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Habitatnews 2003-14: Thursday, 12th June 2003
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Nature-related news for the busy Singaporean.
Information and archives at: http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg
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Three new Ramsar sites in south-western Johor
I received an alert from Joseph Lai about this just today. He explained
quite simply that all of us are sharing the water body, the Western Johor
Straits which feeds the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve as well as the
surrounding areas:
“As we all know, the environment is one seamless tapestry of linked
habitats or ecosystems. Ecological partnership link Sungei Buloh to
a complimentary host of adjacent habitats found in the Sungei Mandai
mangroves, Horseshoe Reef, Pulau Sarimbun, as well as the three new
Ramsar sites further down the straits.”
Those who labour away annually in the Western Johor Straits during the
International Coastal Cleanup Singapore will be happy to know this as well.
Last year 3.74 tonnes of marine debris (mainly plastics) was removed by
about 400 volunteers in 90 minutes!
The community that helped out in the cleanup include the many local and
international students and teachers who care for the environment, university
researchers who study it, government staff who manage parks, volunteers from
non-governmental organisations and even the commercial company that disposes
of trash in the area (Altvater Jakob)!
See [href=http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/iccs/]
Yup, lots of happy faces!
"Three new Ramsar sites in southern Malaysia".
[href=http://ramsar.org/w.n.malaysia_three_new.htm]
‘The Ramsar Bureau is delighted to announce that Malaysia has designated
three new Wetlands of International Importance, all in southern Johor State
not far from Singapore.
Particularly rich in mangroves and intertidal mudflats, these three island,
coastal, and estuarine sites support a large number of species, notably
vulnerable and threatened species, and provide both livelihoods and
important functions for the local population.
Pulau Kukup (647ha, 01°19'N 103°25'E) is an uninhabited mangrove island
located 1 km from the southwestern tip of the Malaysian peninsula, one of
the few intact sites of this type left in southeast Asia.
Sungai Pulai (9,126 ha, 01°23'N 103°32'E) is the largest riverine mangrove
system in Johor State, located at the estuary of the Sungai Pulai river,
with associated seagrass beds, intertidal mudflats and inland freshwater
riverine forest.
Tanjung Piai (526 ha, 01°16'N 103°31'E) consists of coastal mangroves and
intertidal mudflats located at the southernmost tip of continental Asia and
is especially important for protection from sea-water intrusion and coastal
erosion.
Brief descriptions by Ramsar's Liazzat Rabbiosi, based upon the Party's
Ramsar Information Sheets is available at:
[href=http://ramsar.org/w.n.malaysia_three_new.htm]
[11/01/03]’ (I think they meant 11/06/03, for it was sandwiched between
two articles dated June 2003)
See also:
Johor Parks - Tanjung Piai (declared a park on 12 Sep 2001)
http://www.johorpark.com/Piai/main.htm
Cycling to Tanjung Piai with BOAC
http://www.boac-online.com/activities/malaysia/tanjung_piai.html
"Ghani: We’ll save Tanjung Piai"
The Star Online, Tue 03 June 2003
[href=http://www.ecologyasia.com/NewsArchives/jun2003/thestar_20030603_2.htm] 'Johor will spare no effort to protect Tanjung Piai – the southernmost tip
of the Asian continent – from “disappearing” due to excessive coastal
erosion.'
"Protecting mangrove sites"
by Michael Cheang, The Star Online, 13 May 2003 [href=http://www.ecologyasia.com/NewsArchives/may2003/thestar_20030513_2.htm]
'Tanjung Piai in Johor enjoys a unique position: it is the
southernmost point of the vast Asian continent, and it boasts one of
the largest mangrove habitats in the world. A proposal for the
Tanjung Piai State Park to be included in the Ramsar List of
Wetlands of International Importance comes at an opportune time
indeed, for conservation measures will have to be stepped up to
preserve the majesty of the ancient swamps before development
catches up with the wetlands.'
"Preserving Asia’s southern tip"
By Shahar Yaakob The Star Online, Fri 08 Mar 2002 [href=http://www.johorpark.com/Piai/THE%20STAR%20March%208.htm]
'The state recently gazetted Tanjung Piai and the nearby Pulau Kukup as
national parks to conserve its wetlands. Millions of ringgit have been spent
to upgrade roads from Serkat town leading to the wetlands, including the
building og buggy tracks, and on an information centre, a jetty, and a
landmark monument. Currently under construction is a mangrove museum.'
--- thanks to Joseph Lai for the alert and Nick Baker for Ecology Asia archives.
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