Thesun 2009-05-11 Page07 Glimmer Of Hope For Fireflies

theSun

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| MONDAY MAY 11 2009

news without borders

Glimmer of hope for fireflies by Karen Arukesamy [email protected]

PETALING JAYA: There is a glimmer of hope for the remaining firefly colonies in Kuala Selangor which are under threat as measures to preserve their habitat are under way. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) entomology unit senior researcher Dr Laurence Kirton told theSun it is vital that firefly prone areas are identified for conservation and land acquisition. This should be followed by strict enforcement in the buffer zones or river reserve to ensure land clearing is only up to approved limits. Kirton said rehabilitation by replanting the natural vegetation in the affected areas also helps but the priority should be to conserve areas still unaffected by habitat loss. “It will be an easier task to conserve and protect an area which is not yet disturbed,” he added. On Wednesday, Selangor executive councillor for environment, tourism and consumer affairs Elizabeth Wong said the state government has decided to take over and gazette the 20km stretch of land along the river surrounding Kampung Kuantan and Kampung Belimbing. She said the state will also create a 100km buffer zone along the 20km stretch of the river. In addition, rumbia, nipah, sago and berembang trees will be replanted in four areas in Kuala Selangor.

FRIM entomologists agreed that habitat destruction, particularly the natural vegetation behind the berembang trees, is the “most imminent threat” to the fireflies in Kuala Selangor, which is dominated by one species – Pteroptyx Tener (P.Tener). The juvenile stages – egg, larva and pupa – of the firefly are found in the habitat, which is moist, occasionally inundated by the river water and partially shaded. Other threats include river pollution and erosion, aqua-culture and shrimp farming which disturbs the natural habitat of the river snail and larva, and two major reservoirs built in the catchment area. In a recent letter to theSun, Universiti Malaya marine ecologist Dr A. Sasekumar highlighted the increase in salinity in river water in Kampung Kuantan, Kuala Selangor which has a negative impact on the fireflies. Referring to Maarten van Breemen’s study (2008), Sasekumar said rising sea levels within the next 50 years will further increase salinity intrusion upstream and impact the growth of berembang. Kirton explained that high salinity could occur if there is insufficient water flow from upstream as a result of drought, water extraction and the dam and barrage. “The water flow from upstream can be regulated to ensure sufficient flow downstream, but in times of drought when there is low water

level in the dam it is possible that there could be insufficient water released. “A rise in salinity could cause harm to the berembang and other riverbank tree species,” he said. Berembang grow along tidal estuaries and are not tolerant of high salinity, and without them fireflies, cannot congregate to find potential mates, thus affecting the sustenance of the population. “Besides that, low water flow from upstream will also cause an increase in acidity downstream. This may affect the development of the snails’ shells,” Kirton said. FRIM’s preliminary studies showed that the larva and the snail (Cyclotropis carinata), which the larva feeds on are abundant in the natural sago vegetation habitat. Apart from that, P.Teners spend nearly their whole lifecycle in the habitat, with about 60% of their life span as larvae and only the adults can be found on the berembang. “Therefore, when natural vegetation is cleared, it will be detrimental to them. Without the continuity of their lifecycle, the population will definitely decrease,” Kirton said. There are many parties involved in the problems surrounding the firefly colonies and taking over the land would cost a hefty sum, he said. FRIM observed a gradual change in the vegetation in 2007, but it was in 2008 that the land clearing was more apparent, Kirton said.

Major threats

MAARTEN VAN BREEMEN’S study identifies the major threats to the ecosystem in Kuala Selangor as: In Janu» Construction of new houses and other buildings ary, FRIM along the river at the expense of natural habitat of wrote to fireflies. the Kuala » Expansion of oil palm plantations and orchards Selangor Disat the cost of natural riverbank vegetation. In most trict Council cases, the berembang trees are found closest to (MPKS) to the river and are left undisturbed. However, a few highlight the metres further the original habitat is cleared and issue. plantations begin. The fireflies seem to prefer the The letoriginal habitat with sago palms to lay their eggs. ter was also This is closely related to the presence of river snails copied to variwhich prefer the cooler, more humid and more ous agencies shaded sago patches over the orchards and oil palm including the plantations. Selangor Tour» The pollution of Selangor River, such as petrol ism, Consumer and diesel released into the river from motorboats, Affairs and Enthe use of pesticides and chemicals in agriculture, vironment Comsewage water draining and solid waste dumping. mittee chairman, In estuaries, the direction of the flow changes with following which the tidal cycle, and pollution and debris are often meetings were not flushed away easily, especially during low river called by various discharges. agencies to dis» Aqua-culture and shrimp farming which disturb cuss the issue. the natural habitat of the river snail and larvae. “All agencies » The discharge regime of the Selangor River, which are hindered by is changing at an alarming rate. Water is extracted the fact that most for drinking, and irrigation water upstream and of the land along the flow in the downstream is reduced. Moreover, the riverbank is two major reservoirs are built in the catchment privately owned. area which will also affect the discharge regime. Nevertheless, they The construction of the second and largest dam are looking into raised concerns among the local population but possibilities of rethey could not prevent the completion of this dam acquiring the land,” in 2005. The main threat to the eco-system is that Kirton said. saline sea water can intrude further upstream He said FRIM is when the river discharge is smaller. A high salinity prepared to provide level has a negative impact on the health of the input to assist these ecosystem. agencies.

» See also Page 13

‘Contractors using unsafe lightning rods’ by Tim Leonard [email protected]

PETALING JAYA: The Centre of Excellence on Lightning Protection (CELP) believes greedy and unethical contractors are responsible for the high usage of early streamer emission technology (ESE) lightning rods in many buildings in the country. CELP chairman Dr Mohd Zainal Abidin Ab Kadir told theSun many companies involved in installing ESE make huge profits compared with installing the standard Franklin rods. “This is probably the reason why many buildings in Malaysia are filled with this unscientific gadgetry,” he said. “There are claims that the ESE rods can cover a radius of 70m to 100m but this has not been proven scientifically. In fact, buildings with ESE continue to be hit by lightning. “Not only are buildings and properties damaged when hit by lightning, but lives may be at risk if ESE continues to be used.” Mohd Zainal said the centre, based at Universiti Putra Malaysia,

briefs Mercy mobile clinics for war victims VAVUNIYA (Sri Lanka): Mercy Malaysia has rolled out its healthcare facilities for Tamil civilians fleeing from the war zone in northern Sri Lanka. It has set up four health posts

had issued warnings to all government buildings and hospitals installed with ESE to revert to the standard Franklin rods. He said Franklin rods have a number of conductors all the way down to the ground, including a ring loop that makes it safer for buildings and homes. He added that the problem is further compounded by the lack of knowledge in the construction industry, even engineers. “Many developed countries have stopped using ESE because of the safety issue. But in Malaysia, we continue using it and this will pose a big problem in time to come.” He said in Malaysia, there is a tendency not to worry or be bothered until disaster strikes. He said CELP would embark on a series of campaigns to increase awareness of the dangers of using ESE. theSun published a letter by Dr Chandima Gomes of Sweden recently on the need to use standard lightning rods. The letter was in response to a fire at the Putrajaya Hospital on April 11 following a lightning strike.

(or mobile clinics) offering extended primary healthcare for thousands of internally displaced people at Menik Farm in Cheddukulam, Vavuniya district located in the northern district of the island. “There is an urgent need for healthcare in these camps. We were invited by the Health Ministry of Sri Lanka to run these projects in these camps. Our four posts will cater for about 100,000 people. “We will fully equip these health posts and local doctors will run the day-

Firefighters Day run ...

More than 5,000 people, including participants from overseas, take part in a run held to mark National Firefighters Day. The run was flagged off by Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. Kenyan Kiberess Kember won the Men’s Open event while the Women’s Open title was won by our national athlete Yuan Yu Fang.

to-day operations. We are still raising funds and will soon start our second project in Sri Lanka,”said Elliane Arriany Mustapha, Mercy’s programme officer, yesterday. – Bernama

Time to drop the term ‘Dayak’, says Entulu SIBU: The term “Dayak”, coined by the colonial power to describe all 26 non-Muslim communities of Sarawak in the 1820s, should no longer be used, Rural and Regional

Development Deputy Minister Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun said. The term should be dropped, he said, because it conveyed negative connotations like being uncivilised, uncouth and “low class”. “Some leaders of Sarawak nonMuslim communities had some years ago suggested that the government stop using the term. “I am again reviving the call for the government to consider dropping the term,” he said after witnessing the installation of the

Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) Rajang Branch new committee members. Entulu said the native communities, despite forming more than half of the 2.5 million population, had not been acknowledged according to their respective ethnic groups. “I believe it will be more tactful and exact if specific terminologies like Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit and so forth, are used,” he said. – Bernama