The ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity 2009 (ACB 2009) was held from 21 to 23 Oct 09 at Republic Polytechnic, Singapore. Organized by ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and NParks, the theme was Biodiversity in Focus: 2010 and beyond. (acb2009.aseanbiodiversity.org)

"There is no choice but to conserve, if humanity is to survive", said ACB Keynote Speaker, Dr Aaron Bernstein, Faculty Member at the Center for Health and Global Environment at Harvard Medical School. His urgent message was summarized on the ACB 2009 Bulletin dated 22 Oct 09: "HIV, SARS, Nipah virus and other diseases have broken out as a result of biodiversity loss. The current rate of extinction has not been seen for the past 65 million years."
Cicada Tree Eco-Place (CTEP) participated in the exhibition at ACB 2009 with an outreach booth showcasing our environmental programmes, which promote local and regional biodiversity, and eco-living. Striking images of Singapore's biodiversity were displayed together with pertinent pictures of our MAD (Make a Difference) Lessons for Wildlife.

More importantly, Cicada Tree Eco-Place (CTEP) launched our new conservation campaign highlighting the plight of pangolins in South East Asia. Posters designed by CTEP and headlined "Poaching of Pangolins is Wiping Out Southeast Asia's Scaly Anteater" were given out to delegates and visitors by CTEP and campaign partners.



The pangolin conservation project was initiated by Cicada Tree Eco-Place (CTEP), Nature's Niche, Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES) and the Vertebrate Study Group of Nature Society (Singapore), and is in support of TRAFFIC - the wildlife trade monitoring network. The launch is only the beginning of a planned year-long campaign that will include an online pledge to make a difference for pangolins, Eco-art exhibition centering on scaly anteaters, and fund-raising gala dinner event.

Volunteers of CTEP also wore campaign tee-shirts that shouted:

Protect our precious biodiversity.
Save our unique toothless anteater.
Act now to stop the massive illegal
trade in pangolin meat and scales.

Response to the launch of the pangolin campaign from staff of ASEAN-WEN (South East Asian Nations Wildlife Enforcement Network and FREELAND (Foundation for Human Rights and Wildlife), both of which are based in Bangkok, was that they were exceedingly glad to find Singapore NGOs proactively supporting the Southeast Asian conservation cause.

CTEP hopes to exchange information and learn from such organizations in the combat to reduce pangolin trafficking, and to help save the Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanicus) and other Asian pangolins before it is too late.



Increased demand and exploitation of pangolins are wiping out wild populations in the forests of Southeast Asia. Recent seizures in multiple tonnes of pangolin scales indicate the severe plight of our pangolins. Pangolins breed one young a time and wild populations are being decimated by massive poaching and hunting for pangolin meat and scales.



The situation is very grave as moreover, our pangolins together with over 20% of Earth's wildlife species that call ASEAN countries their home, are confronted with habitat loss and are impacted by climate change.

An example of climate change impact is carbon dioxide absorbed by the oceans, causing increased acidification (oceans going sour) and affecting corals, phytoplankton and marine eco-systems. Human activities, such as deforestation and release of greenhouse gases by not only industries but individuals like you and I, are causing climate change and thereby expediting biodiversity loss at a frightening rate.

What I took away from the conference was the somber and burning message from Dr Andreas Fischlin, Member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): "Climate change impacts on biodiversity show that 20% to 30% of higher plants and animals are at high risk of extinction if there is a 1.5 to 2.5 degree Celsius rise in temperature." In plain language, if we human beings carry on Business-As-Usual (BAU), we will be looking at mass extinction of species in the not too far future.

Act now to make a difference for Pangolins and humanity.


Cicada Tree Eco-place would like to give special thanks to:

Nparks and ACB 2009 organizers for extending an exhibition booth and thus giving us the invaluable opportunity to launch our pangolin conservation campaign, showcase our programmes and network. Thanks Wei Ling and team!

Colour Xpress for kind sponsorship and excellent printing of campaign posters. Thanks much Chris!

TRAFFIC for information on plight of Asian pangolins, and related illegal trade. www.traffic.com

All volunteers who helped at CTEP booth: Arlene Bastion, Irene Ong, Vilma d'Rozario, Andrew Tay, Celine Low, Teresa Teo Guttensohn and Tia Guttensohn

http://www.traffic.org/home/2009/7/14/toothless-laws-encourage-rising-demand-for-asian-pangolins.html

http://www.traffic.org/home/2009/8/28/pangolins-saved-from-slaughter.html

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/26kot/Article/index_html