Ministers in the Environment Council voted today to weaken the EU Deforestation law, despite citizens, scientists and companies asking for nature destruction-free products on the EU market. “The Council negotiating position has as many holes as a swiss cheese but unfortunately it does not taste that good. An effective law must not offer loopholes for companies to circumvent … [Read more...]
Artists and environmentalists start conversation about conservation
Art has a key role to play in supporting and promoting conservation, particularly in Southern Africa. This was the core premise of a thought-provoking event called “Art and Conservation – a Southern African Dialogue” held at the Alliance Française in Johannesburg on 15 June. The event showcased a photographic exhibition and the work of contemporary South African artist, … [Read more...]
EU nature restoration law: fighting the climate crises
The Commission’s proposal is a huge milestone; it is the first major piece of EU biodiversity legislation since the Habitats Directive in 1992. We call for its urgent adoption and implementation as it is a true and strong attempt to reverse the tide of biodiversity loss and climate change. The European Parliament and Council of the EU must fully endorse the positive elements … [Read more...]
Opening the door to conservation cooperation
The signing of two important agreements at the residence of French Ambassador Mr. Aurélien Lechevallier, in Pretoria on 7 June, has opened the door to critical regional and inter-continental co-operation in the field of biodiversity. This will impact on spatial and development planning as well as policy making and open the door to critical peer-to-peer learning, said … [Read more...]
Celebrating the diversity of bees
Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities. Pollination is, however, a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems. Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops … [Read more...]
Building biodiversity knowledge for action
A € 6.7 million (approximately R110-million) spatial biodiversity assessment, prioritization and planning (SBAPP) project that will improve environmental planning and monitor the status of indigenous species and ecosystems in four Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, namely South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Malawi, commenced this month. The South … [Read more...]
Could Cape Town be underwater by 2032?
Imagine Travel in 2032: A world transformed where some of the most fascinating tourism bucket list spots are newly formed desert regions in the Vaal and mysterious attractions in the forgotten undersea cities of Venice and Cape Town, which is now partly in the Atlantic Ocean near Table Mountain Island. And for the most intrepid, adventure-seeking world traveller, extreme … [Read more...]
Mother Earth is not for sale
Mother Earth is Alive! The Earth is alive. Terra Madre, Gaia, Pachamama, Vasundhara… The Living Earth is a self-organised, self-regulating living system. She is autopoeitic, writing the poetry of life, creating the symphony of life, through the harmony of every participating living organism, from the microbes to the mammals. From the molecule, to the cell, to the … [Read more...]
New whale call discovered off the coast of SA
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown "impulsive sound" – dubbed the “gunshot” by researchers – that has never been recorded before. The study documented 600 whale calls over 11 days at the Vema Seamount in the Atlantic Ocean, 1,000km off the coast of South Africa. The research was conducted during a Greenpeace International expedition to the region and led by the … [Read more...]
Grow a mountain of fruit in your garden
According to UNESCO, the global demand for food will increase by 50% between 2012 and 2050, driven by population growth. Given the uncertain times in which we live, it is highly unlikely agriculture will be able to provide this food. Fertiliser prices have surged and become unaffordable to many farmers. They also predict that we will need 50% more water, in part to provide … [Read more...]
A long road ahead to COP15 after Geneva
Last week Wednesday marked the closing of two and half weeks of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland. This meeting was the first chance parties have had in two years to meet in person and begin detailed discussions on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. It was also expected that this meeting would be the last before the CBD’s … [Read more...]
Slumbering with a clear conscience
As a sustainability pioneer with decades in the field, it is so exciting to experience well-known brands moving into the world of sustainable business. Of course this is what educated and conscientious shoppers are demanding. No longer is just the ‘green fringe’ reading labels and asking for production details, but the mainstream of our population also want to shop products … [Read more...]
Protection needed for precious Tapajós River
We cannot talk about the Amazon without recognizing the importance of the Tapajós basin. With continental dimensions, this freshwater ecosystem is rich in scenic beauty, socio-environmental attributes and biodiversity. This territory has been inhabited for thousands of years by traditional communities that protect it. Today the basin and its most famous river, the Tapajós, are … [Read more...]
