricultural sector commercially viable and sustainable."

Read more!

See the greatest migration in Malaysia

ANDREW SIA The Star 6 Mar 18;

Do you want catch sight of migrants from Indonesia crossing over into Malaysia? Then you may want to go to Port Dickson this weekend (March 10 – 11).

But don’t expect humans jammed into boats; instead, you have to look skywards to see one of the greatest wildlife migrations in the world.

Every spring, thousands of large birds called raptors fly up to 10,000km over 60 or 70 days, leaving their wintering sites in Indonesia and Australia to head north to their breeding sites in China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia and Siberia.

This great highway in the sky is called the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

The good news is that Malaysia has a toll-free plaza right smack in the middle of this route – at the Tanjung Tuan (Cape Rachado) Forest Reserve in Melaka, just next to the famous Blue Lagoon beach at Port Dickson. And there is yearly event here called Raptor Watch that captures this amazing spectacle of nature.

But why this place? If you look at the map, Tanjung Tuan is a hilly promontory or headland that juts out into the sea, making this the narrowest part of the Straits of Melaka between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia.

While flying, raptors do not like crossing huge bodies of water. Rather, these large, heavy birds prefer land routes which have thermals or hot air currents which can lift them up for hundreds of metres, almost without effort.

As these raptors cross over from Sumatra, they lose altitude as the thermals cool and soon they have to flap their wings to stay airborne. After they cross the Straits of Melaka, the birds will have used lots of energy and will be flying low at the Raptor Watch event site, allowing a good view of these magnificent creatures.

The tired birds will be able to get much-needed rest in Tanjung Tuan and rise again with the thermals generated here. On a sunny day, especially between 11am and 3pm (the best time to watch the migration), be prepared to see many raptors gliding in circles as they ascend an invisible spiral staircase of hot air, before continuing their migration northwards.

Tanjung Tuan has been listed as an important location for raptors by the National Geographic Society and BirdLife International. It’s a crucial stopover site as it provides food for the raptors as well as a resting place. For raptors arriving late in the evening, the forests here provides shelter for the night before they fly again next day.

The term “raptors” is derived from a Latin word “rapere”, meaning to “take by force”, as these are birds of prey. It’s also the term for dinosaurs like “velociraptors” (dinosaurs with bird-like hips that walked on two legs) – which became the inspiration for the voracious beasts shown in Steven Spielberg’s movie Jurassic Park.

History, forests and views

Having been to Raptor Watch several times over the years, this writer is looking forward to the 19th edition of this event.

Last year, 31,054 raptors were counted as they rode the winds and filled the skies over two weeks – 90% of them were Oriental Honey buzzards. Other species seen were the Black baza, Grey-Faced buzzard, Chinese goshawk and Peregrine falcon. Malaysia has 46 raptor species, of which 25 are migrants.

Raptor Watch has been organised by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) – with the support of the Melaka and Negeri Sembilan State Governments – annually since 2000, and it’s an amazing opportunity to see and learn more about our winged guests in their natural environment.

There is a festive air as hundreds of people come to observe and photograph the birds as they cross the Straits of Melaka. MNS will set up telescopes and binoculars so that visitors can get an even closer look at the birds.

Raptors have very powerful legs and feet with sharp curved talons. They also have strong hooked beaks. Unlike other birds, they have two forward-facing eyes – this gives them binocular vision, enabling them to swoop in on prey from long distances away.

They also have thick “eye-brows” but this is not a Japanese cosplay feature. Rather, it’s an adaptation to block light and help the birds focus better, giving them the majestic “eagle” look.

There will also be lots of exciting nature activities for all the family, including a “Nature’s Race”, face painting for children, colouring competitions, guided nature walks and exciting booths to be visited. All these are what make Raptor Watch one of Malaysia’s most famous ecotourism events.

Apart from the birds, there’s lots of nature, scenic views and history to appreciate here too.

This strategic and scenic promontory is believed to be the burial place for Parameswara, the first ruler of Melaka – hence the Malay name Tanjung Tuan.

This is also where Malaysia’s oldest lighthouse is found, which is believed to stretch back to 1528, soon after the Portuguese conquest of Melaka, hence the name Cape Rachado Lighthouse (or “Broken Cape” in Portuguese).

In 1606, one of the largest naval battles of its time, the Battle of Cape Rachado was fought in the seas here between a Dutch fleet of 11 ships and a Portuguese fleet of 20 ships. The lighthouse passed over into Dutch control after their conquest of Melaka in 1641.

However, the present building is from British times in 1863, and a new tower with a Measat radar was added in 1990. It is this rich history which makes this headland a small part of Melaka, even though it’s in the middle of Negeri Sembilan.

Precious little forest

While resting in Malaysia, these flying tourists will also “spend” on the local economy, by feasting on abundant local food, such as bees, little birds, lizards and other small animals.

Another important reason that the birds come here is that this is one of the few remaining patches of coastal rainforest on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. In 2002, there was commercial pressure to develop it for tourist resorts, but fortunately the authorities maintained the protected status of the forest.

One important reason was the fear that the large birds would divert their traditional migration route and end up interfering with flights at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in nearby Sepang. In fact, while you are gazing skywards here, you will see planes regularly landing and taking off from KLIA.

This writer highly recommends going through the forest reserve up to the lighthouse – guided walks will be organised by MNS. In fact, Raptor Watch will be a rare opportunity to enter this lighthouse, which is normally closed to the public.

Apart from the amazing sight of raptors arriving, there are amazing views of the sea. On a clear day, it may even be possible to catch a glimpse of Sumatra.

From the lighthouse, there are steep paths (with steps) through pristine forests down to two isolated beaches – this is a raw and rugged Port Dickson as you’ve never seen before.

One beach has a huge rock with a footprint, said to have been implanted by either the Melaka warrior Hang Tuah, Chinese Admiral Cheng Ho or the elusive Princess of Gunung Ledang – depending on which legend you choose to believe in. In some old maps, this place is marked as a keramat or spiritual site.

After years of monitoring the birds, MNS has determined that the peak period to watch the birds is in the middle of March, so Raptor Watch will be held for two days during the second weekend of March 10 – 11.

The festivities will be centred at the PNB Ilham Resort next to the entrance gate going up to the lighthouse (near the Blue Lagoon beach). The times are from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, March 10, and from 9am to 1pm on Sunday, March 11.

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Indonesia: Sinking shoreline threatens coastal communities

Kanupriya Kapoor Reuters 7 Mar 18;

MUARA GEMBONG, Indonesia, March 7 (Reuters) - Nur Anisa Rahmadani has to wade through shin-deep seawater to get to her primary school in Pantai Bahagia village on the north coast of Indonesia’s Java island.

Almost every day, the sea, which used to lap the shore a few kilometres away, floods her schoolyard and classrooms – clear evidence of the threat that Java's sinking coastline poses to millions of people. (Click reut.rs/2H9r3CY to see a picture package about Indonesia's sinking coastline)

Experts say Pantai Bahagia, or “Happy Beach”, and scores of other villages and towns along the shoreline are being inundated because of a grim combination of man-made environmental destruction and climate change.

“On the one hand, we face climate change that causes sea levels to rise,” said I Nyoman Suryadiputra, director of the Wetlands International Indonesia conservation group.

At the same time, he said, the extraction of groundwater for use in big cities like the capital, Jakarta, is causing the subsidence of land along the coast.

Roughly 40 percent of Jakarta is below sea level and a new sea wall has had to be built in a bid to hold back the waves.

Still, large areas in the north of the city are regularly inundated, forcing businesses to pile up sandbags for protection while food stalls feed the hungry with water sloshing around their feet.

Hundreds of kilometres to the east, in the seaside town of Demak, residents prop up their fridges and televisions on concrete blocks to keep them out of the murky water that flows into their homes during high tides.

Some have simply abandoned their homes as the sea creeps closer.

BENEFITS OF MANGROVES

Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, has about 81,000 km (50,000 miles) of coastline, making it particularly vulnerable to climate change.

It is also home to more than a fifth of the world’s mangrove forests, which naturally help keep the tides out. But only 3 million hectares of mangroves remain, down from nearly double that three decades ago, according to Wetlands International.

For years, coastal communities have chopped down the mangrove forests to clear the way for fish and shrimp farms, and for rice fields.

In some places, hundreds of metres of coast that used to be lined with mangroves have now been swallowed up by the sea.

The government has scrambled to work with environmental groups to replant mangroves, build dykes and relocate some people.

But many residents, mostly poor fishermen and vendors, are either reluctant to leave their old family homes or simply have nowhere to go further inland on crowded Java.

“I hope to be able to move, but my family has lived here for decades. Where can I go?” said Udin, a 30-year old fisherman in Pantai Bahagia, 90 km (56 miles) east of Jakarta.

Udin said he has had to raise his wooden house higher on its stilts twice in recent years. Nearby, the tides are slowly claiming the village mosque and cemetery.

“Only some of us are aware of the benefits of mangroves. There needs to be more collective responsibility,” Udin said.

Despite the nearly daily flood at her school, 10-year old Rahmadani and her classmates are undeterred.

“I stay in school and keep up my spirits up because I want to pursue my ambition of being a lecturer,” she said.

Additional reporting by Zahra Matarani Editing by Karishma Singh, Robert Birsel

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Indonesia: More than 1,000 houses inundated as flash floods hit West Nusa Tenggara

Panca Nugraha The Jakarta Post 6 Mar 18;

Flash floods struck the districts of Dompu and Woja in Dompu regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) on Monday afternoon following high-intensity rain that lasted more than two hours.

According to the NTB Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), at least 1,000 homes in several villages and subdistricts were inundated, forcing more than 3,000 people to evacuate the areas.

“Floodwater began to cover Dompu and Woja districts at around 4:45 p.m. local time. The flooding was likely due to the overflow of water from Rabalaju River, whose retaining walls were not able to accommodate the increase in water volume,” BPBD-NTB head Muhammad Rum said on Monday evening.

In Dompu, flooding hit three subdistricts, namely Karake, Karijawa and Potu. Meanwhile, in Woja district, the subdistricts of Kandai Dua, Simpasai and Wawonduru were inundated.

Floodwater in the two districts also inundated public facilities, such as community health centers (Puskesmas) and schools. No fatalities or injuries have been reported.

“The material losses are still being calculated,” Rum added.

Floodwater began to recede at around 8:19 p.m. local time. However, thousands of people affected by the floos have yet to return to their homes.

“The BPBD-NTB moved to disaster sites to offer assistance and to distribute emergency relief. In Dompu, logistics, including the installment of public kitchens, have been distributed to affected areas,” said Rum. (ebf)

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India's endangered lion population increases to 600

AFP Yahoo News 6 Mar 18;

Ahmedabad (India) (AFP) - The endangered Asiatic lion, which only lives in one forest in India, has fought back from the verge of extinction, with its population increasing to more than 600, a minister said Tuesday hailing a major conservation campaign.

The lion, which once roamed across southwest Asia but is now restricted to the 1,400 square kilometre (545 square mile) Gir sanctuary in Gujarat state, was listed as critically endangered in 2000, with its population under threat due to hunting and human encroachment on its habitat.

A recent unofficial count found more than 600 lions in the area, up from 523 in a 2015 census, Gujarat's chief minister Vijay Rupani said.

"Our efforts for lion conservation with support of local people have yielded good results. The number of lions now in Gujarat has reached the 600 mark," Rupani said.

In the late 1960s only about 180 Asiatic lions were thought to survive but an improvement in numbers prompted conservationists to raise their assessment to endangered in 2008.

The population is currently growing at about two percent a year, according to A.P. Singh, a state forest and wildlife conservationist.

The cats are cousins of the African lion -- they are believed to have split away 100,000 years ago -- but are slightly smaller and have a distinctive fold of skin along their bellies.

They are a major tourist attraction in Gujarat where in the past they were the target of poachers.

Priyavrat Gadhvi, a member of Gujarat's wildlife board, credited conservation schemes, well-trained staff and vets as well as help from farmers for the recovery in numbers.

"There is tremendous support from the local population in Gujarat who are tolerant despite lions attacking their cattle. This is coupled with effective conservation management and skilled staff at ground level," he told AFP.

Gadhvi predicted a "steady growth" in numbers in coming years. The next official census will be in 2020.

Conservationists have suggested relocating some of the cats to another sanctuary, to reduce human-animal conflict and avoid the risk of the Asiatic lion being wiped out by disease or a natural disaster.

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Best of our wild blogs: 6 Mar 18

10-18 Mar: "Our Home, Their Home” at Seletar Mall
celebrating singapore shores

18 March (Sun) - Free guided walk at Chek Jawa Boardwalk
Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

24 March (Sat) - Free guided walk at Pasir Ris Mangroves
Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

24th March 2018 (Saturday): Herp Walk @ Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Herpetological Society of Singapore

Seashore fun for the family during the March school holidays
Celebrating Singapore Shores!

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How Benjamin Swan is spearheading sustainable farming in Singapore

Trailblazers under 40: Co-founder and CEO of Sustenir Agriculture has a grand and green vision to share.
KAREN TEE The Peak 5 Mar 18;

Built to be completely sealed off from the external environment, Sustenir Agriculture’s high-tech farming facility in the Admiralty industrial estate offers a glimpse of the future for food. The brainchild of Benjamin Swan, a former engineer, the 8,000 sq ft farm comprises tiers of tightly packed plants illuminated by colourful LED lights. Anyone entering must don lab coats and surgical masks before undergoing an air shower to ensure that no foreign material is introduced. “The plants are 100 per cent clean and are free of pesticides and pollution such as heavy metal contamination. Freshly harvested, they can be eaten unwashed,” says the 37-year-old co-founder and CEO of Sustenir.

He plucks kale and arugula leaves, cherry tomatoes and strawberries right off the plants, offering them around for a taste. Nurtured with a careful mix of nutrients, the kale isn’t as bitter and fibrous as regular kale, the arugula has a pleasant peppery aftertaste, and the fruits are intensely sweet and juicy.

The patented farming system enables precise calibrations in lighting, nutrients, temperature and air – allowing the crops to grow in half the time required of traditional farming and with 95 per cent less water, says Swan. In a 54 sq m space, Sustenir’s growing system produces one tonne of kale per month and double that for lettuce.

Swan, who’s always been passionate about sustainability, grew up spending a lot of time at his grandfather’s cattle ranch just outside Sydney, where he cultivated an appreciation for the natural world. When the Australian moved to Singapore in 2008 as a construction manager for Marina Bay Sands, it was to work on the building’s green features. Subsequently, as regional project manager at Citibank, he oversaw the construction of its regional offices to meet sustainability standards.

In 2012, he read an article about vertical farms and believed his skills in project management and engineering put him in an advantageous position to increase the efficiency of those operations. That very night, he sketched a series of prototypes for an indoor farm system that could be set up in any building. To refine the model, he spent the next six months meeting farm operators and professors around the world. “Not having an agriculture background allowed me to think outside the box, speak to the professionals about they way they did things and take sound bites from everyone to craft my own hypothesis,” he says. To test his theories, he set up a makeshift “farm” in the basement of co-founder Martin Lavoo’s home. There, he experimented with the conditions affecting plant growth, playing with multiple permutations of everything from light to nutrients. “We’ve taken farming from analogue to digital by capturing big data around plants,” he says, of the 18 months he spent testing about 48 iterations of the system before launching Sustenir in 2013. To date, the company has been self-funded by Swan and Lavoo.

Today, the facility is producing at full capacity and grows arugula, lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, and two types of kale. The kale, harvested daily, is sold at over 50 Cold Storage outlets and supplied to restaurants including Les Amis, Da Paolo, Tung Lok Group and Salad Stop.

He emphasises that Sustenir has no intention to drive local farms out of business. “We grow non-native crops that otherwise wouldn’t do well in these environments.” Sustenir’s kale, for example, can keep for two weeks. At $8 for 200g, the company’s Toscano kale retails for 20 per cent less than imported organic American kale.

This year, Sustenir is setting up a farm in Hong Kong. There are also plans to establish an R&D laboratory to further improve the efficiency of crop growing. Swan sees this as just the beginning. “Unlike other growers that need to build a superstructure to house their equipment, our growing environment has been designed to go into any building as a plug-and-play system. We could take over dilapidated buildings or abandoned lots to grow amazing produce for the community. It’s an opportunity to fight the good fight and make a difference.”

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From foreign mussel to American bullfrog: A guide to invasive species in Singapore

Audrey Tan Straits Times 5 Mar 18;

SINGAPORE - Invasive mussels from the Americas have invaded the Republic's northern coast, spreading fast and forming dense mats that nature groups fear could have a negative impact on native animals here.

Rare horseshoe crabs and the Asian green mussel are among the native species that could be muscled out by the American brackish-water mussel.

Last Friday (March 2), scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) said at a media briefing that they had uncovered the identity of this strange mussel first observed here in 2016. This was done through genetic work and comparisons of the mussel with museum specimens around the world. They found this was the first time that Mytella strigata has been recorded in Singapore waters.

WHAT ARE INVASIVE SPECIES, AND WHAT HARM DO THEY CAUSE?

These are animals or plants from another region of the world that do not belong in their new environment, according to the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

"They can be introduced to an area by ship ballast water, accidental release, and most often, by people. Invasive species can lead to the extinction of native plants and animals, destroy biodiversity, and permanently alter habitats," said the NOAA on its website.

Since invasive species do not belong in the environment in which they are introduced, they lack natural predators that can keep their numbers in check.

Mr Lim Liang Jim, group director of the National Parks Board's (NParks) National Biodiversity Centre, said most alien species are known to be hardy and are capable of establishing quickly in new environments.

"They can multiply rapidly and compete with native species for resources such as food and shelter. In some cases, this can result in the disruption of native ecosystems. Alien species often pose a threat to native species which tend to have more specific niches," Mr Lim told The Straits Times.

The impact of the American mussel, observed to form clumps of up to 10,000 individuals, on local ecology is still being studied.

But Dr Serena Teo, one of the mussel study's lead researchers, said: "The Asian green mussel is widely cultured in South-east Asia. From our field studies, it appears that Mytella strigata would be a problem for fish farmers as it competes for space on mussel recruitment nets. This may have an economic impact as the much larger kupang would fetch a better price." The kupang is the colloquial name for the Asian green mussel.

However, Dr Teo, a senior research fellow at NUS' Tropical Marine Science Institute, pointed out that the Asian green mussel is a hardy species, and is considered an aggressive invasive species in the Americas. "It is unlikely to be easily trampled out," she said.

HOW DO WE MANAGE INVASIVE SPECIES?

Following news of the invasive mussel from the Americas, many readers wanted to know if they can be eaten. The NUS researchers do not recommend eating them as a way of reducing their numbers. For one, there is no way of knowing how much toxins are in them. Mussels are filter feeders and toxins they take in could accumulate.

Invasive species can be brought in by ships too. Dr Teo said countries such as Australia and New Zealand have biosecurity laws which control the human transport of organisms into the country.

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments seeks to control the transport of organisms in ship ballast water. Singapore acceded to the convention which came into force internationally on Sept 8 last year, she said.

Ballast tanks on ships are filled or emptied of seawater to keep a ship stable.

Under the convention, all ships in international traffic are required to manage their ballast water and sediments to a certain standard. The International Maritime Organisation website said ships will eventually need to install an on-board ballast water treatment system, although an intermediate solution would be to exchange ballast water mid-ocean, instead of at ports.

Invasive species can also be introduced into local environments through the pet trade. NParks tries to reduce this route by educating people against releasing animals or unwanted pets into parks and nature reserves.

Mr Lim said NParks works with various agencies and non-government groups, including volunteers, to deal with this threat.

He said: "Conservation management, legislation and public education are the key measures used to deal with this threat. The most effective way to deal with the impact of invasive species is to prevent invasions before they even occur."

Those caught releasing animals can be fined up to $50,000 under the Parks and Trees Act.

WHAT OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES ARE THERE IN SINGAPORE?

According to NParks, these are some other examples of invasive species that can now be found in Singapore:

RED-EARED SLIDER (TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA ELEGANS)

This turtle species, native to eastern and central US, is commonly sold in the pet trade. The terrapins are highly productive and can quickly establish a feral population when introduced into reservoirs. Their presence can affect native freshwater turtles such as the Malayan box turtle. A female slider can produce up to a dozen eggs twice a year, and out-breeds the Malayan box turtle, for example, which lays only two eggs each time.

AMERICAN BULLFROG (LITHOBATES CATESBEIANUS)

These bullfrogs from the Americas are known to breed prolifically and compete with local frogs for food and space. Brought into Singapore as part of the food trade, this frog is commonly sold at coffee shops and markets for food, and in the pet trade as pet or bait for other aquatic animals.

CICHLIDS (GEOPHAGUS SP)

A common discard from the aquarium trade, fish such as Geophagus altifrons are naturally found in the Amazon River basin in Brazil. They are also known as earth-eaters for their feeding habits. As they search for food, they gulp and stir up reservoir sediments.This increases the murkiness of the water and may cause nutrients to be released from the sediments, affecting reservoir ecology.

AUSTRALIAN RED-CLAW CRAYFISH (CHERAX QUADRICARINATUS)

A commonly-sold ornamental aquarium species in Singapore, the crayfish is a potential carrier of diseases that can infect other invertebrates. It is native to Australia, but is posing a problem in many other countries where they are considered invasive, including places such as Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico and South Africa.

GOLDEN APPLE SNAIL (POMACEA CANALICULATA)

Classified as a pest, the golden apple snail originally from South America is among the top 100 of the world's most invasive species. In 2012, the European Union banned all imports of snails belonging to the genus Pomacea because of their destructive impact on agriculture.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, they were likely to have been introduced to South-east Asia as a food item. The snail lays pink eggs in clusters of hundreds up to a thousand, one reason why native species of apple snails, which lay eggs only in the hundreds, are being crowded out.

Source: NParks, IUCN, Catalogue of Life

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Malaysia: Six rowdy Sabah jumbos caught

The Star 6 Mar 18;

KOTA KINABALU: Six elephants out of a herd of 20, which had been damaging the property and crops of villagers in Sabah’s central Telupid district, have been captured by rangers from the state’s Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU).

WRU acting manager Dr Diana Ramirez said they included several aggressive ones.

“Our latest capture was a female elephant, one of the identified aggressive ones,” she said in a statement.

Dr Ramirez said they were working hard to keep elephants and villagers safe.

“Things are going as planned so far,” she added.

One of the males named Telupid, which was captured earlier, will be released at a forest reserve far from villagers.

Dr Ramirez added the herd, including several calves, had gone into plantations, housing areas, schools and the Beluran police station in search for food.



Telupid elephant crisis: Seven unruly pachyderms captured for translocation
KRISTY INUS New Straits Times 7 mar 18;

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) has captured a herd of seven elephants which has been wreaking havoc in the Telupid area – five of which have already been translocated.

Its director Augustine Tuuga said the seventh pachyderm, a female, was caught yesterday.

The six elephants caught earlier were captured between Feb 22 and March 5, and comprise three female adults, two male adults and a male calf.

"The last two caught, both female, are waiting for the Hitachi (company to make) translocation arrangements," he said when contacted.

While the earlier-captured elephants were released in the Imbak forest reserve, the last two are likely to be sent to the Deramakot forest reserve.

Asked about the cost of operations so far, Augustine replied: "We have not counted (the total), but the estimate is RM30,000 per translocation.

"But there is also a lot of (assistance) coming from individuals and private companies, including food for the elephants while waiting for translocation," he added.

On what suggestions the Department will make when they meet with Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun this week to discuss human-elephant conflicts, he declined to elaborate.

Previously, the NSTP reported that elephants have been trespassing through several villages in Telupid, with the most recent incident involving cases of pachyderms entering a secondary school and separately, a police station.

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