Best of our wild blogs: 27 May 14

World Environment Day documentary screening: In Transition 2.0
from Green Drinks Singapore

28 Jun (Sat) morning: Free guided walk at Chek Jawa
from Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

Biodiversity for kids during the June school holidays
from Celebrating Singapore's BioDiversity!

Full and Part time Job Opportunities in Freshwater Ecology
from The Biodiversity crew @ NUS

Conversations on Sustainable Singapore (Waste and the 3Rs)
from Green Future Solutions

Recycle Your E-Waste @ Funan DigitaLife Mall
from Otterman speaks

Families and friends having fun at Chek Jawa!
from Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

eagle vs eagle @ SBWR - May 2014
from sgbeachbum

Butterflies Galore! : Malayan Eggfly
from Butterflies of Singapore

Read more!

NTU club pops plan to release balloons

David Ee The Straits Times AsiaOne 27 May 14;

SINGAPORE - A plan to release several hundred balloons at a Marina Barrage charity carnival was burst after environmentalists convinced organisers of the harm that could be done to marine life.

Nature enthusiasts had voiced concerns that, after the helium balloons deflate and fall in the sea, they would prove deadly to sea turtles and other creatures in Singapore's waters that mistake them for food such as jellyfish.

Less than a day after receiving this feedback on their website and Facebook page last Tuesday, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Cultural Activities Club (CAC) decided to scrap the balloon release as a show of solidarity.

They had planned the release at sunset on June 15 as part of organising Arts From The Heart, a carnival in support of the Children's Cancer Foundation.

A statement posted on the event's Facebook page early last Wednesday morning read: "We have been receiving several concerns over our proposed release of balloons at our event and have made a decision to stop the mass release of balloons in a bid to care for the environment."

In its place, "other suitable, environmentally friendly alternatives" to mark the event will be looked at, said Mr Kenneth Lo, chairman of the event's organising committee.

NTU CAC's president Joel Lim told The Sunday Times no helium balloons would be used at the event, only standard, air-filled ones.

Last December, a balloon release for a New Year's Eve party in Punggol was similarly canned after nature lovers wrote in.

Ms Ria Tan, 53, who petitioned organisers both times, was glad that their U-turns were swift.

"I find that most people immediately understand when we explain nicely the harmful effects of a mass balloon release," said the nature blogger, who has found deflated balloons in mangroves and on beaches here.

These releases are "equivalent to mass littering", she added.

She hopes that with greater awareness, they will soon become a thing of the past.

Professor Chou Loke Ming, a marine biologist at the National University of Singapore, said that balloons and plastic bags that sea turtles swallow would clog up their intestines and kill them.

According to the non-profit US-based Sea Turtle Conservancy, more than 100 million marine animals are killed each year due to debris in the ocean.

"I think most people don't know that the impact is like this when they send balloons into the air. Where the balloons go or end up, they don't have any idea," said Prof Chou.

Related link
Help stop mass balloon release on 15 Jun at Marina Barrage on wild shores of singapore blog.

Read more!

Local organisations developing contingency plans in case of haze

Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 26 May 14;

SINGAPORE: Experts have warned that an El Nino season in the region, characterised by dry weather and high temperatures, could prolong the haze this year.

Some businesses Channel NewsAsia spoke with, however, said they have yet to implement specific contingency plans to tide them through. But others said it makes good sense to have such plans in place -- both for staff welfare, and to also minimise work disruptions.

The haze has frustrated the region for decades. But last year's episode -- during which the PSI reached more than 400 at its peak -- caught most in Singapore off-guard.

The 2013 haze affected many businesses especially retailers and food & beverage outlets badly -- with some saying they lost as much as half of their business, as many people chose to stay indoors. Some reports also suggested that the Singapore economy could have lost as much as S$1 billion a week.

One year on, public and private entities Channel NewsAsia spoke with said they have learnt important lessons.

The coordinating chairman of the PAP town councils Dr Teo Ho Pin, said: "After the haze in June last year, the PAP town councils came together and we have discussed this to see what are the ways in which we should respond with respect to different levels of PSI in our working environment.

"We also consulted the MOM and their safety guidelines. That's the reason why we have come up with the working protocol with respect to different levels of haze PSI."

Dr Teo said at a PSI of between 100 and 200, N95 masks will be issued to workers at all the 15 PAP-run town councils. Cleaning the estate would consist of quick sweeps, and outdoor work will be reduced.

Beyond a PSI of 200, non-essential work such as block washing will be stopped. And above 300, only essential services such as lift rescue and refuse removal will be undertaken.

Dr Teo said aspects of essential and emergency services may need to be further tweaked if the haze goes on for a prolonged period.

Others will turn to established contingency plans.

In 2013, technology company Bosch offered its 750 employees in Singapore the chance to work at home during the haze. About 150 employees took up the option when the PSI reached "very unhealthy" and "hazardous" levels.

This was achieved through a tool called the Bosch Communicator -- a voice and messaging system that is installed on all laptops.

It forwards calls from office phones to laptops so that employees remain contactable, regardless of where they are.

Bosch said the tool has been available to employees in Singapore for more than three years.

The company also maintains a stock of masks, and disseminates information through its notice boards at the lobby to facilitate internal communication.

Angeline Kwek, human resources manager at Robert Bosch Southeast Asia, said: "It makes sense because once the basics -- which is the health and safety of the employees is taken care of -- they know what to do in times of emergency.

"That would indirectly ensure business continuity. When they know what they need to do, they will be able to do their work just like any other day."

Bosch said the recent initiative to distribute N95 masks to all Singapore households prompted it to also take action by checking and stocking masks for its employees.

- CNA/ac

Read more!

China opens first environmental court

Stian Reklev PlanetArk 26 May 14;

The court established in the southern province of Fujian has appointed 12 specialist consultants who will assist litigators on technical issues, Xinhua news agency reported.

Environmental scandals have plagued China in recent years as the country pursued a strategy of high growth and rapid industrialization. Faced with growing anger over pollution, Beijing has adopted a more environmentally-friendly strategy.

A new environmental law approved last month is expected to give the government power to impose tougher penalties on polluters when it enters into force on Jan. 1 next year.

Hitherto, many companies found it cheaper to pay fines rather than clean up production methods.

(Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

China to scrap millions of cars in anti-pollution push
David Stanway and Kathy Chen PlanetArk 27 May 14;

China to scrap millions of cars in anti-pollution push Photo: Jason Lee
Vehicles drive through the Guomao Bridge on a heavy haze day in Beijing's central business district January 29, 2013.
Photo: Jason Lee

China plans to take more than five million ageing vehicles off the roads this year in a bid to improve air quality, with 330,000 cars set to be decommissioned in Beijing alone, the government said in a policy document published on Monday.

Pollution has emerged as an urgent priority for China's leaders as they try to reverse the damage done by decades of breakneck growth and head off public anger about the sorry state of the nation's air, water and soil.

In a wide-ranging action plan to cut emissions over the next two years, China's cabinet, the State Council, said the country had already fallen behind in its pollution targets over the 2011-2013 period and was now having to step up its efforts.

As many as 5.33 million "yellow label" vehicles that fail to meet Chinese fuel standards will be "eliminated" this year, the document said. As well as the 330,000 cars in Beijing, 660,000 will be withdrawn from the surrounding province of Hebei, home to seven of China's smoggiest cities in 2013.

According to Beijing's environmental watchdog, vehicle emissions in Beijing were responsible for about 31 percent of the hazardous airborne particles known as PM 2.5, with 22.4 percent originating from coal burning. [ID:nL3N0N8144]

Beijing plans to limit the total number of cars on the road to 5.6 million this year, with the number allowed to rise to 6 million by 2017. Last year it cut the number of new license plates by 37 percent to 150,000 a year and is also paying for another 200,000 ageing vehicles to be upgraded.

The State Council document did not say how the plan would be implemented, but Beijing's municipal government has previously offered subsidies of between 2,500-14,500 yuan ($400-2,300) to drivers who voluntarily hand in their ageing vehicles to be scrapped. However, the subsidy didn't cover "yellow label" cars that fail to meet even minimum gasoline standards.

Beijing currently forbids vehicles that do not meet required standards from entering the city, but officials have admitted that China currently lacks the monitoring and policing capability to ensure all cars make the grade, and drivers have also found ways to avoid detection.

"Many vehicles have problems and many didn't even meet the standards when they came out of the factory, and fining them on the streets isn't the way to solve this problem," said Li Kunsheng, an official responsible for transport emissions at the Beijing municipal environmental bureau.

The policy document also set new targets for the closure of coal-fired heating systems as well as the installation of equipment to reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions at power stations, steel mills and cement plants.

It said China was aiming to cut carbon emissions per unit of economic growth by more than 4 percent this year and more than 3.5 percent in 2015 as it tries to meet a binding 17-percent target set in its 2011-2015 five-year plan.

China also seeks to reduce energy consumption per unit of growth by 3.9 percent this year and next in order to meet a 16 percent target for the 2011-2015 period.

In a report on human rights, China said its spending on energy saving and environmental protection in 2013 rose 14.2 percent year-on-year to 338 billion yuan ($54 billion). "Focusing on solving the major environmental problems that seriously endanger people's health, (China) investigated and punished harshly illegal pollution and environmental crimes, so as to safeguard people's right to a healthy and clean environment," it said.($1 = 6.23 yuan)

(Additional reporting by Stian Reklev, Editing by Nick Macfie)

Read more!

Best of our wild blogs: 26 May 14

Some dead fishes seen at Sungei Buloh
from wild shores of singapore

A visit to Greenleaf forest
from My Nature Experiences

From Lornie to Venus
from Beauty of Fauna and Flora in Nature

Call of the female Oriental Pied Hornbill
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Singapore's biodiversity on the Evolutionary Biology Lab's resources from wild shores of singapore

Mayan Cichlid @ Sungei Buloh
from Monday Morgue

Read more!

Experts warn of long period of haze

Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 25 May 14;

SINGAPORE: The haze that is expected to hit Singapore in the coming months could go on for as long as three months, experts have warned.

This is similar to what the Republic experienced in 1997, they said.

Prolonged hazy skies could happen if a strong El Nino effect sets in, compounded by the already-started illegal land clearing by farmers in Sumatra.

El Nino is a phenomenon which causes severely dry weather and high temperatures in this region.

According to environmental reports, there were more than 3,000 hotspots in Sumatra at the peak of the haze crisis in March alone.

This compared to about 2,700 in June last year.

The next dry season will occur between June and October, and experts are concerned illegal land clearing in Sumatra will result in large-scale fires.

"If they deliberately set fires to clear land, particularly if it's land being cleared illegally, they are not going to listen to anyone who tells them not to start the fire," said Mr Faizal Parish, Director of Global Environment Centre, a non-governmental organisation based in Malaysia.

"They won't take immediate action to put out the fire. The problem (in Sumatra) is the need for active enforcement on the ground."

Worse, the March fires have not yet been put out completely.

Mr Parish said: "(About) 90 per cent of smoke and haze is coming from peat. Fires can remain burning underground for months and then come back up to the surface during dry periods.

"So, sometimes when there's rain, the surface fire goes out but is still smouldering on the ground. A few days later, or a week later, the fire can re-emerge again from underground to the surface."

Mr Parish said the fires deep within the peat smouldered for as long as six months between 1997 and 1998.

That was also the year strong El Nino conditions set in.

How warm a particular stretch of the Pacific Ocean is could provide an indication of an El Nino pattern.

Experts say the sea surface temperatures have to consistently be 0.5 degrees Celsius above a long-term average for an El Nino season to be declared and this part of the Pacific Ocean has been exceeding these thresholds since April.

In Singapore, experts say 1997 was also characterised by the lowest annual rainfall measured in the Republic since 1948.

Assistant Professor Winston Chow from the National University of Singapore's Geography Department said: "In June, July and August, we should be experiencing South West Monsoon or summer monsoon conditions where wind direction comes from the south or south west.

"You still have rainfall occurring. But what happens during El Nino is that while the wind conditions more or less remain the same, you can expect less rainfall to happen. On top of that, you would expect higher-than-normal temperatures during the season as well."

Professor Chow said if there are intense fires in Sumatra, the prevailing wind direction would fan the smoke and particulate matter towards Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia.

- CNA/ir

Read more!

Corals go spawning, but El Nino may turn them white

Whole colonies of coral releasing eggs and sperm, in an orgiastic ritual that occurs every April.
Chew Hui Min MyPaper AsiaOne 26 May 14;

SINGAPORE - It's an orgy in Singapore waters that occurs every April.

In a ritual triggered by the light of the full moon, corals release their eggs and sperm during mass spawnings that have been described as aquatic symphonies.

The spectacle resembles an underwater snowstorm, with billions of little pink bundles bursting out from the corals in synchrony.

A few weeks ago, from April 18 to 20, a team of observers, including Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin, witnessed the love fest in dusk dives off Pulau Satumu.

In a Facebook post, the minister described his "first night dive" as "fascinating".

This year, the corals were fairly productive, spawning up to 70 per cent of the levels seen in 2010. Later that year, the reefs took a beating from a mass coral bleaching event.

For research purposes, 2010 serves as a reference year as the spawning was robust, said Karenne Tun, deputy director at the National Biodiversity Centre.

This year, at least 25 species were seen spawning, she said.

But with a 50 per cent chance of El Nino developing this year, marine biologists here are on the alert for a possible coral bleaching.

The phenomenon occurs when corals under stress lose their colour and turn white.

In May to July 2010, water temperatures in the area exceeded the bleaching threshold of 31.15 deg C. Just a tiny bump in temperature for about a month resulted in the death of nearly 5 per cent of the corals here.

Fearing another mass coral bleaching this year, the National Parks Board (NParks) has placed temperature loggers in the sea to assess the risks.

It also relies on a network of volunteers who dive in local waters to report any signs of bleaching.

Still, corals here have proved to be tough, said Dr Tun. Mortality rates following the bleachings seen in 1998 and 2010 have been lower than those suffered by other reefs in the region.

"We have a lot of optimism because our corals are quite resilient," Dr Tun told My Paper.

"If a bleaching event comes, we won't be able to control it, but we will monitor our reefs to understand how different species respond. This will help us develop management plans to safeguard the more vulnerable species."

One option could involve moving a representative sample of a sensitive species, if the bleaching is as severe as it was in 2010.

Marine biologists and conservationists here are no strangers to relocating corals, with at least five major coral transplant projects having been conducted so far.

Since late last year, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has been moving some 1,600 coral colonies from the Sultan Shoal to the southern St John's and Sisters' Islands.

The shoal will be affected by the development of a new Tuas Terminal, as MPA works to consolidate Singapore's container port activities in Tuas.

The corals relocated earlier in the year are doing well, Dr Tun said.

Over the years, techniques have been refined, and migrated corals now enjoy a better chance of survival, said reef ecology expert Chou Loke Ming.

In the 1990s, a relocation project from Pulau Ayer Chawan to a site off Sentosa saw two thirds of the corals die off but, today, the survival rate is around 70 to 80 per cent.

Read more!

Indonesia: Batam to have two botanical gardens

Antara 25 May 14;

Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - Batam City, Riau Islands Province, will have two botanical gardens having different functions, to be located respectively in Nongsa Sub-district and Galang Island.

A botanical garden measuring 86 hectares would be developed in Nongsa as a conservation area for various flora species, and a center for research, recreation, and informal education, Ilham Eka Hartawan a spokesman of the Batam Authorities, said here on Sunday.

Another botanical garden to be set up in Galang Island was meant to preserve historical remnants of the former Vietnamese refugees camp there, he added.

"The large of Galang botanical garden will not be more than 10 hectares. We have submitted the proposal in 2000. However, we will review the plan to see whether it is still relevant to develop the botanical garden," he said.

The ex-camp of Vietnamese refugees on Galang Island, which is part of the Batam territories, has attracted domestic and foreign tourists who are interested in history.

The local administration has preserved and improved the infrastructures and facilities existing on the island since 2013 for touristic purposes.

Batam Mayor Ahmad Dahlan recently said that botanical gardens were expected to attract more tourists to visit the city.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI)s exploration team found 283 species of flora in Batam, including a giant orchid known as "sugarcane" orchid, Candan (Aquilaria hirta), rattan, meranti (Shorea), Bintangur (Calophyllum insularum), and kruing (Dipterocarpus retusus).
(F001)

Editor: Ella Syafputri

Read more!

Best of our wild blogs: 24-25 May 14

7 Jun (Sat) evening: Free guided walk at the Pasir Ris mangroves from Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

mangrove balloon @ berlayar creek 23May2014
from sgbeachbum

Night Walk At Old Upper Thomson Road (23 May 2014)
from Beetles@SG BLOG

Nesting of the Green Imperial-pigeon
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Butterfly of the Month - May 2014
from Butterflies of Singapore

Sunny day at Chek Jawa with the Naked Hermit Crabs
from wild shores of singapore

Guttered
from The annotated budak

Read more!

Demand for environment impact studies grows

Feng Zengkun and Grace Chua The Straits Times 24 May 14;

The concept is simple: Before you build something, study how it will affect the environment and its surroundings in detail.

While this may sound obvious, "environmental impact assessments" or EIAs have become more widespread in Singapore only in recent years.

The most high-profile EIA is an upcoming one commissioned by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to study how the Cross Island MRT Line, to be completed in 2030, will affect the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

Though the line's alignment has yet to be finalised, nature groups have called for the protection of the reserve and are concerned about the possibility of the train line being built through it.

Design and consultancy firm Aecom said "Singapore becoming denser" has led to the growing demand for such studies. "Certain developments will cause some impact on neighbouring properties or on nature areas," said Mr Mark Vergara, its country director for the environment business line.

He estimated that demand for EIAs has risen about 50 per cent compared to two to three years ago and said Aecom's "top client" has been the Government.

Nominated MP Faizah Jamal, who champions EIAs, said: "There is more consciousness now of their importance, especially after the LTA's eight-month engagement with nature groups on the Cross Island Line."

A Ministry of National Development spokesman said: "Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) planning process, all development proposals are comprehensively assessed by relevant agencies before approval is given."

Reviewing agencies include the URA, LTA, National Parks Board, national water agency PUB, Maritime and Port Authority, National Environment Agency and Agri- Food and Veterinary Authority. They evaluate the impact on issues like the environment, traffic, and maritime navigation.

"Some of the proposals may require further studies to better understand their impact on the surroundings," the spokesman added. "In particular, EIAs are required for major development proposals if they are near sensitive areas such as nature reserves."

Activists would like legislation for EIAs to standardise when they are carried out and how rigorous they need to be. The Nature Society's environmental law and policy coordinator Vinayagan Dharmarajah said that would "force industry to up its game and give people a sense of ownership".

Ms Natalia Huang, 32, whose firm conducts animal studies for EIAs, said Singapore could follow Australia, where they have "Level 1 and Level 2 fauna assessments".

"This reflects the size, the anticipated impact, public sensitivity and previous knowledge of biodiversity" of the site.

Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law director Lye Lin-Heng said the Government "should consult the public, some of whom may have very specialised knowledge", to make well-informed decisions.

Read more!

Singapore haze advisory panel meets for first time

Channel NewsAsia 23 May 14;

SINGAPORE: The first meeting of the International Advisory Panel on Transboundary Pollution (IAP-TP) took place between Thursday (May 22) and Friday (May 23), as the country braces for another haze season in the coming dry months.

The panel comprises of eight international law experts, including co-chairs Professor S. Jayakumar and Professor Tommy Koh.

It is expected to advise the Singapore Government on trends and issues under international law relating to transboundary pollution and providing recommendations it could adopt to tackle the issue.

Four eminent experts, including two from Indonesia, will support the panel's deliberations.

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said on Friday (May 23) after the meeting: "Transboundary haze is a recurring problem which has affected our region and Singapore for decades. If haze re-occurs during the dry season in the next few months, it may be worsened by the higher probability of an El Nino weather pattern this year.

"The IAP-TP has an important role to study and advise the Singapore Government on the possible options and practical steps available under international law that Singapore can take to resolve this issue. I look forward to receiving the IAP recommendations soon.”

The advisory panel will present a report to the Government when ready, but no time frame was announced.

- CNA/do

Read more!

Malaysia: 'Eating turtle eggs is dangerous'

New Straits Times 25 May 14;

MALACCA: People should stop eating sea turtle meat and eggs as they pose a health risk, said Fisheries Department deputy director-general (development) Datuk Ismail Abu Hassan.

He said contrary to belief that sea turtle eggs were nutritious and could boost fertility, they contained a high amount of cholesterol.

Sea turtle eggs, he said, had four times more cholesterol than chicken eggs.

"Research showed that sea turtle meat contains a high level of heavy metals, which could cause health problems," he said in Muara Sungai Duyong here yesterday.

Ismail said efforts must be made to safeguard the endangered species.

He said the state government was monitoring a hawksbill landing and nesting habitat in Pulau Upeh, now in a critical state as a result of sea reclamation works.

He warned developers to comply with the law to avoid damaging surrounding areas.

"We will ask the state authorities, including the land and mineral office and economic planning unit, to make sure developers follow designs for their project."

Pulau Upeh is the largest hawksbill turtle nesting ground in Peninsular Malaysia and the second largest in the country.

Read more!