Indonesia refuses Singapore’s help in forest fires

Hans Nicholas Jong, The Jakarta Post 12 Sep 15;

Indonesia has declined Singapore’s offer to assist the Indonesian government in fighting forest fires as Singapore and parts of Malaysia continued to be blanketed by clouds of smoke originating from the island of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

While Indonesia greatly appreciates the offer, the government is well-equipped to handle the current situation, according to Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar.

“Right now there are already 17 aircraft ready for water bombing and cloud seeding and we will also deploy an additional three planes,” she told The Jakarta Post on Friday, adding that the aircraft have been stationed in five provinces affected by forest fires.

Singapore again extended the assistance package it has been offering the Indonesian government since 2005. Singapore Environment and Water Resources minister Vivian Balakrishnan conveyed Singapore’s concern at the deteriorating situation to Siti, according to a press statement by the Singapore National Environment Agency.

Siti denied talking to Vivian on Thursday.

The package Singapore offered comprised one C-130 aircraft for cloud seeding operations, up to two C-130 aircraft to ferry a fire-fighting assistance team from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), a team from SCDF to provide assessment and planning assistance to their Indonesian counterparts in their firefighting efforts, high resolution satellite pictures and hot spot coordinates and one Chinook helicopter with one SCDF water bucket for aerial firefighting.

“According to available information, Singapore will send one or two aircraft with the water bombing capacity of around 5,000 liters. What we use [at the moment] already have capacities of between 3,000 and 5,000 liters, plus
we rent Air Tractors from Australia. So I think [the assistance from Singapore] is not yet needed because our fleet is already numerous. But we thank them for the offer,” Siti said.

Vivian also called for urgent action to be undertaken, including stricter enforcement against the perpetrators and the identification of those responsible for the haze in order to facilitate appropriate action.

Singapore has repeatedly urged Indonesia to publicly share maps on agricultural concessions owned by oil palm, timber and other commodity companies, which are often blamed for starting the fires, particularly in neighboring Sumatra.

Doing so will send an unequivocal signal that ASEAN countries are prepared to be transparent and hold individual companies accountable for their actions, according to Singapore.

The Indonesian government, however, has refused to comply, with Siti saying that Indonesian laws prevent the government from sharing concession maps.

During a meeting in Jakarta in late July, environment ministers from five ASEAN nations, including Indonesia, agreed to sharing information on a government-to-government basis that would help identify plantation companies on whose land fires start and cause haze.

The director general of climate change at the Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry, Nur Masripatin, told the Straits Times, however, that Indonesia could not disclose any plantation concession information, even on a government-to-government basis.

“Disclosing whose concession a certain hot spot is in would amount to disclosing a concession map,” said Masripatin, who is in charge of overseeing efforts to contain forest and land fires and who reports to Siti. “That is classified information. The government cannot do that.”

Singapore and Malaysia recorded alarming levels of air pollution on Thursday as the Indonesian government has yet to quell forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Jakarta declines help to fight fires
Environment minister says country has the resources to handle haze-inducing blazes
Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja Straits Times 13 Sep 15;

Large parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan were choking in a thick haze yesterday, but Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar was reported to have said that Indonesia has no need for Singapore's offer of aircraft to fight the growing outbreaks of fires.

In Malaysia, 18 areas recorded unhealthy pollution levels yesterday morning, including Kuala Lumpur, its neighbouring states and Sarawak on Borneo island.

The number of fires in Indonesia has soared in recent weeks and Singapore has offered help to combat them. The assistance package offered to Indonesia included a C-130 military transport plane for cloud seeding, up to two C-130s to ferry a firefighting assistance team from Singapore to Indonesia and a Chinook helicopter with a water bucket for aerial firefighting.

Ms Siti said that Indonesia had enough planes and equipment to deal with the crisis.

Her comments were confirmed by the ministry's chief spokesman, Mr Eka Soegiri, when The Sunday Times contacted him yesterday.

In a statement last night, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) confirmed that, for now, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) would not be deployed to Sumatra.

"While the Indonesian authorities accepted our offer of assistance initially, they have since expressed appreciation for the offer and said they have sufficient resources of their own for now.

"Mindef/SAF remains in close contact with the Indonesia authorities and stands ready to help if required," the statement said.

The number of hot spots in Indonesia has surpassed the number recorded in mid-2013, when uncontrolled fires in Sumatra triggered record levels of haze in Malaysia and Singapore.

The Pollutant Standards Index hit 401 in June that year.

This time round, there were more fires in Kalimantan than in Sumatra, said Mr Andika Putraditama, a Jakarta-based research analyst at the Washington-based World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organisation that provides data analysis on the fires.

Current wind patterns mean the haze above Kalimantan will affect Sarawak, but not Singapore.

The crisis, though, is no less severe in Sumatra, with hundreds of fires reported within plantation concessions and nearly half the fires affecting peat lands.

Jambi and South Sumatra provinces have recorded the most fires in the past week.

An analysis by WRI between Sept 5 and yesterday showed more than 400 fire alerts in pulpwood concessions in Sumatra. WRI named nine companies, including one firm with 219 fire alerts. The majority of the companies are listed as suppliers to Singapore-based Asia Pulp & Paper. The analysis lists 44 fire alerts for palm oil concessions in Sumatra.

In Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau province, thick haze paralysed Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport yesterday, reducing visibility to only 100m, Jakarta Post reported. "No planes could fly," said airport duty manager Hasnan.

In Palembang, South Sumatra, the worst-affected province on the island, hundreds of residents held a mass prayer yesterday.

"We ask God to promptly give us rain. What we do here should complement the firefighters' efforts in the field," Mr Fajar Sani Nasution, a Palembang resident, told reporters.

Read more!

Hazy conditions continue, events cancelled as a result

Today Online 13 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — Hazy conditions persisted this morning (Sept 13), with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) entering 118-139, the low end of the unhealthy range, as at 9am. The 3-hour PSI was at 165.

In its haze update yesterday, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said that air quality is expected to enter the low end of the unhealthy range over the next 24 hours, with the 24-hour PSI possibly entering the mid to high sections of the unhealthy range if denser haze from Sumatra is blown in.

This morning’s Singtel-Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer run was cancelled as PSI levels were still within the unhealthy range as at 9pm yesterday. Organisers of the running event said they made the decision “for the safety and health of runners, volunteers, staff and beneficiaries”.

Registered 15km and 10km runners can collect their finishers’ medal at the Singapore Cancer Society office instead.

A second event, the POSB PAssion Run For Kids, cancelled the 10km Adults' Competitive race and Kids' Run categories this morning citing the 3-hour PSI reading of 147 at 5am as the reason. However, the 3.5km Family Walk is still scheduled to proceed, provided the PSI level at 8am is below 150, according to a statement from organisers.

Participants of the competitive races can collect their medals at the carnival, which is still on, according to POSB. Alternatively, medals can be collected at a later date, with organisers announcing more details soon.

POSB said: "Like you, we are disappointed as we have been looking forward to the run. However, your health and safety are of utmost importance to us, and we seek your kind understanding."

Hazy conditions continue; air quality enters low end of unhealthy range
Today Online 12 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — Hazy conditions continued today (Sept 12), with the air quality mostly in the moderate range. However, air quality is expected to enter the low end of the unhealthy range over the next 24 hours, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) possibly entering the mid to high sections of the unhealthy range if denser haze is blown in, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in its 5pm update.

As at 11pm, the 24-hour PSI entered into the low end of the unhealthy range, standing at 90-107. The 3-hour PSI was at 106, dropping from 147 at 4pm.

Tomorrow morning's Singtel-Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer run has been cancelled as today's PSI levels are still within the unhealthy range as at 9pm. Organisers of the running event said they have made the decision “for the safety and health of runners, volunteers, staff and beneficiaries”.

Registered 15km and 10km runners can collect their finishers’ medal at the Singapore Cancer Society office instead.

The haziness is due to haze from Sumatra being blown in, said the NEA.

The total number of hotspots detected in Sumatra yesterday was 304, and widespread moderate to dense haze was observed in central and southern Sumatra, with some haze spreading to the western parts of Peninsular Malaysia, said the NEA.

Healthy persons are advised to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, while the elderly, preggant women and children should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor or physical exertion. Those with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. People not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention.

Haze causes tourism gloom in Singapore
Melanie Heng, Seow Yun Rong, Siti Nur Aisha Omar, The New Paper AsiaOne 13 Sep 15;

The reputation of sunny Singapore as a tourist destination is taking a beating with the gloom brought on by the haze.

Take Indian national Ramya Sivaramakrishnan whose four-day break in Singapore has been ruined by the smog.

The New Paper team spotted her pushing a pram with her crying, sick daughter at Gardens by the Bay.

The toddler was coughing and having trouble breathing due to the haze.

"It's so disturbing. Not only do my eyes and throat feel irritated, but for the past three days here, I couldn't take my daughter to Sentosa," said Madam Ramya, 33, who is here with her daughter, husband and mother.

The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) level yesterday reached a new high this year of 211 - very unhealthy range - at midnight.

The TNP team visited Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Orchard Road and Singapore Botanic Gardens to talk to those affected by the haze.

Across from Marina Bay Sands, Swiss national Andrew Tritz, who is on a 12-day stay in Singapore, was clearly frustrated with his inability to snap clear scenic shots of the iconic Singapore skyline.

The 25-year-old said that it was only his second day here and the haze was already a problem.

But even if the haze worsens, he said he would continue going to outdoor places just to make the trip worthwhile.

Mr Julian Veber, 21, a tourist from Luxembourg, said that the haze had hit his father hard.

His 55-year-old father, who has lung problems, experienced breathing difficulties that caused him to walk slower even in indoor areas like The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands where they were spotted.

It also stopped them from outdoor activities such as going to Universal Studios Singapore on Sentosa.

An Indonesian visitor who wanted to be known only as Madam Theodora, 54, an accountant , said her flight from Jakarta to Singapore was delayed for 25 minutes on Tuesday because of the haze.

She added that the haze was rather bad here but was unprepared when she landed as she did not have a mask with her.

She said: "The people who are causing the haze are troublemakers, now others are suffering because of them."

Despite the hazy view across Marina Bay Sands, two local students braved the conditions to perfect their paintings of the Singapore skyline.

Miss Jolene Quek, 20, a second-year engineering student from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), and Miss Clara Soh, 20, a second-year occupational therapy student from Nanyang Polytechnic, sat on the ground outside Marina Bay Sands for more than two hours, sketching and painting a clear Singapore Skyline - a far cry from the hazy conditions.

As Miss Quek looked at her painting, she said: "We shouldn't let the haze affect our lives".

Dampener

The haze has put a dampener on businesses, big and small.

Ms Irene Lim, a 50-year-old helper at an ice-cream stall on Orchard Road, noticed that there were fewer customers patronising the stall due to the haze.

As people streamed into indoor areas, open-air diners and businesses saw a decrease in customers.

Miss Nicole Robert, 21, an employee of South Coast, an Australian bistro and bar at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, said that there was a 20 per cent drop in customers during the peak lunch hours yesterday.

Some sports events were also affected.

Ultimate frisbee player Matthew Seong, 22, a second-year engineering student in SUTD, said the Singapore University Games initiated by the Singapore University Sports Council had to be cancelled.

The Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League match between title rivals Albirex Niigata and Tampines Rovers was also called off.

The game was scheduled to kick off at 7.30pm at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

It was initially delayed but the three-hour PSI reading yesterday steadily rose from 160 at 6pm to 193 at 9pm.

The game was called off at 9.08pm.

Hazy conditions to persist on Saturday: NEA
In an advisory, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said the haziness throughout the day was due to the haze from Sumatra being blown in by the prevailing winds.
Channel NewsAsia 12 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: Hazy conditions are expected to persist on Saturday (Sep 12), with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) at the high end of the Moderate range.

As of 11pm, the 24-hour PSI was 90-107, while the corresponding 3-hour PSI was at 106.

In an advisory, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said the haziness throughout the day was due to the haze from Sumatra being blown in by the prevailing winds. Even though there were only 53 hotspots detected in Sumatra on Saturday, NEA attributed the low hotspot count due to cloud cover.

"Widespread moderate to dense haze was observed in central and southern Sumatra. Haze was also observed to have spread to parts of the western Peninsular Malaysia," added NEA.

Hazy conditions are also expected on Sunday.

"The 24-hr PSI for the next 24 hours is expected to be in the low end of the Unhealthy range but may enter into the mid to high sections of the Unhealthy range if denser haze is blown in," said NEA.

The air quality in Singapore was in the Unhealthy range throughout Friday (Sep 11). A total of 304 hot spots were detected in Sumatra, Indonesia, on Friday, down from 328 on Thursday.

“Singapore may experience occasional hazy conditions during the day” on Saturday, said the NEA. The 24-hour PSI is expected to be in the “low end of the Unhealthy range, with the possibility of entering the high end of the Moderate range if winds remain favourable”, the agency added.

The air quality in Singapore reached unhealthy levels on Thursday, with the 3-hour PSI peaking at the year’s highest of 248 at 3am on Friday.

Indonesia on Thursday accepted Singapore's offer of help in fighting the forest fires that are causing hazy skies in the Republic and Malaysia, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

- CNA/wl

Thick haze hits Sumatra, but Singapore gets respite
Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Straits Times AsiaOne 12 Sep 15;

Singapore got a respite from the haze yesterday, as wind directions changed, but tens of thousands of Indonesians in Sumatra and Kalimantan continued to face hazardous levels of air pollution caused by raging forest fires.

The air pollutant index in Riau and other provinces affected by thick haze - which also include Jambi, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan - was mostly between unhealthy and hazardous levels yesterday. A reading above 300 is considered hazardous. Thick haze also blanketed the Malaysian capital yesterday.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has accepted an offer from Singapore to help combat the raging forest fires, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday.

Tens of thousands of Indonesians have been treated for respiratory illnesses caused by smoke from hundreds of forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, with dry weather set to last for several more days, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said yesterday. Across many areas, schools have been shut and flights delayed.

Nearly 15,000 residents in Riau province in Sumatra, near Singapore, suffer from upper respiratory infections. Also affected are 22,855 residents in South Sumatra and about 40,000 in South Kalimantan, said a BNPB statement yesterday.

Nearly all five provinces in Kalimantan were shrouded in smoke, said BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Kalimantan had 1,312 hot spots, of which 508 were in the worst-affected West Kalimantan province, as of 5am Jakarta time yesterday, satellite imagery showed.

Kalimantan is suffering its worst haze this year, in terms of the area shrouded in haze. Sumatra listed 575 hot spots, of which 78 per cent were in South Sumatra province.

POSB PAssion Run for Kids cancelled due to haze
The 3.5km Family Walk is still scheduled to proceed, provided the PSI level at 8am is below 150, organisers say.
Channel NewsAsia 13 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: The worsening air quality in Singapore has resulted in another outdoor event being cancelled, as organisers of the POSB PAssion Run For Kids pulled the 10km Adults' Competitive race and Kids' Run categories from its lineup on Sunday morning (Sep 13).

POSB issued the notice at 5.04am, citing the 3-hour PSI at 147 as the reason for cancelling the events. It did say the 3.5km Family Walk is still scheduled to proceed, provided the PSI level at 8am is below 150.

For the participants of the competitive races, they may collect their medals at the carnival. Alternatively, they can collect the medals at a later date and organisers will announce more details "shortly", it added.

"Like you, we are disappointed as we have been looking forward to the run. However, your health and safety are of utmost importance to us, and we seek your kind understanding," POSB said, adding that the carnival is still on.

Culture, Community and Youth Minister Lawrence Wong will be at the event to launch a SG50 commmemorative book that envisions what the country will be like in the next 50 years, the organisers said.

This cancellation follows in the heels of another event that was cancelled due to the haze. The Singtel - Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) Race Against Cancer was called off on Saturday due to the worsening air quality here.

- CNA/kk

Race Against Cancer 2015 cancelled due to haze
“In light of the poor air quality, and for the safety and health of runners, volunteers, staff and beneficiaries, Singtel, the title sponsor, and Singapore Cancer Society have decided to cancel the race,” said organisers.
Channel NewsAsia 12 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: The Singtel - Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) Race Against Cancer has been cancelled due to haze.

“In light of the poor air quality, and for the safety and health of runners, volunteers, staff and beneficiaries, Singtel, the title sponsor, and Singapore Cancer Society have decided to cancel the race,” said organisers in an announcement on Saturday night (Sep 12).

The race was scheduled to happen on Sunday at 7am, but as of 9pm, the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) levels continued to remain within the unhealthy range, said SCS.

Organisers added that they would not be able to provide a refund.

"We are unable to provide refunds for your registration fee due to set up costs that have already been incurred," they wrote in an FAQ post on their Facebook page. "We sincerely appeal to you to regard your registration fee as a donation to SCS, to support our programmes and services in Minimising Cancer and Maximising Life."

The FAQ also explained why they would not be able to postpone the event.

"We are unable to postpone this event to a later date as the costs incurred in doing so will lead to an additional expense, which would cause a breach in fundraising regulations that have been set for voluntary welfare organisations," organisers wrote. "This will also impact the funds that we have set aside for our programmes and services.

"In addition, a postponement to any possible later date this year would be affected by poor weather during the monsoon season as well as the exam and holiday periods."

Registered 15-kilometre and 10-kilometre runners who wish to collect their finishers’ medals from SCS can do so at their office from Sep 14 to 30, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. They just need to bring their Race Bib upon collection.

The office is at 15 Enggor Street, Realty Centre, #04-01, Singapore 079716.

SAFRA RUN AND YELLOW RIBBON RUN WATCHING PSI FIGURES

Separately, the SAFRA Celebration Run & Ride and the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run will also be happening on Sunday.

Both race organisers have said that they will closely monitor the PSI figures and inform racers on Sunday at 5am of any change in plans.

SAFRA wrote on their Facebook page at 5.30pm on Saturday that they would send an SMS notification to participants if the 5km and 1.5km runs would continue to take place.

Meanwhile, the Yellow Ribbon Project Singapore said they would watch the 24-hour PSI and 3-hour PSI readings at 5am on Sunday, and if they exceeded 100, "both the 10km competitive run and 6km fun run will be cancelled and a 6km walk will be available for all participants".

"If PSI reading exceeds 200, both the 10km competitive run and 6km run will be cancelled and buses will proceed to the carnival site which has many exciting activities for everyone to enjoy," they added.

The Yellow Ribbon Project Singapore will also be sending an SMS notification at 5am, along with updates on their social media, website and mobile app.

- CNA/ek

Haze disrupts race organisers' plans
Samantha Boh, Straits Times AsiaOne 13 Sep 15;

The financial district was shrouded in haze yesterday afternoon. The 24-hour PSI was within the moderate range of 51 to 100 for most of yesterday before creeping into unhealthy levels in the evening.

The haze could get worse in Singapore today as winds from the south and south-west continue to blow in smoke from Sumatra. This has prompted organisers of several races today to consider whether they should go on.

The Singapore Cancer Society decided to cancel this morning's Race Against Cancer just after 9pm last night. Fees for the annual fund-raising run were between $29 and $59, and a spokesman confirmed to The Sunday Times that no refunds will be given due to set-up costs that were already incurred.

The society posted on its website that it was calling off the run "for the safety and health of runners, volunteers, staff and beneficiaries".

Participants for today's Yellow Ribbon Prison Run were told to wait till 5am - an hour before it is set to start - before a decision would be taken. It is organised by the Yellow Ribbon Project, which aims to help former prisoners rejoin society. On its website, POSB also said it would make a decision on its Passion Run for Kids depending on the three-hour PSI reading at 5am.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said last night that the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is expected to be at the low end of the 101 to 200 unhealthy range. This may climb into the mid to high sections if denser haze is blown in by unfavourable winds.

The 24-hour PSI was within the moderate range of 51 to 100 for most of yesterday before creeping into unhealthy levels in the evening. By 11pm, the readings were between 90 and 107.

The three-hour PSI reading climbed to 147 at 4pm.

Yesterday saw a drop in the number of hot spots detected in Sumatra from 304 to 53. But NEA noted the low count was due to cloud cover over some areas.

The elderly, pregnant women and children are advised to minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity when the 24-hour PSI exceeds 100. Those suffering from chronic lung or heart disease should also avoid such activities.

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/haze-disrupts-race-organisers-plans#sthash.VXHO1ao8.dpuf

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Malaysia: 18 areas record unhealthy API readings

The Star 12 Sep 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Eighteen areas in several states in the peninsula and Sarawak recorded unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings as at 9am Saturday.

Besides Sarawak, the affected areas were Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak and Selangor, stated the Department of Environment (DOE) in its website.

Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest API reading of 162, followed by Port Klang (161), Samarahan (158), Shah Alam (157), Petaling Jaya (148), Kuala Selangor (147), Kuching (142) and Nilai (141).

Other areas were Sri Aman (136), Banting (134), 132 in Seremban, Cheras and Putrajaya, Jerantut (120), Bukit Rambai (108), Seri Manjung (107), Port Dickson (106) and Bandaraya Melaka (101).

An API reading of between 0 and 50 is categorised as good; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy; and 300 and above, hazardous.

The public can access http://apims.doe.gov.my, for updates. - Bernama

Haze condition improves in Sarawak
SHARON LING The Star 12 Sep 15;

KUCHING: The haze situation in Sarawak improved slightly overnight although three areas continue to experience an unhealthy air quality level.

The Air Pollutant Index (API) dropped to 127 in Kuching, 145 in Samarahan and 121 in Sri Aman at noon on Saturday, compared to the highest readings of 167, 184 and 177 respectively on Friday afternoon.

In Kapit, Sarikei and Sibu, the API was 68, 85 and 76 respectively while Limbang and Miri had good air quality with the API at 35 and 49.

A reading of 100-200 indicates unhealthy air quality, 201-300 very unhealthy and 301 and above hazardous. Anything below 50 is good air quality and 51-100 moderate.

Visibility in Kuching also improved to 1.4km at noon on Saturday from under a kilometre on Friday.

Meanwhile the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) has postponed its Animazing Race to Oct 25 because of the hazy conditions.

It was originally scheduled for this Sunday.

SSPCA president Dona Wee said the postponement took into account concern for the safety and health of the runners and those involved in the event as well as directives from the authorities.

"We had been advised to postpone the race due to the unhealthy air quality which is dangerous to health.

"The current hazy condition is also making visibility limited and this will pose a danger to participatings running along the route in the early morning," she said.

Apologising to those who had registered for the race, Wee added that SSPCA had to take heed of the directives for the safety and health of the runners.

Two flights to Sibu delayed due to thick haze
ESTHER LANDAU New Straits Times 12 Sep 15;

KUCHING: Two MASwings flights scheduled to depart to Sibu from Kuching International Airport (KIA) have been affected by the haze as of 10am.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd KIA senior manager Mohd Nadzim Hashim said the ground visibility in Kuching was about 2,400 metres.

“The two MASwings flights were delayed and both involving departures, which affecting some 100 passengers.

“No cancellations so far.

Other flights operation in and out of the KIA went on smoothly as scheduled,” he said in a statement.

As of 11am, the Air Pollutant Index (API) at three divisions, namely Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman remained at an unhealthy level.

However, according to the Department of Environment (DOE) website today shows that there is a slight improvement in the API reading for Samarahan with 151 compared to 176 yesterday.

Followed by Kuching with 132 compared to 167 and Sri Aman reads 126 compared to 163.

Haze until end of the month
LOH FOON FONG The Star 12 Sep 15;

PETALING JAYA: The haze is expected to continue until the end of this month and the Meteorological Department will carry out cloud seeding if the Air Pollutant Index (API) goes beyond 100 for three consecutive days.

Science, Technology and Innova­tion Minister Datuk Madius Tan­gau said yesterday that the department, toget­her with the air force, would conduct cloud seeding if the atmosphere and cloud situation were suitable.

“The increase in the number of hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan and the hot and dry season over the last few days had resulted in the severe haze in Sarawak and several states in the ­pe­­­ninsula,” Madius said in a statement.

The department has also issued poor visibility warning for ships travelling in the Strait of Malacca, Sarawak, Labuan and the west coast of Sabah.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the dry and haze sea­­son was expected to end with the start of the inter-monsoon season in October.

As of 11am yesterday, 17 areas had unhealthy air quality readings.

Among the worst were Port Klang which recorded an API of 164; Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur (157); Shah Alam (156); and Kuala Selangor (151).

LKIM: There’s enough fish supply
The Star 13 Sep 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) has assured that there will be enough supply of fish despite visibility difficulties faced by fishermen due to the haze.

LKIM chairman Datuk Irmo­hizam Ibrahim said there were 100 tonnes of fish stock on standby.

“The drop in supply is not critical yet, but we have made a request with the National Fishermen’s Association to release 100 tonnes of fish stock if needed,” he said after the 36th General Assembly of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly closing ceremony on Friday.

Irmohizam said if there was a lack of supply in the market, the association would release the stock to ensure prices were stable and supply was adequate.

“We are also concerned about the safety of fishermen at this time,” he added.

He said fish stock were fish caught and kept in cold storage for the purpose of food security and 100 tonnes of fish could last two to three months.

Read more!

Indonesia: 1,500 soldiers deployed to fight forest fires in South Kalimantan

Antara 11 Sep 15;

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (Antara) - Some 1,500 soldiers have been deployed to fight land and forest fires in South Kalimantan and prevent them from spreading, a spokesman said.

Under an agreement reached at during a coordination meeting of stakeholders, the Antasari District Military Command 101 Station has been appointed as the main command post to fight forest and land fires in the region, the Commander of the Antasari District Military Command 101, Col. M Abduh Ras, said on Thursday.

"We will coordinate with other forest fire mitigation teams, such as the National Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB), the Natkional SAR Body (Basarnas), the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and local fire departments," he said.

The soldiers in the 13 districts and municipalities in South Kalimantan will cooperate with other forest and land fire mitigation teams to extinguish hotspots as part of efforts to prevent the fires from spreading, he said.

"The soldiers we have deployed come from all forces, the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, as well as the police," he said.

Ras said the soldiers would make every effort in the field to put out the fires, using both traditional and modern methods.

Hotspots have now been found in almost all districts of South Kalimantan, including Banjar, Tanah Laut, Tabalong, and Barito Kuala, he said.(*)

Officer of Indonesian ministry dies when extinguishing forest fire in Sukabumi
Antara 13 Sep 15;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - An officer of Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) died when he was trying to extinguish land and forest fires in Ciemas sub-district, Sukabumi District, West Java, an official said.

"Dulman Efendi, chief of forest resort of Cikepuh wildlife preservation Suaka Margasatwa died while extinguishing the forest fire," head of the local Technical Division of Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Munarto told ANTARA here on Saturday.

Munarto further said that Dulman Efendi passed away when he was leading a team of forest fire fighting after the Friday prayer (September 11).

Until Friday (Sept 11) as much as 37 forest fires incidence occurred in Wildlife Cikepuh covering a total area of 337.4 hectares.

The fire incidence occurred on August 31 to September 11.

Earlier, the Head of Emergency and Logistics division of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Sukabumi District, Usman Susilo said on last Wednesday that the forest fires had also burnt 30 hectares of land in Puncak Bukit Habibie in Kampung Pasir Randu, Pasirbaru Village, Cisolok sub-district, Sukabumi.

1,887 hotspots detected in Sumatra and Kalimantan
Antara 12 Sep 15;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said the number of hotspots detected in Sumatra and Kalimantan has continued to increase despite the governments efforts to intensify its emergency operations.

"Although we have launched emergency operations, hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan have continued to increase, reaching 1,887 points," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a press statement in Jakarta on Saturday.

Some 1,887 hotspots were detected by the Terra and Aqua Satellite on Friday at 5 a.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB). It included of 575 hotspots in Sumatra and 1,312 in Kalimantan.

In Sumatra, the hotspots were mostly detected in South Sumatra Province with 449 points, Jambi Province with 93 points, Bangka Belitung Province with 49 and Riau Province with 11 such spots.

In Kalimantan, a total of 1,312 hotspots were detected, with 508 being located in West Kalimantan, 127 in South Kalimantan, 579 in Central Kalimantan, 95 in East Kalimantan and four in North Kalimantan.

BNPB Chief Willem Rampangilei said on Friday that operational plans to put out forest and bush fires should be carried out simultaneously.

"Human resources should be deployed to prevent new fires, intensify popularization efforts and enforce the law," he said during a meeting on fire extinguishing efforts held in Palembang, South Sumatra.

He further said that BNPB will borrow a MI-171 helicopter from Papua to put out fires in Palembang.

Therefore, BNPB will also coordinate with the Ministry of Transportation regarding flight permits for 1,050 military personnel, who are attached with the BNPB to help fire extinguishing efforts.(*)

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Indonesia: Hectares of forest in Mt. Rinjani national Park illegally felled

Panca Nugraha, The Jakarta Post 12 Sep 15;

Trees on 50 hectares of land in Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR), in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), have been felled by locals who claim the area is custom land they had owned for generations.

The head of the park management, Agus Budiono, told The Jakarta Post in Mataram on Thursday that land clearance had occurred in Bebidas subdistrict, Wanasaba district, East Lombok regency, since mid-July.

Besides cutting down trees, Agus said, locals also used heavy equipment to clear the land.

“We have reported the case to the East Lombok and NTB police,” Agus said.

He said the report had been made because the concerned people had failed to show ownership deeds for the land, which was located within the area managed by the park.

Agus said he had filed the report with the East Lombok Police in July, but no significant development in the case had been made. “That’s why this week we reported the case to the NTB Police, hoping that they will follow it up.”

Agus said the park, as stipulated in Forestry Minister Decree No. 280/kpts-II/1987, covered 41,330 hectares located in four administrative areas in West, Central, East and North Lombok regencies.

A number of NGOs and environmentalists expressed support for the move.

They said the slow handling of the case had resulted in more than 50 hectares of forest in the park being cleared. Unless stern action is taken, more damage could be done.

World Wide Fund Indonesia’s small islands partnership and governance leader Muhammad Ridha Hakim said that as a national park, Rinjani had an unique ecosystem that was managed using a zoning system for research, science, education, cultivation, tourism and recreational purposes.

The government has been striving to make Rinjani a world geopark, which was expected to have economic benefits and keep the area’s ecosystem functional.

“The TNGR is an important conservation area for the protection and preservation of natural and cultural resources globally,” Ridha told journalists in Mataram on Thursday.

He said letting such illegal activities continue and doing nothing about it was a violation of Law No. 41/1999 on forestry and Law No. 18/2013 on forest damage prevention and eradication.

Similarly, East Lombok Gema Alam NGO chairman Muhammad Juaini said people had economic reasons for such actions, yet such motivation was based more on short-term consideration without considering the sustainability aspects.

He also said a thorough study was needed to determine whether illegal mass land clearance was committed at the people’s own initiative or whether there were opportunistic parties behind them.

“We ask the authorities to investigate the relationship between the people damaging the forest and other parties that encouraged them to go so far,” Juaini said.

The NGOs and environmentalists also encouraged the police to take stern measures against those damaging the park.

“We also encourage the environment ministry, and especially the TNGR, to improve the roles and functions of the TNGR conservation area,” he said.

The NGOs and environmentalists said the national park had yet to make economic and environmental contributions, leaving people and local administrations unable to see the benefits of the park.

Separately, NTB Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Tribudi Pangastuti confirmed that the TNGR management had filed a report regarding the alleged illegal land clearance within the national park.

“We are examining the report and will follow up on it,” Tribudi said.

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Best of our wild blogs: 12 Sep 15

Smooth Otters taunting Saltwater Crocodile
Bird Ecology Study Group

Morning Walk At Venus Drive (11 Sep 2015)
Beetles@SG BLOG

Whale, whale, whale, what have we here?
BES Drongos

Butterfly of the Month - September 2015
Butterflies of Singapore

Singapore Bird Report-August 2015
Singapore Bird Group

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Flooding in Singapore: 'There's enough water to rear fish'

COMMON OCCURRENCE: The stretch of 23 shops at Block 504, Jurong West Street 51, hit by flooding after a heavy downpour yesterday afternoon.
Ang Qing, The New Paper AsiaOne 12 Sep 15;

Whenever there is heavy rain, they know the drill.

Like clockwork, shop owners at Jurong West Street 51 will pack the wares they display outside their shops, to save them from the flood waters.

Yesterday afternoon was no different. A heavy downpour hit the stretch of 23 shops at Block 504 between noon and 1pm.

A bookshop sales assistant, who wanted to be known only as Madam Tan, 50, told The New Paper: "The water level was around 10cm high. If it had risen further, it would have entered my shop."

Frantic owners at a nearby market were also alert to the rising waters. "There was enough water to rear fish," joked one of the shopkeepers.

Yesterday's flood was one of the worst, said Mr Simon Tan, 57, a jewellery store owner.

He had to stay at a nearby coffee shop until 1.30pm before he could get back to his own shop.

Mr Tan said the floods have been a regular occurrence, dating back some 20 years.

After a few complaints, Mr Tan said the town council responded by opening the drain cover in front of his shop when it flooded.

But the problem has persisted.

Despite their frustration, many shopkeepers told TNP they were resigned to the situation.

USED TO IT

Clothing store owner Priscilla Lu, 47, said: "I was scared when I first saw the flooding 10 years ago because all my clothes got wet. Now, I'm used to it. Sometimes, I will help tell the others if I see the water is coming."

A household product store sales assistant in her 50s said in Mandarin: "When it floods, it takes half an hour for us to pack and another half an hour to take everything out. But I have no choice but to do it."

A PUB spokesman said that its officers reached the site at about 2.40pm and the water had subsided by then.

The national water agency said it will work with the relevant agencies to look into flood protection measures for the area.

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Wind change helps keep haze away

Samantha Boh, Straits Times AsiaOne 12 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE - A change in wind direction has given Singapore some respite from the haze, which threatened to turn very unhealthy early yesterday.

Gusts from the south and south-west had been blowing smoke from burning forests in Sumatra in Indonesia to Singapore, but the winds now come from the south-east, the National Environment Agency said yesterday.

These winds are expected to persist today, it said.

It forecast the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), an air quality measure, to be in the mid to low end of the unhealthy range (101-200). This may even move into the high end of the moderate range (51-100) if winds stay favourable.

At 5am yesterday, the 24-hour PSI hit between 158 and 182 - its highest level since the new PSI was launched in April last year, and the closest it has come to reaching the very unhealthy range (201-300).

Air quality improved throughout the day. At 8pm, the 24-hour PSI was between 124 and 143.

The number of hot spots in Sumatra also fell from 328 on Thursday to 304 yesterday. On Thursday, Indonesia sent more than 1,000 soldiers there to help put out fires.

On the same day, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen called his counterpart to offer Singapore's aircraft and personnel to seed clouds and aid in firefighting.

Indonesia has accepted this, he said yesterday at the HDB Hub polling centre. He said: "Thankfully, the winds shifted this morning and the haze has come down. But we have to find some way of bringing down the problem, and I'm glad the Indonesian authorities are looking at it."

Despite the unhealthy air quality, many Singaporeans were out and about at East Coast Park, the Botanic Gardens and Bedok Reservoir. Customer service officer Heddy Fan, 28, said: "There isn't any burning smell today, so it should be safe to come to the Botanic Gardens."

But as a precaution, some opted to wear face masks to the polls. Housewife Vivian Ng, 48, said: "It doesn't look as hazy as before, but I decided to wear one just in case."

Accounts manager Deon Gan, 47, did so as her throat has been itchy and uncomfortable from the haze.

The Singapore Cancer Society said yesterday that it is considering cancelling its Race Against Cancer tomorrow. It will decide by 6pm today whether to proceed with the charity run if the PSI exceeds 100.

CapitaLand will close the external features of its properties, such as outdoor playgrounds, if the PSI crosses 150.

Business at East Coast Lagoon Food Centre has slowed slightly since the haze returned this week, some stallholders said.

Drink stall owner Annie Seet, 56, said the centre, usually packed, has been quiet in the last two days. In the 2013 haze episode, when the 24-hour PSI hit a high of 246, she closed her stall for five days as the haze irritated her eyes and throat.

"I hope it will not be as bad this time," she said.

Hazy conditions move into the Moderate range in the early hours of Saturday
Today Online 12 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — The hazy conditions in Singapore continued to improve past midnight.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) announced at 3am on Saturday (Sept 12) that the 24-hour PSI was at 74 - 95, indicating readings that are in the Moderate range. The 3-hour PSI remained the same as the previous hour, staying at 58.

The total number of hotspots detected in Sumatra on Friday (Sept 11) was 304, said the NEA; and widespread moderate to dense haze was observed in central and southern Sumatra, with some haze spreading to the western parts of Peninsular Malaysia.

Slightly hazy conditions are expected to continue for the rest of Saturday.

The prevailing winds are forecast to continue blowing from the southeast and Singapore may experience occasional hazy conditions during the day, said the NEA.

The NEA said on Friday that hazy conditions improved due to a shift in the direction of the prevailing winds to southeasterly and are expected to continue improving through the day as the winds are forecasted to be maintained.

Singapore experienced its worst haze in two years overnight with the three-hour PSI breaching the 200-mark, hitting 207 at 11pm and reaching a high of 248 at 3am early this morning. The PSI then began to decline in the following hours.

Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday conveyed Singapore’s “deep concern” to the Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, and called for stricter enforcement actions against the perpetrators.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen called Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu to assist in combating the forest fires in Sumatra. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have placed on standby a C-130 aircraft for cloud-seeding operations, a Chinook helicopter with a water bucket for aerial fire-fighting, and up to two C-130 aircraft to ferry the Singapore Civil Defence Force fire-fighting assistance team.

Occasional haze in Singapore expected through Saturday: NEA
A total of 304 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, Indonesia, on Friday, down from 328 on Thursday, says the National Environment Agency.
Channel NewsAsia 11 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: Occasional haze is expected in Singapore through Saturday (Sep 12), though the air quality is expected to improve, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).

At 1am on Saturday, the 3-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) was 58, while the 24-hour reading was 95-110.

The air quality in Singapore was in the Unhealthy range throughout Friday. A total of 304 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, Indonesia, on Friday, down from 328 on Thursday.

“Singapore may experience occasional hazy conditions during the day” on Saturday, said NEA in an advisory. The 24-hour PSI is expected to be in the “low end of the Unhealthy range, with the possibility of entering the high end of the Moderate range if winds remain favourable”, the agency added.

The air quality in Singapore reached unhealthy levels on Thursday, with the 3-hour PSI peaking at the year’s highest of 248 at 3am on Friday.

Indonesia on Thursday accepted Singapore's offer of help in fighting the forest fires that are causing hazy skies in the Republic and Malaysia, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

- CNA/xq

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Indonesia accepts Singapore's offer to fight forest fires

Indonesia has accepted Singapore's offer to fight the ongoing forest fires in Sumatra.
Channel NewsAsia 11 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Friday (Sep 11) said that Indonesia has accepted Singapore's help to deal with the haze situation.

He had contacted Indonesia's Defence Minister on Thursday (Sep 10) about the Singapore government's offer to assist Indonesia to fight the ongoing forest fires in Sumatra.

"We’ve offered our Charlies (C-130s) for cloud seeding, and helicopters, Chinooks, for large water buckets to douse the fires in Sumatra," said Dr Ng. "Thankfully the winds shifted this morning and the haze has come down. We have to find some way of bringing down the problem and I’m glad the Indonesian authorities are looking at it."

Indonesia said on Friday it will send more than 10,000 troops to fight the fire as well.

The National Environment Agency said that the number of hotspots detected in Sumatra increased to 328 on Thursday, up from 140 on Wednesday (Sep 9). Prevailing winds blow smoke into Malaysia and Singapore, shrouding these countries in haze.

Haze levels rose to unhealthy levels in Singapore on Thursday, with the 3-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hitting a high of 248 at 3am on Friday.

- CNA/wl

Indonesia has accepted Singapore's offer to help fight forest fires in Sumatra
Straits Times AsiaOne 11 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE - Indonesia has accepted Singapore's offer of help to combat the ongoing forest fires causing the haze, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Friday.

Speaking at a Toa Payoh polling station, Dr Ng said that on Cooling-off Day on Thursday, he had called his counterpart in Indonesia, who accepted the offer.

The Singapore government has offered haze assistance packages to Indonesia since 2005 during the traditional dry season from June to October. These include a C-130 aircraft for cloud seeding, up to two C-130s to ferry a fire-fighting assistance team from Singapore there and a Chinook helicopter with a water bucket for aerial fire-fighting.

Dr Ng said: "Thankfully the winds shifted this morning and the haze has come down. But we have to find some way of bringing down the problem, and I'm glad the Indonesian authorities are looking at it."

At 5am on Friday, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), an air quality measure, hit between 158 and 182 - its highest level since the new PSI was launched in April last year, and the closest it has been to reaching the very unhealthy range (201-300).

Air quality has improved throughout the day. At 9pm, the 24-hour PSI was between 120 and 137.

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/indonesia-has-accepted-singapores-offer-help-fight-forest-fires-sumatra#sthash.zPjh9Jps.dpuf

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Malaysia: Worsening haze in Sarawak, Klang Valley

RAZAK AHMAD The Star 12 Sep 15;

PETALING JAYA: The haze worsened yesterday, especially in parts of Sarawak and the Klang Valley, with the number of areas recording unhealthy air quality readings rising from five at 9am to 16 by 6pm.

Sarawak was the worst hit state with the three highest Air Pollutant Index (API) readings –Samarahan (182), Sri Aman (177) and Kuching (163).

The smog, which occurs almost yearly, is caused by land and forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia

An API reading of between 100-200 indicates an unhealthy air quality, 201-300 is very unhealthy while anything above 300 is hazardous. An API of below 50 denotes good air quality while a reading of between 51 and 100 is considered moderate.

The haze also delayed two flights at the Kuching International Airport, grounded helicopters and disrupted ferry services.

Six of the eight areas measured in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor recorded unhealthy air quality.

The highest reading was in Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur, at 120, followed by Banting (116), Petaling Jaya (115), Shah Alam (114), Port Klang (112) and Putrajaya (108).

The air quality in all three areas listed in Negri Sembilan were unhealthy – Nilai (138), Seremban (127) and Port Dickson (107).

Malacca also recorded unhealthy readings with 115 for Bukit Rambai and 104 for the historic city.

In Johor, Pasir Gudang and Larkin Lama recorded unhealthy API readings at 113 and 107 respectively.

Perlis, Sabah, Terengganu, Penang, Pahang, Kelantan, Kedah and most parts of Perak, meanwhile, recorded either good or moderate air quality readings.

In a statement, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said satellite imagery showed 328 hot spots in Sumatra and 18 in Kalimantan.

“Malaysia is urging Indonesia to take immediate action in handling the rise in the number of hotspots and to raise efforts to put out the fires,” said Wan Junaidi.

Haze: Nine Flights Affected In Kuching
Bernama 11 Sep 15;

KUCHING, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- Nine flights heading in and out of the Kuching International Airport (KIA) have been affected by the haze as of 5 pm Friday.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's (MAHB) manager of KIA, Mohd Nadzim Hashim said as of 5pm, land visibility in Kuching was about 1,600 metres.

"Nine flights were delayed, involving five arrivals and four departures, affecting 934 passengers. No cancellations have been done as at 5pm," he said in a statement.

"MAHB advises all passengers who are flying through KIA to check their schedules with the respective airlines before heading to the airport," he said.

The daily activities of people in three areas, namely Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman have remained as usual, despite recording unhealthy levels on the air pollutant index (API).

As of 5pm, Samarahan recorded an API of 184, followed by Sri Aman (177), and Kuching (164).

A check by Bernama around the city revealed that people and motorcyclists had begun wearing masks when doing outdoor activities.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Health Department director Datuk Dr Zulkifli Jantan told Bernama as of today, there was no significant increase in the number of patients seeking treatment due to the haze.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in a statement said that as of yesterday, 18 hotspots had been detected in Kalimantan, Indonesia

Medium and thick haze smoke from hot spots in the province of west, south, and central Kalimantan are expected to spread to most parts of the state within the next 24 to 48 hours, the statement said.

In the meantime, Samarahan deputy resident (Development) Jamalie Busri when contacted said that air quality around Samarahan was somewhat affected. However residents were still safe.

He said residents had been advised to reduce outdoor activities, and if possible, to wear a face mask when outside the house.

-- BERNAMA

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Indonesia: More airports affected by haze from land fires

Antara 11 Sep 15;

Activity flights to and from the city by Sultan Taha Jambi, Jambi, was canceled due to thick haze with visibility of 500 meters lows. (ANTARA/Wahdi Septiawan)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - More airports are being affected by the haze in Indonesia as flights continue to be disrupted.

The head of the public communication center at the Ministry of Transportation, J.A. Barata, said in a written statement on Friday that the number of airports affected by the haze from land fires had risen to 21 on Friday from 16 on Thursday.

He said the five airports that were affected by the haze were the airports in Nangah Pinoh (West Kalimantan), Palembang (Sumatra), Pekanbaru (Sumatra) and Balikpapan (Kalimantan).

Other similar airports are in Melak (East Kalimantan), Pangkalan Bun (Central Kalimantan), Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan), Pontianak (West Kalimantan, Jambi (Sumatra), Sampit (Central Kalimantan), Putusibau (West Kalimantan), Samarinda (East Kalimantan), Sintang (West Kalimantan, Ketapang (West Kalimantan), Long Apung (North Kalimantan), Sampir, Muara Teweh and Palangkaraya all in Kalimantan provinces.

"Until today, visibility in Jambi (Sumatra) is still 600 meters. Three general flights plus a hajj flight have been rescheduled, while others have been cancelled," he said.

Among the flights that have been rescheduled are Garuda Indonesias GIA 132/133, serving Jakarta-Jambi-Jakarta, while a Lion Air Jakarta-Jambi flight remained grounded over night.

Barata said cancellations and delays had also been reported at the Syamsuddin Noor Airport in Banjarmasin (Kalimantan). A total of 13 flights at the airport have been delayed and two cancelled.

The Rahadi Usman Airport in Ketapang (Kalimantan) recorded six delays, the Iskandar Airport in Pangkalan Bun five delays and one cancellation, the Tjilik Riwut Airport in Palangkaraya eight delays and three cancellations, the Beringing Muara Airport in Muara Teweh three cancellations, the Haji Asan Airport in Sampit four delays and the Susilo Airport in Sintang two delays and the Pangsuma Airport in Putusibau two delays.

(Reporting by Juwita Trisna Rahayu/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Haze shuts down C. Kalimantan airport for a week
thejakartapost.com 11 Sep 15;

The operator of Beringin Airport in Muara Teweh, Central Kalimantan, has canceled all flights for a week due to a thick haze filling the air over and around the airport.

“There have been no flights since last Friday [Sept. 4] because the haze is getting thicker,” Akhmad Sidik, an officer at Beringin Airport, said on Friday as reported by Antara news agency.

Affected flights included those of Susi Air, which services a route from Muara Teweh to Tjilik Riwut Airport in Palangka Raya three times a week, under normal conditions.

Susi Air was also forced to cancel two other flights servicing Muara Teweh to Balikpapan in East Kalimantan and Muara Teweh to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.

Chartered airlines that carry the employees of several mining and gas companies have also had to cancel their flights due to the haze.

Meanwhile, Nurdin from the North Barito Transportation, Communication and Information Agency said that the receding water in the Barito River had not affected commercial river transportation.

Currently, speedboats serving Muara Teweh to Buntok in South Barito and to Puruk Cahu in Murung Raya are operating normally, according to Nurdin.

But he warned river transportation operators and passengers to be cautious of the dropping water level in the Barito River. “So far, the water receding has only caused longer travel times for speedboats,” Nurdin added.

Sunardi, the head of Beringin Muara Teweh Meteorology Station said that horizontal visibility measured at 8 a.m. on Friday morning was at 50 to 100 meters and vertical visibility was at 150 feet.

“The thick haze is more or less the same as recent days but the vertical visibility is better. The haze usually decreases during the evening, but still remains thick,” said Sunardi. (nov/bbn)(++++)

Hot spots decrease in Riau
The Jakarta Post 11 Sep 15;

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Pekanbaru, Riau, has stated that the Tera and Aqua satellites have identified a total of 210 hot spots across Sumatra on Thursday, a drop from 283 hotspots the previous day.

The head of BMKB in the Riau provincial capital of Pekanbaru, Sugarin, said that South Sumatra still had the highest number of hot spots, reaching 123 based on monitoring reports at 7 a.m. on Thursday.

According to Sugarin, hot spots were also seen in seven other Sumatran provinces. “The level of confidence for the hot spots is 70 percent,” Sugarin said as quoted by tempo.co.

Hot spots decrease in Riau
thejakartapost.com 10 Sep 15;

Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Pekanbaru, Riau, has stated that the Tera and Aqua satellites have monitored a total of 210 hot spots across Sumatra on Thursday, decreasing from 283 hotspots the previous day.

Head of BMKB in the Riau provincial capital of Pekanbaru said that South Sumatra still had the highest number of hot spots, reaching 123 based on monitoring reports at 7 a.m. on Thursday.

According to Sugarin, hot spots were also seen in seven other Sumatran provinces.

“The level of confidence for the hot spots is 70 percent," Sugarin said as quoted by tempo.co.

He also said that there was a lot of haze in Riau.

“Light rain is expected to occur in the afternoon and in the evening across the north, middle and coastal parts of Riau. The temperature will reach around 31.5 to 33.5 degrees Celsius,” Sugarin said.

Visibility was decreasing due to the haze from the hot spots. However, in Pekanbaru the visibility was gradually improving and is currently around 1500 meters.

Head of Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency Edward Sanger explained to kompas.com that light and moderate rain had poured over some parts of Riau, which made the fires and haze less intense.

He said that a weather modification task force team was cloud seeding to produce rain and had also water bombed the forest fires from helicopters. “If there is haze, it is likely caused by forest fires in other provinces,” he added. (nov/bbn)(++++)

Alarming haze records in Singapore, Malaysia
Nani Afrida and Hans Nicholas Jong, The Jakarta Post 11 Sep 15;

Singapore and Malaysia recorded alarming levels of air pollution on Thursday as the Indonesian government has yet to quell forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Air pollution in Singapore reached its highest level in a year on Thursday as smog from Indonesian forest fires shrouded the island nation in a veil of gray.

The Pollutant Standards Index, Singapore’s main measure of air pollution, hit 187 at 8 p.m., cruising above the official “unhealthy” bandwidth of 100, according to the National Environment Agency.

Anything above 200 is considered “very unhealthy” particularly for young children, the elderly and those with heart and lung diseases.

In 2013, the same three-hour index hit a historic high of 401, way above the “hazardous” mark of 300.

Singapore has issued transboundary haze pollution laws since last year, targeting those responsible for causing such fires if burning results in unhealthy levels of haze,

The PSI level has exceeded 101 since 1 p.m. on Thursday, according to the Singaporean government website, haze.gov.sg.

Several areas in Malaysia have also suffered from poor air quality.

According to readings published on the Malaysian Department of Environment’s (DOE) website, six locations including Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman were rated as unhealthy (100-200) on the API as of 8 p.m. on Thursday.

“According to reports from Kuala Lumpur, moderate haze started to disappear this morning. But, Malaysia said that the haze in Kuala Lumpur did not come from Sumatra or Kalimantan,” Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said on Thursday.

As of Thursday, there were 118 hotspots detected in Sumatra and 1,466 hotspots in Kalimantan.

Jambi administration ordered on Wednesday all schools to close down all activities for the next two days due to thickening haze with the air pollution standard index [ISPU] reaching the hazardous level of 324.

Previously the newly appointed head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Willem Rampangilei said the economic loss caused by the haze could not be dismissed as insignificant. Quoting a 2013 World Bank report, he said that the total financial loss that Riau suffered from the haze amounted to Rp 20 trillion (US$1.4 billion).

He said that, after being sworn in as BNPB head and receiving instructions from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to put an end to the haze in Sumatra and Kalimantan, he stipulated a deadline to finish dealing with the haze within two weeks.

The Indonesian military (TNI) has joined the effort to put out the fires, deploying on Thursday 1,059 military personnel to seek and extinguish hotspots in Sumatran forests.

The military, consisting of personnel from the Navy, the Army and the Air Force, are part of a task force to extinguish wildfires in the forest. They were transported to South Sumatra and Jambi using four military transport planes Hercules C-130 from Halim Perdana Kusuma military airport.

“We still have additional 1,150 personnel as the back up and they are ready to be deployed when needed,” Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo told journalists on the sidelines of military deployment at the military airport.

Gatot said that two battalions of military personnel would be stationed in South Sumatra, while the rest would be in Jambi. They would comb the forest and seek the hotspots. When they find the source of the fires, they could extinguish them.

According to Gatot, besides deploying its personnel directly to the forests, the military could also extinguish the hotspots from the air using water-bombing.

“The military will prioritize forest in three regencies in South Sumatra; Musi Banyuasin, Banyuasin and Ogan Komering Ilir,” the military chief said.

He also asked his men to not hesitate in taking perpetrators to the police, even if the perpetrators were military members.

“We aim to clear the area from haze by the end of this month,” Gatot said.

Read more!

Indonesia: Rafflesia, Amorphopallus flowers declared endangered species

Antara 11 Sep 15;

Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has said two rare native flowers species from the Sumatran forests, Rafflesia and Amorphopallus, have become endangered due to habitat conversion done for various purposes.

The Deputy for Life Sciences, Enny Sudarmonowati said on Friday that the two rare flower species had to be preserved by all parties, including researchers, governments and the community.

"Not much time is left for botanists to apply research to conserve these giant flora," Sudarmonowati said.

The endangered status of the two rare species will be highlighted at the international symposium for Rafflesia Arnoldii and Amorphopallus Titanum, which will be organized by LIPI in Bengkulu from September 14 to 16, 2016.

Sudarmonowati remarked that the endangered flora indicated that changes have been taking place in the Sumatra forests, particularly Bengkulu, the native habitat of the flowers.

There is a biological aspect that remains a mystery about the ideal habitat for these plants.

LIPI has also initiated an international forum to bring together researchers and academics to discuss the preservation of the rare flowers.

"The forum is expected to build perspective to save Rafflesia and Amorphopallus," she said.

In addition to a number of experts on Amorphopallus and Rafflesia, the symposium will also draw local administrators, community groups and tourism players.

The Head of Plant Conservation, Bogor Botanical Garden, Didik Widyatmoko, said the forum would bring together stakeholders to share knowledge and experience related to Rafflesia and Amorphophallus.

One expected result is the formulation of a preservation model for rare flowers that will be beneficial for not only biodiversity conservation, but also for the tourism sector to have a positive impact on the development of Bengkulu.

Bengkulu forests house four species of Rafflesia, including Arnoldii, Gadutensis, Bengkuluensis and Hasselti. Meanwhile, the Amorphophallus species, among others, includes Titanum, Phaeonifolius, Gigas and Variabilis.
(Uu.KR-LWA/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

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