Groundwater is a critical resource to the world. In fact, it provides almost half of all drinking water worldwide, not to mention about 40% of water for irrigated agriculture and about 1/3 of water required for industry. More than this, it is also crucial in sustaining ecosystems, maintaining the base flow of rivers and even in preventing land subsidence and seawater … [Read more...]
Small-scale fishers hopeful for a court ruling to stop seismic surveys
Small-scale fishers from communities in the West Coast – joined by The Green Connection – were back in court Thursday to finally put a stop to Searcher’s seismic blasting of the west and south-west coast of South Africa. The Western Cape High Court heard arguments to decide if the ban – which took effect on 7 February when the Honourable Justice Thulare directed Searcher to … [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...]
Oxfam cautions against mining in Lower Zambezi
Oxfam in Southern Africa has expressed concern over the ongoing and highly controversial Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP) mining saga and cautions the Zambian government on the move to proceed with mining activity in the national park. On 31st January 2022, media reports cited the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment as having indicated that the embattled open-pit … [Read more...]
California frogs proposed for species protection
In response to a Center for Biological Diversity petition and lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed Endangered Species Act protection for four populations of foothill yellow-legged frogs in the Sierra Nevada and central and Southern California. This stream-dwelling frog species has disappeared from more than 50% of its historic habitat in the state. “At … [Read more...]
EWT assesses South African companies’ impact on biodiversity
Out of 354 South African companies assessed by the Endangered Wildlife Trust for their performance towards reducing their impacts on biodiversity, only 79 even recognise biodiversity as a material issue, indicating that much work needs to be done to gear up South African corporates to understand the critical role of nature-based capital in their supply chains. On 8 December … [Read more...]
Hydropower not a solution to climate change
300 organizations from 69 countries have launched a Rivers for Climate Global Declaration calling on governments and leaders attending COP26 to protect river ecosystems and stop using scarce climate funds to finance false climate solutions such as hydropower. Representing the views of civil society, peoples movements, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, scientists, and … [Read more...]
West Coast oil exploration opposed by civil society
This week, The Green Connection submitted its comments critiquing several aspects of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, particularly the lack of procedural fairness, as well as the conclusions reached – notwithstanding information gaps and scientific uncertainty – that should form part Tosaco Energy’s request to undertake various activities in Block 1, off the … [Read more...]
Choose sustainable seafood this Heart Awareness Month
September is Heart Awareness Month and one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy is to eat fish 2 to 3 times a week. With campaign ‘#FeelGoodSeafood’, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in partnership with Irvin & Johnson (I&J), encourage South Africans to take care of their hearts and our ocean. Up to 80 percent of heart disease and stroke can be prevented … [Read more...]
Researching climate change’s impact on pangolins
A little over five years ago, Dr Wendy Panaino, a researcher at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, followed her passion and began the journey to investigate the potential impacts of climate change on the pangolins of Tswalu. Parts of Africa are predicted to get hotter and drier with climate change, yet little is known about how mammals might cope with these changes. The already hot … [Read more...]
Impressive accolades for nature-focused landscapers
DDS Projects, based at Die Handelshuis in Simondium, was named overall winner at the 2021 South African Landscapes Awards (SALI) and was awarded the Shield for Excellence in Landscaping for their Babylonstoren Fynbos Cottages project. The project also received the Best Landscape Construction with In-House Design trophy. Founded in 2010 in Stellenbosch by passionate … [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...]
Restoring our ecosystems one change at a time
Life on earth is symbiotic; each component within the ecosystem plays a significant role. The decline of the bee population and its effect on food systems is a timely reminder of just how interconnected everything really is. However, as urbanization, intensive farming and resource extraction increases, so we are witnessing the fragmentation of the environment even further. … [Read more...]
