Celebrating Singapore’s BioDiversity!

The United Nations declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) and celebrations throughout the year are led by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). There will be various initiatives to promote the protection of biodiversity and to encourage organizations, companies and individuals to take action.

In support of the International Year of Biodiversity, a new website Celebrating Singapore’s BioDiversity! has been set up to showcase biodiversity in Singapore. From the website, here’s what you can do:

• Leave a comment in the guestbook. Share your thoughts and hopes for our biodiversity.
• Subscribe to the blog to get the latest updates in your reader or via email.
• Be a fan of the Facebook page so you can also receive updates via Facebook.
• Put the IYB2010 Singapore banner on your blog or website. To spread the word about our biodiversity to your readers.
• Add your wildlife photos to the Singapore Celebrates IYB flickr group site and Facebook page.
• Post a link to your biodiversity blog entry on the Facebook page.
• Tell your friends about International Year of Biodiversity!

Check out the Celebrating Singapore’s BioDiversity! for news and activities, and learn all about the biodiversity in Singapore.

JGIS Announces Research/Conservation Grants in Primatology

This is a press release from the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore).

As part of its Primate Research Initiative, from 2010 the Singapore office of the Jane Goodall Institute will offer grants for projects related to the study and the conservation of primates in their natural habitat in Southeast Asia.

Singapore, January 8th 2010 – From 2010, on a yearly basis the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) will be offering grants of S$500-S$5000 to fund projects aimed at researching and conserving primates and their habitat in Southeast Asia. Applications for the 2010 grants are already open and the final application deadline is 15 February 2010.

The Primate Research Grant is part of the Primate Research Initiative launched in June 2009 by the founder of the organisation itself, Dr. Jane Goodall, during her last visit to Singapore. It aims to encourage the non-invasive study of primates in their natural habitat in Southeast Asia, with the hope that it may contribute findings as groundbreaking as Dr. Goodall’s own original work. Read more

Join Hands for a Real Greener Deal

This article is contributed by Trina Tan.

The word “green” probably has many meanings in different nations with different culture and religions. Green could mean envy, money, nature, health and life. Green is also the official religious colour in Islam. Recently, there seem to be a unifying meaning for green. The word green is now seen to convey the message of saving the environment.

In Singapore, the word “green” would imply energy saving light bulbs, biodegradable products, solar powered houses, green buildings and of course, not forgetting the 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle. But why is the word “green” not directly linked to protecting and conserving biodiversity? Is it because we humans are selfish?

We forget that we take actions to reduce our energy consumption not just to save our precious fossil fuels and reduce gas prices, or to reduce global warming and the resultant erratic weather patterns. We take actions ultimately to save the environment and its highly inter-linked and complex ecosystems and biodiversity.

Singaporeans has learnt about how to recycle, or take the public transport instead of driving but many are unequipped with the knowledge on the importance of ecosystems and biodiversity conservation. Once we understand these concepts, we will realize how our daily actions have such big impacts on the millions of species on Earth whom we share with.

Plants, animals and the natural world are fascinating, and we have spent centuries learning about them and from them. Many of our problems are solved by solutions from nature – using bacteria as medicine and discovering gravity from apples falling. While we try to change and adjust our bad human habits that lead to the destruction of Earth and the extinction of species, we ought to also put in more “greener” efforts to help the environment directly.

As a small nation with little natural resources, let us not forget that even the flora and fauna in Singapore are also defined as resources. These plants and animals are part of the ecosystem, which humans depend on. Singapore has already given up a large portion of its original tropical rainforest to build Singaporeans a better home, causing the extinction of many species that once used to live alongside with us. Now that you feel a tinge of guilt, you ought to do a part in protecting whatever nature spots we have left in the form of fragmented forestland, mangroves and swamps.

This remaining precious land is home to many species, some of which are unique only to Singapore. Going green is on one hand, like what we have been told, saving water, switching to fans instead of air conditioners, reducing the use of paper and plastic bags, and changing our light bulbs to energy saving ones, etc. On the other hand, it is also to do our part to protect and conserve the biodiversity that we have as a nation, because these plants and animals are born and bred here. They too, are “Singaporeans”.

There are many ways to care for our flora and fauna directly, like actively participating in mangrove and beach clean ups which are organized by environmental groups such as Toddycats, Nature Society, and the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore. Not littering in parks and rivers will also help. As the future lies in the hands of the children today, education and sparking interest among the young in areas of biology and biodiversity will shape Singapore towards a future of being a nature loving society.

Last but definitely not the least, one can also provide resources and support to the organizations that help to preserve and conserve our environment. Singapore is very lucky to have agencies like the National Environment Agency and the National Parks Board that do their part in protecting the environment and conserving nature in Singapore.

Even with the current nature enthusiasts, there are still many more “positions” that are open to help protect Singapore and the Earth. These positions have almost no criteria except to be passionate in preserving Nature’s creation. I hope you would send your resume in for this position soon.

William Cho’s Photography Showcase

William Cho is a freelance graphic designer/photographer, check out his photography showcase at Flickr. Excellent photos taken in Singapore, and also include photos taken in Taiwan, Bali and Saigon.

Here’s a preview of some Singapore photos:

Chek Jawa, Singapore

Pulau Ubin, where time stood still

Marina Barrage Singapore

Nothing in Sight

Reaching for the Sky

Photos credit: William Cho

EU-ASEAN Cooperation in Sustainable Tourism

October 15, 2009
4:00 pm	to	5:30 pm

Speaker: Mr Richard Werly, European Bureau Chief for Swiss Daily “Le Temps”

Venue:ASEF Conference Room

The European Union is ASEAN’s first overall trading partner and biggest source of foreign direct investments. In 2008, the total trade between EU and ASEAN amounted to € 134.6 billion, and investments from EU to ASEAN have also seen strong growth. With the growing economic partnership, EU and ASEAN have entered into negotiations for an FTA in 2007.Eco-tourism, as a niche sector of Tourism, has been identified as one of the key areas for deeper cooperation.

Thailand, who is eyeing the conclusion of an EU-Thailand FTA, has been sold on the beneficial spillover effects of the FTA on tourism. She is gearing up to explore ways and opportunities for developing sustainable and community-based tourism. As one of the efforts towards developing sustainable eco-tourism, the Thai authorities with the support of UNEP and Greenpeace have commissioned the production of the first guidebook on Ecotourism entitled “Travel Green Thailand”. Besides giving foreign visitors plenty of useful travel advice and tips, the guidebook also highlights the benefits of a stronger EU-ASEAN cooperation in this field of sustainable tourism, importing some of the standards, norms and good practices developed within the European Union. Examples range from “Homestay” accommodation to national parks management.

“Travel Green Thailand” is viewed as a first step of a future Southeast Asian collection of Eco-tourism guidebooks and manuals, making itself a platform for future cooperation between the various stakeholders in the development of a more sustainable, low carbon emissions Tourism. Mr Richard Werly, the main author of “Travel Green Thailand”, will be sharing his insights and perspectives on an area of cooperation that the EU and ASEAN could potentially develop and deepen for sustainable development of the Southeast Asian region.

For registration, visit http://www.eucentre.sg/events.php.

Source: EU Centre

Green Travel Guide to Singapore

The first green travel guide to Singapore is published at Jamble Magazine, a leading green travel site for backpackers. The Green City Guide: Singapore shows eco-friendly attractions, organic food and green accomodation that can be found in Singapore. Some green mentions include:

• Garden tours at the National Library
• Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
• Singapore Botanic Gardens
• Bollywood Veggies
• Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
• Pulau Ubin
• Hostel One 66
• Green roof at NTU’s School of Art, Media and Design

Check out the guide for an excellent introduction to green travel in Singapore. We also recommend interested visitors to check out nature areas and marine biodiversity at the wildsingapore website.

Thoughts on the D’Kranji Farm Resort

The D’Kranji Farm Resort held its grand opening last Saturday. The farm resort is touted as Singapore’s first Agri-tainment Centre, located at the Kranji Countryside with a land size of 5 hectares. Visitors can stay in the villas, have food at the seafood restaurant and beer garden, visit the agri-retail kiosks, spa centre and herb garden, and explore the corn and rice plantation.

After visiting the D’Kranji Farm Resort, we think they blew the opportunity to be a green destination for Singaporeans and visitors. Being situated in the Kranji countryside and near to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, there could be great scope to position itself as a green haven for Singaporeans and ecotourists. Instead, one would find the usual Singapore-style entertainment – artificial, meaningless and devoid of natural diversity. Read more

“Pricing” the Environment: Case Studies on Climate Change and Turtle Conservation

October 29, 2008
10:00 am	to	12:00 pm

Speakers: Dr Herminia A Francisco, Director, Economy and Environment Programme for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA), International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Dr Orapan Nabangchang, Associate Professor, School of Economics, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University; and Senior Economist, Economy and Environment Programme for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA), International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Venue: Seminar Room II, ISEAS

Dr Herminia A Francisco will speak on “Adaptation to Climate Change: Needs and Opportunities in Southeast Asia”. The seminar will cover adaptation strategies for the impacts generated by climate change and the costs involved. Dr Orapan Nabangchang will speak on “Mobilizing Resources for Marine Turtle Conservation in Asia : A Cross-Country Perspective”. The seminar will discuss the value placed by communities and individuals in marine turtle conservation, based on a study conducted in China, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Check out details and registration at the ISEAS website.

Ecotourism – still a distant dream in Pakistan

(This article is contributed by our guest writer, Saad Khan, and was first published in Social Bridges.)

Nature-focused tourism or what is now known as Ecotourism is a new catch phrase in the dictionary of sustainability. Ecotourism, as we all know, is based on such type of recreational activities which are nature-centric and sustainable. It’s interesting to note, however, that there is a hot debate on the exact connotations of ecotourism. Some say that any type of tourism which doesn’t harm the environment and can improve the living standards of a society is ecotourism. Critics, on the contrary, have very strict rules on which type of tourism is ecological one and which is not. Aspects of green washing, environmental exploitation and human rights issues, among other things, mars the exact spirit of ecotourism. Read more

Encyclopedia of Life

The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) is finally launched and the first 30,000 pages of this online resource for the biodiversity of life is available to the public. The EOL is the brainchild of renowned biologist, E. O. Wilson, and is the beginning of a 10-year effort between scientists and the public to document, identify and understand the world’s biodiversity. Professor Wilson says:

“The launch of the Encyclopedia of Life will have a profound and creative effect in science… It aims not only to summarize all that we know of Earth’s life forms, but also to accelerate the discovery of the vast array that remain unknown. This great effort promises to lay out new directions for research in every branch of biology.”

The EOL “will create ‘one-stop shopping’ for authoritative information, offering the world at large a better understanding of the planet and all its inhabitants. It is being assembled by a growing partnership of individual scientists, international organizations, technology leaders, and prestigious research institutions. But soon anyone will be able to provide information for consideration, too.” In the later part of this year, the public will also be able to contribute text, videos and images about a species.

Check out details and learn more about biodiversity at the EOL website.

Source: Encyclopedia of Life. Image attribution: Encyclopedia of Life press release; Encyclopedia of Life – Singapore parrotfish.

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