Looked at one way it’s a game reserve. In another, it’s a vast cattle ranch. Or prime rangeland. Whichever way one looks at it, Shangani Holistic, in the Zimbabwe midlands, lives up to its name, fusing all the elements of its ecosystem so that each flourishes to the benefit of the others. Director Max Makuvise refers to the enterprise as a “multispecies farming unit.” His … [Read more...]
Protecting SA’s oceans from offshore oil and gas
Yesterday, The Green Connection launched its public awareness and information sharing campaign – which is part of a bigger initiative, called Who Stole Our Oceans – in a bid to stop further government investment in fossil fuels, particularly offshore oil, and gas. According to The Green Connection’s Strategic Lead Liziwe McDaid, the goal of the public campaign is to … [Read more...]
Answering nature’s call for help
The international premier of season two of the hit, short format documentary series, Free Range Humans, took place in Cape Town yesterday, attended by five of the six international eco-activist cast members who have heeded the call to help save the planet, its diverse ecosystems and marine life. Also in the cast is South Africa’s Loyiso Dunga who is fighting to help save the … [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...]
SA to be the first to answer nature’s call
South Africa is set to be the stage for the global roll out this week of an international call to action, “Nature Is Calling,” with urban hotpots in Cape Town and Johannesburg being transformed with natural settings. “Nature is Calling” is intended as a wake-up call to humanity to protect the planet and reconnect with nature. With humans in urban areas spending up to 95% … [Read more...]
Grow a mountain of starch in your garden
Starches form the foundation of most people’s diets, rich and poor alike; at least a third and often far more. Yet they have become the new whipping boy in both the popular and scientific press; they make us fat and cause type-2 diabetes. Or do they? First it was animal fat, after researcher Radley Keys cooked the books, causing the world to eschew eggs, dairy products and … [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...]
South African Investment Conference highlights nation’s resilience
African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina has pledged his institution’s support for South Africa, announcing a $2.8 billion package for the country over the next five years. Some $400 million (ZAR 6 billion) will support South Africa’s Eskom and the country’s energy transition. Adesina was speaking at the opening of the South Africa Investment … [Read more...]
Improving water security in the uMkhomazi catchment
When the community members of Nzinga requested assistance with the clearing of alien vegetation to improve access for their livestock for grazing purposes, the Sappi-WWF partnership saw this as a great fit for the work being done in the uMkhomazi catchment to improve water security in the area. As a result, a team of 10 individuals has been identified, appointed, and trained … [Read more...]
Groundwater: protecting SA’s ‘invisible resource’
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...]
Iceland fish oil producer certification renewed
Friend of the Sea, the global certification standard for products and services that respect and protect the marine environment, is pleased to renew LYSI certification for sustainable practices in producing fish oil for Omega-3 supplements. The company, certified since 2013, can thus continue to display the Friend of the Sea label on its bulk and consumer-ready … [Read more...]
Thousands affected by Tropical Storm Ana in Mozambique
According to UN News, more than 45,000 people, including 23,000 women and children, are likely to need humanitarian aid, UN children’s agency, UNICEF, said on Thursday. UNICEF is deploying staff and preparing medical and nutrition supplies, water, sanitation and hygiene kits, as well as setting up temporary learning spaces to support children and their families. The agency … [Read more...]
Scientists call for change in marine environmental assessment
Oceans Not Oil (ONO) hails an advisory produced by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) on the use of deep-sea seismic surveys to explore for oil and gas deposits in South African waters. In the scope of SAGE’s mandate, an “emergency” is defined as "a serious, unexpected, and potentially dangerous situation that has … [Read more...]
