Malaysia News: 2013 International Eco-Schools Conference Malaysia – Towards Creating Sustainable Legacy (20 Jan 2014)

2013 International Eco-Schools Conference Malaysia – Towards Creating Sustainable Legacy

9 Jan 2013, Kuala Selangor: The recent International Eco-Schools Conference, themed “Forest and Water”, was a true embodiment of youth empowerment as it witnessed students being the front runners as co-facilitators and keynote speakers. 

The successful event, which drew about 140 participants from 26 schools, was held from 9-12 December at Mega Crystal Camp, Yayasan Selangor, Kuala Selangor. It was the second consecutive year the conference was held.

The conference was a joint effort by WWF-Malaysia with Yayasan Anak Warisan Alam (YAWA) together with Kuala Selangor District Council, Integrated Agriculture Development Area, Sarawak Natural Resource and Environment Board, Department of Environment, and Selangor Waters Management Authority (SWMA).

Funded by BOH Plantations Sdn Bhd, it provided teachers, students, and researchers with the opportunity to explore the 7-step methodology, a tool used by students to find solutions and take actions on environmental issues faced by their schools. 

“The conference was a great practical training ground for the students. It was the first time I witnessed a conference which was led by students. It managed to enhance the students’ softskills in communication, leadership and knowledge-based. In addition, everyone had equal opportunity in terms of voicing opinions and leading certain sessions,” said Puan Nor Azizi Abdullah, a teacher from Sekolah Agama Menengah Tinggi Tengku Ampuan Jemaah, Klang.

The conference also gave participants the opportunity to understand the nine themes, i.e. water, waste, energy, climate change, biodiversity and nature, school grounds, transport/sustainable mobility, healthy living and Local Agenda 21, in a more practical manner and to create opportunities for learning by tapping into multiple intelligences through workshops, excursions and keynote speaker sessions. 

The excursions and activities during this second Eco-Schools conference included a trip to the paddy field, firefly observation in Kampung Sungai Panjang, eco-traditional cooking, nasi ambang preparation, demonstration on traditional fishing gears, mangrove tree replanting, photography skills and visit to a sanitary landfill. 

“I learned a lot from the sessions. I enjoyed the skill-based workshop, especially the tree climbing and the trip to the paddy field. It was my first experience seeing and touching a paddy plant,” said Pirakash A/L Rasan from Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Tamil) Ringlet.

One of the major emphasis of the Eco-Schools programme is the concept of student empowerment, where students are the agents of change in making daily decisions on environmental conservation efforts in the school. 

“We hope the experiential learning and exposure provided will influence the young minds to make environmentally-informed decisions in their daily lives,” said WWF-Malaysia’s Head of Environmental Education, Thiagarajan Nadeson, who is also the National Coordinator for Eco-Schools Malaysia Programme.

During the conference, 10 schools registered under the Eco-Schools Malaysia programme were awarded with Bronze and Silver award for their efforts in embedding sustainability elements in their daily lives. Meanwhile, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Muhibbah from Sandakan was awarded with the Green Flag, making it the first public school in Malaysia and South East Asia to receive this international award. 

- Ends -

About Eco-Schools Programme
At the international level, the programme is run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a non-governmental and non-profit organization aiming to promote sustainable development through environmental education (including formal school education, training of staff and general awareness-raising). It is an international umbrella organisation with one national member organisation per country representing FEE on the national level and in charge of implementing FEE programmes nationally. It has 66 member organisations in 58 countries around the world. 

In Malaysia, WWF-Malaysia is the national coordinator of the programme, which started in 2010. The first school to register for the Eco-Schools Programme in Malaysia was Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Lanchang in March 2011. Since then, the Programme has grown from strength to strength, and more than 60 schools in Malaysia have now embarked on the Eco-Schools Programme journey. Click here for information on Eco-Schools Programme 

For further information: 
Fahrol Liza binti Jaafar, Senior Programme Officer, Eco-Schools Malaysia, WWF-Malaysia
Tel: 03-7803 3772 Ext: 6439 Email: fjaafar@wwf.org.my

Yeoh Lin Lin, Head of Communications, WWF-Malaysia
Tel: +603-78033772 Email: llyeoh@wwf.org.my

source from: http://www.wwf.org.my/media_and_information/updates__former_newsroom_main_/?16787/2013-International-Eco-Schools-Conference-Malaysia--Towards-Creating--Sustainable-Legacy

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Malaysia News: WWF-Malaysia Applauds Sibu’s “No Styrofoam Containers” Initiative (10 Jan 2014)

WWF-Malaysia Applauds Sibu’s “No Styrofoam Containers” Initiative

9 Jan 2013, Kuching: WWF-Malaysia applauds Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) for banning the use of polystyrene containers for food and drinks in support of Local Agenda 21. The ban is on all food and drink outlets, including all hawker stalls and coffee shops, restaurants, school canteens and other eateries, in Sibu.

“WWF-Malaysia is pleased that Sibu is taking this initiative, the first in Sarawak, as it not only benefits the well-being of the people but is a noble environmental conservation act,” said WWF-Malaysia’s Head of Conservation (Sarawak), Dr Henry Chan. 
“WWF-Malaysia has been advocating for conservation and sustainable development in the country, including Sarawak. Banning polystyrene is part of how society can play its role for the environment,” said Dr Chan. 
He added, “Alternative packaging such as recycled paper, biodegradable products and ‘bring your own food containers’ should be considered. We hope that this step will be adopted by all the other councils in Sarawak for it is a great initiative for the people and nature.”

Polystyrene, or more commonly known as “styrofoam”, is a petroleum-based plastic made from the styrene monomer. It is a light-weight material that is used in all types of products from cups that keep beverages hot or cold to packaging material that keeps fragile items safe during shipping. It is one of the cheapest packaging material in the market.

However, the use of polystyrene is health-threatening because it leaches toxic chemicals into the food that it contains especially when the food or drinks are hot. 

“Polystyrene foam takes many years to decompose. It is also threatening to wildlife when dumped as litter. This material is often mistaken as food that ends up choking and clogging the digestive systems,” Dr Chan said.

He added that research found that when hydrocarbons in polystyrene are released into the air, and combined with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight, they form tropospheric ozone, which is a serious air pollutant at ground level. 
He added, “Alternative packaging such as recycled paper, biodegradable products and ‘bring your own food containers’ should be considered. We hope that this step will be adopted by all the other councils in Sarawak for it is a great initiative for the people and nature.”
Polystyrene, or more commonly known as “styrofoam”, is a petroleum-based plastic made from the styrene monomer. It is a light-weight material that is used in all types of products from cups that keep beverages hot or cold to packaging material that keeps fragile items safe during shipping. It is one of the cheapest packaging material in the market.

However, the use of polystyrene is health-threatening because it leaches toxic chemicals into the food that it contains especially when the food or drinks are hot. 

“Polystyrene foam takes many years to decompose. It is also threatening to wildlife when dumped as litter. This material is often mistaken as food that ends up choking and clogging the digestive systems,” Dr Chan said.

He added that research found that when hydrocarbons in polystyrene are released into the air, and combined with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight, they form tropospheric ozone, which is a serious air pollutant at ground level. 
Polystyrene, or more commonly known as “styrofoam”, is a petroleum-based plastic made from the styrene monomer. It is a light-weight material that is used in all types of products from cups that keep beverages hot or cold to packaging material that keeps fragile items safe during shipping. It is one of the cheapest packaging material in the market.
However, the use of polystyrene is health-threatening because it leaches toxic chemicals into the food that it contains especially when the food or drinks are hot. 

“Polystyrene foam takes many years to decompose. It is also threatening to wildlife when dumped as litter. This material is often mistaken as food that ends up choking and clogging the digestive systems,” Dr Chan said.

He added that research found that when hydrocarbons in polystyrene are released into the air, and combined with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight, they form tropospheric ozone, which is a serious air pollutant at ground level. 
However, the use of polystyrene is health-threatening because it leaches toxic chemicals into the food that it contains especially when the food or drinks are hot. 
“Polystyrene foam takes many years to decompose. It is also threatening to wildlife when dumped as litter. This material is often mistaken as food that ends up choking and clogging the digestive systems,” Dr Chan said.

He added that research found that when hydrocarbons in polystyrene are released into the air, and combined with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight, they form tropospheric ozone, which is a serious air pollutant at ground level. 
“Polystyrene foam takes many years to decompose. It is also threatening to wildlife when dumped as litter. This material is often mistaken as food that ends up choking and clogging the digestive systems,” Dr Chan said.
He added that research found that when hydrocarbons in polystyrene are released into the air, and combined with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight, they form tropospheric ozone, which is a serious air pollutant at ground level. 
He added that research found that when hydrocarbons in polystyrene are released into the air, and combined with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight, they form tropospheric ozone, which is a serious air pollutant at ground level. 


“WWF-Malaysia has been advocating for conservation and sustainable development in the country, including Sarawak. Banning polystyrene is part of how society can play its role for the environment,” said Dr Chan. 

source from: http://www.wwf.org.my/media_and_information/updates__former_newsroom_main_/?16789/WWF-Malaysia-Applauds-Sibus-No-Styrofoam-Containers-Initiative

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Indonesia Update: Asia’s first Rhino Range States meeting secures government-level agreement to bolster conservation efforts (4 Oct 2013)

Camera traps produce first ever hard evidence of Sumatran rhino population in Kalimantan forests

Posted on 02 October 2013  

Lampung (2/10) – Using video camera traps, a joint research team that included members from WWF-Indonesia and the district authorities of Kutai Barat, East Kalimantan, have captured video of the Sumatran rhino in East Kalimantan. The footage of the rhinos --- the rare Dicerorhinus sumatrensis --- is the fruit of three months of research that collected footage from 16 video camera traps. The team is delighted to have secured the first known visual evidence of the Sumatran rhino in Kalimantan.

“This physical evidence is very important, as it forms the basis to develop and implement more comprehensive conservation efforts for the Indonesian rhinoceros,” said Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan upon unveiling the video at the opening of the Asian Rhino Range States Ministrial Meeting in Lampung, Sumatra. “This finding represents the hard work of many parties, and will hopefully contribute to achieving Indonesia's target of three percent per year rhino population growth.” He emphasized that all parties need to immediately begin working together to develop a scientific estimate of all the remaining Sumatran rhino populations in Kalimantan, and to implement measures to conserve the species --- particularly by strengthening the protection and security of the rhinos and their habitats.

The remarkable evidence from the camera traps includes footage of  a rhino wallowing in the mud to keep its body temperature cool and a rhino walking in search of food.  The rhino footage, captured on June 23, June 30 and August 3, is believed to show different rhinos although confirmation of this will require further study.

Nazir Foead, Conservation Director of WWF-Indonesia, said, “To ensure the protection of the species, a joint monitoring team from the Kutai Barat administration, Rhino Protection Unit, and WWF have been conducting regular patrols around the area.  WWF calls on all parties, in Indonesia and around the world, to immediately join the effort to conserve the Indonesian rhinoceros”.

Commenting on the findings, the district head of West Kutai, Ismael Thomas SH. M. Si., noted “The local administration is fully supporting these conservation activities in West Kutai. We are drafting further laws to protect endangered animals --- including these rhinos.” 

The Asian Rhino Range States Ministrial Meeting is taking place in Lampung 2-3 October 2013, with participation of goverment representation from Bhutan, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Nepal.


Note for Editor :  
The camera trap VIDEOS can be download at http://bit.ly/18EBb1a with © WWF-Indonesia/PHKA as copyright.

More info, please contact:
Sumarto, Head of Public Relation, Indonesia Ministry of Forestry
Email: sumarto.suharno@gmail.com 

Diah R. Sulistiowati, Communication Coordinator for Forest & Terrestrial Species Program WWF-Indonesia
Email: dsulistiowati@wwf.or.id,  Mobile: +62-811-100-4397

source from :http://www.wwf.or.id/en/news_facts/press_release/?29561/Ditemukan-Bukti-Video-Badak-Sumatera-di-Kalimantan

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Indian Updates: Bring states with rhinos under one conservation plan: WWF (22 Sep 2013)

Bring states with rhinos under one conservation plan: WWF

TNN | Sep 22, 2013, 03.50 AM IST

GUWAHATI: Expressing concern over spurt in rhino poaching in Assam, WWF-India has said that adoption of National Rhino Conservation Plan (NRCP) has become imperative for the protection of the species.

"After decades of conservation success, which resulted in the population of rhinos in Assam rising to more than 2,500 at present, the spurt in poaching over the last couple of years seems to indicate that poaching syndicates are strengthening. To avoid loss of these hard-fought gains, there is an urgent need for the adoption of NRCP for India," WWF-India said on the occasion of World Rhino Day on Saturday.

The NGO has asked Union minister of state for environment and forest, Jayanti Natarajan, to take the lead in putting NRCP in place by bringing together four rhino-bearing states of Assam,West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

"The adoption of NRCP will increase coordination among the rhino-bearing states and enable sharing of best practices and information on poaching syndicates. This will help in better protection of Indians rhinos", said WWF-India's director of species and landscapes Dipankar Ghose.

The WWF-India has also pointed out that increasing use of firearms like AK-47 rifles in killing rhinos, especially at Kaziranga National Park, indicated growing sophistication and easy access to deadly weapons among poaching syndicates.

"The thirtieth rhino killed this year in India fell to poacher's bullets in Kaziranga on September 17. As India and rest of the world celebrate rhinos and their conservation successes on World Rhino Day, this latest killing is a grim reminder of the challenges being faces in protecting rhinos in India," the WWF-India said.

Of the 30 rhinos killed in the country, the majority of the casualties are from Assam which lost at least 25 one-horned pachyderms to poachers this year. In Kaziranga, 21 rhinos were killed by poachers, while Manas National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary lost three and one rhinos respectively this year.

Source: 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Bring-states-with-rhinos-under-one-conservation-plan-WWF/articleshow/22873693.cms

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WWF: Marine Conservation Leadership Training Programme (Deadline for application: 30 Sep 2013)

Marine Conservation Leadership Training Programme

Posted 30 August 2013  

© Adam Minu

1. Programme Objectives

Marine Conservation Leadership Training Programme is a volunteer programme aims to train up local University students to become Marine Conservation Leaders. Through various marine and footprint related training workshops, voluntary services on different conservation and education works in WWF-Hong Kong, it is expected the trained leaders’ marine conservation knowledge and different interpersonal skills will be enhanced.

Objectives:

• To build up the participants’ awareness and knowledge on marine environmental issues through workshops, hands-on experience and site visits;
• To facilitate their attitude change towards a green and sustainable lifestyle and
• To empower them as change agents and multipliers to spread the messages about marine conservation and sustainable lifestyle to a wider public.

2. Programme Content

2.1 Training Workshops
6 workshops will be provided to let participants have an in-depth understanding of general and marine environmental issues such as the concept of ecological footprint and sustainable seafood. Participants are expected to attend ALL workshops.

2.2 Voluntary Work
To enable participants to have a better understanding on WWF’s conservation and education works and to become a trained marine conservation leader, all participants are expected to contribute at least 50 service hours (outside training time) on various types of voluntary work for WWF-Hong Kong. 

2.3 Group Project
In order to apply the knowledge gained in the workshops, participants are required, in group of 6 to 7 people, to develop group projects to disseminate the marine conservation message to the wider community. 

2.4 Advanced Training
At the end of this programme, the 4 most outstanding participants will be selected by interview, and they would be able to attend an advanced training -- Open water scuba diving course, which would be conducted by a certified and experienced dive instructor.

2.5 Language
All training workshops will be conducted in Cantonese.

2.6 Acknowledgement
Participants who meet the following criteria will be rewarded a certificate of appreciation:

1. Workshop attendance rate: 80% or above
2. Contribute at least 50 hours of voluntary services, and
3. Complete a group project to disseminate marine conservation messages.

3. Application Details 

3.1 Application

• Return the completed and signed application form to WWF-Hong Kong by email to volunteers@wwf.org.hk.
• Application deadline: 30 September, 2013 (Monday)

3.2 Interview and Results Announcement

• Suitable applicants will be informed to attend an interview in early October.
• Successful interviewees will be notified by email in mid-October.

3.3 Deposit

• Selected applicants need to submit $800 deposit. It will be refunded upon completion of 80% training workshops, group project and 50 service hours.

4. Enquiries
Please contact WWF staff Mr. Chung for any enquires.
Tel. No.: 2526-1011 (> 2 > 2 > 4 > 2)
Email: volunteers@wwf.org.hk

For more information: 

http://www.wwf.org.hk/en/?10040/Marine-Conservation-Leadership-Training-Programme

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Events: Walk For Nature organized by WWF (HK) on 9, 10 Nov 2013

Walk For Nature 2013

“Walk For Nature” is an annual fundraising event held in Hong Kong’s iconic Mai Po Nature Reserve. Participants gather sponsorship and walk a set route around the Reserve, which is located in the Inner Deep Bay wetlands. In 1995, Mai Po was declared a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The Reserve provides habitat for many species of both flora and fauna, and has a worldwide reputation as being a “paradise for birds”.

Event date:	9 November – 10 November 2013 (Saturday and Sunday) (Participants can choose to attend one of the two days)
Time:	9:00AM – 6:00PM
Location:	Mai Po Nature Reserve

Mai Po, a story 30 years in the making

2013 marks the 30th anniversary of WWF-Hong Kong’s management of Mai Po Nature Reserve. Marked by decades of hard work and dedication, our conservation efforts have helped conserve the unique ecology of this exceptionally important wetland. This year’s Walk For Nature will celebrate and mark this special occasion with the public and capture important milestones in the history of the Reserve’s conservation.

Conservation

In 1983, WWF-Hong Kong began managing Mai Po Nature Reserve, implementing a number of conservation projects designed to protect the Reserve’s many fish ponds, gei wai, intertidal mudflats, mangroves, reed beds and freshwater ponds. In 2001, the conservation work took on a new dimension, as the conservation work began to focus on conserving Hong Kong’s section of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), a vital flight route for migratory waterbirds. The EAAF begins at the Arctic Circle and runs through Southeast Asia all the way to Australia and New Zealand. Mai Po is situated roughly in the centre of the flyway. Every year, migratory birds conduct their long journeys south and stop at Mai Po to rest and recharge before they continue their voyage.

Education and Interaction

In 1986, WWF established the Wildlife Education Centre at Mai Po Nature Reserve. Later, in 1991, the addition of the Peter Scott Field Studies Centre allowed us to provide a complete facility offering guided tour services to students and the general public. These improved facilities also benefit scientists and professionals, allowing them to conduct more efficient and effective research and related studies.

In 2011, the State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China invited WWF staff to interact with wetland management personnel in Mainland China in order to improve their conservation work. Thanks to 30 years of determination and hard work, Mai Po has now become one of the world’s leading wetland conservation and education centres.

For more information: http://www.wwf.org.hk/en/getinvolved/walkfornature/

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HK's Updates: WWF Applauds Government for Issuing Shark Fin and Bluefin Tuna Internal Ban (13 Sep 2013)

WWF Applauds Government for Issuing Shark Fin and Bluefin Tuna Internal Ban

Posted 13 September 2013


© WWF-Canon / Juergen Freund


© WWF-Canon / Michael SUTTON

WWF-Hong Kong applauds the HKSAR Government for issuing a shark fin and bluefin tuna internal ban for their official dining today. We see it as a bold and encouraging step taken by the Government on the conservation of sharks and bluefin tuna. WWF hopes that more people would support this action by not consuming or serving shark fin and bluefin tuna, and support choosing sustainable seafood. We also hope that the Government can continue to show its support by improving trade transparency and extending relevant international conventions into Hong Kong. 

Shark fin ban 
The number of shark species being listed either on The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has been increasing in recent years. According to IUCN, out of 468 shark species, 74 are listed either as “Vulnerable”, “Endangered” or “Critically Endangered”. Annually, up to 73 million sharks are killed to satisfy our enormous demand, and Hong Kong is named as “shark fin capital” as it handles about half of the global trade in shark fin every year. 

Since 2007, WWF-Hong Kong has been promoting and educating the public on shark conservation. We have been engaging caterers and corporations not to serve and consume shark fin respectively. Currently 154 corporates pledged not to consume shark fin and 115 catering businesses pledged to providing shark-free menus. We have been continuously urging the Government to implement the internal ban on shark fin since 2010, thus it is encouraging to receive a positive response from the administration. 

Bluefin tuna ban 
Bluefin tunas are late to mature and aggregate in large groups to feed and reproduce, making them particularly vulnerable to high fishing pressure. The fisheries management is neither comprehensive nor effective, rendering all 3 species of bluefin tunas to face the threat of overfishing. Over the last four decades, the Atlantic bluefin tuna has declined by at least 51% and is now listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List. Its conservation status is similar to that of pandas and tigers. Meanwhile the Southern bluefin tuna adult fish has experienced an 85% decline, resulting in its “Critically Endangered” status. 

In order to conserve the overfished and even endangered bluefin tuna, WWF launched the "Bluefin Saver" campaign in 2009, calling on all consumers and suppliers to avoid consuming and serving the species. Currently 26 restaurants pledged not to serve bluefin tuna. Besides, the DNA study on bluefin tuna conducted by WWF in 2012 revealed that Hong Kong is importing Atlantic bluefin tuna. Extending the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas into Hong Kong is necessary. 

Forging Ahead 
The Government’s internal ban of shark fin and bluefin tuna sends a strong conservation message to the broader society in Hong Kong. WWF applauds such initiatives and at the same time hopes that the action of the Government would not stop here. It should continue striving for sustainable use of marine resources. Mr Gavin Edwards, Conservation Director of WWF-Hong Kong said, “Currently in the market we have no way to know what species of sharks are involved in the shark fin trade and we may unknowingly consume a lot of endangered species. This commitment to ban shark fin from their dining tables is an excellent opportunity for Government to improve transparency of the trade and monitoring by collecting and reporting comprehensive shark fin trading data such as species, quantities and country of origins, complemented with DNA testing and random sampling to identify shark species in trade. This also represents an opportunity to extend the ICCAT’s convention to Hong Kong, and to help protect Hong Kong from unknowingly importing illegally caught Atlantic bluefin tuna."

Source: http://www.wwf.org.hk/en/?10160/WWF-Applauds-Government-for-Issuing-Shark-Fin--Bluefin-Tuna-Internal-Ban

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Publications: WWF releases Hong Kong Ecological Footprint Report 2013: If everyone in the world lived a Hong Kong lifestyle, 2.6 Earths is needed to fulfil our needs (20 Aug 2013)

WWF releases Hong Kong Ecological Footprint Report 2013: If everyone in the world lived a Hong Kong lifestyle, 2.6 Earths is needed to fulfil our needs

Posted 20 August 2013  |  en  |  zh

There is no denying that Hong Kong is a materialistic society. For this reason, Hong Kong’s Ecological Footprint is considerably larger than the global average. Today, on Earth Overshoot Day, WWF-Hong Kong is releasing the “Hong Kong Ecological Footprint Report 2013”. This report explains and explores the reasons why Hong Kong people are living beyond the Earth’s limits. In a comparison of about 150 countries, Hong Kong was found to have the 26th largest per capita Ecological Footprint. If everyone in the world lived a Hong Kong lifestyle, we would need 2.6 Earths.

According to the report, Hong Kong has an average per person Ecological Footprint of 4.7 global hectares (gha), which is a staggering 150 times more than the 0.03 gha of Hong Kong’s available per capita biocapacity. The difference between the two figures means we are in “ecological deficit”. This deficit is the ninth largest in the world and the second-largest in Asia. The report predicts that if the situation remains unchanged in the future, by the middle of this century, we will need the equivalent resources of 3 Earths to satisfy our daily needs.

Mr CW Cheung, Head of the Footprint Programme of WWF-Hong Kong explained, “Hong Kong has always been reliant on the natural resources of other countries. Since ecological deficit is a growing problem around the world, there is increasing competition for global resources. Hong Kong has to make changes and adapt to the rules of this “new game”, to make us less vulnerable to fluctuations in global market prices and supply disruption. We hope that the Government, corporations and individuals can begin to take responsibility and adopt a “consume less, consume wisely” approach. This will reduce Hong Kong’s Ecological Footprint and also strengthen Hong Kong's competitive advantage.”

“Running significant biocapacity deficits is becoming more and more of a risk to economies in a world in overshoot,” said Global Footprint Network President Mathis Wackernagel. “With its innovation power and many efficiency advantages, Hong Kong has the potential to take the lead in sustainable development. This is not only good for the world, but it gives Hong Kong a distinct advantage and ensures economic stability.”

The report also shows that the consumption of goods is responsible for one-fourth of Hong Kong’s total Ecological Footprint, and is by far the largest single contributing sector to the Footprint. To learn 

more about the consumption habits of Hong Kong people, WWF-Hong Kong recently conducted an online “Hong Kong Clothing Consumption Survey” in August, 2013. The results of the survey show that almost 80 percent of respondents do not believe that they buy more clothes than they need; while over 80 percent knew that the manufacturing of clothes is associated with negative environmental impacts, and agree that they would buy fewer clothes if they knew that the manufacture of clothes negatively affected the environment. The survey findings show that Hong Kong people’s perception of the relationship between shopping and the environment is enormously different from what they actually do in their real lives.

Ms Leila Chan, an independent journalist and author of a series of green living publications said that it is difficult for Hong Kong people to live sustainably, but some simple practices can help people to practice the “consume less, consume wisely” philosophy. She explained, “Living sustainably does not have to involve personal hardship, simple practices like using recycled plastic bags instead of paper bags and conducting periodic “stocktaking” of our wardrobes from time to time will give us a better idea of what we have and what we do not need. These practices can definitely help us to live sustainably."

Mr Kwok, director of a Hong Kong indoor fish farm added, “All environmentally conscious businesses should consider sustainability in their decision-making. As an indoor fish farm, we include sustainability in every aspect of our daily operation, like using a water recirculation system to reduce the pollution impacts on the environment and partnering with other companies to reduce overall energy use.”

WWF-Hong Kong hopes that this new Hong Kong Ecological Footprint Report will allow Hong Kong people to start thinking about the imbalance between human needs and global resources. We believe now is the time for immediate action from the Hong Kong Government, the business community and individuals. It is time for all of us to “consume less, consume wisely”. We need to turn Hong Kong into a sustainable society, reduce Hong Kong’s Ecological Footprint and reduce our dependence on resources outside our borders.

DOWNLOAD

• 

  Hong Kong Ecological Footprint Report 2013

  PDF 3.33 MB

For more information: 

http://www.wwf.org.hk/en/?9980/WWF-releases-Hong-Kong-Ecological-Footprint-Report-2013-If-everyone-in-the-world-lived-a-Hong-Kong-lifestyle-26-Earths-is-needed-to-fulfil-our-needs

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HK's Updates: BirdLife International Award Recognizes WWF’s Conservation Achievements (24 Jul 2013)

BirdLife International Award Recognizes WWF’s Conservation Achievements

Posted 24 July 2013  |  en  |  zh

WWF-Hong Kong and the Mai Po Management Committee are honored to be the first-ever Hong Kong conservation organization to receive the BirdLife International Conservation Achievement Award. Presented in June, 2013, the award recognizes WWF and other conservation organizations’ efforts and achievements in protecting the endangered Black-faced spoonbill. The latest census has revealed a global population of over 2,700 birds, almost a ten-fold increase from a low of 288 individuals recorded in 1988-1990.

Underlining the robust cooperation that has taken place between Hong Kong and Taiwan, the two most important wintering sites for the Black-faced spoonbill, the award was also presented to the following parties from Taiwan: the Forestry Bureau of the Council of Agriculture, the Construction and Planning Agency of the Ministry of the Interior, the City of Tainan and Taijiang National Park

In 1988-1990, the first international census of the Black-faced spoonbill found a global population of just 288 individuals, and the species was considered at risk of extinction. Mai Po held the second-largest wintering population, with 50 birds present; while Taiwan hosted the largest wintering population. 

Conservation action since then has involved research into the species’ wintering habitat requirements, migration routes and breeding sites. Satellite tracking of birds from Hong Kong has proved to be important for the identification of their breeding grounds in Korea, which were found to be mostly in the demilitarized zone. Work on restoring and enhancing wetland habitats for the Black-faced spoonbill has also taken place at Mai Po and other sites.

After about 20 years of conservation work, the 2013 census revealed a global population of 2,725 birds, almost ten times the 1990 figure. Mai Po still supports the second-largest wintering population: around 350-400 birds winter in Hong Kong each year; more than the total global population in 1990. A population increase has also been seen at other wetland sites along the coast of China, including nature reserves at Haifeng, Zhangjiangkou and the Minjiang Estuary, where WWF Hong Kong has worked with the reserve authorities and local communities to improve waterbird protection and wetland management.

Although the future for Black-faced spoonbill is now considered to be more secure, they are still listed as an Endangered species on the IUCN’s Red List. WWF aims to continue its conservation work and provide Black-faced spoonbills with a high-quality habitat long in the future.

For more information: 

http://www.wwf.org.hk/en/?9780/BirdLife-International-Award-Recognizes-WWFs-conservation-Achievements#

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WWF: Global Tiger Day: Are we on track towards doubling wild tiger numbers? (29 Jul 2013)

Global Tiger Day: Are we on track towards doubling wild tiger numbers?

Posted on 29 July 2013

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia/Jakarta – As we celebrate Global Tiger Day and await imminent news from Nepal’s recently completed national tiger survey, WWF calls on governments of tiger range countries to commit to a series of global wild tiger counts. Three comprehensive counts, in 2016, 2020 and 2022, is the minimum required to track progress towards the goal of doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022, known as TX2. Thorough and repeat counts are the only definitive way the world will know the success or failure of TX2.

2016 is the mid-point between the St. Petersburg Declaration where the 13 tiger range countries committed to TX2 and the 2022 end-point for bringing wild tiger numbers up to 6000. Governments of the 13 tiger range countries endorsed the St. Petersburg Declaration and committed to the TX2 goal at the high-level Tiger Summit, hosted by the Russian Government and The World Bank in 2010.
“Tiger range countries have set an ambitious goal in TX2 and WWF is committed alongside them to make it a reality,” said Mike Baltzer, Leader of WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative. “To know global tiger population numbers will be to know where we are with TX2 and will help understand what else we need to do together to put tigers in a safe place by 2022.”

Determining the exact number of tigers in the wild is difficult as they are notoriously elusive and inhabit often remote and rugged terrain. For many countries, carrying out tiger counts has been prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. However with improved survey techniques and equipment, particularly cheaper and more durable camera traps, countries are more enabled to carry out these counts.

Using these techniques, India and Nepal have for the first time conducted a joint survey in the Terai Arc Landscape that spans the two countries. Conducted early this year and covering protected areas, critical forest corridors, community forests, reserve forests and buffer zones, the joint effort marks a milestone in Indo-Nepal trans-boundary wildlife research and monitoring collaboration. The Nepal Government will be releasing results of the survey from areas within its Terai Arc Landscape boundary today, and a joint tiger status report will be issued later in the year.

The two countries together with Russia are continuously assessing their wild tiger populations with results indicating that tiger numbers in those countries are beginning to stabilise, if not increase. While this indicates we are on track towards TX2 in some countries, the same may or may not hold true in the other tiger range countries.

“It is critical for the success of reaching TX2 that we know tiger numbers and their distribution in all 13 tiger range countries,” said Mr. Baltzer. “Determining the global tiger population in 2016 and 2020 will promote the TX2 goal, renew global focus and mobilize resources to boost populations in sites that are lagging behind. This is critical in making the 2022 goal a reality and therefore the survival of the tiger.”

Experts from each tiger range country would need to agree on, as soon as possible, the methods and approaches to make this the first truly global census of wild tigers. Additionally, significant resources will need to be sourced and allocated for the task in each country. Survey results should then be the focus of a major high-level meeting of government heads that would entail an acknowledgement of progress, or lack thereof, and a re-commitment made towards TX2 at the half-way point.

 

Notes to Editors

• The 13 tiger range countries had agreed on creating Global Tiger Day at the Tiger Summit, held in November 2010 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Celebrated annually on 29 July, it aims to raise awareness of and support for conservation of wild tigers.

• Several countries are observing Global Tiger Day with a number of activities. They include: 

• Bhutan: WWF and the Department of Forests & Park Services under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, will celebrate Tiger Day at Norbuling Middle Secondary School in Sarpang district in the south of Bhutan, which contains several protected areas – Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park and Royal Manas National Park. There will be a host of activities, including cultural performances and art and ski competitions, under the theme “Empowering Local Communities for Tiger Conservation”. Local communities, school children, teachers, monks, the business community, heads of institutions, counterparts from India, as well as multi-profile dignitaries, will join in the celebration.

• China: The State Forestry Administration of China, with support from WWF China and other agencies, will hold the “International Workshop for Transboundary Conservation of Tiger and Other Endangered Species, and the Strategy of Combating Illegal Wildlife Trade” on Global Tiger Day till World Ranger Day on 31 July, in Kunming. 

• India: WWF India is holding five events simultaneously in four tiger landscapes to honour the forest guards highlighted in the Cards4tigers action (www.panda.org/cards4tigers), as well as raise awareness of the vital and challenging work they do for tiger conservation. All the events will be held jointly with the local state Forest Departments. For instance, in Arunachal Pradesh, the Parliamentary Secretary (Department of Science and Technology) and Divisional Forest Officer of the Pakke Tiger Reserve will present postcards received from around the world to the Reserve’s Strike Force. They will also be given drawings and essays done by four schools in the state. In Mandla District of the Satpuda Maikal Landscape, a rally will be held to raise awareness about the work that forest guards are doing, followed by day long activities with school and college students.

• Nepal: A high-level meeting will be held with the National Tiger Conservation Committee (NTCC), chaired by Prime Minister Khil Raj Regmi, for a briefing on the results from the recently concluded tiger count in the Terai Arc Landscape. It will be followed by a media event in Kathmandu, the capital city, to officially release the results by the Government of Nepal. WWF Nepal is a member of the NTCC. It will launch a special photo story, “A day in the life of a tiger tracker”, and a PSA (public service announcement) featuring popular local actor and WWF Nepal’s Goodwill Ambassador, Rajesh Hamal, urging the public to take action against wildlife crime. 

• UK: July sees the launch of a partnership between Whiskas®, the UK’s number 1 cat care brand, and WWF-UK. Through the charity activation, which is the biggest in Whiskas’ history, Whiskas will support WWF’s global tiger conservation efforts.  As part of the campaign, a donation from every special pack of Whiskas sold will go towards helping to protect wild tigers. Across the coming year, the funds raised by Whiskas will have a particular focus on supporting the daily work of WWF in the Terai Arc region of Nepal as well as providing much needed funds for our global Tigers Alive initiative. For more visit https://www.whiskas.co.uk/wwf/

For further information: 
Soh-Koon Chng, WWF Tigers Alive Initiative, +65 9772 2552,skchng@wwf.org.my

Source: 

http://www.wwf.or.id/en/news_facts/press_release/?29080/Global-Tiger-Day-Meningkatkan-Harapan-bagi-Harimau-Sumatera

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