Malaysia: Three states yet to gazette water catchment areas

The Star 3 Aug 19;

PETALING JAYA: Three states – Johor, Perak and Penang have yet to gazette their forest reserve water catchment areas, says the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry.The ministry pointed out that the catchment areas for the three states totalled 139, 290 acres (56, 370ha).

The National Land Council chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (pic) has asked for these state governments to take immediate action.

“The reason for gazetting is to preserve the source of water and the nation’s forest from being encroached upon and turned into development areas.

“It is a concern that these areas will be affected by development, which could undermine our forests and waters, ” it said in a statement.

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Malaysia: Breeder boosts horseshoe crab population

REMAR NORDIN The Star 3 Aug 19;

Brisk business: Khairul showing a fully mature horseshoe crab at Sedili Kechil Horseshoe Crab Farm and Hatchery in Kota Tinggi.

JOHOR BARU: Ahmad Mustafa used to sell horseshoe crabs for a living, a job he inherited from his father – until he noticed a decline in the population of the species.

But he did not give up. After eight years of tireless effort to save the population of the crustacean, he has successfully transformed himself from a wholesaler into a breeder.

The 52-year-old, who became a horseshoe crab wholesaler 30 years ago, is now entrusted by the government with running Sedili Kechil Horseshoe Crab Farm and Hatchery in Kota Tinggi here.

Built on his house, the hatchery was started after Ahmad noticed a decline in his haul.

“That prompted me to start my own makeshift hatchery by collecting eggs from female horseshoe crabs.

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Malaysia: 'Time ripe to restart haze talks with Indonesia'

Veena Babulal, Adib Povera New Straits Times 3 Aug 19;

KUALA LUMPUR: The time is ripe to revive transboundary haze talks with Indonesia.

Sustainability expert Dr Mohd Yusoff Ishak said this was because the last agreement was ratified by Indonesia in 2014, more than 12 years after the republic signed the treaty on transboundary haze.

“Since the Asean Agreement on the Transboundary Haze Pollution was inked in 2002, and the 2015 tripartite talks (between Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia) fell through, there have been no catastrophic haze incidences like that of 1997 or 2015, and the need to address the issue has fallen by the wayside.

“Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should start the ball rolling for Asean by talking to (Indonesian President) Joko Widodo in a bid to review and update the treaty,” said the senior lecturer from Universiti Putra Malaysia.

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Malaysia: 'Schools can close immediately if API reach very unhealthy level'

Adib Povera, Veena Babulal New Straits Times 3 Aug 19;

KUALA LUMPUR: Schools in areas which register unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) of more than 100 have been reminded to restrict outdoor activities, said Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching.

She said if the API reading reached a very unhealthy level of 200, school administrations were allowed to close schools immediately without the Education Ministry’s permission.

“The standard operating procedure has been established,” she told the New Straits Times.

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Indonesia: BMKG confirms 85 hotspots detected across Sumatra Island

Antara 2 Aug 19;

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - The Pekanbaru Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) detected 85 hotspots, indicating potential occurrences of bush and forest fires, in several parts of Sumatra Island on Friday morning.

On Friday morning, 54 hotspots were spotted in Riau Province, but this figure had decreased significantly, from 126 hotspots on Thursday, the agency's head, Sukisno, noted.

The hotspots were also detected in the provinces of Aceh, Jambi, Lampung, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, and Bangka Belitung, he informed attendants of a meeting held to discuss measures to mitigate land and forest fires in Riau. Related news: Pekanbaru shrouded in haze from forest fire

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Best of our wild blogs: 2 Aug 19

Fish Expedition Day 2 - Hantu
wild shores of singapore

Shore exploration for kids with Young Nautilus (Oct-Dec 2019)
Celebrating Singapore Shores

4 Aug (Sun): Registration opens for FREE walk at St John's Island on 1 Sep (Sun)
Celebrating Singapore Shores

More lively Changi shores!
wild shores of singapore

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Singapore at ‘moderate risk’ of severe haze in 2019: Report

NAVENE ELANGOVAN Today Online 2 Aug 19;

SINGAPORE — There is a "moderate risk" that Singapore will see a severe haze this year, similar to the one last seen in 2015.

The forecast is based on an inaugural haze outlook report by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA).

The think-tank launched the Haze Outlook for Southern Asean Summary Report on Thursday (May 2) at the 6th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources Conference, held at the Fullerton Hotel Singapore.

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After record warm July, time to brace for occasional haze in August

Today Online 1 Aug 19;

SINGAPORE — Expect an occasional haze in the first fortnight of this month, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) warned, after hotspots with smoke plumes were observed in central Sumatra and southern Kalimantan in Indonesia in recent days.

In a weather update on Thursday (Aug 1), the MSS said that the haze may affect Singapore depending on the direction of the prevailing winds and locations of the fire.

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South-east Asia must phase out coal plants, reduce reliance on fossil fuels to combat climate change: UN

Audrey Tan Straits Times 2 Aug 19;

SINGAPORE - As one of the regions with the highest number of coal plants in the pipeline, South-east Asia must work to quickly end its reliance on fossil fuels, with the goal of phasing out all coal plants from 2020, the United Nations (UN) urged on Friday (Aug 2).

Speaking to journalists via a teleconference, Mr Luis Alfonso de Alba, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for an upcoming climate summit, also appealed to nations in the bloc to stop subsidising fossil fuels.

"This is particularly relevant for a region where emissions continue to grow," he said.

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Malaysia: Malaysians brace for hazy days

CLARISSA CHUNG The Star 2 Aug 19;

PETALING JAYA: With Indonesia battling forests fires in Riau, Malaysians are bracing for a spell of haze and smog.

Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Jailan Simon said a few regions in Malaysia were already experiencing haze due to the fires in Riau.

According to MetMalaysia, areas such as Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan and Penang are affected by the haze.

“The haze is caused by a moderate amount of smog moving from hotspots in the central and southern parts of Sumatra due to the Southwest Monsoon winds, ” he said in a statement to The Star yesterday.

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Indonesia: Eight orangutans released in C Kalimantan forest

Antara 1 Aug 19;

Palangka Raya, C Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Palangka Raya, C Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) and Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) have released eight orangutans into their natural habitat in Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park in Katingan District, Central Kalimantan Province.

The release of these eight orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) has increased the number of orangutans in the national park's forests, BOSF's CEO Jamartin Sihite revealed in his foundation's press statement that ANTARA received here Thursday.

The number of orangutans being treated at BOSF's rehabilitation center has also increased amid the fact that the availability of forests used as a natural habitat for these endangered animals would immediately reach their maximum capacity, he said.

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Indonesia: East Aceh district head orders probe into killing of elephants

Antara 31 Jul 19;

Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - East Aceh District Head, H Hasballah HM Thaib, has ordered a probe into the killing of several elephants in the district.

"This is an environmental crime. We are concerned about the case where several elephants fell prey to the trap, leading to their death," he said on Wednesday.

He pointed out the recent case where a baby elephant and two adult elephants were trapped in the hinterland, which tarnished the image of East Aceh both at the national and international levels.

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