The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is proud to announce the acquisition of an additional 1,335 ha of critically important habitat in the Soutpansberg Mountains, bringing the area under EWT conservation management to around 2 800 ha. This recent acquisition borders the Medike Nature Reserve, which was acquired in 2018, a wonderful feat made possible by the generous support … [Read more...]
Court victory for South Africa’s protected areas in Mabola case
Today, the North Gauteng High Court set aside the 2016 decisions of former Mineral Resources Minister Zwane and the late Environmental Affairs Minister Molewa to permit a new coal mine to be developed in the Mabola Protected Environment near Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga. The case was brought by the coalition of eight civil society organisations challenging a range of … [Read more...]
Protecting SA’s most endangered cultural heritage sites
Every time South Africa loses a heritage site, a part of our history and our culture is lost, as well as the possibility of understanding something new about our past. South Africa’s top ten most endangered sites speak of the fragility of our shared national heritage. Whether they are precious archaeological sites, living cultural landscapes, early commercial industrial sites, … [Read more...]
Critical water resources gobbled up by alien invasives
As South Africa continues to battle the drought which is further impacting on already scarce water supplies, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is implementing measures to conserve wetlands – a primary source of fresh water – and to prevent the loss of water resources to alien invasive plants. Since long before the era of the Egyptian Pharaohs, wetlands have supported the … [Read more...]
Courts prevent controversial Tsitsikamma fishing
The Department of Environmental Affairs has been ordered by the High Court to cease all recreational angling in the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (MPA), with immediate effect. The DEA confirmed the court order in a statement, saying the South African National Parks (SANParks) and the Tsitsikamma Angling Forum (representatives of the Tsitsikamma fishing community) "have … [Read more...]
What is the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve?
Did you know that you might live in a Biosphere Reserve? If you are from Stellenbosch, Pniel, Franschhoek, Paarl, Wellington, Rawsonville or Villiersdorp you live inside the beautiful Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR) while people from Ceres, and the Strand live just outside it. The CWBR was designated in 2007 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural … [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...]
Hopes to salvage Kiani Satu sink along with the ship
All hopes to save the ship wrecked off the coast of Knysna plunge as the Kiani Satu sinks into the dark abyss of the Indian Ocean on Wednesday 21 August. After the attempt to float the ship on Saturday 17 August, nature took its course at 4:00 am on Wednesday and dragged the vessel underwater 200m South of Buffels Bay. The carcass of Kiani Satu now lies at a depth of 1000m and … [Read more...]
