The world’s seed-bearing plants have been disappearing at a rate of nearly 3 species a year since 1900 ― which is up to 500 times higher than would be expected as a result of natural forces alone, according to the largest survey yet of plant extinctions. The project looked at more than 330,000 species and found that plants on islands and in the tropics were the most likely … [Read more...]
Now for responsibly sourced till paper
While the till slip is a relatively insignificant bit of paper in the hands of a shopper, for retailers globally the scale of this paper consumption is huge. The heavyweight impact of Woolworths’ latest ‘responsibly sourced’ commodity announcement to replace their till slip paper with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper involves 211 tonnes of paper per year. The … [Read more...]
Dealing with invasive beetles in Cape Town
The City of Cape Town is ready to deal with an invasive beetle that poses a serious threat to trees in the metropole and surrounding areas. The City’s Recreation and Parks Department, together with the Invasive Species Unit, have put operational plans in place to deal with the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) which has invaded and damaged thousands of trees in other parts of … [Read more...]
Illegal logging returns to Congo forests despite carbon threat
The Congolese Minister of Environment, Amy Ambatobe, has reinstated 6,500 km² of logging concessions that were cancelled in August 2016 by the then Environment Minister Robert Bopolo following instructions from then Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo. The three concessions reinstated on 1 February 2018 were awarded to the Chinese-owned logging companies Forestière pour le … [Read more...]
Writing love letters to our rapidly dwindling forests
This summer, the world lost a Nebraska-size chunk of forests. Logging, expanding palm oil plantations and wildfires are to blame. This continuing deforestation trend could have devastating implications for the climate. Simply put, forests aren’t merely pretty places. We need them. Dense tropical forests keep the climate stable by sucking up large amounts of human carbon … [Read more...]
How do we prevent wildfires in drought-killed forests?
With 17 large wildfires in California igniting in 24 hours this week, October is shaping up to be a brutal month for wildfires, as it often is. It’s too soon to know what caused multiple conflagrations spreading across Northern California’s wine country, but elsewhere in the state dead and dying trees have been the subject of much concern. The five-year drought in California … [Read more...]
Stricter control of invasive species essential in Africa
Invasive alien species harm ecosystems, economies and human health across the globe. In Africa, alien trees reduce water yield in regions that are severely water stressed. Fishes introduced for aquaculture reduce native biodiversity and alien whiteflies spread diseases in cassava that can lead to famine. Many of these species were introduced intentionally for use as pets, … [Read more...]
Join the West Coast reforesting pilgrimage this Arbor Month
Join this exciting Arbor Month pilgrimage and reforest project. We will leave from Woodbridge Island, Milnerton Cape Town on Arbor day 1st September and walk for two days (42km) along our magnificent shore line, spending a night together at accommodation in Melbosstrand. The next day we walk through Koeberg Nature Reserve to Camphill Farm, where we sleep and eat communally … [Read more...]
Vergelegen shares seeds from ancient yellowwood tree
South Africa celebrated Arbor Week during the first week of September, and Vergelegen Estate in Somerset West continued its tradition of offering visitors free seeds from its ancient Outeniqua Yellowwood. Vergelegen’s arboreal specimen of Podocarpaceae, the country’s national tree, is estimated to be 150-400 years old. Some 500 packets of seeds are sourced from it every … [Read more...]
Tree Talk Part 1: A tree in an instant
That planting trees is a good idea is not disputed by many. But which trees and when? We are happy to start a tree series by arborist Caroline de Villiers from Themba Trees to help us all along: Trees are not known for their speed and they sometimes seem out of place in this modern, bustling world of instant gratification. They like to take their time, gradually easing … [Read more...]
World leaders to sign Paris climate agreement on Earth Day
This year, over one billion people in 192 countries will take action to protect our shared environment. All across the globe, in big cities to small villages and everything in-between, people are organizing, demanding climate action, cleaning up their local communities, meeting with their elected officials, planting trees, and teaching their children to protect our … [Read more...]
Pakistan needs 20% more forest for healthy environment
Pakistan needs to raise its forest cover from 5% to 25% to meet its economic, employment and green environment needs. So says Preston Institute of Management Science and Technology’s (PIMSAT) final year students of MBA Syeda Bushra Hasan, Mehwish Saqib and Dinsha Vania. Forests are the source of economic support, employment, oxygen generation, livestock grazing, furniture … [Read more...]
Community collaboration and con-TREE-bution for the next River Rehab
The next Green Beings River Rehab action day will take place at the Klein Jukskei Spruit on 24 October and volunteers are being called to come and help. Green Beings’ on-going River Rehab project positively transforms our waterways. Through collaboration with community and local businesses, our river is cleaned and biodiversity is increased. The event will focus on planting … [Read more...]
