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Antara 4 Sep 19; Pontianak, W Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The LAPAN satellite image data showed 949 hotspots were spotted in West Kalimantan on Sept 3-4, 2019, a notable surge, from 15 hotspots on Sept 2-3, according to the Supadio-Pontianak meteorology station. Of the total, 433 hotspots were found in Ketapang District, 123 in Sintang, 102 in Sanggau, 87 in Sekadau, 61 in North Kayong, 49 in Landak, 41 in Melawi, 29 in Kubu Raya, 14 in Bengkayang, six in Kapuas Hulu and Sambas, Erika Mardiyanti, head of the meteorology station, stated here on Wednesday. West Kalimantan Deputy Governor Ria Norsan noted that the provincial administration had issued Government Regulation No. 39 of 2019 on Prevention and Mitigation of Forest Fires to curtail slash and burn practices. West Kalimantan Police Chief Insp. Gen. Didi Haryono confirmed that the West Kalimantan Police had arrested 52 suspects in land and forest fire cases in the province. "A total of 52 suspects were arrested in 44 cases comprisi...

KENNETH CHENG Today Online 4 Sep 19; SINGAPORE � Residents who may have to live with construction work at their doorstep are not letting up in opposing the proposal for the future Cross Island Line to skirt the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. Nature enthusiasts, for their part, are also sticking to their guns, repeating their objections to the MRT line passing underneath the nature reserve, saying that this could damage fragile ecosystems and harm wildlife. These entrenched positions remain despite assurances this week that both alignment options being explored for Singapore�s eighth MRT line were feasible. The latest assessment report found that the environmental impact of either tunnelling through the nature reserve or going around it could be �adequately managed� with comprehensive mitigating measures and monitoring plans. On Monday (Sept 2), the authorities gazetted for public inspection and feedback the second stage of a report assessing the environmental impact of building the...

Stephen Then The Star 3 Sep 19; MIRI: Firefighters dousing the remains of forests ravaged by wildfires in the Kuala Baram district in northern Sarawak have uncovered dead animals, including a leopard cat. Miri Fire and Rescue Department said Bomba firefighters and voluntary firefighters from land developer Naim Cendera Sdn Bhd were dousing burning ambers near the Industrial Training Institute and Hamidah Orphanage, when they found the dead animals. Miri fire chief Supt Law Poh Kiong said the discovery was made on Tuesday morning (Sept 3). He said he had informed the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC). "The feedback I got from the SFC is that the dead wildlife is possibly a leopard cat. "It's such a pity," Supt Law said in his latest updates on the forest fires' aftermath. "Firefighters are combing the burnt areas to snuff out burning amber that are still causing smog," he added. Malaysian Nature Society Miri branch also expressed sadness that many spec...

Antara 3 Sep 19; Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - Few wild elephants fled their habitats, entering residential areas after wildfires spread through the Tesso Nilo National Park, Riau Province, for the past week, the Natural Resources Conservation Office (BBKSDA) stated here, Tuesday. Riau BBKSDA Chief Andi Hansen Siregar remarked that the national park's rangers had conducted monitoring of the movement of wild Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) from the rainforest to Bongkal Malang Village in Indragiri Hulu District. Following a tip-off from villagers, two wild Sumatran elephants were spotted roaming around the plantation areas. "Some secondary traces, such as dirt and footprints, were found. These elephants had roamed for two days," Siregar stated. An initial identification launched by the rangers indicated that one of the wild animals was an adult male Sumatran elephant that had allegedly destroyed the villager's palm plantation. Despite detection of their t...

KENNETH CHENG Today Online 2 Sep 19; SINGAPORE � The authorities are inviting public feedback on two proposed construction choices for the future Cross Island Line. This is after the second stage of a report assessing the environmental impact of building Singapore�s eighth MRT line was gazetted on Monday (Sept 2). Gazetting allows public inspection of the report and feedback on its findings. The Cross Island Line � which is set to run from Changi to Jurong and is expected to be opened in 2029 with 12 stations first � can either run directly under the Central Catchment Nature Reserve or go around it. It would take a longer route and be more costly to build if it skirts around the reserve. However, both are feasible options when done with comprehensive mitigating measures and monitoring plans, the latest environmental-impact assessment found. How will it affect the nature reserve or residents living around the train line? Here is a rundown of the key points to note. OPTION 1: CUTTING BE...

MUGUNTAN VANAR The Star 2 Sep 19; KOTA KINABALU: Animal rights activists are calling for more transparency by the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation centre, especially over its silence with the high-profile release of the orang utan named Tiger at the Tabin wildlife reserve late last year. Friends of the Orangutans Malaysia director Upreshpal Singh said it was clear that Tiger was unable to go back to its natural home and was brought back to the Sepilok rehabilitation centre. �We are aware that it is now in Sepilok but its management continues to use videos of its release back to the wild as a success story to tourists visiting the internationally famed rehabilitation centre. �The use of such video portraying Tiger�s release may not be the appropriate representation, � he said, adding that it was important for Sepilok authorities to explain what happened to Tiger, which was rescued as a baby 17 years ago. Having spent 17 years in the Sepilok Forest Reserve, it was set free at the Tabin...

Reuters 29 Aug 19; JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian police are investigating three palm oil companies on suspicion of starting fires on Borneo island, where environmentalists say extensive deforestation has occurred to make way for plantations, a government ministry said. The Ministry of the Environment and Forests is also investigating 24 other companies on Borneo and Sumatra island in connection with fires in their concession area, Rasio Ridho Sani, the ministry�s director general for law enforcement, told reporters. �Previously, we focused more on bringing suspects to civil courts and giving administrative sanctions. But with the forest fires still taking place in 2019, we are using criminal instruments more intensively,� Sani said. Sani identified the three companies designated as suspects by their company initials, SKM, ABP and AER. The burning of forests has become hugely contentious, partly because if can send a heavy haze over other parts of Southeast Asia, raising fears about h...

BBC 29 Aug 19; Brazil has banned setting fires to clear land for 60 days in response to a massive increase in the number of fires in the Amazon rainforest. The decree was signed by President Jair Bolsonaro, who has faced intense criticism at home and abroad for failing to protect the rainforest. A leading Brazilian environmentalist warned on Wednesday that the "worst of the fire is yet to come". South American countries will meet next week to discuss the crisis. It remains unclear what impact the ban will have, as environmentalists say the overwhelming majority of forest clearance in the Brazilian Amazon is already illegal and enforcement is lax. The Amazon - a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming - has seen more than 80,000 fires break out so far this year - a 77% rise on the same period in 2018. Environmentalists say the increase is due in part to policies enacted by Mr Bolsonaro's administration. What is in the decree? Prosecutors have been in...

New Straits Times 26 Aug 19; JOHOR BARU: Firefighters at Kampung Pekajang in Iskandar Puteri, near here, are winning a battle to extinguish a massive forest fire which grew to almost 100 hectares on Sunday. As of early today (Aug 26), personnel from the Johor Fire and Rescue Department have successfully doused 45 per cent of the blaze which began on Friday, Bernama reported. Originally 16 hectares in size, the wildfire grew to 98 hectares due to strong winds and dry conditions in the state. However, 79 firefighters � including senior officers � from 10 stations have worked around the clock and are bringing the massive fire under control. It is learnt that five 20,000-litre capacity tankers were used to transport water to the site, as water at a nearby river was deemed insufficient to douse the flames. The firefighters still have a long way to go before they can completely snuff out the blaze, however. �Based on the current situation, (the operation) is expected to take (another) four ...

Forests Datuk Mashor Mohd Jaini (inset) said the squad would focus on anti-poaching operations from Sept 1. NSTP Roy Goh New Straits Times 28 Aug 19; A total of 25 specially-trained contract staff will start operations under the department's Enforcement, Tactical, Operational and Protection squad or Protect Unit. Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Mashor Mohd Jaini said the squad would focus on anti-poaching operations from Sept 1. �They will boost the enforcement capacity of the state government in reducing the number of poaching cases in Sabah,� he said. The formation of the team was made possible from a grant of RM4 million provided by the Sime Darby Foundation to the department. From 900 locals who applied, 70 candidates were picked before 30 were shortlisted for the special training at the Sabah Forestry Institute in Telupid. Mashor said a two-day selection course was held for the 70 candidates in Ranau. �They were put through written, physical and mental aptitude test, follo...

Veena Babulal New Straits Times 23 Aug 19; KUALA LUMPUR: Capable of towering up to 50m in height, the Merbau, one of the tallest trees in the tropical region, is now officially Malaysia�s national tree. In announcing this, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the merbau could become a symbol of national pride. �I would like to take the opportunity to announce that the merbau tree (Malacca teak) has been chosen as our national tree. �With its hardy nature, I believe that all Malaysians can take the merbau as a symbol of national pride,� he said while opening the �Hutan Kita� exhibition at the Kuala Lumpur Tower here. Meanwhile, Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar said the merbau was chosen as it could be found across Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak. �The hardwood tree that stands tall, towering, strong and big was selected as a symbol of the integrity of the nation�s forests as a result of sustainable management and the conservation...

Antara 25 Aug 19; Indonesia, home to the Sumatran tiger, joined celebrations on International Tiger Day, observed on July 25, to raise support for the conservation of tigers. The Sumatran tiger is the only surviving tiger in the country, and the smallest of the five tiger subspecies in the world. In the 1970s, the number of Sumatran tigers had reached some 1,000, though the figure decreased to 800 by the 1980s. Currently, the population is believed to be between 400 and 600 tigers. In earlier days, Indonesia was home to three tiger species, including the Bali tiger, which became extinct in 1940, and the Java tiger, declared extinct in the 1980s. While environmentalists, experts and officials campaigned during Global Tiger Day, still, the few remaining Sumatran tigers have to struggle to survive, as Sumatra Island has been ravaged by hundreds of hotspots, similar to forest fires, since July 2019. Riau Province on Sumatra Island has been the most affected by forest fires. Wildfires also...

Antara 19 Aug 19; Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - A total of 260 hotspots were identified throughout Sumatra Island on Monday morning, suggestive of forest and peatland fires. Analyst at the Pekanbaru Meteorology Station Nia Fadhila stated here on Monday that South Sumatra was found to contain the largest number of hotspots, reaching 97. Hotspots were also found in Jambi, totaling 75; Riau, 57; Bangka Belitung, 13; Riau, nine; Lampung, eight; and North Sumatra, one. In Riau, 22 hotspots were detected in Indragiri Hilir, 21 in Pelalawan, nine in Meranti, three in Indragiri Hulu, and one each in Bengkalis and Rohil. Visibility was quite good in Pekanbaru, reaching seven kilometers; five kilometers in Pelalawan; four kilometers in Rengat; and six kilometers in Dumai. In the meantime, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya had confirmed that the tourism sector remained unaffected by the fires engulfing the land and forest areas in several Indonesian provinces over the past few months. After attending th...