In a historic translocation in 2016, Somkhanda Community Game Reserve welcomed a herd of 13 elephants donated by Nambiti Game Reserve. This was hailed as an epic collaboration, as, for the first time, two community owned reserves had successfully worked together to extend elephant range and distribution. This illustrated the importance of community conservation, not only in … [Read more...]
Activist makes a vital difference to vulnerable communities
Outspoken, indefatigable, intrepid, impassioned. These are some of the many words that rightly describe Joanie Fredericks, “activist on the ground” extraordinaire in the community of Tafelsig in Mitchells Plain, on the Cape Flats in the Western Cape. We’re in this together. Extraordinary times require an extraordinary response. Our people and partners have responded by … [Read more...]
Bringing nature back to KwaNobhule
Greening the Community is a collaborative project between Indalo Nursery, Community Conservation Fund Africa and the Wilderness Foundation Africa. It aims to bring nature back to the KwaNobhule township but also to encourage residents to green the space in which they live, their community and ultimately their country and planet. The pivot behind the project is John … [Read more...]
Eco heroes wear masks and make a difference
Each year, the local plastics industry welcomes the arrival of Spring and warmer weather by encouraging citizens to help make a difference where they live, work, learn or play by participating in Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week – an annual public awareness week during which plastics and other litter are removed from our country’s neighbourhoods, rivers, streams, beaches and … [Read more...]
Time to declare this gorilla haven a national park
The Cameroon Prime Minister’s office announced the suspension of logging plans in Ebo forest on Tuesday, 11 August. The suspension of logging plans, which Greenpeace Africa called “a massacre”, leaves the fate of Ebo forest and the rights of local Banen communities entirely unclear. Ebo forest is essential for more than 40 local Banen communities. Amidst a global coronavirus … [Read more...]
Latest oil spill further evidence of fossil fuels’ destructive risks
The arrival of the Deepsea Stavanger oil drilling rig in Cape Town yesterday has many people concerned about the risks that come along with it, especially as the current oil spill disaster in Mauritius (SA’s backyard, photographed to the right) continues to wreak havoc. It is with this in mind that The Green Connection – an NGO working to support and empower local communities … [Read more...]
Meet the finalists of this year’s virtual Eco-Logic Awards
The 9th annual Eco-Logic Awards hosted by the Enviropaedia, will present its first ever virtual event on 21 September, which is also International Day of Peace. The awards highlight the eco-logically beneficial products, services and people who are taking effective action to protect and preserve our environment. “We will not let Covid-19 prevent us from celebrating and … [Read more...]
Plans for logging in Ebo Forest denounced by civil society
Greenpeace Africa and local communities denounce a decision by the Government of Cameroon to open up 68,385 hectares of pristine rainforest to logging. The fate of a 65,007 ha zone of Ebo, also threatened with logging, remains unclear and must also be spared from chainsaws. The 14 July decree to log a zone about half the size of London blatantly ignores requests by local … [Read more...]
The Green Connection and its partners celebrate a win for civil society
Civil society recently celebrated a win when SLR Consulting, on behalf of Total E&P South Africa (TEPSA), granted respondents a 30-day extension to comment on the Draft Scoping Report for further oil exploration and drilling in Block 11B/12B, along the country’s South coast. The NGO The Green Connection and its partners recently attended a severely flawed public … [Read more...]
Climate action at community-level: African solutions that really work
Sufficient access to energy and resilient infrastructure are essential to realise the potential of African cities. Three years ago, a series of local-level solutions made five communities very happy. We revisit them to find out if the solutions were, in fact, sustainable. Through the Urban Low Emissions Development Strategies (Urban-LEDS ll) project, ICLEI Africa assisted … [Read more...]
Cape Town mayor donates much-needed equipment to soup kitchens
Mayor Dan Plato has donated to nearly 150 soup kitchens across Cape Town. Last week, the second phase of handovers to capacitate neighbourhood soup kitchens began in Hanover Park, Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha. ‘We are nearing an important milestone in our drive to feed communities affected by the national lockdown. Today’s handover in Strand means we are reaching even … [Read more...]
Earth Day 2020 goes digital
Between the global pandemic and social distancing, Earth Day 2020 is going to look different than it ever has before, as many of us will be tuning into celebrations through a virtual screen or a socially distanced walk. With COVID-19 disrupting all semblance of normalcy and routine in the world, the organizers of Earth Day’s 50th anniversary celebration ditched their usual … [Read more...]
Ecological reflections on the coronavirus
The coronavirus health crisis is connected to the emergency of extinction, the disappearance of species and the climate emergency. All emergencies are rooted in a mechanistic, militaristic, anthropocentric world view of humans as separate from, and superior to other beings who we can own, manipulate and control. It is also rooted in an economic model based on the illusion … [Read more...]
