The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and collaborators from the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and Bayworld Museum rediscovered the rare Orange Sandveld Lizard (Nucras aurantiaca) during surveys in December 2022. The lizard has only been recorded twice, the last record more than ten years ago. The EWT’s Conservation Planning and Science Unit (CPSU) is … [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...]
Let’s help free Charlie from the Pretoria Zoo
Charlie is a African bull elephant living at the National Zoological Garden of South Africa also known as the Pretoria zoo. We have learnt much since zoos became fashionable forms of entertainment in late 1899 when this zoo was founded. Zoos, like circuses, are becoming redundant all over the world. Zoos are incapable of being able to offer elephants the space which … [Read more...]
SA filmmaker exposes the secret lives of sea creatures
This week on Inside Africa, CNN International explores the extraordinary kelp forest, rich in marine life and biodiversity, on the coast of South Africa’s Cape Peninsula. With award winning filmmaker Craig Foster, the programme learns how The Sea Change Trust is fighting to protect South Africa’s diverse coastline. Foster has been diving through the kelp forest on the … [Read more...]
Pollinators essential for the food we eat
We need to protect our honey bees, not only for their survival, but also for our own. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) recently concluded a five-year study focusing on pollinators and in particular honey bees. The goal was to create a knowledge base of pollinators and honey bees and raise awareness of their intricate nature, their needs in the wild … [Read more...]
Citizen scientists monitor change for early warnings
‘Science by the people, for the people,’ the role of citizen scientists is one of the chapters in a new book launched on International Biodiversity Day during a celebratory day at Kirstenbosch. This is also the space into which the Green Times fits – translating into ordinary language and spreading important life-sustaining science by the people, for the people. Our … [Read more...]
eLabel: innovating consumer choice
Consumers are increasingly aware of nutrition and health. Worldwide, they want to be better informed about the foods they eat, particularly when it comes to food content and what is declared on the product label. In a 2008 survey, conducted by Ketchum on 1 000 consumers in the UK, US, Argentina, Germany and China, 53% of all respondents indicated that 'health benefits' were … [Read more...]
CareTakers: stories that inspire
Has film played a significant role in your life? Have you ever watched a film that influenced your direction, or changed the way you feel or what you do? Laurence Dworkin and George Davis, coordinators of the CareTakers project, believe that film can indeed change the way we feel, think and act. Laurence is Director of an NGO called Social Transformation and Empowerment … [Read more...]
Hurray for South Africa’s biodiversity!
The United Nations designated 2011 - 2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity. The word is dropped into conversations daily, but we don't know how much it actually means for South Africa. Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem like our planet earth. It gives an indication of the health of ecosystems: the more natural the … [Read more...]
Kirstenbosch exhibit off to Chelsea
The 2011 SA-Kirstenbosch Chelsea Flower Show exhibit has been saved and will now go ahead thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape (PGWC) and the SA Gold Coin Exchange. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) confirmed that the 35 year run of exhibiting at this prestigious event will not be broken and the display … [Read more...]
