One of South Africa’s most famous landmarks, Robben Island, was freed from some of its waste burden as more than 100 volunteers, guided by the national PET Recycling Company (PETCO) and Plastics SA, embarked on the island’s biggest ever waste collection drive. The tourist attraction and World Heritage Site, which draws over 300 000 visitors annually, is plagued by visitor … [Read more...]
Development threatens nearly half of all natural World Heritage Sites
The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. The Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. These are just three of the 238 natural and mixed (cultural and natural) sites designated as World Heritage by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. And all three are threatened by human development. They’re not alone. … [Read more...]
World Wilderness Congress calls for ‘no-go’ areas for extraction
A Resolution from the World Wilderness Congress, released on 16th December, affirms that World Heritage Sites, Protected Areas, Community Conserved Areas, Indigenous Territories and Sacred Natural Sites, must be respected as “No Go Areas” and protected against mining and extractive industries. It calls on companies to cease mining and other destructive activities within all … [Read more...]
Kirstenbosch exhibit off to Chelsea
The 2011 SA-Kirstenbosch Chelsea Flower Show exhibit has been saved and will now go ahead thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape (PGWC) and the SA Gold Coin Exchange. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) confirmed that the 35 year run of exhibiting at this prestigious event will not be broken and the display … [Read more...]
