As South Africa battles the third wave of Covid-19 vaccinations and amidst the chaos, destruction and looting that has taken place in parts of South Africa in recent weeks it’s easy to forget another looming catastrophe: a water crisis with potentially devastating consequences. In the Eastern Cape dam levels are perilously low after a multi-year drought with dams servicing … [Read more...]
Ecosystem restoration for people, nature and climate
UNEP has released a synthesis report as a call to action for anyone and everyone to join the #GenerationRestoration movement to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. It details the economic, environmental and social rewards that restoration can bring. Far from being a ‘nice to have’, ecosystem restoration is needed on a large scale in order to … [Read more...]
Bottle labelling trial a boost for recycling
A ground-breaking trial that renders plastic bottles with self-adhesive labels fully recyclable promises positive spin-offs for the environment and plastic producers who have until November to comply with Section 18 of the National Environmental Management Waste Act. Until now, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles with adhesive labels have hampered South African … [Read more...]
Why Kenya is conducting its first ever wildlife census
With borders closed during the pandemic, Kenya’s billion-dollar tourism industry has lost over 80% of its revenue. In a report from Amboseli National Park, CNN’s Larry Madowo joins the Kenya Wildlife Service as they conduct the country’s first ever National Wildlife Census. Najib Balala, Kenya's Tourism Minister, tells Madowo that the industry is not expected to recover … [Read more...]
Eco-Logic Awards seeks positive contributors
The Eco-Logic Awards are seeking South African organisations or projects making a positive contribution towards creating an ecological society and environment. The deadline for eco champion nominations is 30 May 2021. Award categories The Nature Conservation Award Awarded to an organisation for successfully protecting, rehabilitating or mitigating damage to the Earth's … [Read more...]
WWF reveals unnecessary environmental barriers in Europe
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)’s new Potential of Barrier Removal to Reconnect Europe’s Rivers report analyses a sample of 30,000 barriers on large and medium-sized rivers in Europe, and assesses their reconnection potential for the whole continent, the EU27, and by country. The conclusions are based on the length of river which could be reconnected, and the ecological … [Read more...]
Floating base for HOPE on the Black River
The HOPE statue placed in the water where the Liesbeeck and Black Rivers converge, has become a much-loved and well-known sight for motorists travelling along the M5 highway near the N2 interchange. The brainchild of Fred du Preez, an art director and self-proclaimed river man, this symbol of pollution-free rivers and oceans has recently received a brand-new floating base … [Read more...]
Additional offshore drilling plans for Mossel Bay on hold
The Green Connection and its partners – small-scale subsistence fishers from around the country – have welcomed TOTAL E & P South Africa B.V’s announcement that it will postpone their application for additional drilling and associated activities in Block 11B/12B off South Africa’s south coast. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process has also been … [Read more...]
Business owner recognised for her recycling impact
Loretta Waterboer, the winner of the PETCO Awards Top Woman in Recycling, 2021 is a wonderful and passionate role model for female leadership in our industry, running her own business, LW Recycling and Trade, and partnering with the Mosselbank River Conservation Trust (MRCT) for a bigger impact in her community. When MRCT environmental officer Danielle Cronje started working … [Read more...]
Forging a path to forest restoration and well-being
The theme for this year’s International Day of Forests (IDF) is “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being” and it’s one that resonates with the local forest industry. “Many people don’t know that timber plantations in South Africa were originally established to provide an alternative timber supply, in order to protect our few natural forests from further … [Read more...]
Better recycling needed to protect limited water resources
Water, as we know, is a limited resource that is essential for all life on this planet. This makes it all the more astounding that so many of us simply take it for granted, especially in a semi-arid country like South Africa. This should clearly demonstrate that it is vital that the nation as a whole changes the value it places on this life-giving resource. World Water Day … [Read more...]
The search for sustainable cotton
"We are at a unique stage in our history. Never before have we had such an awareness of what we are doing to the planet, and never before have we had the power to do something about that… The future of humanity and indeed, all life on earth, now depends on us." - David Attenborough. From David Attenborough to world leaders, we are hearing that the next decade will determine … [Read more...]
Cape Town’s top 10 green innovators announced
Invest Cape Town and The Business Hub, initiatives of the City of Cape Town, in partnership with GreenCape, invited innovators and entrepreneurs with economically viable green economy innovation business ideas to enter the Invest Cape Town | Business Hub GreenPitch Challenge 2021. From close to 40 excellent nationwide entries, the following innovations have been announced as … [Read more...]
