Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

We need to look for future technologies in managing solid waste. Not limited to old landfill site systems and incinerator. May be we should venture into MBT

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I failed to convince the authorities to develop collaboration with Korean Universities on Disruptive Innovation. I managed to attend meetings in with Korean counterpart that are willing to cooperate in the projects. One thing we need to change is to be more proactive and leading in in ideas and technologies. Not just waiting to follow others.

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Paddle for Nature: The aims 1. Document the current landscape along the coast, with the geotagged photographs hoped able to identify the actual threat faced by our coastline habitat and assist the relevant authorities in their local management and development plans. 2. Visit protected areas and local nature activists, bringing to the fore awareness on the environmental significance of these sensitive areas and the people, the “local heroes”, who are spearheading efforts towards a greener world. 3. Bring people closer to nature, under conservation’s keys of communication, education, participation and awareness (CEPA), through mini events that will feature the kayakers and MNS Branch members sharing their experiences as well as activities with local communities and schools. WE WILL DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR INCONJUNCTION WITH MNS 80TH ANNIVESSARY

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Monday, January 27, 2020

All out to protect the exotic animals: Legislation to ban online advertisements on the sale of endangered animals may soon be introduced under a proposal to amend the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010. HOW FAR WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE SAYING ABOUT WILDLIFE POACHING, smuggling AND TRADING.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/06/09/all-out-to-protect-the-exotic-animalsonline-ads-on-endangered-pets-may-be-banned

Meanwhile, Malaysian Nature Society president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail said tough enforcement must be in place to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.
“The new technologies, communication and high sums of money involved in the wildlife trade make it quite difficult to fight poaching and smuggling.
“Cooperation with all agencies is needed, along with the support from the public,” he said.
Consumer knowledge and awareness, he added, were also important to ensure the demand for exotic pets would wane.
“Poaching continues because of the demand for wild animals for their meat and as pets,” he said.
Perhilitan’s analysis estimated that there are only about 300 to 500 living sun bears in Malaysia as of 2018. 
The analysis reported that about 420 complaints about online sale of wild animals were received between 2016 and 2018.
More than 100 sellers were detected to be using online channels to advertise these animals, the analysis also revealed.

We need to know this and discuss at all levels so that all government agencies and public can work together. Wildlife smuggling is serious and important threat that caused extinction.

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We need to have good display and information about our garden and plants if we want to attract tourists to our Botanical garden.

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Examination is the time waited by many students for the good marks. The question now how far they are ready to be evaluated in term of their basic knowledge, power of analytical or data syntesis and intelectiality. Many students fail because they are not university students. They are still inherit schools culture learning from school teacher.

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Meeting KPA and convincing Education Department to collaborate with MNS. MNS is leading in environmental education in Malaysia and recognised by BirdLife International as focal point for CEPA in the country.

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Recycling culture need to be promoted aggressively among the pubic. I have said many times we can start at the universities BUT very difficult to get true volunteers. The students still do not know or not very clear on the effect of plastic pollution on earth..They take it easy and no awareness on the conservation of marine life.

Young Fish Group need support in term of motivation, leadership and financial. We need to look for a special grants for this fish group. They are young, energetic, good qualification, and very passionate. this group need to be funded for their research.

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Kedah to gazette Ulu Muda forest as a state park to protect water supply, says MB: How far related government department responding to the Menteri Besar statements? We need to have a monitoring systems when MB have said something. Do not to wait for another pressure by NGO. Ulu Muda is expected to be State Park by 2021..

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir says the state government will the Ulu Muda forest as a state park in order to preserve water supply. — Bernama pic

We need to get ready for regular natural disaster. Based on experience and scientific studies may e we can help to solve or reduce the open burning that can cause haze and finally contributing to climate change and human health.

Dry weather conducive for open burning, experts warn


REPORTS BY IMRAN HILMY , RAHIMY RAHIM , SIRA HABIBU, DIYANA PFORDTEN and ILI AQILAH

PETALING JAYA: Climate experts are warning that the approaching dry weather will provide a conducive environment for open burning in the country.
Prof Dr Fredolin Tangang said during dry conditions – brought about by the absence of rain for several weeks – biomass materials exposed from illegal open burning could contribute to haze and cause serious health effects.
“It is timely that the government is acting to prevent open burning at this time, ” he said.
Malaysian Nature Society president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail lauded the government’s move and called on all relevant agencies to work together to have zero open burning in the country.
“It is a good idea that the government is thinking of improvements now.
“Open burning is illegal but the government has allowed the burning of padi stalks in Kedah.
“All local authorities must monitor their landfill sites and ensure that there are no cases of open burning, ” he said.
He added that collectors of items for recycling sometimes burned waste to get metals.
“Other areas such as peat swamp forests must also be monitored.”
Calling for swift action on
hotspots for open burning, Prof Ahmad said: “The catastrophic forest fire in Brazil and bushfires in Australia recently should serve as a lesson for the government to be more proactive in curbing open burning.”

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Tanjung Tuan area must be protected and consider (http://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=1752317) raptors annual migration. Every year from February and March they will cross Straits of Melaka over Tanjung Tuan, Melaka.


Conservation of Melaka's Tanjung Tuan forest reserve needed for migratory raptors

ALOR GAJAH, Jan 7 -- The Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve here should be conserved and preserved for the migration of predatory birds so that the survival of the bird population, also known as raptors can be maintained in balancing the ecosystem.

Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail said the migration of birds of prey across the Straits Of Melaka from Sumatra in Indonesia to Tanjung Tuan in Melaka as far as 38 kilometres (km) occurs only once a year between January and April, while the peak period to watch the birds crossing the Straits was in March.

“Each year, tens of thousands of raptors migrate across the Straits of Melaka to return to the Northern Hemisphere over 10,000 km to Japan and Korea to continue their breeding and the bird movement is aided by the winds from the west or southwest.

“As these birds have heavy bodies, they glide through the air conserving energy across the Straits of Melaka by minimising fluttering their wings which requires a lot of energy, hence their path should be maintained to avoid obstructing their migratory routes,” he told Bernama at the Tanjung Tuan Recreational Forest here.

The migration of the birds is very important because raptors which are increasingly threatened with extinction are very influential in environmental balance as they are at the top of the food chain as well as a benchmark for environmental quality.

Tanjung Tuan formerly known as Cape Rachado is actually part of Melaka state. It is an important stop over site for migratory raptors after crossing the Melaka Straits.

“Tanjung Tuan’s uniqueness is that it is the only coastal forest on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia gazetted as a Forest Reserve, Wildlife Reserve, a fisheries prohibited area and a historic site,” he said.

He added that according to the http://www.birdlife.org/ site, Tanjung Tuan, which covers about 60 hectares, is also listed as one of the 55 Important Birds Areas (IBA) in Malaysia.

“IBA is an important biodiversity conservation site that uses birds as the key indicator to determine the level of environmental health,” said Ahmad, who is also a lecturer in Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia.

He said to raise awareness of the need to protect these birds and their habitat, MNS has since 1999 been organising ‘Raptor Watch’ in Tanjung Tuan and this year the programme is expected to be held for two days in March.

He said the Raptor Watch programme, which is entering its 21st season, is not only for the education and entertainment of students, but also for the benefit of the tourism sector as it has attracted international tourists including from Japan, Korea, China and Singapore.

“The strategic location to observe the migration of the birds of prey across the Straits of Melaka is at the Tanjung Tuan Lighthouse and PNB Ilham Resort. The migration of the predatory birds will provide a stunning view of the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve,” said Ahmad who is also a council member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA

Friday, January 3, 2020

Bird watching is a great challenge. Not just knowledge, skills and opportunity BUT birds habitat, poaching and other threats. Birds can be good indicator for ecosystem health. AND Our Health too.

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How you arrange your sandals and shoes reflecting your attitude and community.

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My first new year duty was talking to students how to be good research students, future scientists. Many students look interested to my talk BUT they are just listened, smile, shaking their head. Only 2 students asking question. The rest are silence. We need to change the system of teaching to produce thinking society and honest in their study.

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Minister repeating challenge for Malayan tiger protection. We probably have less than 100 tigers in our habitat. We need an urgent integrated approach in order to protect and conserve our tiger. Talking in the media is not enough. we need more actions. Research, education, habitat protection, anti poaching, public support and strict enforcement need to be carried out now!!!

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Another big plan for national tree (Merbau, Intsia palembanica), Taman Botani Putrajaya, university’s students research, teaching and industrial training, volunteerism and collaboration with Malaysian Nature Society (MNS). Good negotiation for future biodiversity conservation.

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looking for research grants and collaboration with corporate sectors cannot just writing letters and proposal but sometimes we need to climb stairs meeting people and presenting our ideas. Many investors want to see evident especially in term of small project or showcase. Not many corporate sectors dare to try except their own R&D,

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