ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENDERS BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of CapeNature's Biodiversity Crime Unit, the organisers of a youth camp near Hartenbos in the Southern Cape have admitted wrongdoing and begun making amends for causing the deaths of about 3000 protected birds.
Twelve rooikrans trees were cut down on three separate occasions during November 2006, and as a result approximately 3000 Cattle Egret, Blackcrowned Night Heron, Blackheaded Heron and Reed Cormorant chicks and eggs were destroyed.
According to Biodiversity Crime Unit Programme Manager, Paul Gildenhuys, Garden Route Conservation Service officers visited the campsite in early November 2006, following complaints that the birds were having a negative effect on the camp's activities, to ascertain the scale of the problem and suggest practical solutions to minimize the birds' effect. Recommendations offered by CapeNature were confirmed in writing on 16 November 2006, but were not implemented by the campsite organisers.
The case was recently successfully concluded at the Mossel Bay Regional Court by means of a plea agreement and the the organisation was fined R100 000, half of which was suspended for five years. Part of the plea agreement also stipulates that the organisation will expand its environmental education programme and work more closely with CapeNature.
Contact Paul Gildenhuys on 021 866 8012 for more information.
SA BOTANIST ADMITTED TO PRESTIGIOUS ACADEMY
Richard Cowling, research professor at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's School of Botany, has been admitted to the renowned United States National Academy of Sciences (NAS).
The South African botanist is one of 350 non-Americans and three South Africans to be granted this honour. Cowling joins South African botanist and medical researcher Walter Marasas and celebrated anthropologist Philip Tobias who were admitted to the NAS in 2007 and 1987 respectively.
Admission to the NAS, considered one of the highest honours that can be granted to a scientist or engineer, takes place through a nomination and election process during which the nominee's notable achievements are scrutinised. Cowling was nominated by leading United States environmentalist Professor Peter Raven, who described him as "the foremost researcher on the world's most species-rich and threatened ecosystems".
Cowling is one of 18 foreign associates from nine countries who were recognised in 2008 for ongoing achievement in original research. One of only a handful of South African botanists given an A-rating, he has published over 400 papers and several books, and has been honoured locally and internationally by a number of diverse bodies, including C.A.P.E. His main research interests are conservation assessment, planning and implementation in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems.
NEW APPOINTMENTS AT FLOWER VALLEY
The Flower Valley Conservation Trust has appointed Grant Forbes and Neo Maditla as research assistant and communications intern respectively.
Grant has always had an interest in biodiversity conservation. He completed a Conservation Diploma at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and is currently working towards his BTech degree at the same institution. Grant's work at Flower Valley will involve extension activities, the maintenance and collection of data from research sites as well as the management of fynbos harvesting data.
Neo is currently registered as a journalism student at the Tshwane University of Technology and is doing her third year internship at the Trust. She will assist the Trust in communicating with its stakeholders around its sustainable harvesting work as well as its research, training and monitoring activities.
FYNBOS FOOTPRINT: Tip of the week
At home: Sort your waste at source. Have an "organic bin" for compost, a "recycling bin" and a "non-recycling bin". Contact Footprint Centre Wynberg, Cape Town. Tel: 021 794 5863.
Vacancies and consultancy opportunities
1. C.A.P.E. Specialist Advisor: Land-use planning and decision-making. Closing date 25 July 2008. Click here for more information.
2. Garden Route Initiative: Programme Developer. Closing date 25 July 2008. Click here for more information.
Notices
The Table Mountain Fund (TMF) is a small-grants fund dedicated to the conservation of fynbos. If you would like to know more about the TMF, or apply for funding, please visit http://www.wwf.org.za/?section=Trusts_TMF or contact Tamaryn Allan on 021 762 8525 or e-mail tallan@wwf.org.za.
