Best of our wild blogs: 2 Apr 16

5 Jun (Sun): Balik Chek Jawa
Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

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First two weeks of April to be ‘significantly’ warm and dry: Met Service

Today Online 1 Apr 16;

SINGAPORE — Warm and dry conditions in Singapore are expected to continue over the first two weeks of April, said Metereological Service Singapore (MSS) in a release on Friday (April 1).

The Met Service forecasts conditions to be “significantly dry and warm”, with some days expected to see the daily maximum temperature reach between 33°C and 35°C.

April is climatologically the warmest month of the year, said the weatherman. Rainfall in the next fortnight is likely to be below average, it added.

Last month, Singapore faced the second warmest March on record since 1929 — when temperature records started. And for 18 days in March, daily maximum temperatures exceeded 34°C — Thirteen of these days were in the second half of the month.

Choa Chu Kang experienced the hottest recorded temperature on March 11 at 35.3°C, which was also the highest temperature recorded so far this year.

The mean monthly temperature of 29°C for March was 1.5°C warmer than the long-term mean for March, the weatherman said.

Throughout March this year, rainfall across Singapore was significantly below average, the Met Service added. At the Changi climate station, the total rainfall recorded last month was 6.2mm (96 per cent below average), setting a new record for the driest March in Singapore since rainfall records started in 1869.

The weatherman said prevailing Northeast Monsoon conditions are weakening to give way to inter-monsoon conditions over the next two weeks. The prevailing low level winds during the outlook period are forecast to blow from the northeast and gradually become light and variable in direction.

March was Singapore's driest, 2nd warmest month on record: MSS
Significantly dry and warm conditions are expected to continue for the first two weeks of April, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore.
Channel NewsAsia 1 Apr 16;

SINGAPORE: Last month was the driest March in the Republic's recorded history as well as the second warmest month, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS).

At the Changi climate station, the total rainfall recorded in March was 6.2mm - 96 per cent below average - setting a new record for the driest March in Singapore since rainfall records started in 1869. The previous record was 18.5mm in March 1912.

For 18 days last month, daily maximum temperatures also exceeded 34°C, with 13 of these days in the last two weeks of March.

The highest daily maximum temperature recorded during the month, which was also the highest temperature this year, was 35.3°C at Choa Chu Kang on Mar 11.

The mean monthly temperature of 29°C for the month was 1.5°C warmer than the long-term mean for March, and ranks March 2016 as the second warmest March in Singapore since temperature records started 87 years ago. The warmest March ever was recorded in 1998 with a mean monthly temperature of 29.5°C.

MSS said that for the first two weeks of April, these prevailing dry and warm conditions are expected to continue. MSS forecasts significantly warmer temperatures with daily maximum temperatures of between 33°C and 35°C. April is traditionally the warmest month of the year.

However short-duration thundery showers are expected over parts of Singapore on four to six days in the afternoon.

- CNA/mz


Driest March, with little respite ahead
Audrey Tan, The Straits Times AsiaOne 2 Apr 16;

Singapore has just suffered its most parched March here in over a century, alongside some scorching weather. And the next two weeks will bring little respite, says the weatherman.

Rainfall will likely remain below average, and daily maximum temperatures could soar to a blistering 35 deg C on some days, with short afternoon showers bringing scant relief, said the Meteorological Service.

"The warmer and drier conditions are a direct consequence of El Nino, which some meteorologists have called a Godzilla or Monster El Nino because of its intensity," said Dr Erik Velasco, a research scientist from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology.

High temperatures and less rain in the region could contribute to more fires, and if the winds switch direction, blowing more frequently from the east and south-east, hazy conditions can be expected, he added.

The PSI here has already reached moderate levels, hitting 24-hour levels of 62-70 at 10pm yesterday.

Last month, Changi climate station, which is used as a reference station, collected just 6.2mm of rain, making it the driest March since 1869, when rainfall records started.

But the situation was not as dire as in February 2014 - the country's driest month on record, with just 0.2mm of rain recorded.

And on March 11, the mercury hit 35.3 deg C in Choa Chu Kang, making it the hottest day this year. Out of the 31 days last month, temperatures on 18 days exceeded 34 deg C.

The mean monthly temperature of 29 deg C was also 1.5 deg C warmer than the long-term mean for March, making last month the second warmest March here since temperature records started in 1929.

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Malaysia: Higher API recorded in Keningau, Sabah

The Star 1 Apr 16;

KOTA KINABALU: The air quality in Keningau, about 131 kilometres from here, is reported to be still moderate, although a higher Air Pollutant Index (API) was recorded as at 11am Friday.

According to the website of the Department of Environment (DOE), the air quality there recorded API of 61, from 59 about five hours earlier.

In Kota Kinabalu, the air quality was also moderate, with API reading at 53, from 55 earlier.

Meanwhile, Sandakan and Tawau recorded good API at 32 and 31, respectively, as at 11 am.

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous.

Members of the public can refer to the portal apims.doe.gov.my to obtain the current API reading. - Bernama

Perlis govt proposes water rationing as Timah Tasoh Dam level drops
ILI SHAZWANI New Straits Times 1 Apr 16;

PADANG BESAR: The state government is proposing to Syarikat Air Perlis (SAP) to consider water rationing for domestic users in the northern part of the state if the water level at Timah Tasoh Dam drops to 26.2 metres.

State executive councillor Datuk Mat Rawi Kassim said as of today, the water level was recorded at 26.49m, about 0.01m below the critical level.

Rawi however said the southern part of Perlis, such as Arau and Kangar, would not be affected as these areas were receiving water supply from the Pedu dam in Kedah.

Based on data from the state Drainage and Irrigation Department, Rawi said the current water capacity at the dam was expected to last for only a month, limited to only domestic usage, if the dry and hot weather persists.

On the other hand, he said padi farmers outside Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) would have to wait until it rains again before water from the dam could be released to their padi fields.

He said this in a press conference during his visit to the dam, accompanied by state Drainage and Irrigation Department deputy director Mohamad Nor Hafidz Nor Azmi today.


Free water in Selangor may run out for some
BERNAMA New Straits Times 1 Apr 16;

SHAH ALAM: The 20 cubic metres of free water now enjoyed by all Selangor households may run out soon for some.

The state government may restrict the benefit to low-income households once the restructuring of the water industry in the state has been completed, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

He cited the prohibitive cost of takeover of the water assets as the main reason for this consideration.

Mohamed Azmin (PKR-Bukit Antarabangsa) was replying to a supplementary question from Saari Sungib (AMANAH-Hulu Klang) in the Selangor state legislative assembly.

Saari had wanted to know whether the state government was considering giving the free water only to low-income households. --Bernama

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Indonesia: Govt Threatens to Deport Leonardo DiCaprio Over Mount Leuser Visit

Ratri M Siniwi Jakarta Globe 1 Apr 16;

Jakarta. The immigration service has threatened on Thursday (31/03) to deport Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio over his visit to the Mount Leuser National Park in Aceh during the weekend.

The actor and activist is accused of running a so-called "black campaign" against palm oil plantations in Aceh in an effort to discredit the Indonesian government and the country's palm oil industry, according to immigration service director general Ronny F. Sompi.

"If there are statements that discredit the government and the interests of Indonesia, he could be deported," warned Ronny, whose department is closely monitoring DiCaprio's activities in Indonesia.

Immigration authorities could deport the Oscar winner and his team, who are in the country on tourist visas, if they violate the terms of their visas, Ronny added.

"If [DiCaprio] is in Indonesia for other purposes, such as creating a public disturbance and harming the state's interests, immigration is ready to deport him," Ronny said.

This move was supported by Firman Subagyo, a member of the energy commission in the House of Representatives. The Golkar Party politician said he believes the actor's visit was facilitated by nongovernmental organizations wearing "environmental masks," that have been working to discredit the Indonesian government.

However, online environmental news portal EcoWatch confirmed with DiCaprio's team that the actor and his entourage have already left Indonesia on Thursday.

Leonardo DiCaprio is not the first Hollywood actor who faced deportation threats by the government for environmental activism. Actor Harrison Ford faced the same threat in 2013, after conducting a hard-hitting interview with the Indonesian forestry minister, urging him to take action against illegal logging in Sumatra.


Indonesia denies DiCaprio could be 'blacklisted' for pro-environment support
After an Indonesian government official said Leonardo DiCaprio could be deported for “provocative” comments made on social media, a minister has praised the actor for his efforts to highlight the plight of Indonesia’s rainforests.
Channel NewsAsia 5 Apr 16;

SINGAPORE: Indonesia’s Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya refuted talk that Leonardo DiCaprio could be blacklisted from the country following the actor’s comments on social media over the plight of various wildlife species in the Sumatran rainforests.

DiCaprio, who visited Indonesia in March, incurred the ire of the Indonesian immigration director-general Ronny Sompie after making statements on the impact the palm oil industry was having on the populations of rhinos, tigers, orangutans and Sumatran elephants in the Leuser rainforest ecosystem.

“If there are statements that discredit the government and the interests of Indonesia, he could be deported,” said Mr Ronny to news portal Republika. “We can blacklist him from returning to Indonesia at any time if he keeps posting incitement or provocative statements.”

Dr Siti told foresthints.news on Saturday (Apr 2) said that DiCaprio’s concerns were “sincere” and “substantial” and that he acted in good faith. “I am open to working together with DiCaprio in a joint effort whereby both of us can have our concerns addressed, including those that pertain to the Leuser Ecosystem.”

She added: “It’s really not relevant to link the concerns conveyed by DiCaprio with immigration matters.”

CHAMPION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES

The actor, an ardent supporter of environmental causes, was pictured accompanied by local environmentalists and flanked by two critically endangered Sumatran elephants.

The elephants are among a dizzying array of rare animals who live in Leuser's dense rainforests.

DiCaprio said on his Instagram account that his foundation, which supports numerous environmental projects, was backing local groups to establish a "mega-fauna sanctuary" in the area.

He described the area as "the last place on Earth where Sumatran orangutans, tigers, rhinos and elephants coexist in the wild".

Local green activist Farwiza Fahan, who met DiCaprio on his visit, said the sanctuary was aimed at giving more protection to the area, but the plan was still in the early stages.

Like much of Indonesia's rainforests, the area is under threat from the aggressive expansion of palm oil and pulp and paper plantations, while endangered animals are targeted by poachers and locals who view them as pests.

But the area faces an additional threat after authorities in the province of Aceh - which includes much of the Leuser ecosystem - pushed through a plan to open up new swathes of virgin forest for commercial exploitation and lay roads.

The central government in Jakarta, which must approve such locally-made plans, has asked Aceh to revise it, but activists claim that local authorities are pushing ahead with it.

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Indonesia: E. Manggarai looks to bamboo, mangroves to prevent erosion

Markus Makur Jakarta Post 2 Apr 16;

The administration of East Manggarai in East Nusa Tenggara is stepping up the planting of bamboo and mangroves to prevent erosion in river basins and coastal areas across the regency, which has reached a critical point.

Working together with nature conservation group the Flores Bamboo Foundation, the regency administration has increased efforts to plant bamboo in several large river basin areas, such as Waebobo and Waelaku, and cultivate mangroves along coastal areas in southern and northern East Manggarai.

Rokus Jumpa, secretary of the Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) in the regency, said the administration had last year planted 830 young bamboo trees in the Waemokel river basin area in Rana Mbata village, Kota Komba district.

He said various environmental issues in East Manggarai, including erosion in river basins and coastal areas, were continuing to worsen.

“Thus, we are also stepping up mangrove planting in coastal areas along the Flores Sea and in the Sawu Sea National Park. We are cooperating with the local forestry agency to move forward mangrove planting efforts in coastal areas, which are facing erosion,” Jumpa told thejakartapost.com in a recent interview.

He further explained that planting trees in river basin areas, coastal areas and on critical land owned by local people in nine districts across East Manggarai were part of the East Manggarai BPLHD's nature conservation programs this year.

“Based on our temporary data, there are 20 river basin areas across East Manggarai. We are still updating the data. We are also still in the process of collecting data on environmental issues and business activities with high potential of environment pollution, such as garages and hotels,” said Jumpa.

Flores Bamboo Foundation staff member Jefrianto said the foundation had planted around 1,000 young bamboo trees in the Waelaku river basin area in 2016, after a similar number were planted in the Waebobo river basin area last year.

“Our foundation has coordinated with the East Manggarai administration to jointly encourage bamboo planting in river basin areas. Bamboo planting is one of main priorities of the Environment and Forestry Ministry,” he told thejakartapost.com.

Jefrianto said Flores was widely known as the “Bamboo Island” because of the prevalence of the trees, both wild and cultivated. Denizens of Flores used to use bamboo as a building material before they knew about stone and wood, he added.

“The government should continue to encourage local people to plant bamboo. Currently, they use bamboo but fail to replant it," he said.

An environmental activist from Mbengan village, Norbertus Ndolu, told thejakartapost.com that he had routinely and independently planted bamboo in a river basin area in his village. The activist also claimed he had planted thousands of eaglewood trees, which produce prime timber known locally as "gaharu".

“[...] I’m ready to work with local people in Mbengan village to plan bamboo trees. I hope the government will support us by providing young bamboo trees,” said Ndolu. (ebf)

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Best of our wild blogs: 1 Apr 16

March for MacRitchie: A month of discovery and public participation to conserve MacRitchie Forest
Love our MacRitchie Forest

Great-billed Heron – hunting and mating calls
Bird Ecology Study Group

An unexpected “Booby” prize
Singapore Bird Group

Wild City – three episodes about wildlife and wild places in Singapore you must watch!
Otterman speaks

Singapore World Water Day – 29 volunteers remove 415.5kg of trash (43 trash bags) @ Sungei Pandan Mangrove [26 March 2016]
News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore

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Burning smell possibly due to gases blown in from hotspots in northern ASEAN: Experts

That burning smell in the air? 938LIVE speaks with experts to find out what exactly is causing it, and why it seems to be stronger at night.
Lim Jia Qi, 938LIVE Channel NewsAsia 31 Mar 16;

SINGAPORE: Scores of people have taken to social media complaining of a burning smell in parts of Singapore in recent days and pondering if it is haze season again. The 3-hour Pollutant Standards Index also hit a new high this year, registering a reading of 91 at 9pm on Thursday (Mar 31), while the 24-hour PSI stayed in the Moderate range at 64 - 79.

While authorities have yet to pinpoint the exact cause of the smell or concretely linked it to haze, atmospheric chemists said it could be caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) blown in from hotspots in the northern ASEAN region.

These VOCs are by-products of combustion, and take the form of gas molecules which cannot be detected by equipment used to measure the Pollutants Standard Index (PSI). And this could be one reason why even as PSI levels remain in the Moderate range, many Singaporeans have noticed a lingering smell of burning.

According to Professor Mikinori Kuwata, of the Asian School of the Environment at Nanyang Technological University (NTU): "Haze is caused by liquid or solid particles suspending in the air. These particles in haze scatter light. So they are responsible for the degradation of visibility. What we are smelling is gas. That's the reason why the current smell is not reflected in the PM2.5 concentration.”

Dr Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, an atmospheric chemist from the National University of Singapore, said the VOCs could contain gases such as sulphur dioxide.

"They could also come along with organic gases. So we have different gases mixed with each other in different concentration, so the air will be different in terms of its smell."

The Associate Professor added that the health impacts depend on how long people are exposed to the gases and its concentration.

Earlier this week, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said there could be a few possible causes for the smell, including transboundary smoke haze from forest and peat fires in the region, the occurrence of local fires or other localised sources of burning.

On Wednesday (Mar 30), the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said it observed "isolated hotspots" in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. "The full extent of the hotspot activities in Myanmar and Thailand could not be determined due to cloud cover," MSS said, adding that in southern ASEAN, wet weather conditions continued to subdue hotspot activities.

STRONGER AT NIGHT

The burning smell has been particularly strong for some residents in central and northern parts of Singapore.

"It happened about two weeks ago. Usually it's rather bad when it's about 2am to 3am and it's quite choking," said 23-year-old Eunice Fun, who lives in Bishan.

Dr Rajasekhar said the smell is also stronger at night because the air blown in from hotpots in the northern ASEAN region remains concentrated at a shallow altitude.

He explained that during the day, with warmer ground temperatures, particles and gases move upwards, to a higher altitude, which results in polluted air being mixed with a larger volume of air in the atmosphere. This could explain why burning smells are not as intense during the day.

"But on the other hand, during the evening, you are still bringing the air from an external source but little upward movement. So you are concentrating the polluted air in a smaller volume. The clean air and polluted air are not so well mixed. The smell is more intense in the late evening or late night and early morning," explained Dr Rajasekhar.

- 938LIVE/dl

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More construction firms to adopt new technology to curb pollution

By end-2017, 800 construction sites are expected to use a system to check for silt discharged into public drains.
Alice Chia Channel NewsAsia 31 Mar 16;

SINGAPORE: More construction companies are set to adopt a new technology to curb pollution and cut down on manpower costs.

By end-2017, 800 construction sites are expected to use a system to check for silt discharged into public drains. This is estimated to bring about 100,000 man-hour savings per year for the companies.

Silt is sediments consisting of very fine particles which, if washed into drains, can lead to pollution. Silty discharge is caused by the lack of proper earth control measures at construction sites.

To prevent this, as of February 2016, PUB enhanced its requirement for new construction sites, with site areas of 0.2 hectares and above, to use the Silt Imagery Detection System. The system analyses images from closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras contractors have installed at public drains.

If it detects silt discharge or image problems, which could be due to CCTV downtime, it sends out alerts.

Currently, 265 CCTV cameras at 178 construction sites are connected to the system.

Previously, contractors had to continuously monitor their CCTV cameras, which is time-consuming and manpower-intensive. Since 2013, contractors of sites of 0.5 hectares and above have been required to implement CCTV cameras at public drains to monitor treated rainwater discharge to ensure that it is not silty.

Through a Government scheme called the Technology Adoption Programme, PUB worked with A*STAR's Institute for Infocomm Research to develop the Silt Imagery Detection System. To date, more than 1,000 companies have benefited from 1,800 technology adoptions under the scheme.

The system will also be shared with Government agencies involved in development projects, as well as other major private developers to raise awareness and promote self-regulation among industry players. This will take place within the next 12 months in phases.

Said Dr Koh Poh Koon, Minister of State for Trade and Industry: "The detection by a camera device is remotely done without definite human interface. The image can be captured and transmitted through a central server so it allows actually one person to monitor sites across the entire island through the use of a smart technology that leverages internet connectivity.

"In terms of scaling up this project, if the algorithm can be tweaked to detect other things, for example, debris, rather than just silt, maybe solid debris accumulating in drains, we could potentially widen it to monitoring drainage systems across the town, where we can look for rubbish accumulation, dead leaf accumulation within our drainage system, and therefore detect areas that could be a dengue breeding site, for example.

"So I think it's a matter of just applying the technology creatively to solve current existing problems."

- CNA/ek

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Dedaces-old love affair with the sea

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singpaore celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. A veteran tells Constance Goh why he continues working in the maritime industry despite losing a brother at sea
CONSTANCE GOH The New Paper 31 Mar 16;


He has always enjoyed being out at sea.

Captain Irinjalakuda Gopalkrishnan Sangameswar's love affair with it started at 16 when he joined as a deck cadet in 1968.

He eventually rose to the rank of captain in 1979.

"Every day was a different experience and I loved the exciting nature of my job," Captain Sangam, as he is known by his colleagues, said.

"Getting to meet people from different countries is definitely another plus point," said the 64-year-old.

But about nine years after he started sailing, tragedy struck.

On July 3, 1979, Indian bulk carrier MV Kairali and all 51 crew on board went missing at sea and were never found. Among the crew was Captain Sangam's younger brother, who was 25.

Captain Sangam's mother was so worried that she asked him to quit his job. She told him: "I don't want to lose another son."

But he loved being out at sea and was reluctant to move to a desk job. Three years later, in 1982, he finally acceded to his mother's wishes.

So he joined the marine department of the then Ministry of Communications, which is now the Ministry of Transport.

The marine department merged with the National Maritime Board to form the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Feb 2, 1996.

MPA celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Captain Sangam, who has two children, said he thought that being desk-bound would not be as interesting, but he was proven wrong.

At MPA, he has played a major role in coordinating search-and-rescue missions. Ships would send out distress signals and his job was to send help.

On rare occasions, this meant informing the Republic of Singapore Air Force so that a helicopter would be sent to pick up sick or injured passengers.

Captain Sangam has also led many oil spill investigations.

The most notable was in 1997 when Thai-registered Orapin Global collided with Cyprus-flagged tanker Evoikos 8km off Sentosa island, spilling 28,000 tonnes of oil.

"It was the biggest oil spill to ever happen in Singaporean waters and the effects of pollution would have been dire if we had not cleaned it up in time," said Captain Sangam.

It took 400 personnel and 60 anti-pollution craft two to three weeks to clean up the spill.

In the investigation, Captain Sangam traced the ships' movements before, during and after the collision. He also read the communication charts and interviewed the captains and officers of both ships.

Both captains were found to be at fault and they were jailed and fined.

NEXT GENERATION

Today, as senior assistant director of the training standards department in the shipping division of MPA, Captain Sangam shares his expertise with younger generations of aspiring seafarers.

He comes up with assessments that help to certify new seafarers. This is in partnership with the Singapore Maritime Academy, a maritime training institution in Singapore Polytechnic.

"The younger generation needs to learn the importance of keeping them (seafarers) safe so that they can see another sunrise," he said.

- See more at: http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/decades-old-love-affair-sea#sthash.CyDi67U2.dpuf

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Malaysia: Haze caused by peat fire adds to Sabah’s hardship

The Star 1 Apr 16;

KOTA KINABALU: A fast spreading peat fire in the Binsuluk Forest Reserve area in south-west Sabah has caused haze to blanket parts of the state’s west coast.

This is in addition to the dry spell that has already caused hardship in many parts of the state.

Sabah Fire and Rescue Services Department director Nordin Pauzi said some 100 firemen have been sent to the Binsuluk area, about 130km from here, to put out the peat fires that have already spread into the forest reserves.

Efforts have been ongoing to control the peat fire since early March after it was spotted in areas close to the reserve.

Apart from that Binsuluk peat fire, he said firemen were also attending to over a hundred distress calls in the state.

The haze caused visibility in the Kota Kinabalu area to drop to three kilometres while Labuan recorded eight kilometres. Other areas like Sandakan, Kudat and Tawau recorded more than 10km visibility. No flights were disrupted.

Sabah Meteorological Depart­ment acting director Lim Ze Hui said five localised hot spots in Beaufort, Bongawan (Klias peninsula) and Kota Belud were spotted since late Wednesday.

He added that they did not expect any immediate rain in the west coast of the state though there have been isolated showers in Sandakan.

Sabah’s dry spell since early February has affected traditional water sources from streams, wells and gravity water feeds.


Firefighters put out fire at Gunung Korbu
RAJA KHALIDATUL ASRIN New Straits Times 31 Mar 16;

SUNGAI SIPUT: Firefighters managed to put out forest fires at the Gunung Korbu forest reserve with the help of plantation workers and forestry staff about 6pm today.

State Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the fires occurred at several spots and had affected more than eight hectares of the forest reserve on the foot of Gunung Korbu, the second highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia.

He said the department had dispatched 16 firefighters to the scene after they received information on the forest fire on Tuesday.

"We received help from 10 forestry staff and seven plantation workers to control and put out the fire using jet shooters and fire beaters apart from digging fire breakers in the affected areas," he said here today.

He said the team was led by Fire and Rescue Department officer Ruhisa Harris.


Inter-monsoon season expected to bring respite from heat
The Star 1 Apr 16;

PETALING JAYA: Inter-monsoon rains expected this month will provide a much-needed respite from the heatwave.

A Meteorological Depart­ment official said the wet weather should help lessen the El Nino effect.

“It is a misconception that the hot spell will go on until the middle of the year,” said the official who declined to be identified.

When the rains start, however, would depend on wind conditions, he said.

The heatwave continues to broil Chuping in Perlis and Alor Setar, Kedah, in the north, with temperatures recorded there yesterday at 38.6°C and 37.9°C, respectively.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau said most west coast states in peninsular Malaysia also recorded high temperatures.

Langkawi holds the record, having had no rain for the past 45 days, he said. This is followed by Arau (Perlis), 40 days; and Seberang Prai Tengah (Penang), 31 days.

National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Datuk Ismail Kasim said water supply was dwindling in parts of Pahang, Kedah and Perak.

“El Nino can lead to reduced rainfall of between 20% and 60%,” he said in a statement yesterday, adding that this has led to a significant drop in river and dam levels.

Reduced water levels in Sungai Pahang have led to a 10% reduction at the Lubok Kawah treatment plant. The Jelai and Batu 9 treatment plants in that state were also down by 15% and 33%, respectively.

Ismail said more than 6,000 consumer accounts in Lipis and Batu 9 Halt were also affected.

In Kedah, three plants – in Lubuk Tupah, Merbok and Gurun – had to reduce their supply of treated water by between 50% and 69%.

According to Ismail, Syarikat Air Darul Aman was channelling water from treatment plants in other states to make up the deficit.

In Perak, the Taiping Headworks treatment plant had to cut supply by 43%.

Ismail called on the people to be “prudent in their use of water”.


Illnesses on the rise as heatwave takes down more people
The Star 1 Apr 16;

KUALA LUMPUR: The extremely hot weather is taking its toll on the people, with the number suffering from heat-related illnesses doubling in the last two weeks.

“Don’t mess with the heat. If people have a heat-related illness, they must seek treatment from a doctor quickly. Patients can die from heatstroke,” said Hospital Kuala Lumpur Emergency Department head Datuk Seri Prof Dr Abu Hassan Asaari Abdullah.

The number of people with heat illnesses increased from 14 in mid-March to between 25 and 30 yesterday, he added, after the launch of the first National Continuous Medical Education/Continuous Professional Development Conference 2016 yesterday.

The event was launched by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya.

Dr Abu Hassan said those who suffered from heat exhaustion comprised mainly police and military personnel, security guards and construction workers.

“We advise that they reduce their exposure to the sun and drink more water,” he said.

Signs of heat illness include a rapid heart rate, weak pulse and cramps. A body temperature of above 39°C can lead to heat exhaustion and subsequently, within an hour or two, a heatstroke.

In an interview with The Star, Dr Abu Hassan said the heat could also aggravate the condition of patients with illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, and respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.

He added that those below the age of five and above 60 were also in the high-risk group for heat illness.

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Malaysia: Wildlife crossing in the works for East Coast Expressway

The Star 1 Apr 16;

Plans are underway to build a crossing along the East Coast Expressway for tigers, elephants, tapirs and other wild animals.

Deputy Works Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said it was agreed at a Feb 16 meeting with the Wildlife and National Parks Department to open an underpass for wild animals.

“A suitable location for the animal crossing is being identified for the purpose,” she said in reply to a question by Wan Hasan Mohd Ramli (PAS-Dungun).

She said the proposed crossing was in response to recent accidents involving wild animals and livestock which had strayed onto the highway.

“Between Feb 1 last year and Feb 29 this year, a total of 133 accidents involved wild animals and livestock, with one fatality.

“This number represents 12% out of the 1,094 accidents along the highway,” she said.

Although the Malaysian Highway Board has taken steps to fence the area, she said there are cases of the fences being damaged or cut by locals living along the 184km stretch of the expressway.

“Some of the locals cut the fencing to create illegal access to the highway,” she said, adding that cattle and buffaloes were responsible for most of the accidents.

She said steps were being taken to improve monitoring of the highway which included erecting barbwire fencing and installation of CCTVs at high-risk areas.

Che Mohamad Zulkifly Zulkifly Jusoh (BN-Setiu) suggested criminal prosecution against errant livestock breeders who allowed their animals to stray onto the highway.

Rosnah said the jurisdiction to prosecute offenders was with the respective district councils and police.

She accepted a suggestion from Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) that more CCTVs should be set up along the highway as the accidents had resulted in RM27.8mil in losses last year.

Rosnah said recordings from the CCTVs could help identify the culprits responsible for damaging or cutting the highway fencing.

There were recent calls for a wildlife crossing along the express­way after an endangered Malayan tiger was killed on Feb 5 after being struck by a car, near kilometre 321 of the highway at about midnight.

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Indonesia: Agency to restore over 800 thousand hectares of peatland areas

Fardah Antara 31 Mar 16;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Two months after its establishment, the Indonesia Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) has claimed that it is now initiating on-field activities to restore over 800 thousand hectares (ha) of peatland areas spread across four districts.

"The (restoration) cost is estimated to reach Rp12 million per ha for five years," BRG Head Nazir Foead informed the press here, Thursday.

The World Bank and the Center for International Forestry Research had estimated the restoration cost to reach between Rp6 million to Rp36 million per ha, he remarked.

Foead explained that the agency had completed the mapping of the peatland areas in the districts of Meranti Islands in Riau; Ogan Komering Ilir and Musi Banyuasin in South Sumatra; and Pulang Pisau in Central Kalimantan, which need restoration work.

Of the 834,491 ha areas, 77 percent lie within cultivation areas while 23 percent are located in protected areas.

During the last two months, the agency had been busy recruiting personnel and outlining ravaged peatland areas that should be prioritized for restoration and identifying 100 villages whose peatland areas need to be developed further, he explained.

The identification process was carried out in cooperation with the environmental affairs and forestry ministry, the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas), the Information and Geospatial Agency, and NGOs.

Moreover, the agency also continues to work on formulating standard operational guidelines and procedures for preparing infrastructure to provide water to restore and maintain peatlands and nurseries; to conduct replanting activities; and to install borewells.

The locations for conducting the restoration work have been identified and decided based on four criteria: peatland, condition of soil cover, the presence of canals and their impacts, and the history of forest fires over the past five years, according to BRG deputy in charge of planning and cooperation Budi Wardhana.

More detailed mapping of those locations is currently being carried out.

Further, the restoration activities will be decided based on the peatland status, the underground hydrological and topographical conditions, cultivation activities, and socio-cultural condition of the local communities, he added.

BRG deputy in charge of construction Alue Dohong explained that the estimated cost at Rp12 million will only cover the hydrology restoration work, and it does not as yet include peat revegetation activities.

"Some Rp8 million to Rp10 million per ha will be needed to conduct peat revegetation work," Dohong revealed.

Foead explained that as BRG was a newly formed body, hence its funds were derived from the environmental affairs and forestry ministry, and several donors.

The BRG has proposed the allocation of funds in the State Budget for its activities.

As a whole, the agency has set a target of restoring between two and three million ha of peatland areas.

The task will be carried out through cooperation with several institutions and ministries such as the environmental affairs and forestry ministry, the public works and housing ministry, the agriculture ministry, the agrarian and spatial layout ministry, and the Bappenas.

Indonesias peatland areas are estimated to reach 20.6 million ha, or some 10.8 percent of its total land area. Of this, approximately 7.2 million ha, or 35 percent, are located on Sumatra Island.

Peatland areas help to preserve water, mitigate flooding, prevent sea water intrusion, support biodiversity, and control climate change through carbon absorption and storage.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) installed Nazir Foead, former conservation director at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), as head of the BRG on January 20.

The agency, which has been set up based on Presidential Regulation Number 1 of 2016, is chiefly tasked with preventing forest fires that particularly occur in peatlands and to restore such areas gutted by forest fires, particularly on Sumatra and Kalimantan Islands.

While announcing the establishment of the agency on January 13, Jokowi, who described Foead as a competent and experienced figure, assigned the body to immediately draft an action plan to demonstrate to the world that Indonesia was committed to handling the damage caused to peatland areas.

After graduating from the University of Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta, Foead began his career at WWF in 1992 and has since then dedicated himself to forest conservation efforts.

He was member of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and deputy chairman of the Permanent Committee of the Environment and Climate Change during the period between 2011 and 2013. He was appointed as head of the Indonesian Program at Climate and Land Use Alliance in 2014.

The appointment of the environmental activist to lead the initiative has been lauded by Greenpeace.

"If peat protection regulations are sufficiently strengthened, Nazir will be in a position to save the countrys precious tropical peatland landscapes, thereby helping to reduce fires and carbon emissions," Greenpeace Indonesia forest campaigner Teguh Surya noted in a statement on January 15.
(T.F001/INE/KR-BSR)

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