Best of our wild blogs: 24 Apr 09

Forces of nature during Earth Day
on the wonderful creation blog

Storm winds whip S'pore: Just look at the damage caused
on the Lazy Lizard's Tales blog

You CAN make a difference for spiders at Sungei Buloh
on the wild shores of singapore blog

Free Chek Jawa Boardwalk tour: 26 Apr (Sun)
on the Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs blog

Great Hornbill manipulating a fig
on the Bird Ecology Study Group blog

Envirofest Meeting, 23 Apr 2009
on the Envirofest Singapore blog and also (after a detour to look at mangrove plants at the Botanic Gardens) on the wild shores of singapore blog

What have you done for your blog friends lately?
on the Nature Blog Network blog

Read more!

Retain Sea Sand Ban: Indonesian Fisheries Ministry

Arti Ekawati, Janeman Latul & Teguh Prasetyo
Jakarta Globe 23 Apr 09;

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is strongly against lifting of ban on sea sand exports to Singapore, with a senior official arguing that sea sand mining had negative effects on the country.

“It would be better if we do not lift the ban,” Aji Sularso, the director general for sea resources at the ministry, said in an interview at his office.

In 2002, the Ministry of Trade allowed sand exports, with stringent conditions defining limits sets on exploitation areas. Aji supervised a team investigating sea sand mining control and supervision in 2002, which resulted in the ministry allowing partial sand quarrying at the time.

“However, the damage was greater than the benefits,” he said, adding that although selling sand could boost exports, it could also lead to an environmental disaster.

“We should not prioritize economic benefits over the ecological impact,” he said.

For example, in the outlying Nipah Island in the Riau region, the provincial administration has received considerable revenue from sand extraction. However, in order to maintain the integrity of Indonesia’s territorial borders, sand had to be transported from other islands to ensure Nipah did not sink into the sea.

Nipah is close to the Indonesian border with Singapore and Indonesia must maintain it as an island if it wants to ensure claims on its maritime borders. “It cost the state budget Rp 350 billion [$32.2 million] for Nipah’s reclamation, so did the sand exports really bring any benefit to us? I don’t think so,” he added.

Other government agencies have also opposed lifting the ban.

“The Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed its objection, citing sovereignty reasons, while the Directorate General of Custom and Exercise also objected to the plan,” Aji said.

On Wednesday, the Trade Ministry said it was evaluating whether to continue a 2007 ban on the export of sea sand to Singapore. Irwandi Rajabasa, a representative of sea sand exporters welcomed the plan, saying that the government should carefully control mining activities if it was going to be effective.

But Toto Dirgantoro, vice chairman of the Indonesian Exporters Association, or GPEI, called on his members to stop importing sand, saying that it only widened Singapore’s territory at Indonesia ’s expense.

Read more!

Blue Plan to save Singapore's biodiversity-rich coral reefs ready

Conservationists urge Govt to step in to save what's left
Grace Chua, Straits Times 24 Apr 09;

THE most comprehensive proposal yet to save Singapore's coral reefs was released yesterday. It called for the Government to formally recognise the richness of reef habitats like Raffles Lighthouse and Cyrene Reef in the southern islands.

Over 60 per cent of coral reefs here have been lost to development, and the rest is under threat from climate change and pollution.

The remaining 5 to 10 sq km of reefs harbour more than 250 species of hard corals, 120 species of fish and 12 seagrass species - almost on a par with the rest of South-east Asia's hot spots for biodiversity.

The marine conservation Blue Plan, over a year in the making, was compiled by a team of academics, environmental organisations and civil society groups.

They intend to seek public feedback and release a final version in late May to the National Parks Board, the Urban Redevelopment Authority and other government agencies.

Mr Farid Hamid, chairman of the Blue Plan committee, said: 'These reefs are part of our national heritage, and we have a moral and ethical responsibility to pass that heritage on to generations to come.'

He added that the Blue Plan was a step towards protecting other marine habitats, such as mangroves and rocky shores.

The committee's main recommendations to the Government include conserving what remains of Singapore's natural coastline, conducting a biodiversity survey of reefs, and reviewing laws about reef-damaging practices, such as the use of drift nets, which can ensnare turtles and dolphins.

Mr Francis Lee, chairman of the International Year of the Reef Singapore campaign and who contributed to the Blue Plan, said: 'Protecting reefs is not a zero- sum game, and it need not be development against conservation.'

Marine areas here are home to a broad variety of species, with more found each year.

At least three new species of fish - including the 2.5cm-long broad-barred mangrove goby - have been discovered here since 2001, while boaters and divers spot dolphins and sea turtles regularly.

In addition, reefs play an important role in protecting coasts from the effects of sea-level rise due to global warming.

They could also be a tourist attraction or a source of drug discovery - last year, a researcher here found a compound in blue-green algae from Pulau Hantu that killed cancer cells.

Calls to save Singapore's reefs date back to the 1980s and 1990s, so the Blue Plan is one more in a long line of proposals.

In fact, the current Blue Plan builds on recommendations from a previous version, submitted to the Government's Feedback Unit in 2001.

Experienced marine biologist Chou Loke Ming, who contributed to the proposal, was optimistic that it would be implemented.

'Starting in the mid-90s, you saw sustainable development projects like (offshore landfill) Pulau Semakau. So attitudes have changed for the better, and we're no longer seeing the unnecessary destruction of coral reefs,' Professor Chou said.

Mr Lee added that public awareness and interest was another encouraging sign.

Each year, about 100,000 people go on guided reef walks or dives here, and about 3,500 are marine-conservation volunteers.

The Blue Plan was released at the opening of the Asia Dive Expo 2009 at the Marina at Keppel Bay yesterday.

It can be downloaded at the International Year of the Reef 2008 Singapore campaign's website at iyor08singapore.blogspot.com

Feedback can be sent to blueplan.singapore@gmail.com before May 14.

Save Singapore reefs
Grace Chua, Straits Times Breaking News 23 Apr 09;

THE most comprehensive proposal to save Singapore's coral reefs yet was released on Thursday, calling for the government to formally recognise the richness of reef habitats like Raffles Lighthouse and Cyrene Reef in the southern islands.

Over 60 per cent of coral reefs here have been lost to development, and the rest is under threat from climate change and pollution.

Yet the remaining 5 to 10 square km of reefs harbour more than 250 species of hard corals, 120 species of fish and 12 seagrass species - almost on par with the rest of South-east Asia's hotspots for biodiversity.

The marine-conservation Blue Plan, over a year in the making, was compiled by a team of academics, environment NGOs and civil society groups.

They intend to seek public feedback and release a final version in late May to the National Parks Board, the Urban Redevelopment Authority and other government agencies.

Mr Farid Hamid, the chairman of the Blue Plan committee, said: 'These reefs are part of our national heritage, and we have a moral and ethical responsibility to pass that heritage on to generations to come.'

He added that the Blue Plan was a step towards similar proposals for other marine habitats, such as mangroves and rocky shores.

The committee's main recommendations to the government include conserving what remains of Singapore's natural coastline, conducting a biodiversity survey of reefs, and reviewing laws about reef-damaging practices, such as the use of drift nets, which can ensnare turtles and dolphins.

Mr Francis Lee, chairman of the International Year of the Reef Singapore campaign and who contributed to the Blue Plan, said: 'Protecting reefs is not a zero-sum game, and it need not be development against conservation.'

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.

Read more!

Tropical storm behind strongest winds to hit Singapore in 9 years

Tan Yew Guan, Channel NewsAsia 23 Apr 09;

SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) says a tropical storm is the reason for the strong winds which blew into Singapore Wednesday night.

A wind speed of up to 83 kilometres per hour was recorded -- the strongest in nearly nine years.

Among the damage caused - fallen trees and a broken construction crane.

Residents of private condominium Abelia woke up to find their Ardmore Park neighbourhood, near Shangri La Hotel, behind police lines.

A construction crane at a neighbouring building had snapped into two, with most of it dangling precariously from the 30th floor.

Police say a lifting kit connected to the crane was found along the road. No one was injured.

But the Manpower Ministry has stopped work at the site while it figures out how to safely recover the crane.

It is investigating the incident, which has also attracted the attention of other builders nearby.

Tan Heok Ngee Benjamin, Project Manager, C@nspecs Pte Ltd, said: "This crane is commonly used in a lot of construction sites. So if some problem happens here, we want to see if there is anything we can do to prevent this from happening."

Officials from the building company involved, Poh Lian Construction, were tight-lipped about the incident.

Like many others across the island, residents in the neighbourhood say they experienced unusually strong winds last night.

The winds also wreaked havoc elsewhere across Singapore last night.

The NEA says the strong winds were caused by a Sumatra squall, named as such because the storm usually develops overnight in Sumatra and the Strait of Malacca, before sweeping into Singapore between midnight and daybreak.

NEA says such storms usually occur between April and September.

For the rest of the month, we can expect another one or two Sumatra squalls, but they are unlikely to be as severe as the one on Wednesday night.- CNA/yt

Gusty winds and rain wreak havoc
Trees felled by 83kmh squall cause damage to cars and property
Amresh Gunasingham & Alessa Pang, Straits Times 24 Apr 09;

STRONG gusty winds accompanied by rain wreaked havoc on many parts of Singapore on Wednesday night.

The police received more than 400 calls about traffic obstructions and other damage to cars and property caused by fallen trees.

Officers from the National Parks Board (NParks) worked through the night to remove the debris from roads and other places.

The strong winds were caused by an unusually intense Sumatra squall, said the Meteorological Services Division of the National Environment Agency (NEA) yesterday - that is, a line of blustery thunderstorms that develop over Sumatra and the Malacca Strait at this time of year and which move in over the west coast of Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia.

But the top wind speed recorded on Wednesday night - 83kmh in western Singapore - was four times the average experienced in the Republic on any given day.

On average, wind speeds of 33kmh to 54kmh were recorded on various parts of the island between 11pm and 12.30am.

Rainfall was light over many areas, with the highest level of 7mm recorded in Sembawang.

The sudden storm caught many on the roads by surprise.

Estate officer Bernard Ng, 35, was driving home along Yio Chu Kang Road when it struck.

'It felt like a mini-typhoon,' he said. 'I saw many trees fall along the way.'

Up in his sixth-storey flat in Bishan, Mr Mohamed Seraj, a 23-year-old full-time national serviceman, watched as leaves and plastic bags were carried in from the ground floor by the wind.

The Sumatra squall can strike up to three times a month during the south-west monsoon season between March and November. But it is generally more common towards September, so Wednesday's storm was a little early, said Associate Professor Matthias Roth of the geography department at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

In total, 27 fallen trees and 150 branches were removed from various locations on Wednesday night, said NParks director of streetscape Simon Longman.

'Our officers worked through the night,' he said.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force also received calls for help when two members of the public on Balestier Road and Toa Payoh Lorong8 were injured by fallen trees. The injuries were minor and neither had to be hospitalised.

Across the island, people took stock of the damage wrought by the brief storm.

Ms Fen Chong, 25, an administrative coordinator, saw a large tree branch fall across two cars near her home in St George's Road, shattering the windscreens.

According to the NEA, one or two Sumatra squalls can be expected over the next week. But they are not likely to be as severe as this one.

Professor Lim Hock, founding director of Temasek Laboratories at NUS said Sumatra squalls usually hit Singapore in the early hours of the morning, bringing with them strong gusts of wind, heavy showers and thunderstorms.

For updated weather forecasts for the next 12 hours, visit the NEA website at http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1093

Wild wind wreaks havoc
Sumatran squall tears up trees around the island, NEA expects one ortwo more this month
Esther Ng and Neo Chai Chin Today Online 24 Apr 09;

THE calls began flooding in a little after 11pm on Wednesday — of trees being uprooted or their branches snapped and strewn on roads, roadwork barriers being dislodged and even a construction crane that was left dangling atop an unfinished building.

The culprit responsible for this widespread damage: One feisty Sumatran squall.

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), these thunderstorms usually occur between April and September.

For 90 minutes from 11pm on Wednesday to early Thursday, mean wind speeds ranging from 33kmh to54 kmh were recorded across the island. The highest wind speed logged was83 kmh in the west — the strongest in nearly nine years.

All in all, the police received more than 400 calls because of the gale, and the National Parks Board cleared 27 fallen trees and about 150 fallen branches.

One or two such Sumatran squalls are expected for the rest of the month, but they are unlikely to be as strong as the one that lashed the island two nights ago, the NEA said.

Yesterday, motorists on the PanIsland Expressway near Ardmore Road found themselves stuck in a massive traffic jam during the morning rush-hour.

A crane on top of an uncompleted condominium near Ardmore Park had snapped and a part of the boom was left twisting in the wind. Dangling ominously by the side of the building, it looked like it could crash to the ground at any moment and the roads around the area had to be cordoned off.

The Ministry of Manpower, which oversees workplace safety, could not confirm if it was the wind that caused the crane to snap, but it immediately issued a stop-work order. No one was hurt in the incident.

Mr Chang Long Yew, an engineer who lives on the 12th floor of a block in Jurong East, said wind speeds picked up suddenly at around 11.20pm on Wednesday.

“Trees were swinging very badly and some large branches from one tree fell on an overhead bridge and onto the road,” he recounted.

Mrs Alice Yap, a Toa Payoh resident, was sleeping at the time, but her husband was “watching television when he heard a loud boom — like the ceiling was falling”, she said.

“It turned out that two to three pieces — about the size of a door — of asbestos-like material had fallen off a pillar,” said Mrs Yap.

Over in Woodlands, businessman Tony Liau said his remote control, telephone and cups were blown off the table of his sixth-floor flat.

“We’ve lived here for over 10 years and it’s never happened before,” he said.

As Mr Liau went around his flat shutting windows, he saw his neighbours doing the same. Gingerly looking out their windows, they were all “wondering why the winds were so strong”.

Read more!

Collision leaves freighter listing in Singapore waters

Straits Times 24 Apr 09;

OFFICE workers in high-rise buildings in Tanjong Pagar got a jolt yesterday when they looked out of their windows and saw a ship listing in the waters off Singapore.
Some feared the ship was sinking, but the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said the vessel, the Iranian-registered Danoosh, had earlier been involved in a collision and was to undergo repairs here.

The vessel, carrying a crew of 33, had left Singapore with a cargo of maize and collided with an Indonesian container ship near St John's Island at about 2am.

MPA dispatched patrol and emergency response craft to the scene.

No one was injured and there were no reports of pollution.

The freighter suffered a damaged cargo hold, and as a precautionary measure, it was towed to shallower waters in the Eastern Working Anchorage for salvage works, said the MPA.

The Indonesian vessel suffered minor damage and continued its voyage.

Journalist Kate O'Keeffe, who works in the Dow Jones office on the 32nd floor of International Plaza, said the sight caused a commotion among her colleagues at about 2pm.

The 25-year-old said: 'There appeared to be a ship sinking in the sea.'

She added that she was concerned as she did not see any other vessels approaching it to carry out a rescue.

The MPA is investigating the cause of the incident.

SUJIN THOMAS

Two vessels collide off St John's Island
Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia 23 Apr 09;

SINGAPORE: A cargo ship collided with a smaller container vessel Thursday morning near St John's Island, which is located 6.5 kilometre south of Singapore.

No one was injured in the incident.

Several people called the MediaCorp hotline, reporting a sinking vessel off the Marina South Pier.

But the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore clarified that the Iranian-registered cargo ship "Danoosh" was anchored there for salvage works after the collision.

It is currently anchored in the Eastern Working Anchorage. The ship's cargo hold was damaged, but it is in stable condition. Its crew of 33 are believed to be still onboard.

The smaller container vessel, Indonesian-registered "Lagun Mas", suffered some damage to its railing and bow and has continued on its way.

MPA, which is investigating the incident, said there was no report of pollution and port operations remain unaffected.- CNA/yt

Listing and helpless
Today Online 24 Apr 09;

A freighter and container ship collided about 3km south-west of St John’s Island yesterday at 2.30am. The Iranian-registered freighter, Danoosh, was travelling east while Indonesian-registered container ship, Lagun Mas, was heading west. There was no report of pollution or injury, and port operations remain unaffected, said the Maritime Port Authority (MPA).

But the Danoosh, which has a crew of 33, reported damage to its cargo of maize. The freighter was towed to more shallow waters as a precaution for salvage works. Lagun Mas continued its voyage.

Prior to the collision, MPA had alerted both vessels and provided navigational information. It is investigating the incident.

Read more!

Sentosa sardine-packed?

More attractions are being built at Sentosa, drawing crowds and crowding out space on the beachfront
Cara van miriah, Straits Times 24 Apr 09;

Life is not quite a beach nowadays along the Siloso shoreline at Sentosa. It is more, well, a mini-construction site.

The opening of Sentosa's integrated resort, Resorts World, is barely a year away and Siloso, the island's main beach, is morphing from a laidback hangout into splash city.

Two massive structures are already being built that will house two of four new attractions planned for the beach.

One is a 7,650 sq m hotspot with three wavepools and a three-storey complex with bars and a restaurant.

The other site spans 1,870 sq m with a double-storey entertainment complex, offering activities such as banana boat rides.

Another new hang-out is a treetop high-rope course, where participants swing over obstacles. All are due to open this year and by next year, Singapore's first indoor skydiving simulator will be located on the 1.2km beach too.

When the three attractions are completed, there will be 29 attractions on the 500ha Sentosa, including bars, mostly along the 3.2km stretch that includes Siloso, Tanjong and Palawan beaches.

Siloso Beach alone will have about 10 attractions, including bars, and this is getting too crowded for some visitors who fear their chill-out zone is becoming a concrete zone.

Secretary Cheryl Ho, 29, who prefers the quieter Palawan Beach, says: 'Siloso Beach is a mini-city now. It has become too built-up.'

Visitors lament that it has become hard to find a tranquil spot too. They point to the shoreline, deck chairs spill out onto it from Coastes beach bar and Cafe del Mar bar, eight volleyball courts are packed with teens, and sunbathers hog the beachfront just before the Sapphire Pavillion event hall.

The only portion of unspoilt beachfront is a 25m gap between the bars and the shoreline, they grouse.

Ms Cindy Berlandier, 52, ran Sentosa's first beach bar Sunset Bay from 1995 to 2006.

She recalls: 'Siloso Beach was just sand, sea and jungle. It had the kampung vibe. In the 1990s, people had to take the bus to Mount Imbiah and walk down to the beach.

'There were only three snack bars in Siloso Beach then.' She now runs Sunset Bay in East Coast Park.

In the last 15 years, the sleepy beach has undergone several phases of development.

In 1997, the width of the beach was doubled to between 40m and 60m. About 38,000 sq m of beach was added to the existing 35,000 sq m.

Today, Siloso Beach spans 100,000 sq m.

In the last five years, more attractions appeared, including Siloso Beach Hotel, multimedia show Songs Of The Sea, Cafe del Mar, Coastes bar, Bikini Bar and Sentosa Luge & Skyride.

They are part of Sentosa's efforts to diversify its lifestyle offerings, with Siloso positioned as a hip party zone.

Mr Mike Barclay, chief executive officer of Sentosa Development Corporation, tells Life!: 'The energy at Siloso will start to build up with the opening of a new attraction from June. There is never a dull moment on our sandy stretch, especially at Siloso Beach.'

On the concrete build-up, Ms Suzanne Ho, deputy director communications of Sentosa Leisure Group, says: 'Siloso Beach is for the young and energetic. It's about beach volleyball, fun in the sun and soon, adventure. Thrill-seekers to the new attractions will find some action at every turn.'

The group is the overall operator of Sentosa.

Many visit Siloso Beach as it is near Mount Imbiah which has 10 other attractions, such as Images Of Singapore, Merlion Walk and Tiger Sky Tower.

Visitors can also take a short tram ride from Siloso Beach to Palawan and Tanjong beaches.

Palawan has four attractions popular with families including the Animal & Bird Encounters, Dolphin Lagoon and Southernmost Point Of Continental Asia.

Tanjong, at the far end of the southern coastline, is the least populated of the three. It has no attractions, but a beach bar, The Shack, opens next month.

But some visitors wonder if Tanjong and Palawan beaches will go the way of Siloso Beach.

Office manager Harpal Singh, 42, who visits Palawan Beach twice a month with his family, says: 'The new attractions will draw more visitors and the other beaches may be further developed when Resorts World opens.'

Ms Ho of Sentosa Leisure Group points out: 'Palawan Beach is a family-themed beach and Tanjong Beach will retain its chill-out atmosphere.'

About 300,000 visitors, or about 3.6 million annually, visit the three beaches every month, says Sentosa's Mr Barclay.

In 2007, Sentosa saw a record 6.1 million visitors, a 7.9 per cent increase over 2006. Of these, 3.8 million were beachgoers, up from 3.4 million visitors in 2006.

No wonder hotel operators want a slice of the action. The five-star Movenpick Hotel Sentosa opens next year near the Beach Station and will be the fourth resort in the Siloso area. The others are Siloso Beach Resort, Costa Sands Resort (Sentosa) and Rasa Sentosa Resort.

Nature lovers such as housewife Diana Chow, 32, gripe that there is 'too much concrete, too little greenery' at Siloso Beach.

Mr Shawn Lum, 46, president of the Nature Society (Singapore), says: 'When the structures are built, it will take away the tranquility that has been there before.'

But he adds, 'key areas like Mount Imbiah retain the greenery of the Siloso Beach'.

Lifestyle operators such as Mr Tom Lochtefeld, 56, who is developing the new Wave House Sentosa at Siloso Beach, say they are drawn to the 'thriving beach culture'.

During Life!'s two visits there, hundreds of visitors, mostly tourists and expats, were hanging out at beachfront bars such as Coastes, Bikini Bar, Sand Bar and Cafe del Mar.

The beach culture reminded some of the vibe on Spain's famous fun isle of Ibiza, known for its bars and beach parties.

Local partygoers say Siloso Beach lives up to its hip quotient, hosting numerous bashes such as the annual ZoukOut dance music festival. The duskto-dawn party drew a record of 26,000 revellers last year.

And tourists like what they see at Siloso Beach.

Briton Jeremy Lale, 42, who is here on a holiday with his fiancee, raves: 'It's a refreshing change from the sardine-packed beaches in Brighton where everyone is 5cm away from you.'

Sentosa sardine packed?
Straits Times 24 Apr 09;

Wave House Sentosa (Siloso Beach)

What: Three enormous pools with artificial waves. To ride the waves on the surf board, you have to be at least 1.06m tall. It is a three-storey complex with a rooftop bar, a lounge and a Mexican-Californian restaurant. There will also be two cocktail bars and a Billabong surf shop
Opens: October

Azzura Hydro Sports Centre
What: A double-storey entertainment complex at Siloso with watersport activities such as wakeboards and banana boats. Charter a boat to go island-hopping to Kusu Island, St John's Island and Sisters' Island. Suitable for families and corporate events. Has restaurant and bar on the second storey.
Opens: August

Megazip Adventure Park (Siloso Beach)
What: The Megazip offers a 450m flying fox ride from Mount Imbiah to a small islet offshore at Siloso Beach. Climbmax is a three-level aerial obstacle course with 36 obstacles at varying heights.
The park also has a 15m rock-climbing wall called The North Face and a Para Jump, a simulated 'freefalling' parachute. Suitable for families and corporate events
Opens: June

iFly Singapore
What: 'Skydive' from a height of 17m at the city's first indoor skydiving simulator, which offers a spectacular view of the South China Sea and Siloso Beach
Opens: Next year

Movenpick Hotel Singapore (Palawan Beach)
What: A five-star resort where the rooms include suites with their own rooftop spa pool overlooking the South China Sea.
Opens: Next year

The Shack (Tanjong Beach)
What: This chill-out beach bar is a temporary drinking hole before it is converted into a chic restaurant-bar
Opens: Next month

Read more!

New Park Connector Network Pitstops in Parks

NParks newsletter Jan-Mar 09

Six bicycle rental kiosks or 'PCN Pitstops' have been set up in four parks along the 42km Eastern Coastal Park Connector Network (PCN), allowing park visitors to rent bicycles from any pitstop and return them at the other five without having to backtrack. This new service will give park visitors the flexibility and convenience to return their bicycles in another park, any time of the day.

The service is provided by Lifestyle Recreation, a company offering rental of roller-blades and bicycles as well as food & beverage facilities. The six PCN Pitstops are located in the following areas:

* East Coast Park Area C
* East Coast Park Area G
* Changi Beach Park Area Car Park 1
* Sun Plaza Park
* Changi Beach Park Car Park 7 (Operational in March 2009)
* Telok Kurau Park (Operational in March 2009)


Depending on the popularity of this service, two more PCN Pitstops may be set up at Bedok Town Park and Pasir Ris Town Park.


Bicycle rental rates range from $5 per hour for an adult bicycle to $10 for a double bicycle, which is comparable to rates offered by other rental kiosks. To provide an all-day service, Lifestyle Recreation is looking into implementing an online booking service where park visitors can unlock their rented bicycles from a pitstop using a pre-issued number. The same lock can be used to secure the bicycle back to any pitstop, thus allowing park visitors to return their bicycles at any time of the day, even after operational hours of 9.00am to 9.00pm.

Completed in 2007, the Eastern Coastal PCN is the longest of seven loops of park connectors which have been planned by NParks. It connects several parks in eastern Singapore, allowing park visitors to walk, jog, cycle or roller-blade through idyllic coastal areas and popular parks, such as East Coast Park, Changi Beach Park, Sun Plaza Park and Bedok Reservoir Park. It is also one of the most scenic PCN, with long stretches that are conducive for uninterrupted cycling.

By Ng Hui Bing

Read more!

Animal lovers call teen's ad for dog cruel

Photos of dog posted online by student shows animal in poor health and condition
Liew Hanqing, The New Paper 24 Apr 09;

IT WAS a brief advertisement to sell a dog on a local classifieds website.

But the ad, posted by a 15-year-old student, caused a stir online after pictures of the dog were leaked.

In pictures posted on the forums, the dog is shown locked in a small cage. Its fur looks dirty and matted.

The write-up on the advertisement describes the dog as 'a one-year-old female' which 'does not bark much'.

Incensed members of several local forums posted the student's personal information - including his photos and his mobile phone number - over forum threads.

The message board on the student's blog has also been filled with angry messages from netizens.

One wrote: 'You evil boy. Don't treat a dog like a commodity.'

Another added: 'I hope your parents treat you like a dog, so you know how it feels.'

In the ad, the student had written: 'Hi. I have a schnauzer for sale. It will look good after grooming. I will include its cage, leash and a small bag of food.'

The list price of the dog was $200.

The link to the ad was posted on several local pet forums and caught the eye of Ms Regina Low, 31, who e-mailed the student for a set of pictures of the dog.

Shocked by the dog's condition, Ms Low decided to investigate. She arranged to meet the student on 17 Apr, assuring him that she was a genuinely interested buyer.

Animal welfare alerted

She was accompanied by an officer from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

She told The New Paper: 'The dog was in a horrendous state - it was dirty and it smelled. She was very skinny - we could feel her rib cage and bones.

'It obviously had not been bathed or groomed for a very long time. The nails were long and the fur was badly matted.

'The teeth were stained with tartar and it was badly infested with ticks.'

Ms Low, a marketing manager, said she had decided to contact SPCA because she 'didn't want the boy to get away scot-free'.

'By that I don't mean punishment - if I were to pay him $200, warn him, and go, this would only encourage him to continue with his deeds,' said Ms Low.

Ms Low added that she had come across another ad the student had posted, wanting to adopt a dog for free.

In one ad The New Paper found, the student said he was looking to adopt a Jack Russell Terrier.

He wrote: 'SMS me if you have one up for adoption. It must be free.'

Recalled Ms Low: 'The SPCA officer, who was there with me, questioned the boy (about the schnauzer). The boy replied that the dog was already in this state when he got it.

'This prompted me to ask why he didn't send it for medical treatment or grooming immediately. He remained silent.'

Responding to e-mail questions from The New Paper, the student claimed he had bought the dog for $200 several weeks after he first posted an ad looking for one.

He said: 'It belonged to a girl I didn't know. After I boughtthe dog from her, she changed her handphone number.'

He added that the dog was already in poor condition when he received it, but he 'did not notice it' at the time.

'The girl told me it was in healthy condition and that it was microchipped,' he said, adding that he had never owned a pet before.

Eager to adopt the dog, he said he accepted the dog on the spot, in its existing condition.

But he said he was forced to give up the dog shortly after when his parents objected.

He recounted the incident on his blog, which has since been locked with a password.

He wrote: 'My dog isn't microchipped, registered or sterilised - I bought it from somebody I don't know and now I'm selling it.

'I posted an ad and someone came to view it. She confirmed she would buy it on Friday.'

He said, however, that when the SPCA officer showed up, he realised that the meeting had been planned.

He wrote: 'I wonder why you all must do this? What can you gain by doing this? Are you trying to get a free dog and just pay for medication?

'Even if you're a dog lover, that dog is mine. Why must you all care? Now, $200 gone, dog gone.'

Ms Deirdre Moss, SPCA's executive officer, confirmed the dog is now with the SPCA and is being treated.

She added that the SPCA is investigating the matter.

Reflecting on the incident, Ms Low said profiteering at the expense of animal welfare should not be tolerated.

She said: 'Even if you wish to give up your pets for whatever reason or sell them, at least ensure that they are in good health and condition, and screen through the adopters or buyers.

'Always be prepared to take back ownership of the animal in the event that the new owner is unable to care for it.'

She added that she felt more should be done to educate students on pet ownership.

PENALTIES & RULES

UNDER the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules, all dogs more than three months old must be licensed for rabies control.

A maximum of three dogs may be kept in private premises. Dog owners must seek written permission from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) to keep more than 3 dogs.

Current HDB rules allow only one dog of an approved breed per residential unit.

The dog must be implanted with a microchip, be leashed in public places and should not be allowed to stray.

A dog licence is valid for one year only and must be renewed before expiry. The renewal fee for a sterilised dog is $14 and $70 for an unsterilised dog.

Failure to comply with these requirements is an offence under the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules and can result in the dog being impounded, a fine of up to $5,000, and the dog licence being revoked.

Visit www.ava.gov.sg for more details.

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UNEP Announces the 2009 Champions of the Earth

Winners from Ethiopia, India, France, Norway, Papua New Guinea and United States Receive Coveted Awards at Gala Event in Paris
UNEP 22 Apr 09;

Paris, 22 April 2009 - Six tireless innovators of positive environmental change and an inspirational anti-poverty organization from Africa were today named as the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) 2009 Champions of the Earth.

This year's winners are: Norwegian Environment Minister Erik Solheim; tropical forest and climate campaigner Kevin Conrad; photographic and public awareness pioneer Yann Arthus-Bertrand; wind power entrepreneur Tulsi Tanti; biomimicry specialist Janine Benyus; recycling innovator Ron Gonen; and the youth-empowering Ethiopian organization Tena Kebena.

All seven laureates gathered in Paris on Earth Day to receive their trophies at a gala event attended by more than 200 personalities from business, politics and civil society.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, who presented the awards to the winners, said: "Today we celebrate and honour seven catalysts of positive environmental change who, through the worlds of politics, business, science, photography, resource efficiency and civil society have challenged the status quo and demonstrated across communities and countries new and transformational solutions to persistent and emerging environmental threats."

"Passion, creativity, intellect, vision and drive unites each of our 2009 winners - key qualities urgently needed with less than 230 days to go to the crucial UN climate convention meeting in December. Qualities also essential to turn the current and coming crises into an opportunity to realize a sustainable, Green Economy for the 21st century," he said.

This year, the awards - which are hosted in conjunction with the annual Business for the Environment Summit (B4E) - moved away from geographical distribution to recognize achievements in the areas of Policy Leadership, Science and Innovation, Entrepreneurial Vision, Inspiration and Action, and Next-Generation Champions.

UNEP Champions of the Earth Profile: Yann Arthus-Bertrand
UNEP 22 Apr 09;

Nairobi, April 22 2009 - His striking, aerial photos have awakened the imaginations of millions, and his new film "Home", illustrates the beauty of our planet, and the urgent need to sustain it. Meanwhile his non-profit organization, GoodPlanet has made strides at sensitizing the public on how to lead a more environmentally responsible life. For this demonstrated commitment to environmental causes, UNEP is proud to designate Yann Arthus-Bertrand its Goodwill Ambassodor for 2009.

Born in France in 1946, Arthus-Bertrand always had a passion for nature and, at the age of 30, he moved to Kenya with his wife, Anne, to study the behaviour of lions in the Masaai Mara Reserve. While there the budding photographer discovered a unique way of capturing the stunning landscapes - flying miles above the earth in a hot air balloon.

Years later in 2000, Arthus-Bertrand a budding photographer no more, entered the public limelight, following a large-scale public art exhibition titled "Earth from Above". Premiering in Paris to unprecedented success, the exhibition soon traveled to cities around the world to reach over 130 million visitors across every populated continent by 2008. The idea was to inspire people to think globally about sustainable living while admiring locally images that show our planet in all its fragile and stunning splendor. To date, the book has sold millions of copies in over 21 languages.

By 2005, Arthus-Bertrand created the association GoodPlanet. This international NGO develops numerous projects whose shared objective is to educate about sustainable development and request individuals across every background, culture and border to think beyond the development of our planet and, instead, toward the future of all of its inhabitants.

Now, in his new film "Home" scheduled for worldwide release on June 5, 2009, Arthus Bertrand takes viewers on a unique journey all around the planet to contemplate and understand its workings and show us that the marks we leave behind are having a negative impact on its well being. The film is a travel notebook showing only landscapes captured from above. In this sense "Home" calls for a new awareness, because as we observe ourselves from the air, we see our world in a whole new light.

Arthus-Bertrand's latest project is 'Vu du Ciel', a documentary series broadcast on French TV station France 2. The programme is filmed on High Definition video and uses investigative journalism to document environmental degradation around the globe. In addition, the show celebrates scientists, environmentalists and members of the public who are engaged in the fight to save our planet.

As UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, Arthus-Bertrand's prestige, talent and passion will raise and reinforce public awareness of environmental issues and the solutions to these. In his new role, it is expected that Arthus-Bertrand will engage in public advocacy, fundraising and participate in relevant UNEP events, among other duties.

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Urbanisation affecting worm sellers

The New Paper 24 Apr 09;

FOR some Orang Asli (indigenous peoples) staying in the Sungai Skudai area, catching worms and selling them is a way of life.

But of late, villagers of Kampung Bakar Batu blame housing developments nearby for affecting the worm population, which is now running dry.

They blame the murky waters, caused by the developments, as having affected the harvest of 'pompom' - a type of worm found in the coastal mangrove forest there.

Mr John Bento, 32, told New Straits Times that there are at least 10 families who depend on selling worms for a living.

He said: 'Now, only my cousin and I are selling worms.

'However, we are selling another type of worm called 'wat-wat' which we get from the coastal mangrove forest at Teluk Jawa, some 20km away, and Stulang Laut.

'I have to drive there every day to dig worms with my cousin and children as the worms are no longer found in our village.'

Losing natural resources

Their worm-harvesting trip sees them leave their village in the early morning and return by noon.

Mr Bento said that, on a good day, they cart back about 2kg of worms.

They then clean the worms before selling them.

A small heap, he said, sells for about RM5($2).

Quality control is strict - they dispose of the unsold worms as he said these can't be kept for the next day.

He spends about RM10 per day on petrol.

The father of nine said: 'If business is bad, we will have less money to buy food.'

Cousin Sidah Tamat, 32, said many villagers in their kampung now face an uncertain future.

The reason?

Many natural resources in their area have disappeared as a result of the housing developments nearby.

She said: 'We see luxurious residential houses coming up one after another on the other side of the river.

'Over at our side, it is a pathetic sight. I hope the government can look into some of our problems.'

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'Super Reefs' Fend Off Climate Change, Study Says

ScienceDaily 23 Apr 09;

The Wildlife Conservation Society announced today a study showing that some coral reefs off East Africa are unusually resilient to climate change due to improved fisheries management and a combination of geophysical factors. WCS announced the results of the study at the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), which is meeting this week in Phuket, Thailand.

The study, published in the online journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, provides additional evidence that globally important "super reefs" exist in the triangle from Northern Madagascar across to northern Mozambique to southern Kenya and, thus, should be a high priority for future conservation action.

Authors of the study include Tim McClanahan and Nyawira Muthiga of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Joseph Maina of the Coral Reef Conservation Project, Albogast Kamukuru of the University of Dar es Salaam's Department of Fisheries Science and Aquaculture, and Saleh A.S. Yahna of the University of Dar es Salaam's Institute of Marine Sciences and Stockholm University's Department of Zoology.

The study found that Tanzania's corals recovered rapidly from the 1998 bleaching event that had wiped out up to 45 percent of the region's corals. Along with monitoring Tanzania's reefs, WCS helps coral conservation in this region through training of park staff in protected areas.

The authors attribute the recovery of Tanzania's coral reefs due in part to direct management measures, including closures to commercial fishing. Areas with fishery closures contained an abundance of fish that feed on algae that can otherwise smother corals, while the few sites without any specific management measures remain degraded; one site had experienced a population explosion of sea urchins—pests that feeds on corals.

The findings also showed that the structure of the reefs played a major factor in their resiliency. Tanzania's reefs are particularly complex and experience unusual variations in current and water temperature. These factors allow for greater survivorship of a higher diversity of coral species, including those that can quickly re-colonize after bleaching.

"Northern Tanzania's reefs have exhibited considerable resilience and in some cases improvements in reef conditions despite heavy pressure from climate change impacts and overfishing," noted Wildlife Conservation Society scientist Dr. Tim McClanahan, the study's lead author. "This gives cause for considerably more optimism that developing countries, such as Tanzania, can effectively manage their reefs in the face of climate change."

The authors suggest that reefs in Tanzania and elsewhere that exhibit similar environmental conditions have the ability to recover from large-scale climatic and human disturbances. They may, therefore, be a priority for conservation under predicted climate change scenarios where many reefs are expected to suffer further degradation.

On a broader scale, the Wildlife Conservation Society is actively conserving nearly 90 percent of the world's tropical coral reef species in priority seascapes in Belize, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Kenya and Madagascar.

The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is a global partnership among governments and organizations working to stop and reverse the degradation of coral reefs and related ecosystems. This ICRI General Meeting was convened by the joint Mexico - United States Secretariat. WCS is an institutional partner to ICRI.

From Fiji to Glover's Reef, the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and The Tiffany & Co. Foundation have provided generous support for Dr. McClanahan's research, which examines the ecology, fisheries, climate change effects, and management of coral reefs at key sites throughout the world.

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Handsome Devils to the rescue in Extinction Sucks

WWF 24 Apr 09;

Australians Aleisha Caruso and Ashleigh Young enlist the help of a posse of “handsome devils” in this week's episode of Extinction Sucks as they join the fight to save the iconic Tasmanian Devil from a deadly disease.

The Devils – made famous in the Warner Brothers cartoons – could disappear within twenty years because of a horrific facial cancer which causes the animal to die of starvation. Scientists are baffled and are struggling to find a cure before it's too late.

Aleisha and Ash hold a “handsome devils” fundraiser, and persuade five hunky guys to sell kisses and cakes at a nightclub, They raise enough money to buy motion-activated camera traps which they then donate to the conservationists working with the remaining Tasmanian Devil populations. The cameras enable scientists to observe these unique creature and better understand how the disease is spread.

Extinction Sucks is a unique co-production between WWF and Babelgum to bring high-quality conservation programming to web audiences. It's thought to be the first time that an online video channel has commissioned original, full-length wildlife shows specifically for the internet. The series is being broadcast over a six week run on www.panda.org and www.babelgum.com. Other programmes see Ash and Aleisha raise funds for WWF programmes protecting elephants in India and rhinos in Nepal threatened by poachers, and rare dolphins in New Zealand.

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