The local leg of the Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award has been launched by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA). The 2020-2021 round is the third edition of this award, organised by the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA), to which PAMSA belongs. It invites young students and researchers in wood and fibre-based … [Read more...]
Raising awareness of the importance of forests
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2012. The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree … [Read more...]
Mpumalanga a hotspot for deadly sulphur dioxide emissions
NASA satellites have found the Kriel area in Mpumalanga to be a global hotspot for deadly sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions. A new study commissioned by Greenpeace India used NASA estimates of anthropogenic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from hotspots around the world, based on data from the agency's satellites. The study found that Kriel in Mpumalanga, with its high … [Read more...]
Celebrating the passion and dedication of women in forestry
It's time to celebrate women in forestry. With more than 320 years experience among them in a variety of roles, these women show that no job is off limits as long as you have the passion and dedication required. “Some have dedicated their lives to the sector, others are just at the start of their career, but all have one thing in common – the wish to dispel the myth that … [Read more...]
Pakistan needs 20% more forest for healthy environment
Pakistan needs to raise its forest cover from 5% to 25% to meet its economic, employment and green environment needs. So says Preston Institute of Management Science and Technology’s (PIMSAT) final year students of MBA Syeda Bushra Hasan, Mehwish Saqib and Dinsha Vania. Forests are the source of economic support, employment, oxygen generation, livestock grazing, furniture … [Read more...]
Around the world with Greengo Blarr
Hi, I am Greengo Blarr. Some might say I am out of this world. I visited Earth a month ago, interested in what you call ‘life’ and ‘dancing’. My sizeable, green feet and hands, big nose and sad eyes are only visible to Earthlings with a certain intelligence. Intuition lead me to a large building in downtown Johannesburg. ‘Morning. Any ideas for the next weeks?’ Every … [Read more...]
Cameroon palm oil project finally on ice
After years of controversy surrounding the proposed palm oil plantation in Cameroon, the Cameroonian government has ordered Herakles Farms to suspend all logging at its main worksite at Talangaye, in the Nguti region of the country. Greenpeace is encouraged by this decision - there are numerous illegalities associated with the project, not to mention the social conflicts and … [Read more...]
Working towards protecting our wetlands
Over the past 22 years, the Mondi Wetlands Programme (MWP) has moved wetland conservation from being a side issue to centre stage. This has irreversibly changed the way government, communities, public, as well as the forestry and sugar industries understand and manage their wetlands. MWP works nationally to conserve wetlands predominately outside nature reserves. Most of the … [Read more...]
Living trees as fence posts
Drive around Costa Rica’s windy mountainous roads and you will see numerous trees, from those bearing colourful fruits to others sporting thick spines, planted about 1 to 3 meters apart. Connected by long lines of barbed wire, these rudimentary-looking arrangements, known as living fences, have both economic and environmental benefits over their dead wood … [Read more...]
“No” to forestry in fynbos areas
It may no longer make economic or environmental sense to pursue forestry endeavours using conifers in the Western Cape. If local plantations are to be maintained, invasive pine trees will continue to spread, the Cape’s water supply will continue to dwindle and the unique natural diversity of the fynbos region will be changed forever. This is the opinion of two of South … [Read more...]
Local Fish Threatened By Disease
The fish disease, Epizootic Ulceritic Syndrome or EUS for short, was recently diagnosed by researchers from the Aquaculture Research Division of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in barbel from a farm dam near Stellenbosch. The disease is caused by a fungus that is originally from Southeast Asia but has been spread to many other parts of the world by the … [Read more...]
Green lungs for Africa
A responsible corporate company joins hands with an environmental NGO to take on the cause of sustainable forestry in Uganda. Nedbank Capital and Face the Future have signed a pioneering Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to facilitate future collaboration between the two companies with the sole intention of enabling them to jointly develop sustainable forestry projects … [Read more...]
No ceiling in ongoing climate negotiations
What is your assessment of the outcomes of Cancun and how much progress has been achieved in following up and in implementation of the decisions that were made, particularly as relates to adaptation and finance? The Cancun Outcome must be commended as one that contributed to keeping the climate change negotiations process alive after Copenhagen where trust in the process was … [Read more...]
