The unprecedented high levels of transboundary haze in Southeast Asia
last year prompted Dr. Zeehan Jaafar, a lecturer at the Department of Biological
Sciences at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Science, and Dr. Tse-Lynn Loh, a postdoctoral research associate at the Daniel P. Haerther
Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium (Chicago, USA), to
critically evaluate the potential impacts of biomass burning and haze to marine
ecosystems in the Southeast Asian region.
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Dr. Jaafar and Dr. Loh call upon scientific institutions,
non-governmental agencies, government bodies and policy-makers in the region to
recognize the importance of the haze as an additional stressor to marine
environments. In addition, they proposed a coordinated regional response plan
for monitoring and studying the impacts of burning and haze to marine
ecosystems. The researchers suggest that gathering this critical baseline
information will enable a more effective management of vital marine ecosystems
in Southeast Asia, and provide a case study to better understand similar
occurrences in other locations around the world.
Crop residue and forests are burnt in many tropical countries to clear
land for agriculture. In Indonesia, annual biomass burning activities cause a
widespread smoke-haze phenomenon that affects human health, quality of life and
incomes locally and in neighboring countries. While the impacts of these
large-scale burning on terrestrial and atmospheric habitats are immediate and
obvious, little is known about how adjacent coastal ecosystems such as coral
reefs, seagrass and mangroves are affected.
Marine ecosystems of Southeast Asia are global hotspots for
biodiversity and supports high levels of endemism. Natural resources derived
from these areas sustain local economies and meet global demands. Yet, many
marine ecosystems in this region are over-exploited and highly threatened. The
reduction in sunlight from the haze, and the mass deposition of particulates
from forest fires into coastal habitats are likely to have a negative impact on
these marine ecosystems. Interactions between these primary impacts are likely
to further damage these already imperiled ecosystems.
Dr. Jaafar, the lead author of the paper, said, “Marine areas are
vast and at the same time, a shared resource. International collaborations for
the long-term monitoring of regional marine ecosystems increase efficiencies,
decrease costs and maximize areas under surveillance. Ensuring the rapid
sharing and dissemination of information is key in managing these threatened
areas.”
“Land,
air and sea are highly interconnected. Being aware of both direct and indirect
impacts to marine habitats help us safeguard these natural resources,”
said Dr. Loh, co-author of the paper.
Read
more at the National
University of Singapore.
Southeast
Asian Haze image via Shutterstock.