Global Warming Threatens Economic
Chaos in SE Asia



Southeast Asia is one of the world's most vulnerable regions to climate change and could face conflict over failing rice yields, lack of water and high economic costs, a major Asian Development Bank report shows.


Loud and Clear
Activists rally outside the U.S. embassy in Jakarta during the visit of U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton in February, 2009. Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged U.S. leadership on climate change

The region's economies could lose as much as 6.7 percent of combined gross domestic product yearly by 2100, more than twice the global average loss, according to the ADB's report on the economics of climate change in Southeast Asia.

"By the end of this century, the economy-wide cost each year on average could reach 2.2 percent of GDP, if only market impact is considered...(to) 6.7 percent of GDP when catastrophic risks are also taken into account," the British-government funded report said.

This compared with an estimated global loss of just under 1 percent of GDP in market impact terms, the Manila-based ADB said.



The global economic downturn could delay funding for climate change mitigation measures by regional governments.

Yet this was the time to offer incentives for green investment schemes in the energy and water sectors, said the study focusing on Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. These schemes could involve the shift to renewable and clean energy options for the power and transport sectors across Southeast Asia, home to nearly 600 million people.

In particular, cutting carbon emissions from forest fires and deforestation was crucial since these were major contributors to the region's total emissions, it said. Renewable energies such as wind, solar, biomass and geothermal also offered great potential in slashing emissions.



But if nothing was done globally to fight climate change, Southeast Asia could suffer a decline in rice output potential of about 50 percent on average by 2100 against 1990 levels.

The yield drop ranged from 34 percent in Indonesia to 75 percent in the Philippines, with the fall forecast to start in 2020 for the four nations.

Southeast Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change because of the high economic activity along its long coastlines, and its heavy dependence on agriculture, forestry and other natural resources.

Unless the pace of climate change was checked, millions of people in the region would be left unable to produce or purchase sufficient food. "More people will be at risk of hunger and malnutrition, which will cause more deaths. The possibility of local conflicts may increase," said the report.

Annual mean temperature in the four countries could also rise by an average 4.8 degrees Celsius by 2100 from 1990 levels if global emissions keep growing. This would intensify water shortages in the dry season and raise flooding risks during wet periods.



The report says an increase in extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods and storms, and forest fires arising from climate change would also jeopardize export industries.

It said the region, which contributed 12 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions in 2000, had made significant efforts to counter climate change, but most steps were reactive and offered short-term benefits with implementation patchy.

ENO Tree Planting Day 2010 - Peace Is Green -



Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Time: 12:00am - 11:30pm
Location: wherever you lay your hat

Description.This is for you who care for the environment and peace!

ENO Programme will organise its traditional tree planting day on Tuesday 21st of September 2010. This planting of trees symbolises peace and the continuity of life. This global tree planting day of peace makers will take place on the 21st of September The same day has been proclaimed the International day for peace by United Nations. ENO Tree Planting Day has taken place since 2004 and proven to be successful. Last time this event inspired people at 5000 schools, youth, associations in over 100 countries to take the challenge. Altogether 450 000 trees were planted to celebrate the day.

The planting of trees will take place everywhere at noon local time. The first to start is Tonga in Oceania and as the Sun and Earth continue to turn, Asia, Africa and Europe will join in as well. Some time later the continents of North and South America will grab the hoe, and last area to participate will be Samoa Islands. The world has taken a remarkable step towards a more ecological and peaceful way of life. The United Nations has chosen the theme Youth, Peace and Development for this year’s observance. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that all 192 United Nations member states have agreed to achieve by the year 2015.

They include reducing extreme poverty, reducing child mortality rates, fighting disease epidemics such as AIDS, and developing a global partnership for development. All of them are based upon the premise that development must be for peace. We are doing our part. This day is also a very special for the ENO Programme. This event is to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ENO Programme. It started with 50 schools in a rural Finnish village called Eno and in 10 years has spread to thousands of schools in 150 countries. Millions of children and youth have been involved with their teacher and local communities. Our goal is to get 10 000 schools and groups involved. They are warmly invited to join this event and asked to register on the event website, by 14th of September 2010.

Detailed instructions, more information and material can be found on the event website. Welcome to join us!

ENO Tree Planting Day: http://www.enotreeday.net/

Sungai Sedim and Eno...

Sungai Sedim
Recreational Forest


Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest


Location :
In the district of Kulim, Kedah.
Coordinates of the park are 5°24′49″N 100°46′49″E
You can access the Google Map here.

Natural Heritage Status:
Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest is within Gunung Inas Permanent Forest Reserve of Lowland Dipterocarp Forest with valuable timber trees such as Meranti seraya, Meranti tembaga, Meranti melantai, Terap, Kulim, Bintangor and Keledang. Renowned for the cascading Sedim River and rich wildlife, it is also known to be a picnic spot of Kedah’s royalty. Sedim River has about 15 km of natural white-water suitable for rafting activities. It is also the starting point to the numerous hiking trails to Gunung Inas, Gunung Bintang and the Bintang range.


Entrance to Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest


At 950m, it is the longest galvanized steel tree walk in the world.

Gazettement :
Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest is located at compartment 15 within Gunung Inas Permanent Forest Reserve at the foot of Bintang range in the district of Kulim near Baling. Gunung Inas Permanent Forest Reserve with the size of 36.979 ha was gazette on 5 Nov 1937. Gunung Bintang is Kedah’s highest peak.

Accessibility:
To the park: Tarred road until the park. Coaches can now park at the new parking lots which was previously inaccessible to coaches.
In the park: Well maintained paths and bridges for easy accessibility in the park.

Affordability:
Entrance to the park is free.
Parking fee: RM2 for car and RM3 for 4WD.
Dormitory (Attached Bathroom)
10 person and above – RM20/person/day
Less than 10 person – RM200/room/day
Family Room – 3 bedded room (1 double bed and 2 Single Bed) – RM100/room/day
7 Bedded Room (Single bed + Attached bathroom) – RM160/room/day
Accommodation & Meal Package
Package inclusive of accommodation at Bintang Sedim Villa dormitory with 5 meals.
RM50/person/day (adult) RM40/person/day (children)
Camping
Camping site – RM3/person/day
Tent only – RM10/day (4 men tent)
Tent only – RM18/day (6 men tent)
Gunung Bintang Summit (1864m) – 3D2N Package price RM120/person (minimum 10 person).
Rafting adventure package
RM190/person/hour includes lunch, guide and rescue team (minimum 4 pax)
Tree Top Walk
Walkway opens daily except bad weather from 8.30 am to 5.30am
Entrance RM10 (adult) and RM6 (child).

(Price stated at the time of writing this report 6/2009)

Level of Development:
There are several villages surrounded by orchards with an estimated population of 1500 persons. One village known as Kampung Lindungan Raja was reputed as the village that gave refuge to the 25th Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah also the father of our first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, during World War II in 1941. The villagers protected the 77-year-old sultan until it was safe for him to return to his palace in Alor Setar (Zanina P, 2009).
The federal government developed the longest galvanized steel “Tree Top Walk” in the world at 925m in length and stands 50m at its highest platform costing RM6mil beginning 15 January 2004 and completed on 7 March 2005. The canopy walkway is handicapped-friendly and provides bird-watchers with a good vantage view of the birds in their natural environment (Shahariah, 2005).
New construction of the parking facilities and infrastructure to accommodate coaches and group tour has been built and expected to be completed at the end of 2009. Another chalet accommodation has been built across the present Bintang Sedim Villa.


Bridge over Sungai Sedim.


New development in progress – chalet, bridges and parking bays.

Popularity:
The park is popular among the locals as well as outstation visitors and tourists for its wild river and tree top walk. There were at least 2500 visitors during public holidays. Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest is also a popular base camp for hikers to Gunung Inas (1,454m), Gunung Bintang Utara (1,835m) and Gunung Bintang (1,862m) with average distance of 14km.
A well known destination for extreme water sports enthusiasts such as rubber tubing, kayaking and white water rafting. It is famed for the world class water rafting destination and has been crowned as the Lord of the Rough Garden with 17km of non-stop rapids graded from one to four. There are 24 rapids along the river, each with its own name, such as Salak Drop, Triple Rapid, Kasai Drop, Wall Drop, Lower Head Dam, Kawah Rapid, Jelutong Rapid, Rodeo Rapid, Slip Lip Rapid and Cyclone Hole. The Sedim River is listed as one of the best five rivers in the world for whitewater kayaking and water rafting (Star, 2005).
Other popular activities include birdwatching and strolling or trekking to the upstream of Sg Sedim or to Sungai Riau Waterfall.
Beside accommodation, the management provides team building and management activities including Flying Fox, Abseiling, River Crossing, Tree Top Walk, Obstacle Course, Talangtula, Trust Fall, target shooting and jungle warfare.


The newly developed Riau Waterfall at Sungai Riau within the park.


Tree Top Walk was officially opened on 5th Mac 2009 by Sultan Negeri Kedah Darul Aman.


Tree Top Walk – a popular tourist attraction in the park.

Accommodation:
Chalet and campsite within the park are managed by a private company. A new resort along the western bank of Sg Sedim scheduled to be completed at the end of the year. Other private accommodations along Sungai Sedim at the fringe of the park offer reasonable packages.


Bintang Sedim Villa within Sg Sedim Recreational Forest

Threats:
Garbage: The biggest threat of the park is garbage disposal. Rubbish was seen along the picnic area along the river.
Development: Over development and mass influx of tourist in the park could threaten wildlife in the park.


Common sight - Littering in the park.

Mitigation:
Enforcement by the park authority and provide more rubbish bins at strategic areas. Development should be control to minimize erosion and exploitation of natural heritage.

Conservation:
Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest is surrounded by fruit orchards. There are huge dipterocarp trees and other non-dipterocarp species including a tree known as Kulim (Scorodocarpous Dorneensis). The park within Gunung Inas Permanent Forest Reserve serves as a rich biodiversity for large wildlife to variety of uncommon insects.
A RM6mil “Tree Top Walk” known to be the longest in the world at 925m was added to the park for visitors to have a closer look at the canopy of the rainforest with the whitewater rapids gushing beneath. It is well known among bird-watchers to congregate at the park for a wide range of some 160 species of birds found in the forest.
Mammals seen during our visit include Agile gibbons, White-handed gibbons, Long-tailed macaque, Dusky leaf monkey, Plaintain Squirrel, Civet cats and elephants (dung seen on the upper reaches).




You will be amazed with the flowering plants.


A bird-watching paradise. Surprisingly, huge trees with nesting hornbills and honey hives are suitable for conservation as a national park.


Rare lizards are common.


Rich biodiversity of frogs too.


Moths and butterflies filled the air.


Wildlife aplenty ranging from gibbon, dusky leaf monkey and squirrel (photo) to tapir, deer, civet cats and bears and others.

Benefits to Local Communities:
The influx of visitors to the recreational park had a positive spillover of jobs for the villagers who enjoy brisk business selling food, fruits, chalet accommodations and ecotourism. Local entrepreneurs benefited from ecotourism business along Sedim River.
Favorite picnicking spot for the whole family at the recreational park with basic infrastructure and facilities such as public toilets, food stalls and sporting activities.



Numerous advertisements along the road to the park. Local entrepreneurs doing well in ecotourism business along Sedim River. Choices for visitors for other accommodation packages along Sungai Sedim.


Rubber tubing at Sg Sedim.

How to Get There
From North South Expressway NSE (E1) exits at Seberang Jaya (Butterworth) to Butterworth-Kulim Expressway BKE (E15). You will pass through Kubang Semang Tol and Lunas Tol on E15 heading to Grik. Exit to Kulim Hi-Tech Industrial Park. About 3rd traffic light from E15 (with a right junction to Kulim), turn left on K115 (heading towards Karangan) then K166 and K174, following the numerous signboards to Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest. It is about 1 hour from Butterworth.


Map to Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest

Important Contacts
Pegawai Hutan Daerah Kedah Selatan
09000 Kulim, Kedah Darul Aman.
Tel. : 04-4903760

Majlis Perbandaran Kulim
09000 Kulim, Kedah Darul Aman.
Tel: (604)4906522 Fax:(604)4901443
Website: www.mpkk.gov.my

Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri Kedah
Tel:(604)7744370 Fax:(604)7330908
Email: upen@kedah.gov.my

Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Kedah
Tingkat 8,
Bangunan Sultan Abdul Halim
Jalan Sultan Badlishah
05000 Alor Setar
KEDAH
Tel : 04-7333844
Fax: 04-7310610

http://www.kedforestry.gov.my

Bintang Sedim Villa
SP Azam Travel Sdn Bhd
15C, Bangunan PKNK, Jln Tunku Abidah,
09000 Kulim, Kedah
Tel: 04-4901588 / 04-4910641 Fax: 04-4919588
Website: www.treetopwalk.com.my

Rapid Fire Adventure Sdn. Bhd.
ECO Camp Sungai Sedim,
486, Lorong 7/2, Taman Semarak, 08000 Sungai Petani,
Kedah, West Malaysia
www.rapidfire.com.my
Tel: 012-6200483 / 019-5413321

Kem Rekreasi Sg Sedim (Kerekss)
Contact: Mohd Nazri
Tel: 04-4059496 / 019-4660311

Pusat Rekreasi Sungai Riau
Tel: 019-4748176 / 019-5684711 / 013-4828960


References
Department of Irrigation and Drainage (1989), Waterfalls of Malaysia, Design Dimension.
Plus (1996), Guide to Peninsular Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia.

TAMAN NEGARA NATIONAL PARK

Taman Negara, Malaysia's premier national park, is a natural paradise and home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna. The park covers as much as four thousand square kilometres of rainforests and is estimated to be more than 130 million years old. The park, which was originally known as King George V National Park, was expanded in 1939 to encompass three states, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. Its present name, Taman Negara, was adopted only after Malaysia gained its independence in 1957.

14 years after Malaysia's independence, the park found itself in a predicament when the Malaysian National Electricity Board planned to build a dam on Sungai Tembeling in 1971. Although the proposal was scrapped in 1978, it was revived again 4 years later. Through conservation oriented efforts by Malaysian Nature Society, the idea was finally discarded a year later. If the proposal had gone through, the dam would have caused a reduction of 32,600 hectares of land from the park.

A staggering 185,000 species of fauna and 8,000 species of flowering plants have been recorded in Taman Negara. The tallest trees in South East Asia, the tualang tree, can also be found at the park. The forest's surrounding landscape is geologically stable, which has allowed uninterrupted evolution of the plants and wildlife through time. You can catch a glimpse of how people still live within this natural cycle when you visit Kampung Yong, an Orang Asli settlement in the park. Unhindered by modernization brought by time, the Orang Asli, as the indigenous tribes are known in Malaysia, continue on with their way of life as how their ancestors did in early civilization.

The Canopy Walkway is one of the most visited attractions in Taman Negara. The walkway was built by the Malaysian Wildlife and National Parks Department and is among the world's longest canopy walks, measuring at an amazing 530 metres! Though the walkway was built for research purposes, it now serves as a means for visitors who would like to see the rainforest from a different perspective. No nails were used in the construction of the walkway and wooden spacers are placed between the bark and the cable and ropes to ensure that the trees are not harmed.

Caving is one of the many adventures that await the park's visitors. Home to many species of bats, snakes and insects, limestone caves such as Gua Telinga in Taman Negara offer visitors hours of exploration. As with any caves whose permanent residents are bats, expect to find a huge amount of bat droppings, otherwise known as guano. Guano is essential to the ecosystem of caves as it supplies needed nutrients to most of the cave dwelling inhabitants.

Another activity for the adventurous is rapid shooting. This fun filled activity never fails to elicit laughter as most participants end up soaked to the skin at the end of it. The experienced boatman skillfully weaves the boat through shallow rapids as the boat heads upstream pass picturesque greenery. When a boat encounters its counterparts going in the opposite direction, an oar is placed into the stream in such a way that it creates a spray of water which soaks the other boat's passengers. Since two can play at that game, it is best to be on guard when other boats are spotted!

The main entrance to Taman Negara is located in Kuala Tahan, Pahang. A short boatride across Tembeling River from the the village is required for visitors who want to visit the national park.

By Car
The drive to Kuala Tahan from Kuala Lumpur will take approximately 3 and a half hours. For those who are staying within Taman Negara, there is a common parking lot located at Kuala Tahan.

By Bus
Certain coaches operated by local travel agencies do offer transfer services directly to Kuala Tembeling jetty for a 2 and a half hour boat ride to Taman Negara. Alternatively, there are also express buses to Jerantut, Pahang on a daily basis. Buses headed to Taman Negara leave Jerantut town daily at designated times and stop at Kuala Tahan bus station. The journey from Jerantut to Kuala Tahan takes approximately an hour and a half.

By Boat
Taman Negara is also accessible by boat from the jetty at Kuala Tembeling. Coaches to Kuala Tembeling are operated by local travel agencies as mentioned above. Upon arrival at Kuala Tembeling jetty, proceed to the Malaysian Wildlife and National Parks Department counter to purchase the tickets for the boat ride to the park. The journey by river takes approximately two

and a half hours without any stops along the way.

By 2040, there will be no ice left at the North Pole, scientists predict

(NaturalNews) A study published in the Geophysical Research Letters journal this week indicated that the Arctic pole could go from winter wonderland to warm water in a little over 30 years.

Currently, Earth's North Pole is already warmer than the South Pole because it lies at sea-level in the middle of an ocean. This causes the pole to act as a heat collector rather than at altitude in a continental land mass like the South Pole.

The North Pole sea ice is about two to three meters thick with some open water areas visible at times due to water movement. But that thickness has decreased in recent years due to global warming according to some experts.

"The effects of greenhouse warming are starting to rear their ugly head," said Mark Serreze, a scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Although the argument rages on regarding the effects of pole melting due to global warming, Arctic water fails to freeze back in winter according to some reports -- and it is a natural process that has been going on for a thousand years.

This is the second year in a row that the sea ice covering the Arctic Ocean didn't manage to reach its normal winter size. The result is that the ice has been shrinking at an overall rate. Rapid global climate change could cause a serious expansion of open water in the upcoming summer, some recent climatologists have said.

Last month, the sea that was frozen covered an area that was 2 million square kilometers less than the historical average. "That's an area the size of Alaska … we're no longer recovering well in autumn anymore," says leading ice expert Mark Serreze from the University of Colorado. "The ice pack may now be starting to get preconditioned, perhaps to show very rapid losses in the near future."

Discussions about environment and learning in Malaysia

Environment and learning in Malaysia



Discussions about environment and learning in Malaysia

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An exciting day with Malaysian friends!

An exciting day with Malaysian friends!

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