The recent expedition of WILDOCEANS and its partners into the Comoros, made possible by CEPF (Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund), saw the first visual mesophotic surveys conducted in the deeper habitats (the depth between 40m and 200m) of their waters. These surveys made use of ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) and Stereo BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video), equipment … [Read more...]
SA student wins Green Talents award in Germany
For the tenth time the “Green Talents – International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development” culminated in a festive award ceremony at which the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research honoured the newest 25 awardees for their innovative green ideas from various fields of research and promoted an international exchange. This year, a high-ranking jury … [Read more...]
NGOs release list of world’s top coal plant developers
Four days before the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) puts forward its special report on 1.5°C, NGOs have released a new list of the world’s top 120 coal plant developers. “Building new coal plants is an assault on the Paris climate goals,” says Heffa Schuecking, director of the German environment NGO Urgewald. “Our list names the top companies investors and … [Read more...]
Expanding our marine conservation impact into the Comoros
September 2018 will see the start of an exciting project funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) into the Comoros Archipelago. The Comoros coral reefs are an unrivalled marine paradise, with the highest concentration of coral marine species within a small area, in the world. Comoros offers one of the world’s largest coral atolls which parades hundreds of fish … [Read more...]
Shining a light on South Africa’s Marine Protected Areas
The youth shone a light on the importance of Marine Protected Areas with an evening of original poetry, inspiration and a spotlight performance at the WILDOCEANS Ocean Stewards’ Dinner on the Dock event held at Trawlers Wharf, Durban earlier this week, launching a week of mentorship and career guidance. With the launch of the annual four-day WILDOCEANS Ocean Stewards’ … [Read more...]
New UN report highlights crimes that have serious environmental impacts
The new Report “The State of Knowledge of Crimes that have Serious Impacts on the Environment” has been published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). Environmental crime is a complex type of crime that requires thorough analysis and strong coordination among different … [Read more...]
Children may be eating cereal laced with toxic weed killer
The probable carcinogen glyphosate has been detected in popular cereals, but the EPA is ready to approve its use for 15 more years. Quaker Oats “Life” and “Squares” cereals. Gerber and Beechnut baby oatmeal. Cheerios. Store brand “O” cereals from Target, Safeway, Walmart, Trader Joe’s and Kroger. All those products were contaminated with glyphosate (often sold as Roundup) in … [Read more...]
World scientists’ warning to humanity: a second notice
In late 1992, 1,700 scientists from around the world issued a dire “warning to humanity.” They said humans had pushed Earth's ecosystems to their breaking point and were well on the way to ruining the planet. The letter listed environmental impacts like they were biblical plagues — stratospheric ozone depletion, air and water pollution, the collapse of fisheries and loss of … [Read more...]
Scientists discover sea levels’ sharp rise during last warming
Scientists from Rice University and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies have discovered that Earth's sea level did not rise steadily but rather in sharp, punctuated bursts when the planet's glaciers melted during the period of global warming at the close of the last ice age. The researchers found fossil evidence in … [Read more...]
New research exposes health risks of GM mosquitoes and salmon
Just when genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes got their approval by the Cayman Islands and the government of Canada’s Prince Edward Island is trying to approve GM salmon, new research reveals unexpected and potentially dangerous effects of genetic engineering. Unfortunately, neither the makers of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) nor their regulators conduct the studies … [Read more...]
Why are our sea turtles getting smaller?
Sea turtles in South Africa are getting smaller – and scientists are trying to find out why, and how this will affect future populations. “What we are finding is that the size at reproduction of individual loggerhead and leatherback turtles is getting smaller over time, and we are gearing our research to find out what could be the cause,” said NMMU’s Head of Zoology, … [Read more...]
Why the longnecks are becoming extinct in Africa
A researcher from the University of the Free State (UFS) played a role in the important new film Last of the Longnecks which was screened at the US Environmental Film Festival. Dr Francois Deacon, lecturer and researcher in the Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences at the UFS, who also has a role in the film, attended the preview at the Carnegie Institution … [Read more...]
Antarctic Expedition to show how we’re destroying the planet
The Antarctic circumnavigation expedition (ACE) ended when the Russian research vessel Akademik Treshnikov sailed into Cape Town last week. But the real work has only just begun. That was the consensus as some of the scientists involved gathered at the first workshop on results on a quayside at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on the afternoon of Monday March 20. David … [Read more...]
