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Best of our wild blogs: 18 Apr 15
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Expect to feel the heat for the rest of April
Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 17 Apr 15;
IF YOU think the weather is hot and humid now, then be prepared to sweat for the rest of the month.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has forecast that afternoon temperatures will hit 34 deg C on several days over the last two weeks of this month due to sunny skies and light wind conditions. Thundery showers are also expected.
Yesterday, some parts of Singapore recorded a temperature of 34 deg C, according to weather observations on the NEA website.
Some of the days ahead may also see a slight haze, especially in the early mornings, due to the accumulation of particulate matter in the light wind conditions.
Based on long-term data, April is the warmest month in the year.
The warm weather has prompted some people, like Ms Denise Chee, 27, to change their habits. The recruitment officer said she avoids the heat by buying lunch and taking it away to eat in the office instead.
Financial analyst Charisse Tay, 22, now runs in the gym instead of outdoors. She also drives more instead of taking public transport.
For Ms Grace Lin, a transport industry executive, the air-conditioner at home is now powered up at least twice a week. "I used to sleep with just the fan, but now I turn on the air-conditioner more often," said the 24-year-old.
Eateries, too, are taking measures to keep customers cool.
Skyve Wine Bistro, an eatery in Winstedt Road, has installed more wall fans to cool diners. Said restaurateur and owner Celine Tan: "The weather has been really hot recently and it does affect some of our guests."
The House of Seafood restaurant has also installed eight cooling fans from Taiwan at its seaside eatery in Punggol. The fans spray a fine mist that cools outdoor temperatures to a comfortable 19 to 20 deg C in the evenings, said chief executive Francis Ng.
Bringing some cheer amid the heat will be the short thundery showers in the afternoon on four or five days, and in the morning for one or two days, said the NEA in its fortnightly forecast.
It added that rainfall for the entire month of April is likely to be near normal, although about two thirds of Singapore received below-normal rainfall in the first two weeks of the month.
The latest weather forecast comes amid projections announced on Wednesday that the country could see hotter weather and more extreme weather fluctuations at the end of this century. If the world does nothing to limit the effects of climate change, temperatures here could soar to 36.7 deg C - beating the record high of 36 deg C set on March 26, 1998.
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Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum-themed stamp series to be launched
Channel NewsAsia 17 Apr 15;
SINGAPORE: To mark the opening of Singapore’s first natural history museum, a series of stamps featuring animal specimens will go on sale from Saturday (Apr 18).
The new stamp issue features four animal specimens from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum: The sauropod dinosaur, the Giant Hawker dragonfly, the Black and Yellow Broadbill and the Leathery Turtle, said SingPost in a news release on Friday.
A pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with the four stamps, and a presentation pack with the complete set will also go on sale at post offices, added SingPost.
The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum at the National University of Singapore will open to public on Apr 28.
- CNA/xq
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Caution advised on Iskandar residential, commercial property: Maybank
Channel NewsAsia 17 Apr 15;
SINGAPORE: The property oversupply situation in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, is "likely to get worse before it gets better", said Maybank Investment Bank's research wing in a report, with property values in an increasingly crowded development space possibly declining over the medium term.
In a research note issued by the Malaysian bank on Tuesday (Apr 14) urged investors to be cautious about the region, noting that property transactions and prices in Iskandar have been dropping.
The value of property transactions in Johor had fallen by 33 per cent quarter-on-quarter in the Q4 2014, underperforming the country (-7 per cent) and other major cities such as Kuala Lumpur (-12 per cent) and Penang (8 per cent).
Property prices in Johor were also weaker than that of other cities, with the House Price Index (HPI) contracting 1 per cent quarter-on-quarter. In contrast, property prices in the whole of Malaysia dropped 0.2 per cent, the research paper said.
Residential and commercial property transaction values plunged 42 per cent and 43 per cent on-quarter in the fourth quarter 2014, respectively, compared to the 4 per cent dip by industrial properties.
"The latest statistics reaffirm our view that industrial properties are a better investment choice in Iskandar due to the relocation of small medium enterprises (SMEs) from Singapore and its relatively limited supply as compared to residential and commercial properties," Maybank said.
OVERSUPPLY AN ISSUE
The research note said that Malaysian developers have scaled back their launches and shifted their product mix to avoid direct competition with Chinese developers, and have lowered sales expectations for their projects at Iskandar.
"Judging from the number of approved high-rise projects, the Iskandar property market could be hit by too much supply of high-rise mixed development projects if there is still no coordinated planning and control - this will induce price volatility," Maybank analyst Wong Wei Sum said in the research.
"The oversupply situation will be exacerbated by the huge incoming supply in 2015/2016, where units under construction have risen 18 per cent year-on-year in 2012 and 2013, respectively."
"AGGRESSIVE" LAND GRAB BY CHINESE DEVELOPERS
The research note also raised concerns about "aggressive landbanking activities" by Chinese developers in the already-crowded Iskandar region.
"Without coordinated planning and control, this could aggravate the oversupply situation and induce price wars, especially in the high-rise mixed development segment."
For instance, Shanghai-based Greenland Holdings Group recently expanded its foothold in the space with the acquisition of a 128-acre freehold land in the south of Bandar Baru Permas Jaya. This was after its first purchase of 14 acres of land in Danga Bay in 2014. The company is also looking to acquire about 1,200 to 1,400 acres of industrial land near the Tanjung Langsat Industrial Complex, according to Maybank.
"If this materialises, Greenland will emerge as one of the largest land owners in Iskandar with a total landbank of 1,342 acres and it would pose strong competition to the local developers," the report said.
RECLAMATION PROJECT PRESENT "HIGH ELEMENT OF RISK"
Maybank also said it is "cautious" over "massive land reclamation" in Iskandar.
Reclamation works spanning 3,425 acres for the Forest City project has been given the green light from the Development of Environment. The development will spread over a 30-year period, and will consist of four man-made islands reclaimed in four phases.
"The execution and planning of such reclamation projects is complex, especially Forest City, and carry elements of risk and uncertainty. Hence, developers' financial positions are paramount; else we may see projects being abandoned or price wars initiated to clear inventories or reduce sales risks by the developers," Maybank said.
"More importantly, the failure of any of these projects could erode buyers' confidence and perception on Iskandar."
As such, the bank said it remains cautious on property exposure in Iskandar, instead preferring developers with exposure in the Klang Valley and Penang.
Klang Valley, in particular, is preferred because of the upcoming KVMRT and LRT lines, and potential KL-Singapore high-speed rail project, which will end at Bandar Malaysia, Maybank said.
More importantly, the strong population growth potential in Greater KL and Klang Valley - a possible 40 per cent increase to 10 million by 2020 - offers more sustainable demand for properties, it added.
- CNA/kk
Many risks in land reclamation at Iskandar, bank says
LEE YEN NEE Today Online 18 Apr 15;
The large-scale land reclamation for housing developments carried out by Chinese developers in Iskandar raises many uncertainties, a Maybank research report has warned, saying any failure of these projects risks undermining investor confidence in the special economic zone.
“We are cautious on the massive land reclamation in Iskandar Malaysia,” the report said. “The execution and planning of such reclamation projects is complex and carry elements of risk and uncertainty. Hence, developers’ financial positions are paramount, else we may see projects being abandoned or price wars initiated to clear inventories or reduce sales risks by the developers. More importantly, the failure of any of these projects could erode buyers’ confidence and perception on Iskandar Malaysia.”
Several reclamation projects by Chinese developers have made headlines in recent months as they drew concerns from environmental groups to the Singapore government. Nonetheless, the projects have received the go-ahead from Malaysian authorities after they were scaled down in some cases.
One of them, Country Garden’s Forest City, is a massive 1,386ha development on four man-made islands off Johor near the Second Link with Singapore. Guangzhou R&F Properties’ Princess Cove project will see 30,000 homes built on a 46.9ha plot, part of which will be reclaimed along the coastline of Johor Baru. The reclamation will extend the Johor shoreline nearer to Singapore.
While Country Garden’s net gearing could potentially drop to 0.58 after securing HK$6.3 billion (S$1.1 billion) equity funding from China’s Ping An Insurance, Guangzhou R&F has the weakest financial position with a net gearing of 1.2 times, the Maybank report said. LEE YEN NEE
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Malaysia: Only three Sumatran rhinos left in Sabah - Masidi
RUBEN SARIO The Star 18 Apr 15;
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah wildlife experts are for the first time acknowledging the grim fate of the state’s Sumatran rhinos.
They are now certain that the three rhinos in captivity are the only ones left and they are incapable of breeding due to health problems.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said wildlife researchers had reported it was unlikely that there were any rhino left in the wild in the absence of any sightings of the creature.
(Wildlife experts had previously thought that there were about 10 rhinos in Sabah’s forests.)
“We are facing the prospect of our Sumatran rhinos going extinct in our lifetime,” said Masidi when opening a seminar on the environment organised by the Judicial Department.
The saddest part was that these creatures had been hunted to virtual extinction for their horns which have a nutritional value similar to nails, he added.
He said the state was fast running out of options to get the three remaining rhinos – females named Puntong and Iman and the male Tam – to produce offspring.
Masidi said the three rhinos had problems with their reproductive systems and wildlife experts were not able to come up with any solutions as yet.
Voicing a similar concern for Bornean elephants, Masidi noted that he had been alerted by the Wildlife Department of the discovery of orphaned elephant calves two days in a row.
“The likelihood is that they (the mothers) have been illegally hunted,” he said.
Masidi added that with the increasing number of wildlife-related offences, the department was currently being restructured to separate its enforcement and prosecution unit.
“We need more qualified prosecutors to ensure we are successful in taking poachers and other offenders to court,” he said, adding that the enforcement unit was also being beefed up.
Chief judge for Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjun said a special court had started operating in Sabah to hear environment-related cases and to dispose of them within four weeks.
He said the Environment Court would hear cases at the magistrate, Sessions and High Court levels.
He added that he had also issued a reminder to judges that the penalties they mete for environmental related offences must send a strong message from the courts.
Malanjun said it was for this reason he recently enhanced the penalty of a pangolin smuggler from a RM10,000 fine to RM25,000 and ordered the offender to be jailed for the maximum three years as well.
“The courts can impose a RM10,000 fine for someone convicted of wildlife smuggling but will this be a deterrent if the price of a pangolin in China is RM50,000?” he asked.
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Malaysia: Over 20 tiger smuggling bids foiled
PATRICK LEE The Star 18 Apr 15;
PETALING JAYA: More than 20 tiger smuggling attempts have been busted by wildlife authorities in the past five years.
This comes as data from the World Bank showed that 70 of the country’s 336 mammal species were facing extinction, including the Malayan tiger.
“Perhilitan (Department of Wildlife and National Parks) had been able to detect and take action in 22 cases relating to tiger or tiger parts since 2010,” a Perhilitan spokesman said.
He added that in 2012 and 2013, a total of four cases involving tigers were successfully prosecuted in courts. Those found guilty of hunting tigers without special permits can be jailed for up to three years and fined RM100,000, or both.
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Those found killing female tigers, can be fined up to RM300,000, or be jailed for up to 10 years, or both.
There may only be between 250 and 340 tigers left in the country’s wild.
The spokesman said mammals were most threatened by wildlife habitat loss caused by human activities.
He said wild animals depended on forests for shelter, and without this, their survival rate would drop.
“Poaching is made easier when the forests are cleared or when there are access roads into natural areas,” he said.
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Malaysia: 'Hairless' sun bear in quarantine weak but able to eat
SHARON LING The Star 17 Apr 15;
KUCHING: The sick sun bear found near Sibu early this month is now able to eat and climb but remains in quarantine at the Matang Wildlife Centre.
The bear is currently under the care of Dr Silje Robertsen, a volunteer veterinarian from Norway.
"As of today, the animal is alert, able to climb and to eat normally.
"The sun bear is still kept in quarantine, as she is still weak and suffering from hook worms, mite infestation and moderate anaemia," Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) said in a statement on Friday.
SFC said it was still too early to determine whether the sun bear could make a full recovery as it had been very sick for a prolonged period of time.
"In the meantime, her treatment will continue based on a carbohydrate-rich diet with food supplements, antibiotics and protein.
"She will remain quarantined to minimise external disturbances," SFC said.
It added that the wildlife centre had been inundated with calls about the sun bear.
The centre's manager Siali Aban said there had been many enquiries from visitors wanting to see it.
The sick sun bear had been spotted in January by Indonesian plantation workers, who were shocked by its strange and hairless appearance.
Photos and videos of the animal went viral online, attracting many comments on its Gollum-like appearance.
It was found by workers near a palm oil estate in Meradong district on April 2 and handed over to SFC.
Sun bears are the smallest of the world's eight bear species and are found throughout mainland Asia, Sumatra and Borneo.
They are classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List and are at risk of becoming endangered unless circumstances threatening their survival improve.
In Sarawak, the sun bear is protected under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998.
Hairless sun bear dies of cancer
SHARON LING The Star 21 May 15;
KUCHING: The hairless sun bear rescued near Sibu last month has died from cancer at the Matang Wildlife Centre.
Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) said the sun bear, which appeared to have been recovering, had been very sick for more than a week and died late Monday evening.
An autopsy concluded that the animal died of late-stage cancer.
“The bear had not been eating well and had been vomiting. Worrying for its health, emergency medical intervention was performed under sedation.
“It was also fed with fluids intravenously and food through a stomach tube,” SFC said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, it succumbed to cancer with metastasis in the lymph nodes and adjacent organs as well as obstruction in the stomach due to a tumour.”
SFC said a detailed examination of the bear also revealed that it was in fact a very old animal and not just a full adult as previously thought.
“Cancer aside, the bear had probably reached the end of its natural life span,” it added.
The sun bear had been first spotted in January by Indonesian plantation workers, who were shocked by how strange it looked.
Photos and videos of the animal went viral online, attracting many comments on its Gollum-like appearance.
It was later found by workers near a palm oil estate in Meradong district on April 2 and handed over to SFC.
Sun bears are the smallest of the world’s eight bear species and are found throughout mainland Asia, Sumatra and Borneo.
They are classified as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List and are at risk of becoming endangered unless circumstances threatening their survival improve.
In Sarawak, the sun bear is protected under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998.
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Malaysia: Sabah special court for environmental offences begins operations
RUBEN SARIO The Star 17 Apr 15;
KOTA KINABALU: A special court has started operating in Sabah to hear environment-related cases and dispose of them within four weeks.
Chief Judge for Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjun said the Environment Court would hear cases at the magistrate, Sessions and High Court levels.
He said the special court was also part of the judiciary’s move to dispose cases involving specific crimes such as snatch theft, and those where the victims were tourists.
“Specific judges have been appointed to preside in this court,” he said after the opening of a environment seminar by State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun here Friday.
Malanjun said he has also issued a reminder to judges that the penalties meted out environment-related offences must “send a strong message” from the courts.
He said it was for this reason he had recently enhanced the penalty of a pangolin smuggler from a RM10,000 fine to RM25,000, and ordered him to be jailed a maximum of three years as well.
Malanjun added that the state needed to introduce stiffer penalties for environmental offences.
“The courts can impose a RM10,000 fine for someone convicted of wildlife smuggling but will this be a deterrent if the price of a pangolin in China is RM50,000?”
Malanjun said there was also a need to strengthen the investigation and prosecuting capabilities of the Sabah Wildlife Department.
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Man jailed 8 months for smuggling puppies, animal cruelty
Today Online 16 Apr 15;
SINGAPORE – The puppies were sedated, stashed under the front passenger seat of the car, which restricted their movements, and given no food or water during transportation. One died as a result of the journey, and subsequently several others died.
For importing seven puppies into Singapore without the relevant import permits, a 25-year-old Malaysian was sentenced to five months jail today (April 16). He was also sentenced to three months jail for subjecting the puppies to unnecessary suffering or pain. Both sentences will run consecutively.
The man, who was driving a Malaysia-registered car, had pulled up for arrival clearance at the Woodlands Checkpoint on March 30, at around 8.20pm.
During inspection, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers uncovered the live puppies in cardboard boxes underneath the front passenger seat of the vehicle. One of the puppies was found dead, while the remaining six had appeared to be sedated.
Eventually five others died after their condition deteriorated. The remaining puppy is currently under quarantine at AVA’s Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station where it is being observed for clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease
A joint release issued by the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority Singapore (AVA) and ICA warned that animals that are smuggled into Singapore are of an unknown health status.
In the case of dogs and cats, rabies, a fatal viral disease, can be transmitted to humans by the bite of a rabid animal. Singapore has been free from rabies for 60 years but the statement cautioned against complacency as the disease is endemic in the region.
AVA prosecutor Yap Teck Chuan added that the danger of the introduction of diseases, such as rabies, into Singapore is real: “The efforts of AVA and other authorities in regulating importation and enforcing quarantine measures, in order to ensure the safety of Singaporeans, will be futile if offenders continue to import puppies from dubious sources through illegal means.”
The statement also said that an animal needs to meet AVA’s import conditions, including vaccination and health certification requirements, before getting imported into the country.
“Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore’s security. The security checks are critical to our nation’s security,” said the statement, adding that the ICA will continue to conduct security checks at the checkpoints to prevent attempts the smuggling in of undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands.
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Malaysia: En route to better environmental conservation
DR. ZAKI ZAINUDIN New Straits Times 16 Apr 15;
MUCH coverage has been given to the sombre state of the Malaysian environment.
Pollution, it seems, is related to institutional, administrative and legislative limitations. While it is true much still needs to be done to achieve environmental sustainability, not everything is doom and gloom. The Department of Environment usually gets a lot of flak when it comes to environmental issues and degradation.
What many don’t realise is that the agency itself has its own hurdles to face. For example, not all pollution sources are governed under the Environmental Quality Act (EQA), 1974, (the main act which the agency enforces to control pollution).
This is perhaps why the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) introduced the Selangor Water Management Authority Enactment 1999, Emission or Discharge of Pollutants (State of Selangor) Regulations 2012 as a measure to control pollution sources not “traditionally” governed in the EQA, 1974. This is a good measure. Even the establishment of Luas is a feat in environmental conservation.
It provides a platform for respective agencies (both state and federal) to coordinate various aspects of river basin management in the state. It is a move towards realising the philosophy of Integrated River Basin Management. This strategy is also now being emulated by other states.
The authorities have also done a tremendous job in advancing environmental management in the country. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure, for example, was introduced in 1987. It is a tool to manage and minimise environmental impacts from emerging developments (or “prescribed activities”).
During the EIA process, potential impacts towards the environment are ascertained so that adequate mitigation measures can be identified.
Some detractors argue that an EIA is just a “rubber stamp” with little bearing; “projects” get approved anyway. Here is where a bit of pragmatism is required.
EIA approval does not constitute environmental loss. Unless a project causes significant disturbance/impact towards the surrounding environment, it should be approved, shouldn’t it ? Just because a project is approved does not mean the EIA process failed and the environment loses.
We should all be for development. What’s important is the impact is adequately managed and minimised. Unfortunately, there are still irresponsible parties that try to bulldoze a project without an EIA study (or any sort of environmental management plan).
They are either ignorant of the requirement or just sheer arrogant. Under such circumstances, stop-work orders are issued by the authorities until an EIA study is conducted and proper approval obtained. The stop-work order is irrespective of private or public sector proponents. The bottom line is that the law has been violated and action must be taken.
Now, imagine the environmental situation in the country if there were no legislation/regulations, no enforcing agency and no EIA required.
A country where greed roams free and greedy parties can do whatever they want to the environment. Certainly the environmental condition would be even worse than how it is today. The authorities also conduct comprehensive environmental monitoring around the country.
The Air Pollution Index (API) indicates air quality relative to health risks/hazards.
The tool is of particular importance during the haze phenomenon as it determines crucial decisions, such as the closure of schools or declaring a state of emergency, etc, based on the air quality. To generate the data, continuous online monitoring is conducted at strategic locations nationwide. Establishment of stations (and network) takes a lot of effort and rigorous quality control.
It should be noted that these stations were established at a time where “online” systems were only an emerging concept. Besides this, river water samples are also collected at over 800 stations (excluding the 10 online water quality stations). The data gives indication of the country’s environmental status and is presented in the annual “Environmental Quality Report”.
I salute environmental officers and enforcers who have given their best for environmental preservation. Sometimes, they even have to stand toe-to-toe with arrogant and dangerous parties; putting their own safety on the line! There has also been advancement in environmental awareness. This is a direct result of education and development of expertise, particularly at universities.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Malaysian students went overseas to pursue studies on the environment and were able to apply what they had learned and contribute to the country’s environmental management upon their return. Technology and knowledge transfer from foreign partners/specialists also transpired.
Those in academia also imparted their knowledge in local universities. Environmental courses are now part of many science and engineering programmes in local universities. Environmental research has also taken centre stage in many institutions of higher learning. Thus, educators are also important advocates of environmental conservation.
In this aspect, academia helps to structure a more environmentally conscious society. These are just some examples of environmental progressions. So, while improvement is still needed, we should look at it as a glass half full rather than half empty.
The writer is an associate professor at the Department of Engi
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Commercial agriculture and forestry could have a net positive impact on biodiversity – IUCN report
IUCN 16 Apr 15;
Gland, Switzerland, 16 April 2015 (IUCN) – A new IUCN study examines, for the first time, how commercial agriculture and forestry production could reduce global biodiversity loss by applying innovative approaches already used by some companies in the extractive and infrastructure industries.
The report, No Net Loss and Net Positive Impact: Approaches for Biodiversity, finds that under certain conditions, applying No Net Loss (NNL) and Net Positive Impact (NPI) approaches to agriculture and forestry landscapes associated with companies’ operations and supply chains could have a greater impact in reducing biodiversity loss than in other sectors.
According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, agriculture impacts 8,482 threatened species globally, while forestry impacts 7,953 threatened species, compared to the infrastructure and extractive sectors, which impact up to 4,688 and 1,692 threatened species respectively.
Adopting the NPI approach would require companies in the agriculture and forestry sector to take a systematic and scientific approach to evaluate their biodiversity impacts, establish biodiversity conservation goals and implement actions to realise these goals, according to the report.
“The NPI approach goes beyond responsible management practices to ensure measurable conservation impact,” said Gerard Bos, Director of IUCN’s Global Business and Biodiversity Programme, which oversaw the report. “With today’s growing demand for food, fibre, fuel and forest products, it is imperative that these sectors recognise their biodiversity impacts and implement action plans to become more sustainable.”
Both NNL and NPI are increasingly recognised as biodiversity goals for development projects that strive to either balance the biodiversity impacts (NNL) or outweigh the negative impacts with conservation gains (NPI). The NPI approach involves using a mitigation hierarchy for managing biodiversity risk. The report concludes that an NPI approach could potentially be applied by companies operating in the agriculture and forestry sectors where the goal is to enhance or protect native wildlife, including species of conservation concern, and improve crop diversity, crop productivity and the efficiency of natural resource use on-site, combined with protecting natural habitats off-site from conversion.
The report is an outcome of a working group convened by IUCN’s Global Business and Biodiversity Programme in 2013 that brought together experts on this issue from both the business and conservation communities. It builds on the experience of the extractives and infrastructure sectors, and on the ongoing sustainability efforts in the commercial agriculture and forestry sectors. The next step is to pilot the NPI approach in suitable agriculture and forestry sites. For more information please contact:
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