Environment in South Africa

  • To save famous park’s rhino, dehorning being considered

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2017/04/26  IT WOULD have been unthinkable just a few years ago that rhinos would be dehorned for their own protection in a park as large and famous as the HluhluweiMfolozi Park in KwaZuluNatal. The 96 000ha park is the province’s flagship Large Five reserve and is often referred to as the “cradle” of African rhino conservation. This is the park where a tiny remnant people of Africa’s southern white rhino species was rescued from world extinction just over a century ago. From a people of just 50 or so survivors in the 1890s, these animals were guarded carefully by the former Natal Parks Board and multiplied slowly to reach just over 20 000 a decade ago. POACHERS RESORT TO ANYTHING: Rhino horns hidden in the engine compartment of a car by poachers, poaching dropped in the Kruger National Park by almost 20% last year while the killing rate in KZN shot up by 38% in 2016.
  • South Africa: Landmark Court Ruling On Climate Change

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2017/03/12 The Department of Environmental Affairs erred in granting authorisation for the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power station in Limpopo without initial having established what impact it would have on climate change, the North Gauteng High Court has ruled. The court as well said Environment Minister Edna Molewa, who had recognised this shortcoming, erred by nevertheless upholding her department's decision rather than overturning it next the public had lodged an appeal.
  • Fighting drought with orange peels: S. African girl, 16, wins Google award

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2016/10/29 For her scientific innovation aimed at combating drought in her native South Africa, a 16-year old girl, Kiara Nirghin, has been adjudged winner of the Google Science equitable. Her innovation is aimed at retaining soil water and combating the effects of drought on crops by retaining soil moisture, whilst still recycling waste products of the juice manufacturing industry. What was her project about?
  • South African summer to be hotter than normal amid drought

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2016/10/03 Severe drought conditions are still afflicting most of South Africa and temperatures are expected to remain above normal until mid-summer, which would be around December, the national weather service said on Monday.
  • South Africa: Rain Gives Hope to Struggling Free State Farmers

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2016/01/13 Tears and prayers flowed as parts of the drought-stricken Free National received some much-needed rain on Monday. "Hierdie boervrou se trane het klaar die reënmeter vol (This farmer's wife's tears have by instantly filled the rain gauge)," wrote Annelize le Roux on the Facebook page Boere in Nood (Farmers in Need). Morne Myburgh posted a video clip of rain on the Winburg-Senekal road, saying "Praise God".
  • Working Together For Migratory Birds And People Across Africa And Eurasia

    BOTSWANA, 2015/11/17 One lesson that has been well and truly learned in nature conservation is that for policies to be really effective nations have to collaborate to address common problems. Within the UN system it is as well recognized that this applies to the different Programmes, Conventions and Agreements set up over the years. That each of these bodies has a distinct niche and a clear role does not justify a bunker mentality. By synergizing, cooperating and collaborating they can find common cause with natural allies and seek compromises with those whose agendas do not necessarily match their own. AEWA, the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, is a prime example of an organization that embodies this approach.
  • Hunting in Africa - to Ban or Not to Ban Is the Question

    BOTSWANA, 2015/07/21 Hunting has long been a highly controversial activity, whether as a sport (leisure or recreational), for commercial purposes or if done for cultural reasons. African nations that legalise hunting activities experience scrutiny around their conservation efforts, and how much money they make from it. Trophy hunting, which is offered in 23 sub-Saharan African nations, generates an estimated US$201 million per year. Out of the 23 nations taking part in legal hunting activities, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa have the majority effective controls and the highest levels of transparency.
  • Non-Motorised Transport Network launched in Durban

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2014/10/06 Echoing the vision of the City of Curitiba, Brazil, at the launch of the eThekwini’s Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) Network at the Green Hub in Durban the Mayor of the eThekwini Municipality, James Nxumal, stated that the city “is a city for people and not a city for cars”. Nxumal maintained the city’s “commitment for the development of public transport infrastructure plans to harness people power to propel themselves forward.” A lot of cities throughout the world that have improved their transportation infrastructure by creating sustainable integrated rapid public transport networks have included a Non-Motorised Transport component option.
  • 'Southern Africa could be hardest hit by rising temperatures'

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2013/09/05 Southern Africa could be the hardest hit by rising temperatures from climate change, leaving a lot of to wonder what this means for agriculture and challenging questions for policymakers, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) said in its new book. The book, entitled “Southern African Agriculture and Climate Change”, intends to help the region understand what may be in store and what to do about it, offers an analysis of the impact of climate change on the area’s agriculture, inclunding full-colour maps illustrating a variety of scenarios for eight of the region’s nations -- Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
  • SA Banks embracing Sustainability Development and Going Green

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2013/06/01 South African Banks have started to incorporate the concept of sustainability building into their business and are working with communities in the push towards going green. In emerging markets, banks have started to move away from mere corporate philanthropy and simple community projects. An increasing number of financial institutions are presently marching to the beat of sustainability and are embracing sustainability financing.