Oriental Pied Hornbill catches insects
from Bird Ecology Study Group
Coral bleaching situation at Tuas
from wild shores of singapore
TeamSeagrass at Tuas (8 Oct 10)
from teamseagrass
Like maps? Help map IUCN Red List data
from The Biology Refugia
Nature Society's idea incorporates cycling paths, recreational areas
Jeremy Au Yong Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
THE Nature Society of Singapore is close to finishing a proposal to convert the 40km stretch of Malayan Railway land here into a green corridor.
It would contain cycling paths connecting different neighbourhoods to the town centre, and recreational spaces. It would also be home to many of Singapore's native plants and animals.
The proposal seeks to preserve the railway tracks, which the society regards as an important part of Singapore's history.
But some property analysts say the proposal will be a hard sell. And even if it is approved, a nature corridor can at best last for a decade or two. The railway corridor will inevitably be developed, for there are sound reasons to incorporate the land into development plans.
Nature Society president Shawn Lum, however, stresses that there are environmental benefits to a nature corridor: 'If we could have green strips along the railway land, we would be connecting existing green spots from Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in the north all the way to almost Mount Faber.'
As a green corridor, the railway land would serve as a sort of Central Expressway for plants and animals. It would allow the movement of species previously cut off from each other, increasing the genetic diversity of local wildlife.
The idea of such eco-passages is not new to Singapore. In May, the Land Transport Authority called for tenders for a 50m-wide green bridge to connect the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment area. The two reserves are separated by the Bukit Timah Expressway.
The idea of using the 400ha of Malayan Railway land in the same way was hatched very shortly after the announcement was made in May that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak had agreed to move the Tanjong Pagar Station.
Mr Lum said the Nature Society had long regarded the railway land as a valuable stretch of greenery. It occasionally organised walks there.
A few days after the announcement, Nature Society vice-president Leong Kwok Peng wrote in to The Straits Times Forum page suggesting that the land be converted into a nature corridor.
Since then, others have written in with similar ideas. One suggested converting Tanjong Pagar station into a transport hub for those walking or cycling into the city. He suggested having bike lock-up, pay-shower and locker facilities at the station.
The proposal is due to be submitted to the authorities in the next two weeks.
Mr Howard Shaw, executive director of the Singapore Environment Council, told The Straits Times he supported the idea. Though he noted the need to consider the opportunity cost of not developing the land, he said having a green belt should not be seen as a waste of money.
'There are things like quality of life and Singapore's reputation as a garden city that are intangible and valuable in their own way,' he said.
Property veteran Nicholas Mak, executive director of SLP International Property Consultants, however, is doubtful the proposal will fly. He had earlier estimated that millions of square feet of buildings could be put up on the land. He used the swamp land in Punggol as an example.
'Punggol is not in town, yet all the swamp land there has been bulldozed. What are the chances this piece of land on the city fringe would be preserved? It's not even virgin jungle,' he said.
Mr Colin Tan, research and consultancy director of Chesterton Suntec International, agreed that the land would ultimately be developed, but he felt there was hope for the society's proposal for the next 10 to 20 years.
'At the moment, there's no urgency to develop that area. The Government is focused on building up places such as Marina Bay. In the short term, it's looking quite good for the proposal, but I don't think it can be left as a green corridor permanently,' he said.
Most primates here benign, just do not threaten, provoke or feed them, experts advise
Ang Yiying & Jalelah Abu Baker Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
MACAQUE alert: The top three areas where long-tailed macaques are found in Singapore are Nee Soon and Lower Peirce, MacRitchie and Bukit Timah.
Based on data gathered in 2007 and published last year, there were 375 such primates in Nee Soon and Lower Peirce, 252 in the MacRitchie area and 196 in the Bukit Timah area.
In fact, researchers know almost the exact number of macaques there are in the various parts of the island.
Going by surveys and reported sightings, they have plotted the distribution of macaques based on their sleeping sites, and have mapped out where more than 70 groups of macaques can be found.
These monkeys - in groups or singly - usually roam the fringes of forests but reported sightings have been made at urbanised areas such as Jurong East IMM and Raffles Place.
All in, the number of macaques - the most commonly found primates in Singapore - range from 1,218 to 1,454. Only long-tailed macaques are found here.
These animals made the news on Wednesday when a macaque - believed to be either a long-tailed or pig-tailed species - snatched a newborn girl from her house in Seremban in Malaysia, bit her, and then dropped her to her death from a rooftop.
Experts say long-tailed macaques in Singapore are more benign and also smaller than others in South-east Asia. Chances of one snatching a human baby are very slim,they added.
Dr Michael Gumert, a researcher from the Nanyang Technological University who has been involved in local studies of macaques, said of the Malaysian incident: 'This is an extremely unique case.'
He had not heard of macaques snatching babies before, although there had been a few reported cases of chimpanzees doing so in Africa.
Still, macaques continue to be a nuisance to residents who live in areas where they roam.
Last year, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority received 611 reports related to nuisance caused by monkeys or of monkey sightings outside forested areas.
A local study published last year found that most interactions between humans and macaques take place when people carry food or look like they are carrying food.
Mr Rengaswami Ramakrishnan, 72, a security guard at the Le Wood condominium near Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, said some of the macaques have even developed human-like tastebuds; they now turn their backs on fruit.
'They like KFC and McDonald's. When residents buy breakfast back during the weekends, they would snatch it,' he said.
Macaques continue to plague residents of that condominium.
Mr Alvin Tan, who lives in the condominium, said the monkeys are not lured by the fruit placed in the cages that the AVA provides to trap them. 'They would only come when we put in shiny wrappers, like the Snickers bar wrappers,' he said.
Housewife Catherine Teo, 56, who has been living in the condo for the past two years, has resorted to carrying a recyclable cloth bag as the notorious monkeys seem to be attracted to plastic bags.
Experts say that contact or conflicts with macaques or other types of roaming monkeys are avoidable - just do not feed them.
Mr John Sha Chih Mun, conservation and research curator at Wildlife Reserves Singapore, advises against threatening the monkeys with objects, staring at them or making sudden movements towards them.
People should also avoid moving too close to macaques, especially when a mother is with its infant and may be highly protective and aggressive.
Dr Gumert said the Seremban incident also highlights the importance of having windows and doors with locked screens if you live near wildlife.
'A sad reality is that people living near forest areas or with animals around can't just have wide open houses and be completely safe,' he said.
Public urged to be cautious when dealing with wild monkeys
Wayne Chan Channel NewsAsia 8 Oct 10;
SINGAPORES: Wild monkeys, like the one which killed a four-day-old baby in Seremban Malaysia, are also found in Singapore.
The long-tailed macaques are a common sight at Casuarina Road, off Upper Thomson Road, and at times, can be unwelcome visitors to residents living there.
Casuarina Road resident Yogalakshmi said monkeys would go into her room and push toys down the table.
Residents said the monkeys would not be a threat if precautions were taken.
Sixty-one-year-old Casuarina Road resident Russell Ng said: "As long as people exercise caution, don't feed the monkeys, don't tease the monkeys, don't make eye contact with the monkeys (it should be safe).
"If the (monkeys) stare at you, just walk away".
Singapore's Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority said the long-tailed macaque was the most common species here.
They are generally elusive animals and reside in forested areas, away from humans.
However, AVA said it still received feedback on stray monkeys causing a nuisance.
The number of monkeys culled has gone down by almost 40 per cent since 2007.
The number of stray monkeys culled by AVA were 206, 184 and 127 in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively.
AVA said these strays had become accustomed to feeding by humans, associating people with food, thus showing altered behaviour.
Residents are urged to keep windows and doors shut when no one is home, and tightly seal all rubbish bins.
-CNA/wk
Related links
Malaysia: Macaque abducts, bites and drops baby from roof Chitra S. Nathan and Lester Kong The Star 7 Oct 10;
Lin Yang Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
WRAPPED gingerly in a white towel held together by masking tape, the patient was carried by a professional caregiver to the X-ray room as anxious eyes followed it and camera flashes went off to record every move.
The eagle had landed at last - in the safe arms of a dedicated veterinarian. Its talons worn and limp, it lay in obvious pain, only the glitter in its eye a testament to its will to live - and fly.
The four-year-old raptor was found with a broken left leg by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) near the tarmac of Changi Airport on Aug 30. Lacking the expertise to provide care, the SPCA took it to the Jurong Bird Park's Avian Hospital for treatment.
Throughout the procedure, as staff captured its reactions on film, it watched quietly, seemingly determined to make it back to its piece of the sky above the eastern shores of Singapore.
Not without help, however. Its femur was completely broken and, if left untreated, the two sections of bone would grow back together at an awkward angle, shortening the left leg.
'Eagles usually get such injuries by crashing into things, such as trees, buildings, and glass,' explained Dr Melodiya Magno, the veterinarian. 'If the SPCA had not discovered it and brought it here, the bird would have been more vulnerable to attacks by other eagles or have had difficulty holding on to prey.'
Dr Magno operated on the bird for two hours in early September to insert a metal pin to hold the broken sections of the bone together, allowing them to align.
Protruding from the skin, the two ends of the pin were tied with an elastic band to provide additional pressure on the bone so it could heal faster.
The vet removed the pin yesterday, after giving the bone a full month to heal.
However, it is still unclear when or if the bird would be released back into the wild. Dr Magno pointed out that wild animals often get 'too comfortable' in captivity and forget how to hunt. The bird park will be working to condition the eagle to capture and eat live prey to enable its release.
White-bellied sea eagles are found along the coasts of South Asia, South-east Asia and Australia. They are one of the largest raptors in South-east Asia, with an average adult wingspan of 2m.
Out of Darwin's shadow
NUS brings to light works of the other Great Naturalist
Victoria Vaughan Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
HANDWRITTEN notebooks and publications from famed naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace will be made available to the public on a new website at no charge.
Wallace independently formulated the theory of evolution at about the same time as Charles Darwin.
Science historian John van Wyhe, of the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore (NUS), is amassing the work of Darwin's lesser-known contemporary with the help of an anonymous grant of $388,000 from an American donor.
Wallace is particularly relevant to Singapore.
He used the island city as his base during the eight years he spent in South-east Asia, studying its unique natural life. The pioneer naturalist, who was in the region between 1854 and 1862, spent some time in the Bukit Timah forest.
Dr van Wyhe said Wallace enthusiastically collected beetles 'while trying to avoid tigers growling in the forest, which were eating about a person a day during that time'.
Wallace's work, which is displayed at London's Natural History Museum, is largely inaccessible to students, scientists and the public elsewhere. Dr van Wyhe hopes to change that by putting it online.
When carrying out a study, academics must cite original work in footnotes, and the website aims to be the definitive and reliable source of Wallace's work.
Professor Peter Ng, director of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR), said: 'It's not easy to trace a particular document. To do that now, I have to get the British Museum to search for it.
'And if it's a historical document, I have to go to London myself. If all his works go online, it will be a tremendous boost for the study of science and history in Singapore.'
Prof Ng plans to house a permanent Wallace exhibition at Singapore's new Natural History Museum to be built in 2014. He is trying to raise $9 million for the new museum, which will be built at the NUS campus. It will replace the current cramped environs of the RMBR.
Wallace collected about 125,000 specimens from South-east Asia. The collection can be invaluable to climate change scientists, who can compare them to specimens of the same species today.
The work will be put online next year, and the website will be completed by 2013, on the 100th anniversary of the naturalist's death.
Fittingly, the anniversary will be observed in Singapore with an exhibition at the Science Centre. An international conference will also be hosted here.
However, Wallace's legacy is still a matter of debate.
Dr van Wyhe, who has studied Darwin for 10 years, said Wallace wrote an essay on the theory of evolution and sent it to Darwin.
The latter had come up with the theory 20 years earlier but had not published it then.
'Darwin discovered his theory of evolution in a dingy room in London after his travels in the Galapagos,' Dr van Wyhe said.
'Wallace was still in the jungle sweating in a malarial fever on the island of Ternate in the Molucca Isles near New Guinea when he made his discovery.'
In the end, the works of both men were published at the same time in 1858.
The reason Darwin got more attention, said Dr van Wyhe, was that he came up with the idea first. He also spent time lobbying the scientific community until the theory was widely accepted.
Dr van Wyhe authored a similar project on Darwin called Darwin Online in 2006.
The idea was sparked by an Internet search that revealed 'utter chaos and completely unreliable data' online.
Related links
Darwin online
Singapore among 180 countries holding events to fight climate change
Grace Chua Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
VISITORS painting and planting herbs at a green carnival tomorrow and shoppers at an eco-merchandise flea market can count themselves part of a global movement. To mark the 10.10.10 International Day of Climate Action, more than 6,000 events will be held in more than 180 countries. They range from installing solar panels in the Maldives to clearing invasive plants in Scotland and repairing bicycles in New Zealand.
The 10.10.10 date is the brainchild of 350.org, an international campaign to cut carbon dioxide emissions and reduce its amount in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, which will prevent runaway climate change. It was picked as it comes 10 weeks before the United Nations' climate change talks in Cancun, Mexico, later this year.
In Singapore, 10.10.10 will be marked with 10 events, organised by various green groups and coordinated by environmental youth group Eco Singapore.
For instance, a carnival at Bottle Tree Park by sustainability group Ground-Up Initiative will feature a full day of activities, from a 'cooking with herbs' workshop and urban farming to a workshop on making garbage enzyme, a natural household cleanser, from kitchen waste.
Between 2,000 and 3,000 people are expected to show up. The activities will focus on practical action, rather than on climate change demonstrations.
'Enough talking, protests and websites - let's get to work,' said Mr Tay Lai Hock, founder of Ground-Up Initiative.
The National University of Singapore is also planting some 30 trees at Clementi Woods Park, at the edge of the campus.
Tomorrow's events are part of the second climate action day by 350.org. The first was held last October, before the Copenhagen climate summit.
Although only about 300 people showed up to form a 'human tidal wave' at Hong Lim Park last year, Eco Singapore senior executive Chris Jensen felt the event was not a failure as the numbers were higher than expected.
'Globally, Climate Action Day might not have achieved Copenhagen targets, but it put the number 350 on the negotiating table at the UN climate conference,' he said.
Other eco events
# Green carnival at Bottle Tree Park, Yishun: http://carnival-bottletreepark.blogspot.com
# Charity concert and flea market at Rochester Park, Buona Vista: http://oliveventures.com.sg
# Energy efficiency seminar at Biosphere Capital, Lavender Street: http://www.350.org/energy-efficiency-seminar-refreshments
# Really Really Free Market, Post Museum: http://www.350.org/singapore-really-really-free-market-10-oct-2010
# Other events at http://www.eco- singapore.org/where-will-you-celebrate-101010
Growing a home from Ground-Up
Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
A GREENHOUSE at Yishun's Bottle Tree Park holds a jumble of pots and a maze of plants - from herbs to deep blue butterfly-pea flowers - while a thatched structure nearby shelters a 'living room' of plastic chairs and stools.
This modern-day kampung is home to Ground-Up Initiative (GUI), an environmental and social non-profit organisation that started building itself a 'home' from scratch there early last year.
It advocates sustainable living, holds urban farming activities, and is organising a carnival for the 10.10.10 climate change campaign this weekend.
GUI was founded by former corporate high-flier Tay Lai Hock, 47, who had a change of heart and now lives a simpler, environmentally friendly lifestyle.
From a 100 sq m plot of land, GUI has expanded to about 12 times its original size, and has attracted 100 members and regular volunteers aged two to 78.
Run largely on goodwill and donations, the whole set-up has cost GUI about $20,000. The park provides the space for free.
But what it has built stands on shaky ground. The eight-year lease on the privately run 7.5ha Bottle Tree Park runs out in two years, and the land may revert to the Government's charge.
Bottle Tree Park co-owner Colin Chia, a building contractor, said: 'If there's any other future development, they will take it back for sure.'
The owners, he said, will just wait and see.
Mr Chia, who grew up in a kampung in Lim Chu Kang, said he was impressed by GUI's values and kampung spirit.
Founding member Tan Chia Chia, 34, said many volunteers started out never having built or planted anything, but soon acquired those skills.
'It's a DIY culture that a lot of us have lost,' she said.
Regular volunteer Terence Ho, 20, quipped: 'When I told my friends I was farming they thought I was crazy. They'd rather play Farmville on Facebook.'
Mr Tay, ever the free spirit, said he refused to worry too much about the kampung's fate, and that GUI had two more years to plan.
'If we have to go, we go,' he said. 'If I worry too much, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing.'
10/10/10: World's Biggest Climate Work Party Gathers Force
Environment News Service 8 Oct 10;
OAKLAND, California, October 8, 2010 (ENS) - More than 7,000 events are expected to take place in 188 countries for the 10/10/10 Global Work Party, "the single largest day of carbon-cutting action in the planet's history," according to organizing nonprofit 350.org.
The group's name indicates that the world must return to 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to forestall the worst impacts of global warming.
As of April 2010, the CO2 concentration level was 392 parts per million. Carbon dioxide and other gases blanket the Earth in the greenhouse effect, blocking the planet's natural ability to radiate the Sun's heat back out into space.
"Politicians may still be debating climate change, but citizens are getting to work solving it," said Bill McKibben, environmental author and founder of 350.org.
Some politicians do support the Global Work Party. The United Nations' chief negotiator took a break from international climate talks in Tianjin, China today to record a message backing 10/10/10.
Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change said, "I want to offer my personal support to the 10/10/10 Global Work Party on October 10. And I urge you to continue your inspiring work. When citizens are inspired to take action, it is easier for governments to initiate real climate change action. The upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference at Cancun will be their opportunity to do so. They need to follow your example."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon gave 10/10/10 a boost in September with his endorsement of the Global Work Party. "It's time for us to roll up our sleeves and get to work on building the clean energy future that will generate economic opportunity and provide a better, safer, healthier world for our children," said Ban.
While the official work party day is Sunday, October 10, in the country most at risk of sea level rise, the low-lying Maldives Islands in the Indian Ocean, President Mohamed Nasheed started work early.
A former carpenter, President Nasheed set the work party in motion on Thursday by installing a set of solar panels on the roof of his official residence in Male. The panels were donated by Sungevity, an Oakland, California company which sent a team to help President Nasheed install them.
"The Maldives stands at the front line of climate change and we don't have the luxury of time to sit and wait for the rest of the world to act. We are getting to work to start the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy," said President Nasheed.
Back in Oakland on Sunday, a team of Sungevity installers will join with Grid Alternatives on the roof of the Green Youth Arts and Media Center to install another set of solar panels. GYAMC serves youth impacted by violence and poverty through programs in the arts, media production, and environmental sustainability, preparing them for careers in entertainment or green industries.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, a Democrat, said today he will be up on the roof of his official residence in Springfield on Sunday helping to install solar panels, and he is challenging every other governor in the United States to do the same.
"I am pleased to announce plans to bring the Illinois Governor's Mansion into the 21st century with a new set of solar panels," said Quinn. "We must do everything we can to increase our use of solar energy, which will help us protect natural resources and reduce our reliance on traditional energy sources."
The one kilowatt solar array will reduce CO2 emissions by 30 tons over the next 25 years, the equivalent of about 100,000 car miles or the planting of 1,100 trees. The panels were donated by WindFree Energy Company and BYD America, and the hardware by B. Weinstein Engineering. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 193 is donating the labor to install the panels.
In Mexico City today, Mayor Marcelo Ebrard signed a commitment to cut carbon emissions 10 percent over the next year.
The mayor of this city of 22 million people, and Mexico City Environment Secretary Martha Delgado explained how they will achieve the 10 percent reduction - by opening a new line of the Metrobus, expanding the city's bike sharing program and bike lane system, building a new subway line, taking old taxis off the road with incentives, and implementing new recycling and waste reduction programs.
On Sunday, Mayor Ebrard will join thousands for a solar-powered festival in Chapultepec park.
The White House, too, is getting involved in the Global Work Party. Representatives from the White House asked 350.org if they could talk with some of the people organizing events across the country.
On Saturday at 5pm Eastern time, Jon Carson, the national field director for the Obama campaign and now a senior official for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, will be on the line on a public call-in to talk about the power of grassroots organizing, and what the Obama administration is doing to address climate change.
McKibben says he was worried when he first announced the 10/10/10 work party.
While last year's work party was a success with 5,200 events in 181 countries on October 24, 2009, McKibben said he feared that fewer people would want to get involved this year.
"It had been a discouraging year, with the failures in Copenhagen and in the U.S. Congress, and the unwillingness of governments all over the world to take any sort of meaningful climate action," he said. "People told me the movement was deflated, and that no one had any energy left."
As it turns out, he had no need to worry.
"In the same year when global temperatures have set one scary new record after another, you are rewriting the record books for civic engagement," McKibben said this week. "We don't have the final numbers yet because registrations are still streaming in, but it's clear that we're on track to shoot past 7,000 events in 188 countries."
"That leaves four countries unaccounted for: North Korea, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, and San Marino," he said. "Barring those, the entire planet is engaged. Which makes sense, since this is the first issue that involves the entire planet."
In the United States, over 1,200 events are planned, from Atlanta parishioners weatherizing their church to a hip-hop show at a community garden in Oakland.
In China and India, over 300 universities will join 10/10/10 as part of the Great Power Race, a student clean energy competition.
In Afghanistan, students will be planting hundreds of trees in a valley outside of Kabul.
In Congo, refugees will be planting a "Forest of Hope" outside of Goma, home to thousands of refugees from regional conflicts.
In Indonesia, 10 bike communities in Bandung City will plant 10 trees at each of 10 city parks.
In Hungary, at 10 am footballers kick off the Climate Soccer match, Olympic sportsmen vs. a team of climate change scientists.
In Russia and Croatia, organizers have signed up nearly 10,000 schools to plant trees on Sunday.
In Germany, people can get on the couch for some carbon cutting advice. The couch will be in Berlin on Sunday, traveling through the city offering low carbon advice to everyone on its way to the Brandenberg gate.
In Zimbabwe, the Cool Carbon Club in Harare has invited everyone to help clean up two cycle paths in the city.
McKibben asks that people take photos of their events to "show politicians and the media that people around the world aren't just ready for climate solutions - we're getting to work building them."
Email photos to photos@350.org. Put your city and country in the subject line, and put a short description of your event in the body of the email. McKibben says please try to get a "350" in your photo. "It's our universal message knitting this whole thing together. And if you can get a photo that shows how people are getting to work on climate solutions, even better."
PUB allays fears about catchment contamination
Amresh Gunasingham Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
THE water is brown, murky and certainly an eyesore when contrasted with the manicured grounds of the Seletar Country Club through which it flows.
For weeks, observers have noticed the pollution tainting large swathes of two rivers that flow through the club grounds and empty into the nearby Seletar freshwater catchment area.
'The water is completely polluted with orange sediment,' said one observer, who declined to be named.
The problem: Silt is leaking from massive construction works in the area, where a major aerospace hub is being developed.
Since last year, national water agency PUB has conducted spot checks and identified about 10 construction sites scattered around the 300ha space from which silt is flowing into public drains. The concern is that contaminants in the rivers could spill into the nearby Seletar reservoir.
In colonial times, the area was used by the British as an airport and a military base. Today, it is being turned into a major industrial hub where aviation industry giants such as Rolls-Royce and ST Aerospace will set up shop.
To assuage concerns about the catchment getting contaminated, a PUB spokesman pointed out that a series of silt screens installed along the rivers filters out much of the debris before it ever reaches the reservoir.
The water is also treated at nearby plants to meet specified standards before being pumped into homes, said the spokesman.
The agency has stepped up its enforcement rounds and issued fines reaching into thousands of dollars on 21 occasions to contractors who do not have adequate protection measures in place, such as silt traps and fences that prevent soil from being washed into public waterways.
Typically, such measures have already been specified in tender documents issued to contractors working on projects in open spaces, but the problem does not seem to go away - and the weather is partly to blame.
A spate of heavy rainstorms over the past few months has left the area, which has been cleared of most of its vegetation, vulnerable to soil erosion.
'Because of the recent intense storms, some silty water overflowed from the construction sites and entered the waterways,' said the PUB spokesman.
Such difficulties aside, environmental groups are up in arms over the pollution issue, pointing out that contractors should not be let off the hook after flouting the law. 'We should be setting the best practices for the region,' said Dr Shawn Lum, president of the Nature Society of Singapore.
Contractors working in the area who spoke to The Straits Times said they had complied with the requirements for silt-control measures. They blamed the problem on the heavy rainstorms and the lack of a proper drainage network in the area.
'There is no proper outlet for the silt, so all the water flows into the Seletar Country Club,' said one vexed contractor, who declined to be named. 'In an open area where earth is being dug up, how are we going to prevent silt from going into the drains?'
When contacted about the issue, the country club declined to comment.
High-tech methods sought to protect the environment and boost harvests
Grace Chua Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
SINGAPORE fish farmers are trying to move towards high-tech research and farming methods that minimise their environmental impact as the number of farms grows.
The burgeoning industry has been looking to science to protect the environment - for example, by monitoring water quality and cutting pollution - and produce more and better fish.
Much of that is driven by the Singapore Government's food security aims. It hopes to boost local fish supplies from 5 per cent of national consumption to 15 per cent in the next five years.
The number of fish farms has grown in the last few years. There were 106 licensed offshore last year, up from 92 in 2005. On land, there are two freshwater fish farms, and three marine-fish and prawn farms.
In June, three fish farmers installed an early-warning system to monitor water quality after fish died off in large numbers when a plankton bloom struck off Pasir Ris last year. At another high-tech farm, SIF Agrotechnology Asia, young sea bass that are usually farmed offshore are being raised on land using a chemical-free water recirculation system, which protects them from changes in water quality.
The venture by local water treatment firm SIF Technologies is opening a 1ha hatchery in Pasir Ris at the end of this month to rear fish for the local market.
The expertise of aquaculture researchers here is also in demand. For example, a joint venture by abalone growers Oceanus and Australia's Lobster Harvest to produce slipper lobsters enlisted the help of National University of Singapore (NUS) for its hatchery research and development.
NUS emeritus professor Lam Toong Jin said he had been consulted several times in the last year on such research, by government agencies and companies.
Another NUS don, Professor Hew Choy Leong, worked on the world's first genetically modified Atlantic salmon.
Most recently, a marine aquaculture research workshop held here last month was attended by about 40 delegates from Singapore and regional fish farms, government agencies and farm equipment suppliers. The workshop, by Australia's James Cook University (JCU), was followed by a public lecture on environmental sustainability at Australian fish farms. The talk was attended by about 300 participants.
Interest in aquaculture, the farming of fish, shellfish and other aquatic organisms, is growing worldwide. According to United Nations statistics, three billion people rely on fish as a main source of protein. But fish stocks in the wild are on the decline, so farmed fish is becoming an increasingly important global food source. Aquaculture makes up about half of the world's food-fish supply, and is set to overtake wild fish.
Fish farms, however, can cause pollution as fish waste and leftover food sink and decompose, resulting in algal blooms. At the JCU public lecture, aquaculture professor Rocky de Nys outlined how farms can use fish waste to grow commercially valuable species of algae.
For example, a JCU experimental project grows algae from fish waste, then turns it into biofuel. The green stuff can also be used to make cattle feed, fertiliser and even fish feed.
Mr Darren Lee, 25, who manages the Pulaumas Khatulistiwa prawn farm in Pontianak, Indonesia, said: 'It's a major problem. If your neighbour throws out dirty water without treating it, you pump in the dirty water and you suffer.'
Professor de Nys also said exotic fish species can escape into the wild and feed on native species, compete with them for food and spread disease. This can be solved by farming native fish species from local stock and using sturdy cages.
But the journey to better aquaculture research has not been without hiccups. Successful applications to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's $5 million Food Fund have not yet been finalised, though applications opened last year.
NUS' Prof Lam added that there was not enough research on the impact of fish farms on the environment.
Dhevarajan Devadas Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
AN AGRICULTURAL research centre that aims to improve crop yields and devise better sprays to control pests was opened at Science Park II yesterday.
The facility - set up by Syngenta, a Swiss-based agribusiness giant - consists of two key laboratories employing 22 people in total.
One lab helps breeders develop better varieties of rice, pepper and other crops in less time by identifying DNA markers associated with desirable traits.
The formulation development lab will help create products like herbicides and fungicides that can easily be applied by farmers with cheap spray equipment.
'We also create crop enhancers that increase the yield of rice, for example, by 10 per cent,' said Mr Keith Parker, Syngenta's head of formulation and packaging development in the Asia-Pacific.
Its head of the seeds business in the Asia-Pacific, Mr Peter Pickering, added: 'The region is expected to have an additional billion mouths to feed by 2030, and with limited resources, new technology in agriculture is necessary to help farmers grow more with less.'
Mr Liang Ting Wee, the Economic Development Board's director of energy and chemicals, said at the opening ceremony: 'Like Syngenta, Singapore places priority on innovation and R&D to drive Singapore's economic development.'
Mr Liang, who thanked Syngenta for its continued confidence in Singapore, added that the country aims to increase research and development expenditure to 3.5per cent of gross domestic product by 2015.
Syngenta, which also has its regional headquarters here, employs more than 25,000 people in over 90 countries.
It spent US$960 million (S$1.25billion) on R&D last year.
Jeremy Au Yong Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
THE programme to put electric vehicles (EVs) on Singapore roads will pass a milestone next year, when the first lot of 26 charging stations are installed.
German firm Bosch has been appointed to set up the network of these stations, with the first expected up and running by March, said the inter-agency task force in charge the EV test-bed programme yesterday.
By the end of next year, 63 stations will be up. They will charge the battery-powered Mitsubishi i-MiEVs, due to be brought in for testing at that time.
The task force, comprising officials from the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and a slew of ministries and agencies, is now actively encouraging owners of corporate fleets to consider getting the EVs for the trial. Private car owners are not included in this test phase.
Said LTA chief executive Chew Hock Yong: 'We look forward to the strong support of the business community in Singapore for this test bed.'
To fan the take-up rate, the tax holiday for buyers of the EVs has been extended to six years, up from two. Companies taking part in the test will be exempted from paying for certificates of entitlement, additional registration fees, road taxes and excise duties; with these reliefs, the price tag of a Mitsubishi i-MiEV will come down to $90,000 from $200,000.
The EMA said the purchase of the first batch of EVs is yet to be finalised. They have received several applications to buy the vehicles from companies like Smart Car Rental and GP Batteries.
Bosch will work with the organisations buying the EVs to determine where the charging stations will be set up.
Nearly all the 26 stations will be of the 'normal' variety, meaning cars will have to be plugged in for up to eight hours for a full charge. Only one station will be a quick-charging one, which can charge a car in just 45 minutes.
With more stations ready by the end of next year, there will be three quick-charge stations. The charging stations look like slimmer versions of petrol pumps, except they dispense electricity instead of fuel.
The other thing to be decided is how much each top-up of electricity will cost.
SingTel will be in on the experiment as well, as the provider of the telephone-based booking system to be used by EV drivers in the future. The system will allow drivers to use an application on their smartphones to book a charging station.
Bosch beat out 10 other companies to clinch the deal. The authorities had received bids ranging from $988,600 to $11.07 million.
But the task force said in its statement yesterday that other players could subsequently be allowed to set up similar facilities to be used on a commercial basis: 'The charging infrastructure will be scaled up over time, to match the take-up rate of EVs in Singapore.'
The stations are an important part of the multi-million-dollar project to test the efficiency of electric vehicles here.
Green experts yesterday welcomed the news about the setting-up of the charging stations. Mr Eugene Tay, who runs green resources website Low-Carbon Singapore, called for more data to be gathered on the performance of EVs here.
Precious little data is now available on how these vehicles will perform in Singapore's hot and humid climate.
'We would get to see how the cars run, how long it actually takes to charge, and how the feedback system will work,' he said.
This was a reference to the expectation that in the long run, EVs will be able to sell back the excess power in their batteries to the national electricity grid.
About electric vehicles
Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
# The electric vehicle (EV) motor system is more than twice as efficient as the conventional internal combustion engine. Overall efficiency for EVs is about 65 per cent, against 18 to 23 per cent in normal engines.
# If 2 per cent of vehicles here were substituted for electric ones, the carbon emissions of the land transport sector here would be reduced by 4 per cent.
# A standard full charge of an EV will take about 8 hours. However, it can be quick-charged within 30 to 45 minutes.
# A full charge allows the EV to travel between 90km and 160km. The distance depends on various factors, including routes travelled and whether the air-conditioning is turned on.
# A multi-agency task force was set up last year to assess the benefits and feasibility of adopting EVs here. The EV test bed will run from this year to 2012.
26 charging stations for electric vehicles to be set by Bosch
Channel NewsAsia 8 Oct 10;
SINGAPORE: Twenty-six charging stations will be set up for Singapore's Electric Vehicle (EV) test bed programme.
The inter-agency Taskforce led by the Energy Market Authority and the Land Transport Authority has appointed Bosch to set up the infrastructure.
For a start, the charging stations will cater to the first batch of Mitsubishi i-MiEVs being brought in for the test-bed.
EV models by other car manufacturers are expected to become available in 2011.
All but one of the charging stations can fully charge an electric vehicle within eight hours.
The remaining quick charge station can do so in 45 minutes.
The taskforce said Bosch will work closely with each EV user in the test-bed programme to site the locations of these charging stations.
The quick charging station will be sited at a location which the EV users can conveniently access.
The charging infrastructure will be ramped up over time to match the take-up rate of EVs in Singapore.
The taskforce said while it has appointed Bosch to roll out the initial charging infrastructure for the test-bed programme, this does not restrict other players from setting up EV charging stations on a commercial basis. - CNA/fa
Bosch to roll out electric vehicle charging stations
Singapore is first outside Germany to test such an integrated charging network
Samuel Ee Business Times 9 Oct 10;
ROBERT Bosch (SEA) has been picked to design, develop, deploy, operate and maintain Singapore's electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
The infrastructure is part of a $20 million programme to test-bed EVs in Singapore.
The German technology and services company was appointed by the multi-agency EV Taskforce, led by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
Bosch will work with local partners SingTel for the communications interface, and Greenlots for the charging network, to deliver a reliable and integrated infrastructure solution for EVs that it developed.
Singapore will be the first location outside Germany to test such an integrated EV charging network.
For the initial phase of the test-bed programme, Bosch will build 25 stations which will charge a vehicle fully within eight hours. There will also be a quick charging station which gives a full charge in 45 minutes.
These stations will cater to the first batch of EVs, which consists of 25 units of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV due to arrive in March.
Bosch will work with each EV user - a company participating in the test-bed - to site the location of a normal charging station. As for the quick charging station, it will be located for convenient access by all EV users. EV models by other manufacturers are also expected next year.
The charging infrastructure will be scaled up over time to match the take-up rate of EVs here.
Although Bosch will roll out the initial charging infrastructure for the test-bed programme, other players who want to set up EV charging stations on a commercial basis are free to do so.
'Worldwide, electric mobility solutions are emerging as a promising option for cleaner and less carbon-intensive road transportation,' said EMA chief executive Lawrence Wong.
'This programme will enable us to test and evaluate the overall costs and benefits of electric vehicles in Singapore's context.'
Mr Wong added that this is a part of EMA's broader effort to foster innovative solutions for Singapore's energy challenges and to make the Republic a smart energy economy.
Companies and organisations taking part in the EV test-bed can apply for the Transport Technology Innovation and Development Scheme or Tides+, which waives all vehicular taxes such as the Additional Registration Fees (ARF), Certificate of Entitlement (COE), road tax and excise duty for the purpose of R&D and test-bedding of transport technologies. This tax waiver is for an initial period of six years.
Bosch to set up 26 charging stations for electric cars
Mustafa Shafawi Today Online 9 Oct 10;
SINGAPORE - Twenty-six charging stations will be set up for Singapore's Electric Vehicle (EV) test bed programme - which runs from this year to 2012 - making the Republic the first location outside Germany to test out the charging infrastructure developed by the German firm Robert Bosch.
The inter-agency EV task force - led by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) - announced on Friday it had appointed Bosch to set up the infrastructure.
For a start, the charging stations will cater to the first batch of Mitsubishi i-MiEVs being brought in for the test-bed, said a joint press statement by EMA, LTA and the Economic Development Board.
EV models by other car manufacturers are expected to become available next year.
EMA chief executive Lawrence Wong said: "Worldwide, electric mobility solutions are emerging as a promising option for cleaner and less carbon-intensive road transportation. This programme will enable us to test and evaluate the overall costs and benefits of electric vehicles in Singapore's context."
Of the 26 charging stations, one can fully charge an electric vehicle in 45 minutes while the rest can do so within eight hours.
The charging infrastructure will be ramped up over time to match the take-up rate of EVs in Singapore.
The task force says that while it has appointed Bosch to roll out the initial charging infrastructure for the test-bed programme, this does not restrict other players from setting up EV charging stations on a commercial basis. MUSTAFA SHAFAWI
The heat is on for buildings to become eco-friendly, and some of them are showing that it is possible to be green and hip
nicholas yong Straits Times 9 Oct 10;
Get set for a new trend to take root in HDB flats, giving them the cool factor. Residents will soon be moving into Singapore's first green public housing project.
Treelodge@Punggol, slated for completion by the end of the year, is the island's first 'eco-precinct'. At least 90 per cent of the 712 units have already been taken up.
Prices for homes in the seven 16-storey blocks in Punggol New Town range from $139,000 for a three-room flat to $383,000 for a five-room loft unit.
The latest cutting-edge public housing developments such as Pinnacle@Duxton may have the wow factor in terms of towering 50-storey blocks and contemporary design, but Treelodge@Punggol has cool, planet-friendly features that are hip and help home owners save on utilities bills.
Sure, there are plenty of trees in the landscaped grounds but Treelodge@Punggol's greenie vibe includes the infrastructure: Less electricity will be used to keep the place cool in the hot weather, for example. The design makes the most of wind direction and shade from the sun (see other story).
The common corridors use sustainable energy in the form of solar-powered lighting, and the project earns extra greenie points for its use of recycled rainwater to clean common areas.
Even better, HDB says the savings on utilities costs will be poured back into maintaining the precinct.
This heartland helping-hand-for-the-planet is the first public housing project to obtain the Green Mark Platinum award, given by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
It is among several projects that have recently been awarded certifications under the BCA's Green Mark Scheme, which rates the environmental friendliness of buildings.
The five-year-old benchmarking scheme is part of a push to make eight out of 10 Singapore buildings eco-friendly within the next 20 years.
By 2030, 80 per cent of all Singapore buildings must be certified by the scheme. So far, 524 properties, or 8 per cent, have made the Green Mark grade. Since 2008, all new buildings have been required to attain the minimum Green Mark standard.
Based on an overall assessment of five key criteria including energy and water efficiency, buildings are given one of four ratings - Green Mark Certified, Gold, Gold Plus and Platinum.
Gold Plus and Platinum projects have to meet additional requirements, such as having energy savings of at least 25 per cent over current building codes.
Last April, BCA introduced a $100-million incentive scheme to pay any private building owner up to 35 per cent of the work required to retrofit green features. A total of $2million has been committed to nine projects so far.
Treelodge@Punggol is among 49 buildings that have achieved Platinum status, the highest mark.
The Aquatic Science Centre in Sungei Ulu Pandan, a research centre devoted to examining water quality, is in the final stages of attaining the Gold Plus mark. It will open at the end of this month.
It is immediately striking because of its 95m-long wave-like fibreglass roof. Its design not only looks good, but also helps collect rainwater.
Even more striking for many Singaporeans will be one of the interior features - there is hardly any air-conditioning: Air-conditioning is restricted to just 7 per cent of the building, with other rooms cooled by ceiling fans or natural ventilation.
It is a project by the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance (SDWA), a collaboration between PUB, the National University of Singapore and Dutch-based research institute Deltares.
Senior architectural associate Alan Lai of Surbana Consultants, co-designer of the building, says there is a 'strong dialogue' between the facility's form and its intended function.
He notes: 'Its main objective, which is water- based research, is carefully crafted into its structure. It is also an environmentally responsible building that makes use of natural ventilation and light.'
Mall cuts down the heat
Orchard Road may be famous for its shopping malls but, surprisingly, only one - 313@Somerset - has bagged the Green Mark Platinum.
Green features include its facades of low-emissivity glass, which can cost five times more than normal glass but cuts down heat, and the collection of rainwater for flushing toilets.
Tenants have to sign 'green leases' committing them to achieving environmental targets. For example, they must use energy-efficient lighting and power equipment. Their energy use is monitored, with incentives given for reducing energy consumption.
Retailers also have to separate waste products into glass, plastic and such. These are collected by the mall's staff and sent to the waste management centre.
Mr Adrian Yeo, operations manager of mid- priced food chain The Asian Kitchen, which has an outlet, Kamado Japanese Wood Fire restaurant, at the mall, says: 'It does require extra effort to separate the waste products, especially during busy periods. You need to have separate bins as well.'
But he adds: 'Being green means everyone should put in the effort. By contributing this little bit, I hope it helps.'
Ms Michelle Lee, spokesman for mall owner Lend-Lease Retail Investments, says besides reducing the building's carbon footprint, going green has financial benefits, such as 'reducing the centre's operating costs and safeguarding against future energy price increases'.
'Other benefits include providing a safe environment to users of the mall and the opportunity to lead sustainability education for our retailers and customers.'
The eco has landed at other places around town, too.
Boomarang, a bar and bistro which has been operating at Robertson Quay for two years, was recently given a coveted LEED Silver Award. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a programme in the United States for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
Its requirements are stringent and Boomarang is the only F&B outlet in Asia to get the award.
More than $1.5 million was spent on fitting the eatery, including its winning green features. These include the fact that during construction, 80 per cent of building waste was recycled. And all waste cooking oil is donated for conversion into diesel, which translates to an annual reduction of carbon emissions by about 500kg.
Australian owner Martin McGettigan says: 'By striving for greener, efficient building design and operations, Boomarang continually contributes to a healthier environment.'
While a building may be equipped with green features, its inhabitants still play the most important role, says Treelodge@ Punggol's project director Ng Bingrong. 'It is still up to the user to make full use of the green facilities, to contribute to a sustainable living environment.'
Building makes own energy
This is exactly what its name says it is: The Zero Energy Building (ZEB) produces enough energy to run itself.
Formerly a three-storey workshop, it was retrofitted at a cost of $11 million, the first existing building in South-east Asia done for such a purpose.
The building, or ZEB@BCA Academy to give its full name, is along Braddell Road and houses 68 staff in offices, classrooms and a resource centre.
It is the Building and Construction Authority's flagship R&D project under the Green Building Masterplan and is a test-bed for energy-efficient building solutions.
It is expected to save $84,000 a year in energy costs compared to a typical office in Singapore.
Associate Professor Stephen Wittkopf of the National University of Singapore, a key researcher with the ZEB project team, says: 'The main target of the project was to demonstrate that the concept of a zero-energy building is possible even in the tropics, where high air-conditioning loads make up more than 50 per cent of the energy consumption of buildings.'
Among the building's key features are 1,540 sq m of solar energy panels, an area bigger than an Olympic-sized swimming pool; solar chimneys that take warm air from a room and replace it with cool air; and personalised ventilation, where fresh air is delivered directly to each occupant through pipes attached to a desk.
HDB flats go eco-friendly
Roof gardens and green spaces in the carparks (above) and environmental deck help lower ambient temperature.
Going green also means being lean.
While it cost more to construct the eco-friendly Treelodge@Punggol than the average housing district, it is a 'small price premium' to pay, says its project director Ng Bingrong.
That is because 'in the long term, the eco-features will lower the cost of maintaining the precinct. This project shows that building green buildings can be cost-effective'.
Construction costs were 5 to 8 per cent higher.
When asked if the higher costs translated to higher prices for the flats, a HDB spokesman said where the eco- features added to the value of the flat, HDB approximated the enhancement to the flat's market value.
But if the features benefitted the community, HDB absorbed the cost and did not pass it on to residents.
The spokesman adds: 'As with other new flats, the flats at Treelodge@ Punggol were priced below their equivalent market prices at the point of offer so that buyers enjoy a market subsidy.'
Eco-features in Treelodge@Punggol's common areas will result in annual energy savings of at least 2 gigawatt hours a year - which is enough to power 400 average four-room households for a year. The savings will go towards precinct maintenance.
Other eco-features include having the design and location determined by environmental simulation tools that consider wind direction and sun movement. This helps maximise the use of wind to lower building temperatures and reduce heat build-up inside units.
The nearly 2,000 sqm roof area is also covered with solar panels. The electricity generated from the panels powers the lifts, water pump and lighting in the common areas. In addition, energy-efficient Light-Emitting Diode (LED) fittings instead of fluorescent lights are used in the common areas.
More green public housing projects are in the pipeline.
Norfarhana Ahya Arip Bernama 8 Oct 10;
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's rapid development has come with a price. The country now ranks third in the world as having the highest number of threatened species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
In Asia, the IUCN lists Malaysia as sitting among the top countries for the same reason.
Malaysian Nature Society Chairman Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee said that rapid development of a nation -- transformation from an agriculture-based economy to an industrial and manufacturing nation -- was at the expense of forests and wetlands.
This resulted in the degradation of biodiversity, he noted.
However, he said, the nation started recognising the great challenges that the nation faced in the conservation of its tropical biodiversity and sought practical, long-term solutions.
"Efforts must be taken to reverse the current trends for the future generation...for the sake of our valuable biodiversity," he said at the two-day Malaysian Nature Society International Conference which began here Friday.
The conference is themed, 'Challenges and Solutions for Tropical Biodiversity'.
Biodiversity, Dr Ahmad Mustaffa said, had a major role to play in social and economic development because it was the backbone for supportive life on earth.
Meanwhile, when opening the conference, natural resources and environment ministry deputy secretary-general (I) Datuk Aziyah Mohamed said the involvement of non-governmental organisations (NGO) in the conservation and sustainability of the nation's tropical biodiversity would be valuable input for the government to strengthening the policy.
She said the government would work closely with the NGOs to get the necessary feedback, "because they actually touch base with the ground, perhaps some areas or the blind spots we cannot see but they actually really see it".
-- BERNAMA
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