Best of our wild blogs: 2 Jun 09

Vicarious Excitement
on the Pulau Hantu blog

What we've been up to in May
on the Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs blog

Hot and Humid May
on the Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs blog

Colugo at MacRitchie
on the Half a Bunny and the Salmon of Doubt

Feather care in birds
on the Bird Ecology Study Group blog

Tale of an albino crow
on the Bird Ecology Study Group blog

World Environment Day 2009
on the wild shores of singapore blog

Venomous Lizards
on the Urban Forest blog

The Greenlifestyle Contest : A Step Towards Combating Climate Change
on the Pulau Hantu blog

Scientists Pioneer Fast-Growing Shrimp for Farmers
on the Pulau Hantu blog

Read more!

Still a growing problem: Animal Criminals

Zoo sees big rise in 'donations' after crackdowns on smugglers of banned, endangered wildlife
Desmond Ng, The New Paper 2 Jun 09;

THE illegal wildlife trade in Singapore seems to be thriving despite the heavy penalties.

Wildlife Reserves Parks (WRS) - which includes Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo - said it received 342 animals from the police, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the public.

This is a 40 per cent increase over the 240 donations the previous year.

Among the animals sent to WRS are a pangolin, the slow loris and bearded dragon lizards.

In March, five ferrets were picked up by the police and subsequently donated to the Singapore Zoo.

Ferrets are legally kept as pets in countries like the US and Japan. But they have been banned as pets in most other countries, including Singapore.

That does not seem to have stopped some people from rearing these animals here.

Mr Biswajit Guha, assistant director of zoology at the Singapore Zoo, said the ferrets were in good condition when they arrived. They have since been absorbed into the animal presentations department.

These weasel-like creatures will make their appearance at Rainforest Kidzworld later this year.

Said Mr Guha: 'The ferrets will also be introduced to the public during contact sessions, where presenters will help create awareness of the species and share information with our guests about the illegal pet trade.'

Some of the donated animals are either absorbed into the collection or repatriated to their country of origin, said WRS.

Local animals such as squirrels may be released back to nature parks.

Top smuggling hub

Wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic has listed Singapore, Malaysia and the US among the world's top 10 wildlife smuggling hubs, according to a Straits Times report last month.

In the first five months of this year, there have been 19 wildlife-related enforcement cases, compared with 29 for the whole of last year, said AVA.

There were 54 such cases in 2007.

AVA alone has confiscated about 2,800 animals since year 2006.

The smuggling of protected wildlife carries a fine of $50,000 per Cites (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) species and/or a jail term of up to two years.

Keeping wild animals without a licence is punishable under the Wild Animals and Birds Act and offenders face a fine of up to $1,000 per animal.

Mr Guha cautioned that not all wild animals can be domesticated.

Wild animals are conditioned to learn behavioural patterns from their parents, peers and their surroundings to ensure their survival in the wild, he added.

This makes it virtually impossible for them to adapt to traditional household living. (See report on facing page.)

Many illegal pets are endangered or protected species captured from the wild, and this black market trade hastens their extinction.

'Not only is it detrimental for wild animals to be kept in households, but their owners may also suffer injuries. Behavioural patterns of animals change once they reach sexual maturity, and scratching and biting of humans may occur,' said Mr Guha.

He added that there have been many cases where owners were injured, sometimes seriously, by their 'pets'.

Diseases

The other danger in raising such wild animals is the diseases that these animals might carry.

Said Mr Guha: 'Wild animals exposed to diseases in their natural habitat and brought into a domestic environment can introduce different diseases and parasites to the people they come into contact with.'

Mr Louis Ng, executive director of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), confirmed that the black market for such wildlife is growing.

Aside from some shops here selling such animals, Mr Ng said the illegal wildlife trade had also gone online. Acres now gets tip-offs on websites selling exotic wildlife almost weekly.

These tip-offs are forwarded to AVA to investigate.

Mr Ng said he doesn't see the value in owning such wildlife.

'Maybe it's like a status symbol or maybe it's the thrill of keeping ahead of the law. But it's not like having a dog where you can bring it for walks.

'Our biggest concern is that people are abandoning these animals in our ecosystem and that it will harm our ecosystem and the other indigenous animals in it.'


Excuse me, there's a croc in the HDB flat
The New Paper 2 Jun 09;

SOME 48 wild or endangered animals, including snakes, exotic lizards and tarantulas, were seized by Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) in March.

The raids took place in three locations across the island.

The seized animals are believed to be linked to syndicates of exotic pet traders.

In February, a Singaporean who tried to smuggle live birds through the Woodlands Checkpoint in his car was exposed by squawks coming from the glove compartment.

Customs officers found a plastic bag containing a zebra dove and two long-tailed parakeets.

The birds were confiscated and the case referred to AVA.

The highly endangered parakeets are worth about $250 each while prices for the zebra dove start from $150 and can go up to $50,000.

The AVA also seized three illegally kept crocodiles between 2006 and 2007, including two from HDB flats.

One was caiman and the other, a saltwater crocodile.

The third was a 1.5m-long saltwater crocodile kept in a fish farm.

The offenders were fined between $500 and $1,500 last August.

Read more!

NTU to open green energy research centre

Opening in July, first of six centres will focus on sustainable energy
Amresh Gunasingham, Straits Times 2 Jun 09;

ENERGY research gets a boost with an ambitious plan launched today by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to find sustainable ways to meet mankind's energy needs for the future.

The first of six research centres under the university's proposed Energy Research Institute@NTU (ERI@N) will open next month, to explore areas such as advanced fuel cell technology, wind and tidal energy, and charge storage.

The Centre for Sustainable Energy Research cost $60 million to set up, and was funded by NTU, the Economic Development Board and various private sector investors.

It will be housed for now in a 1,000 sq m space at NTU's Research Techno Plaza, and will eventually have about 70 scientists and research associates collaborating on multidisciplinary projects encompassing economics, science and policy studies.

Over the next two years, five more research centres will be set up to study areas such as geothermal and solar-thermal energy, improving energy efficiency in maritime transportation, and effective policy instruments to address energy security.

'In these times of economic and political uncertainty, attention has been firmly focused on energy security and its impact on society,' said NTU's provost, Professor Bertil Andersson, in an interview with The Straits Times yesterday.

'Adding to already existing concerns about climate change, the search for new energy sources and improving energy efficiency is growing apace.'

The initial investment will be increased fivefold - to $300 million - as the facility is expanded, Prof Andersson added.

Associate Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar, head of materials technology at NTU's School of Materials Science and Engineering, said ERI@N would focus on academic excellence, working with local industry and technology transfer, to ensure that advancements do not just stay on the bench.

A current project involves a collaboration between NTU's College of Engineering and Atlantis Resources Corporation, a world leader in tidal current energy generation technology, to design more energy- efficient water turbines, a spokesman for the company said.

Prof Mhaisalkar, a co-director of ERI@N, said research would look at how to reduce the sound produced by turbines, optimise its energy output, and explore the use of lighter materials.

Plans are also afoot to move the institute into the 55ha Jalan Bahar clean tech park, which is being developed as the first business park for clean technologies, starting in two years.

Singapore has identified clean energy technologies as a growth area for the economy, contributing $1.7 billion and creating 7,000 jobs by 2015.

Prof Andersson said: 'The last 25 years have brought us the computer, Internet and mobile phone.

'In the next 25 years, it is clear that the area of biggest focus will be the energy sector - how we move, heat and cool ourselves.'

Read more!

Two young ‘champions’

Agatha Koh Brazil, Today Online 2 Jun 09;

GERALD Tan and Chua Jing Jing (picture) admit that hanging out with friends isn’t fun sometimes. In fact, it can be a bit stressful, they say.

The two 15-year-olds from Marsiling Secondary School can’t help it though. As two of the school’s 72 Environment Champions, they have to walk the green talk. Even if her schoolmates watch her and “hope she does the wrong things”, says Jing Jing.

“But I just do what I can and lead by example,” says the Champions’ vice–president. That, for her, includes being mindful of how much paper she’s using and switching off computers when not in use, rather than leaving them in standby mode.

Selected for their love and knowledge of good environmental practices, these greenies, like prefects, wear a badge that proudly distinguishes them as friends of the environment.

“There will be eyes watching,” says Gerald, the president. “They want to see that you really carry out what you preach.” So he uses both sides of every sheet of paper and carries his own water bottle around.

Their school, which was founded in 2000, has carved out a solid niche for itself in environment education, starting “green” enrichment programmes.

Its slew of green initiatives include using solar energy to drive the lights and fans in one of its common areas. Solar energy also powers the water sprinklers at the school’s herbs and spice garden, while a solar heater provides hot water for Food and Nutrition students in their cookery classes.

The school upped the focus by implementing an Environment Education programme, which sets out a three-pronged approach, including a community outreach programme. Its Environment Education Module (EEM), a non-examinable subject offered to lower secondary classes, weaves together common topics on the environment from the science and geography syllabus.

But sustaining younger kids’ interest can be a challenge. Jing Jing feels it is easier to get the message across to adults.

“They are the ones paying the bills, so they will be more receptive when they see how much money can be saved,” she tells me. Like the rest of the school’s “greenies”, Gerald and her take turns to host visitors — both students and adults — from schools in Singapore and abroad at their school’s environment gallery.

The Environment Education Hub, the first for any school here, is a 320-sq-m visitor area which took two and a half years to put together. Opened last month, it showcases three key areas of environment sustainability: Clean energy, water and environment.

An array of interactive exhibits — put together by the school’s Science and Geography teachers and students, and headed by Mdm Koh Saw Eng, the head of the school’s science department — includes talking shower heads, miniature wind turbines, as well as hydrogen-fuelled cars. It has seen visitors from China, Japan and the United States.

But Gerald thinks getting the message to kids is “easier” as “younger people are more receptive to new information”. Adults, he feels, seem to think they know it all.

Like Jing Jing, his concern for the environment was sparked off by the broad-based EEM course they took. What particularly grabbed his interest was the lessons in which he got to “play” with a hydrogen-fuelled car. If there is one thing he thinks will be achieved during his lifetime, Gerald is pretty sure it will be cars powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology in commercial use.

“It is very cool to have a car running on water,” he says.

Jing Jing hopes to pursue research on the environment — especially in solar energy — after her O levels, which both students are taking this year. Her dream? Solar energy being used to charge handphones.

But that’s in the future. Right now, on a day-to-day basis the two green warriors already have their hands full. Jing Jing gets passionate talking about people who do not realise basic facts like “air conditioners take up 75 per cent of a person’s energy bill”, while Gerald is upset by people doing things mindlessly, like not recycling plastic bottles.

Another of Gerald’s bugbears: The Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) campaign, he feels, is not working at all. For starters, it should not be limited to just the first Wednesday of every month, because “the message is not getting through to enough people”.

BYOB days, he says, should be on Saturdays and Sundays. And it should not be limited to just supermarkets and such, but encompass just about every retailer who has to give out carrier bags, plastic or otherwise.

“That way, everyone will get the message. Right now, it is just a half-hearted attempt.”

Read more!

Calculator for carbon footprint

Today Online 1 Jun 09;

IF YOU don’t know how much carbon emissions your dailyactivities add to the atmosphere, you can now work that out.

This is with Singapore’s first carbon footprint online calculator, which was launched yesterday.

At www.mycarbonfootprint.sg, you will be asked questions such as “How do you get to school or to work?” or “Do you use hot water when you shower?” — and your carbon emissions will be calculated for you.

Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, Mr Simon Tay, who was the guest-of-honour at the launch, said climate change is a problem that “we all contribute to and that we do not really know how to address”.

This is why individuals and not just governments must be involved in fighting it, he said.

Welcoming the launch of a personal carbon footprint calculator, he urged students and youth to impact their own family’s lifestyles.

Recounting how his wife and 11-year-old son have influenced him to be a better environmentalist — not just as a policy issue but in everyday practice — he said they have implemented recycling thoroughly, and have kept their household bills for electricity and water low at under $100 per month. His family even asked for a hybrid car.

The carbon footprint calculator project was a collaboration between Hemispheres Foundation and Singapore Polytechnic.

President and Founder of Hemispheres Foundation, Ms Ann Phua, explained: “It gives an alert as to how your lifestyle habits have made an impact on the carbon emissions that you have created.”

The Carbon Footprint Calculator was launched at the Singapore Science Centre in conjunction with the “Actions for Earth Carbon Footprint Challenge”.

This drew more than 800 students who pledged to reduce carbon emission through a change in their lifestyle. The event commemorates the World Environment Day which falls on June 5. 938LIVE

Read more!

Know an environmental champion?

Today Online 2 Jun 09;

Nominations for this year’s President’s Award for the Environment open on Friday. Individuals, companies or organisations that have made significant contributions to Singapore’s efforts in achieving environmental and water sustainability can be nominated.

They must possess an excellent environment track record that shows they have made high-impact contributions to the environment and have promoted good environmental practices.

Winners will be announced in October. Each of them will receive a trophy and a certificate from President S R Nathan.

The closing date for nominations is July 17.

For more information, log on to www.mewr.gov.sg/presidentsaward.

Read more!

MediaCorp marks World Environment Day with new campaign

Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia 1 Jun 09;

SINGAPORE: Do you have a creative idea on how to promote the concept of saving the environment?

MediaCorp is organising a competition - "Your Gaia Campaign" - as part of its third annual Saving Gaia initiative and your eco-friendly message could appear in one of MediaCorp's television, radio or print platforms.

Members of the public and media professionals can submit their ideas online at the Saving Gaia website .

The month-long Saving Gaia campaign also includes a new television advertisement that has a strong focus on children.

Other highlights of the campaign are the eco-ambassador competition called "The Gaia Life Challenge" and an Online Pledge.

MediaCorp's TV, radio and print platforms will also be running green programmes and featuring green tips to get audiences excited about the environment.

Furthermore, Channel NewsAsia's "Saving Gaia" documentary series is returning for its third season at 8.30pm on Mondays.

To mark World Environment Day on June 5, not only will Channel NewsAsia's presenters be wearing green, the station's logo will take on that colour too.

MediaCorp's magazines Elle, 8 Days and i-weekly will also be coming up with green issues to mark the occasion.

Shaun Seow, MediaCorp's deputy CEO (News, Radio, Print), said: "In this economic crisis, many people are wondering whether the green message will be lost. I hope not, certainly. And I would think this is where MediaCorp can come in really useful – to remind people that we really have got to be committed to saving Mother Earth."

The Saving Gaia website goes 'live' on June 2 and those who want to support the campaign can log on to the website to take the Gaia pledge.

MediaCorp received 3,000 pledges last year and it hopes to match that figure this year.

- CNA/so

Saving Gaia campaign kicks off
Channel NewsAsia, Today Online 2 Jun 09;

HAVE you a creative idea on how to promote the concept of saving the environment?

MediaCorp is organising a “Your Gaia Campaign” competition as part of its third annual Saving Gaia campaign — a month-long event which kicked off yesterday — and your eco-friendly message could appear in one of MediaCorp’s television, radio or print platforms.

Members of the public and media professionals can submit their ideas online from June 8 to Aug 31.

To mark World Environment Day this Friday, this newspaper’s masthead will turn a symbolic green for the day — as will MediaCorp television channel logos, websites and even the clothes worn by Channel NewsAsia’s newscasters.

Other highlights of the month-long campaign include an online pledge. The first 1,000 people who pledge their commitment to the environment at the official website will receive an eco-friendly bag.

And at the “The Gaia Life Challenge” on June 27 and 28 at Plaza Singapura, three teams will be pitched against each other in 12 challenges while living in Perspex homes for 24 hours.

This year’s contest is looking for mother-daughter, father-son or husband-wife teams of two. Contestants will also have to blog about their experiences.

Channel NewsAsia’s Saving Gaia documentary series will also return at 8.30pm on Mondays.

Mr Shaun Seow, MediaCorp’s deputy CEO (News, Radio, Print), said: “In this economic crisis, many people are wondering whether the green message will be lost. I hope not certainly.

“And I would think this is where Media-Corp can come in really useful — to remind people that we have got to be committed to saving Mother Earth.”

Read more!

Big cat lovers: Malaysian youths act for tigers

Allan Koay, The Star 1 Jun 09;

Concerned about the decreasing number of tigers, a group of youths went to the ground to persuade the average Malaysian to act before it’s too late.

FOUR young people are sitting in front of me, looking a little bit nervous, perhaps because this is their first press interview. They’re obviously a little shy, but once they start talking about wildlife conservation and the environment, they’re definitely not low on confidence and opinion.

Seventeen-year-olds Wong Tze Cheng, Khaw Hwan Juet and Lee Zi Ying, together with Michelle Yap Mun Yee, 18, are A-Level students at Taylor’s University College, and part of a group of 20 students who help with the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (Mycat)’s outreach programme to reduce trade and consumption of wildlife.

These trained volunteers go out to night markets in urban areas to talk to the average Malaysian about the decreasing population of tigers in Malaysia and the cruelty that is inflicted on these creatures for illegal gains.

Definitely not an easy task for young people, to approach total strangers and tell them about pertinent wildlife issues, but these students are ready and raring to go to help save our tigers.

“We are trying to tell people and create awareness about tiger protection,” says Wong. “Tigers are almost extinct. There are only 400 to 500 left. We’re trying to tell people not to buy tiger products and not to support any activities that will harm wildlife and endangered species.”

So far, the Mycat campaign has reached three night markets in the Klang Valley: Taman Petaling, Kota Damansara and SS2. At these spots, a booth is set up with display items ranging from tiger pelt and bones, deer trophies, traps, traditional remedies derived from endangered wildlife, and posters depicting the cruel manner of poaching and smuggling.

These young volunteers would approach patrons of the night markets, and tell them about the illegal wildlife activities that are decimating the population of tigers and other endangered species.

“The idea is that if people don’t buy or use the products, there would be no need to kill the tigers. So far, it’s awareness first,” says Lee.

Yap chips in: “We gave out bags and fridge magnets, and there is a hotline number on the items. They can call when they have information about illegal activities related to the hunting of tigers or the selling of tiger products.”

At each site, the group would split into two groups. One mans the booth while the other goes around the night market.

And it’s definitely not easy to approach total strangers to talk about something which many feel does not involve them anyway. The volunteers were often ignored.

For example, Wong approached a man of about 50, but was asked by the man what his motive was. Wong was at first shocked by his reaction, but then managed to get the man interested enough to approach their booth. There were other instances when the volunteers themselves got “lectured” by the people they approached.

“One elderly man told me, ‘If we don’t eat animal meat, then what are we going to eat? Human meat?’” says Yap, laughing.

Says Khaw: “I find that the older people are not so interested in these issues, but the younger ones are more open-minded and want to know more.”

Wong feels that there are a lot of things that people can do to contribute to saving endangered wildlife, but they just don’t want to.

“They feel that it’s not something that involves them, that environmental issues are none of their business,” he adds. “Perhaps people can start with small things, like reducing the use of plastic bags and electricity, to help save the environment in general. And for the endangered species, people should stop using products made from them and stop consuming the meats.”

The four students were introduced to the Mycat programme by their lecturer. They say apart from getting a chance to help the environment and wildlife, they also get to improve their people skills.

“We’re giving something back to the environment. I take this as a very good chance to gain experience in dealing with people, especially strangers,” says Wong.

“I’m not very good at talking,” Yap says, laughing, “so I’m trying to build up my soft skills. But the main reason (I’m doing this) is the environment. You can feel that the weather is very hot nowadays. And the tiger population is decreasing. It’s all caused by humans being irresponsible towards the environment.”

So far, they say, the experience at the three night markets has been fun.

“It’s an eye-opening experience,” says Lee. “We read a lot about these things but we don’t know how we can start to help. This is a chance for us to help, so why not take it?”

More links
Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers MYCAT website

Read more!

Your Planet Needs You!

Millions of people around the world will Unite to Combat Climate Change for World Environment Day 2009
UNEP 1 Jun 09;

Monday 1 June 2009 - People around the world will unite for the planet on 5 June for World Environment Day 2009, with a strong call for environmental action just six months before the crucial United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen.

This year's theme is 'Your Planet needs You! Unite to combat climate change' - a topic that reflects everyone's individual responsibility to protect the planet, as well as the urgency for nations to agree on a new climate change deal in December.

World Environment Day is truly a People's Day: it is the chance for everyone, young and old, with their community or with close friends, to show that they care for the planet.

This year's host is Mexico, reflecting the country's growing role in the fight against climate change - with its increasingly strong participation in global carbon markets, its massive tree planting campaigns and its natural resource management.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "On this World Environment Day. I encourage all people to take concrete steps toward making the planet greener and cleaner. Switch off the lights. Take public transportation. Recycle. Plant a tree. Clean up your local park. Hold corporations responsible for their environmental practices. And urge your government representatives to Seal the Deal in Copenhagen."

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, said: "I am delighted that Mexico and its people will be the 2009 global hosts of the annual United nations celebrations on 5 June under the theme 'Your Planet Needs You! Unite to Combat Climate Change'. Mexico is among a group of nations showing real leadership on the challenges of our age - from climate change to bringing environmental goods and services into the mainstream of national and international economics."

World Environment Day is a truly global event, and as such it will be celebrated on every continent - from remote villages to sprawling capitals. Here are some of the highlights of this year's celebration.

Celebrations in Mexico

Mexico, the host country, will organize a series of events in Quintana Roo, in the Yucatan Province. Highlights include a conference on the Green Economy with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mexico's Environment Secretary Juan Elvira Quesada, and Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

There will also be photo exhibits, an art competition, a Maya 'Healing the Earth' ceremony, and a Symphonic Visual Concert entitled 'The Shield of Nature' by the Philharmonic Choir and World Heritage Orchestra.

'HOME' movie premieres around the world

The global premiere of the new film 'HOME', by world-renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, will be one of the major worldwide events taking place for World Environment Day, with more than 100 locations around the world. Screenings - including star-studded premieres at the Eiffel Tower and in New York City's Central Park - will be free of charge, and the film will also be available for free download on YouTube.

Using the stunning aerial footage that is Arthus-Bertrand's trademark, the film - shot in more than 50 countries - makes an urgent appeal for our planet in peril and all its treasures, arguing that we have barely ten years left to reverse its destruction.

Climate Heroes

Another highlight of this year's WED is the launch of the Climate Heroes project. This UNEP initiative supports individuals who are undertaking exceptional personal feats, high-profile expeditions, and other acts of environmental activism to demonstrate their commitment and to raise awareness for the simple idea that 'Your Planet Needs You'.

The Climate Heroes include

· Roz Savage, who is rowing across the Pacific Ocean to inspire people to take action on CO2 levels by walking more and driving less;

· Charles and Sho Scott of Ride Japan, a father-and-son team cycling through Japan to raise environmental awareness;

· David de Rothschild, who is building a boat out of recycled plastic to cross the Pacific and visit the Pacific Garbage Patch and raise awareness of the gigantic problem of waste and overconsumption;

· And Project Kaisei, a team of innovators who are studying how to capture waste in the ocean, detoxify it, and recycle it into diesel fuel.

More Climate Heroes will come on board in the next few months.

North American celebrations in Omaha

Omaha (Nebraska) has been selected as North America's host city for WED 2009, in a reflection of the city's commitment to environmental and sustainability issues. During the period between Earth Day on 22 April and World Environment Day on 5 June, events throughout the community have been highlighting resources, initiatives and methods that promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.

The city will also hold its own premiere of the film 'HOME', and youth events will include an award ceremony for the North American winners of the International Children's Painting Competition and an interactive environmental workshop for Omaha students.

Around the world

Thousands of other activities will take place around the world for WED - here is just a taste of some of the initiatives:

- Tree plantings around the world: WED 2009 will see a wave of tree planting around the planet as part of UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign, which aims to see 7 billion trees planted by the end of 2009. New partners who have recently come on board include the Scout Movement and the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Tree plantings will range from the massive to the local, with 20,000 mangroves to be planted in Keddah (Malaysia) as well as small-scale plantings by communities around the world, from Sierra Leone to India.

- Twitter campaign: UNEP will plant one tree for every person who follows its new Twitter page www.twitter.com/UNEPandYou by 5 June.

- Youth video conference: A videolink will unite youth across three continents - in Nairobi, New York, Panama and Vienna - to discuss their role in promoting awareness and actions on climate change.

- Russia: UNEP will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the organizers of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, whereby UNEP will advise the Olympic organizers in their efforts to green the Games - including issues like sustainable transport, renewable energy, ecosystems management, and green procurement among others.

- Afghanistan: A neighbourhood clean-up will take place in Kabul on World Environment Day, along with a series of awareness-raising campaigns through schools and mosques.

- Bosnia and Herzegovina: In Sarajevo, the 'Run to the Hills' 10-km race will take runners from around Europe up the beautiful forested paths of the Olympic Mountains.

- Nepal: An 'Ecofootball' match entitled 'GOAL-against Climate Change' will bring together celebrities, politicians and environmentalists, with the aim of raising awareness on climate change and the need for a united response.

- Brazil: An online campaign will call online volunteers to produce, translate and disseminate information and advice on environmentally-friendly lifestyles.

- Kenya: A seafront clean-up will be organized on the island of Lamu with schoolchildren, students, community and government representatives.

- Belgium: The EchoFestival in Brussels's Royal Park will include a picnic, exhibits, a concert and a fair for a "shared eco-cultural experience".

- Republic of Korea: 30,000 children will take part in a painting competition on the environment.

World Environment Day 2009 comes just under 190 days before the UN climate convention meeting in Copenhagen. As millions of people around the world prepare to celebrate the event, and in the spirit of the WED slogan 'Unite to combat climate change', the UN has launched the Seal the Deal campaign to call for world leaders to agree on a climate change deal that will protect people and the planet.

Notes to editors:

About World Environment Day

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

Commemorated every year on 5 June in more than 100 countries around the globe, World Environment Day is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and boosts political attention and action.

With thousands of events in UNEP's six global regions including North America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and West Asia, World Environment Day is considered one of the largest environmental events of its kind.

For more information on WED 2009, and for a full list of events organized on the day, please visit: www.unep.org/wed/2009

For more information on the Seal the Deal campaign, please visit: www.sealthedeal2009.org

Read more!

Public asked to help monitor life on earth

Alister Doyle, Reuters 1 Jun 09;

OSLO (Reuters) - Scientists asked people around the world on Monday to help compile an Internet-based observatory of life on earth as a guide to everything from the impact of climate change on wildlife to pests that can damage crops.

"I would hope that ... we might even have millions of people providing data" in the long term, James Edwards, head of the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) based at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, told Reuters of the 10-year project.

He said scientific organizations were already working to link up thousands of computer databases of animals and plants into a one-stop "virtual observatory" that could be similar to global systems for monitoring the weather or earthquakes.

People in many countries already log observations on the Internet, ranging from sightings of rare birds in Canada to the dates on which flowers bloom in spring in Australia. The new system, when up and running, would link up the disparate sites.

About 400 biology and technology experts from 50 countries will meet in London from June 1-3 at an "e-Biosphere" conference organized by the EOL to discuss the plans. The EOL is separately trying to describe the world's species online.

"This would be a free system that everyone can access and contribute to," said Norman MacLeod, keeper of paleontology at the Natural History Museum in London which is hosting the talks.

Edwards said a biodiversity overview could have big economic benefits, for instance an unusual insect found in a garden might be an insect pest brought unwittingly in a grain shipment that could disrupt local agriculture.

Among health benefits could be understanding any shifts in the ranges of malaria-carrying mosquitoes linked to global warming, Edwards said.

"Within 10 years, scientists say they could have an efficient and effective way of tracking changes over time in the range and abundance of plants and animals as worldwide temperature and precipitation patterns shift," a statement said.

And plane accidents might be averted by studying DNA genetic samples of birds sucked into jet engines and the timing, altitude and routes of bird migrations.

The observatory could give a benchmark for monitoring the rate of extinctions, for instance, to threats led by loss of habitats to farms, cities and roads.

It could also help people in their everyday lives -- anyone planning to visit a local forest could study trees, flowers, animals or insects that might be seen on a hike.

Help wanted to write book of life
BBC News 1 Jun 09;

A virtual book of all life on Earth is being created by UK and US scientists.

The online reference work will create a detailed world map of flora and fauna and track changes in biodiversity.

The database, dubbed a "macroscopic observatory", will be populated with data about local species gathered by members of the public.

Early elements of the giant database, such as automatic species identification systems, are already under construction.

Field guide

Over time the database will log shifts in species and other data such as changes in the density of forests and when plants first flower.

The backers of the idea hope that the vast, virtual book of life will eventually be comparable to the global system used to watch for and record earthquakes.

The ongoing project will constantly gather data so it can plot information about the range and abundance of plants and animals as worldwide temperature and rainfall patterns shift in response to climate change.

Details held on the database will include everything from gross anatomical details down to individual genes.

"We are creating a virtual observatory for world biodiversity, where environmental observations, specimen data, experimental results, and sophisticated modelling can be done across all levels of biodiversity - from genes to ecosystems," said James Edwards, executive director of the Encyclopedia of Life, in a statement.

The Encyclopedia, based at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, and the London's Natural History Museum are the key backers of the project. The push to create the observatory was unveiled at the e-Biosphere 09 conference held from 1-3 June in London.

As well as logging long-term changes brought about by climate change, the creators of the online observatory hope it will bring more tangible benefits.

It could give early warnings about invasive species or, for example, give insights into the timing, altitude and route of bird migrations in ways that could reduce bird strike numbers on aircraft.

The observatory would also serve as a hi-tech field guide for anyone who wanted to identify animals, insects, trees or flowers they found while on holiday or near their home.

Within 10 years, expect its backers, all aspects of the database will be available. Some parts of the system, such as images of species, maps of the seas and gene sequences to help with DNA barcoding, are already in use.

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Dolphin and whale climate fears

BBC News 1 Jun 09;

More dolphins, porpoises and whales could be at risk from the effects of climate change than was previously thought, a new study has claimed.

An Aberdeen University scientist said rising sea temperatures could affect 88% of areas where cetaceans are found.

Dr Colin MacLeod said areas of suitable habitat for many were likely to shrink, meaning fewer animals.

And he warned a decline in habitat could be so dramatic that it could increase the extinction risk for some.

Dr MacLeod, said: "In the past, the main concern was for the small number of polar species likely to be affected by a decline in sea ice. However, this new study shows that there are many more species to be worried about.

"Some species found in temperate waters may be at risk not just because of the water temperatures they live in, but also because they only live in shallow waters. These species cannot simply respond to increases in sea temperature by moving into cooler neighbouring areas if the waters there are too deep."

Future work planned by Dr MacLeod will use computer modelling aimed at providing a more detailed picture of how different species are likely to react to future changes in climate, to help assess how best to conserve whales, dolphins and porpoises around the world.

The study appears in the journal Endangered Species Research.

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Penguin poo stains expose emperors' icy homes

Alister Doyle, Reuters 1 Jun 09;

BONN, Germany (Reuters) - Ten new colonies of emperor penguins have been found in Antarctica after satellite photos showing brownish stains on the ice turned out to be the excrement of thousands of birds.

The findings, revealed by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) on Tuesday, will help understand penguin populations and the vulnerability to global warming of the breeding colonies which are on sea ice.

"We now reckon there are 38 colonies in Antarctica, 10 of them previously unknown," Phil Trathan, a BAS penguin ecologist, told Reuters of the study in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography.

"That's potentially a massive change in the population."

Experts studying images taken from space were initially baffled by reddish-brown splodges on the ice.

"It turned out they were the feces, guano stains, of the emperors," Trathan said. "There's a really good contrast between the dark poo stains and the ice."

Scientists widened the search for the tell-tale blots to 90 percent of the Antarctic coastline and found 38 colonies.

Experts had previously listed 34 colonies of emperor penguins -- the discovery of 10 new colonies was offset by the fact that experts failed to find six colonies previously listed.

It was unclear if those colonies had vanished or if they were wrongly plotted on old maps. Six other colonies had also moved locations since they were first recorded.

"We can't see actual penguins on the satellite maps because the resolution isn't good enough. But during the breeding season the birds stay at a colony for eight months. The ice gets pretty dirty and it's the guano stains that we can see," BAS mapping expert Peter Fretwell said in a statement.

COUNTING PENGUINS

Trathan said British, U.S., French and Australian experts were using more powerful imagery to try to count emperor penguins -- perhaps the only species of bird that never puts feet on land.

Until now, estimates have been of about 200,000 to 400,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins, plus thousands of juveniles and non-breeders.

Emperors breed on ice in the depths of the Antarctic winter laying their eggs in late May and early June when temperatures plunge to about -50 Celsius (-58.00F).

The males incubate the eggs in the dark, huddling together without food, their backs to the bone-chilling winds. The females trek around 100 km (60 miles) to the sea and return with food in the spring to take over care of the chicks.

Emperors may be vulnerable to climate change with sea ice breaking up earlier in spring, exposing chicks to water before they can fend for themselves.

More ice could also be damaging, making the penguins' treks to the sea longer. About 180 governments are meeting in Bonn from June 1 to 12 to work on a new U.N. climate treaty.

(Editing by Jonathon Burch)

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