Tuesday, January 5, 2010
UNIVERSITI Brunei Darussalam (UBD) should conduct a research on the effects of climate change to tropical rainforests, as little research is being done on the subject, said an expert from National University Singapore ( NUS) yesterday.
Professor Dr Richard T Corlett, professor of Terrestrial Ecology and Conservation from NUS Department of Biological Sciences said: "Very little work has been done in the tropics. One thing that would be very good for the university here to work on would be in predicting the effects of global warming on its biodiversity."
Professor Dr Corlett is an invited speaker at the Asia Europe Meeting (Asem) workshop on climate change from January 4-14.
"For instance, we don't know how a four-degree rise in temperature could affect the biodiversity in Brunei. Will it affect them greatly, or even kill them?"
"This will be an ideal place to do that sort of research," he said, adding that global climate change was going to affect everyone.
"That is the one that you should worry about and work on, " he told The Brunei Times on the sidelines of the workshop for university students from 24 countries at UBD.
Professor Dr Corlett who presented a paper on Climate change and other threats to tropical rainforests: Which should worry us most? said the major threats over the last 34 years was deforestation (for agriculture), logging and hunting.
"Global warming is going to make all these things worse, even in areas like Brunei where you protect your forests," he said.
He said that we don't really know the effect of global warming on tropical rainforests.
"Unfortunately we have little data on this. Brunei will certainly get at least two degrees warmer this century, but it would probably be three, four, five and six degrees warmer. Tropical forests have not experienced temperatures like this since several million years ago," he added.
He went on to say that there has been very little evidence on what effects it would have.
"Protecting your forests doesn't protect Brunei from global change. Brunei is still going to be affected by global changes. Changes which it is not responsible for."
If you keep your forests intact, it will give you some degree of protection," Professor Dr Corlett said.
For the rest of the countries in the region, the effects of climate change will interact with the effects of deforestation and logging, he added.
The workshop is a collaborative effort between Kuala Belalong Fields Studies Centre and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Brunei Times
Professor Dr Richard T Corlett, professor of Terrestrial Ecology and Conservation from NUS Department of Biological Sciences said: "Very little work has been done in the tropics. One thing that would be very good for the university here to work on would be in predicting the effects of global warming on its biodiversity."
Professor Dr Corlett is an invited speaker at the Asia Europe Meeting (Asem) workshop on climate change from January 4-14.
"For instance, we don't know how a four-degree rise in temperature could affect the biodiversity in Brunei. Will it affect them greatly, or even kill them?"
"This will be an ideal place to do that sort of research," he said, adding that global climate change was going to affect everyone.
"That is the one that you should worry about and work on, " he told The Brunei Times on the sidelines of the workshop for university students from 24 countries at UBD.
Professor Dr Corlett who presented a paper on Climate change and other threats to tropical rainforests: Which should worry us most? said the major threats over the last 34 years was deforestation (for agriculture), logging and hunting.
"Global warming is going to make all these things worse, even in areas like Brunei where you protect your forests," he said.
He said that we don't really know the effect of global warming on tropical rainforests.
"Unfortunately we have little data on this. Brunei will certainly get at least two degrees warmer this century, but it would probably be three, four, five and six degrees warmer. Tropical forests have not experienced temperatures like this since several million years ago," he added.
He went on to say that there has been very little evidence on what effects it would have.
"Protecting your forests doesn't protect Brunei from global change. Brunei is still going to be affected by global changes. Changes which it is not responsible for."
If you keep your forests intact, it will give you some degree of protection," Professor Dr Corlett said.
For the rest of the countries in the region, the effects of climate change will interact with the effects of deforestation and logging, he added.
The workshop is a collaborative effort between Kuala Belalong Fields Studies Centre and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Brunei Times
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Wednesday, January 6, 2010
CLIMATE change has evidently affected vertebrate populations in the tropics, particularly in Borneo where ecological communities are expected to move upward in both elevation and latitude.
Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Ulmar Grafe said environmental issues such as habitat alteration, pollution, agriculture, logging, forest fires and other various stressors have posed threats to Borneo's tropical diversity.
Grafe highlighted this during the second day of the Asem Workshop 2010 at the university's Chancellor Hall yesterday.
During the second session of the workshop which primarily discussed biodiversity, forest ecosystem and functions, Grafe presented his research on the biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles and assessing responses to climate change in vertebrates.
He said that some of the recent climate models which have been presented by various speakers at the workshop so far have predicted that temperatures in the tropics have been increasing from two to even six degrees, and if that is going to happen, then that will have great effect on the local species richness.
"What these predictions mean to us is that we're going to lose many of these interesting species which are unique to Brunei and Borneo."
Borneo is a biodiversity hotspot, home to a rich frog fauna with only limited similarity to other land masses within Sundaland. There are 160 different species of frogs in Borneo, with 100 of them native to the island.
"Many of these species of frogs might have medicinal value to us. Frog skin has the potential elements that might have miracle cure against cancer. If we lose these species as a result from climate change, that will be a great loss."
He added, "One of the problems we're facing is that we're on an island, and the species cannot move north to track cooler temperatures, so the only place they can go is up the hill. Unfortunately, Brunei doesn't even have that many hills."
Climate change models predict increased variability in the timing and amount of precipitation.
Terrestrial vertebrates most at risk are species with small geographic ranges, narrow physiological tolerances, limited dispersal abilities, and strict habitat requirements. For mammals, shifts in abundances and distribution are being predicted mostly for species in northern latitudes.
"As ectothermic vertebrates, amphibians and reptiles are particularly sensitive to and respond strongly to changes in variability of air and water temperature, precipitation, and the length of time in which water is available," he said.
He further elaborated several factors which influence the degree to which amphibians and reptiles respond to climate change: changes in local environmental and habitat conditions; timing of reproduction, dispersal and migration; interactions with emerging pathogens and invasive species and; interactions with other environmental stressors. Grafe has spent many years researching behavioural ecology, population ecology and physiological ecology of vertebrates. He is particularly interested in monitoring amphibian and reptile populations in tropical forests.
The Brunei Times
Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Ulmar Grafe said environmental issues such as habitat alteration, pollution, agriculture, logging, forest fires and other various stressors have posed threats to Borneo's tropical diversity.
Grafe highlighted this during the second day of the Asem Workshop 2010 at the university's Chancellor Hall yesterday.
During the second session of the workshop which primarily discussed biodiversity, forest ecosystem and functions, Grafe presented his research on the biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles and assessing responses to climate change in vertebrates.
He said that some of the recent climate models which have been presented by various speakers at the workshop so far have predicted that temperatures in the tropics have been increasing from two to even six degrees, and if that is going to happen, then that will have great effect on the local species richness.
"What these predictions mean to us is that we're going to lose many of these interesting species which are unique to Brunei and Borneo."
Borneo is a biodiversity hotspot, home to a rich frog fauna with only limited similarity to other land masses within Sundaland. There are 160 different species of frogs in Borneo, with 100 of them native to the island.
"Many of these species of frogs might have medicinal value to us. Frog skin has the potential elements that might have miracle cure against cancer. If we lose these species as a result from climate change, that will be a great loss."
He added, "One of the problems we're facing is that we're on an island, and the species cannot move north to track cooler temperatures, so the only place they can go is up the hill. Unfortunately, Brunei doesn't even have that many hills."
Climate change models predict increased variability in the timing and amount of precipitation.
Terrestrial vertebrates most at risk are species with small geographic ranges, narrow physiological tolerances, limited dispersal abilities, and strict habitat requirements. For mammals, shifts in abundances and distribution are being predicted mostly for species in northern latitudes.
"As ectothermic vertebrates, amphibians and reptiles are particularly sensitive to and respond strongly to changes in variability of air and water temperature, precipitation, and the length of time in which water is available," he said.
He further elaborated several factors which influence the degree to which amphibians and reptiles respond to climate change: changes in local environmental and habitat conditions; timing of reproduction, dispersal and migration; interactions with emerging pathogens and invasive species and; interactions with other environmental stressors. Grafe has spent many years researching behavioural ecology, population ecology and physiological ecology of vertebrates. He is particularly interested in monitoring amphibian and reptile populations in tropical forests.
The Brunei Times
_____________________________________________________
Thursday, January 7, 2010
PARTICIPANTS of the Asem (Asia-Europe Meeting) Workshop 2010, went on a tour of some of Brunei tourist hotspots yesterday.
The group visited the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah, the Royal Regalia, followed by a visit to Kampong Ayer and a quick stop outside the Istana Nurul Iman.
Katherine Budd from the United Kingdom (UK) is not only on on her first trip to Brunei, but her first trip to Asia.
Her favourite part of the trip was the visit to Kampong Ayer, Brunei's "Venice of the East".
"It's amazing to see the other cultures and the way they live on the water, we even had a chance to go into one of the houses for tea," she said.
However, the trip was not the only opportunity she and others from the workshop have had to explore the country.
"We like the night time because it's where we get to explore the area (Gadong). I've been to the night market, I'm keen on trying durian, regardless of the reviews I've had," said Budd. "One of the places we have yet to visit is the beaches."
Budd added that with regards to biodiversity Brunei had much to offer. "In the UK, biodiversity is minimal, in Brunei you could be driving down the road and it's all around you."
Whilst Budd said that it was her first real experience of the city and she wanted to see more of it, she was most keen on visiting the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC) in Temburong, which Asem participants will be heading off to for four days.
Ginny Benardout, also from the UK in commenting Brunei's infrastructure said: "I've been to Sabah and the difference in development is obvious. The infrastructure here is amazing." She specifically referred to Istana Nurul Iman.
Benardout however said that she was disappointed at the level of pollution that was obvious in the Brunei River.
She further enquired as to the culture of living on the river.
"I wonder if anyone has thought about the implications of rising sea levels. High tides coupled with rising seas would make it almost impossible to live there."
Both, Budd and Benardout, added that they were very lucky to be one of the three members of the delegation from the UK, adding that Brunei held much interest for them.
Budd is a graduate in Ecology and Conservation, while Benardout studying environmental geography.
The Brunei Times
The group visited the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah, the Royal Regalia, followed by a visit to Kampong Ayer and a quick stop outside the Istana Nurul Iman.
Katherine Budd from the United Kingdom (UK) is not only on on her first trip to Brunei, but her first trip to Asia.
Her favourite part of the trip was the visit to Kampong Ayer, Brunei's "Venice of the East".
"It's amazing to see the other cultures and the way they live on the water, we even had a chance to go into one of the houses for tea," she said.
However, the trip was not the only opportunity she and others from the workshop have had to explore the country.
"We like the night time because it's where we get to explore the area (Gadong). I've been to the night market, I'm keen on trying durian, regardless of the reviews I've had," said Budd. "One of the places we have yet to visit is the beaches."
Budd added that with regards to biodiversity Brunei had much to offer. "In the UK, biodiversity is minimal, in Brunei you could be driving down the road and it's all around you."
Whilst Budd said that it was her first real experience of the city and she wanted to see more of it, she was most keen on visiting the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC) in Temburong, which Asem participants will be heading off to for four days.
Ginny Benardout, also from the UK in commenting Brunei's infrastructure said: "I've been to Sabah and the difference in development is obvious. The infrastructure here is amazing." She specifically referred to Istana Nurul Iman.
Benardout however said that she was disappointed at the level of pollution that was obvious in the Brunei River.
She further enquired as to the culture of living on the river.
"I wonder if anyone has thought about the implications of rising sea levels. High tides coupled with rising seas would make it almost impossible to live there."
Both, Budd and Benardout, added that they were very lucky to be one of the three members of the delegation from the UK, adding that Brunei held much interest for them.
Budd is a graduate in Ecology and Conservation, while Benardout studying environmental geography.
The Brunei Times
_____________________________________________________
UBD mulls grants for 'green' courses
UBD mulls grants for 'green' courses
Thursday, January 14, 2010
UNIVERSITI Brunei Darussalam (UBD) is considering offering grants for courses on the environment, UBD Vice Chancellor Dr Hj Zulkarnain Hj Hanafi announced last night.
During his speech at the closing dinner for the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) Workshop, Dr Hj Zulkarnain also said UBD will be increasing its efforts in promoting environmental education and research.
The 10-day workshop on environmental issues was attended by students from throughout Asia and Europe, and included a visit to the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC) in Temburong.
Dr Hj Zulkarnain said that the UBD foresaw a more prominent role for the KBFSC. "We are interested in establishing collaborative projects on climate change, sustainable development and tropical biodiversity under our Belalong initiative," he said.
He invited participants to apply and compete for grants for master's degree and PhD-level research in these topics, stating that the UBD would be "delighted" to offer competitive grants to those who wanted to conduct research on these topics.
The Vice Chancellor also said that UBD would be working with various ministries, agencies and the private sector to gain their support and to have a greater engagement with the community in its efforts to promote environmental education and research.
Dr Hj Zulkarnin said that the topics covered in workshop, such as the impacts of climate change and the monitoring of ecosystem responses to climate change, could easily be a workshop or conference of its own.
"This reflects the huge task facing every community in addressing global climate change," he said.
He went on to thank the organising committee including student volunteers for their hard work.
He also thanked Asem and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their support and guidance. The Brunei Times
During his speech at the closing dinner for the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) Workshop, Dr Hj Zulkarnain also said UBD will be increasing its efforts in promoting environmental education and research.
The 10-day workshop on environmental issues was attended by students from throughout Asia and Europe, and included a visit to the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC) in Temburong.
Dr Hj Zulkarnain said that the UBD foresaw a more prominent role for the KBFSC. "We are interested in establishing collaborative projects on climate change, sustainable development and tropical biodiversity under our Belalong initiative," he said.
He invited participants to apply and compete for grants for master's degree and PhD-level research in these topics, stating that the UBD would be "delighted" to offer competitive grants to those who wanted to conduct research on these topics.
The Vice Chancellor also said that UBD would be working with various ministries, agencies and the private sector to gain their support and to have a greater engagement with the community in its efforts to promote environmental education and research.
Dr Hj Zulkarnin said that the topics covered in workshop, such as the impacts of climate change and the monitoring of ecosystem responses to climate change, could easily be a workshop or conference of its own.
"This reflects the huge task facing every community in addressing global climate change," he said.
He went on to thank the organising committee including student volunteers for their hard work.
He also thanked Asem and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their support and guidance. The Brunei Times
_____________________________________________________
Thursday, January 14, 2010
HER Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah at the closing of the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) Workshop last night called for individuals to take the initiative and make changes in their daily lives in order to help save the environment.
"We all have a duty to secure a better future for the next generation," she said.
"It can start with something as simple as planting a tree, flowers or plants in our gardens and using less paper at school or work, or we can reduce the use of plastics bags, whilst also recycling our waste products and conserving energy and water in our homes and workplaces.
"But above all, we need to lead by example and impart upon our children the importance of preserving our environment and its biodiversity, whether it be tropical rainforests, coral reefs or just the plants and creatures in our gardens and surroundings," said HRH Princess Sarah.
"Every one of us has a role to play, not just in the future but right now, to stop global warming and to decelerate climate change. I firmly believe in the ability of individuals to make a difference and your presence here is a testament to this ability," she said.
HRH went on to say that higher learning institutes played a crucial role in scientific research and knowledge sharing. "Education should be at the forefront of our efforts to increase awareness and promote interest in learning about climate change and the preservation of the natural environment," she said.
"Higher learning institutes like universities have a crucial role and responsibility in not only educating our youths, but also in terms of scientific research and knowledge sharing that will assist nations and their leaders in making well-informed decisions on climate change," she added.
The workshop, entitled "Towards understanding the impact of global climate change on biodiversity and tropical rainforest", was attended by 44 undergraduate students from Asia and Europe, who were given the opportunity to listen to a series of lectures by invited experts in biodiversity studies and climate change and the opportunity to work in Brunei's tropical rainforests.
HRH Princess Sarah commented in her speech that the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Center has attracted the interest of top scholars and students from around the globe to conduct research on biodiversity and rainforests.
"This workshop exemplifies this interest by bringing together young scientists from Asia and Europe to our nation, to learn more on climate change and to gain a deeper understanding of its impact on our planet and to crucial challenges it poses to the world's leaders," she said.
HRH Princess Sarah praised the passion and concern shown by the participants towards the well being of the natural environment, which she said has allowed for the sharing of knowledge and experience among participants in the workshop.
The Brunei Times
"We all have a duty to secure a better future for the next generation," she said.
"It can start with something as simple as planting a tree, flowers or plants in our gardens and using less paper at school or work, or we can reduce the use of plastics bags, whilst also recycling our waste products and conserving energy and water in our homes and workplaces.
"But above all, we need to lead by example and impart upon our children the importance of preserving our environment and its biodiversity, whether it be tropical rainforests, coral reefs or just the plants and creatures in our gardens and surroundings," said HRH Princess Sarah.
"Every one of us has a role to play, not just in the future but right now, to stop global warming and to decelerate climate change. I firmly believe in the ability of individuals to make a difference and your presence here is a testament to this ability," she said.
HRH went on to say that higher learning institutes played a crucial role in scientific research and knowledge sharing. "Education should be at the forefront of our efforts to increase awareness and promote interest in learning about climate change and the preservation of the natural environment," she said.
"Higher learning institutes like universities have a crucial role and responsibility in not only educating our youths, but also in terms of scientific research and knowledge sharing that will assist nations and their leaders in making well-informed decisions on climate change," she added.
The workshop, entitled "Towards understanding the impact of global climate change on biodiversity and tropical rainforest", was attended by 44 undergraduate students from Asia and Europe, who were given the opportunity to listen to a series of lectures by invited experts in biodiversity studies and climate change and the opportunity to work in Brunei's tropical rainforests.
HRH Princess Sarah commented in her speech that the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Center has attracted the interest of top scholars and students from around the globe to conduct research on biodiversity and rainforests.
"This workshop exemplifies this interest by bringing together young scientists from Asia and Europe to our nation, to learn more on climate change and to gain a deeper understanding of its impact on our planet and to crucial challenges it poses to the world's leaders," she said.
HRH Princess Sarah praised the passion and concern shown by the participants towards the well being of the natural environment, which she said has allowed for the sharing of knowledge and experience among participants in the workshop.
The Brunei Times
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