Hi again,
Herewith, some snippets from various sources.
I appeal to you to send me items to distribute to our members for the Cleft Stick, the Game Ranger magazine and to be posted on the web site. These are your magazines and website, so ensure it gets the news that you would like to see in it.
Please let me have any changes to your physical address, phone no. or e-mail address to keep the database up to date. Remember this is the address we will send your Game Ranger Magazine to.
Thanks to all of you who have made the effort. Please will any of you who know of members who do not get this “electric” Cleft~Stick, & have access to e-mail, pass their address along to me.
Don Yunnie
7 Chalet Drive, Hilton, 3245, South Africa Local Tel & Fax (033) 343 1534
Int. Tel & Fax (+2733) 343 1534 cell 082 377 7562, E-mail dyunnie@xsinet.co.za
If you do not wish to receive this e-mail newsletter please send a blank e-mail to me at the above address with the word “Unsubscribe” as the message heading.
Please feel free to write to express your views on the content or the subject of any of the articles in this magazine – to the address above.
SEASON’S GREETINGS
Well, Christmas is upon us again! How time flies!
The Africa Committee would like to wish all members, associates and friends of the Game Rangers Association of Africa a peaceful and happy Festive Season, and best wishes for 2009.
A great BIG “Thank you” to all of those that have sent in items that have been used for the C~S and to those that have sent in the items and jokes that couldn’t be used. Please keep them coming! I would like to take this opportunity to wish all those readers out there a wonderful festive season and a very happy and prosperous New Year
GOOD NEWS – DR ELSA POOLEY
From Jim Feely
Have just discovered from the UKZN alumni magazine that Elsa was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science by the University in April. It couldn't have had a more deserving recipient, and we know how proud Tony would have been.
Barcelona resolutions and recommendations
Please note that all the draft texts of the Barcelona resolutions and recommendations, in English, have been posted on the IUCN website http://www.iucn.org/congress_08/assembly/policy/index.cfm . Please make sure that you communicate this to the IUCN members and partners as appropriate.
SUSTAINABLE LIVING FESTIVAL
Dates: 24th – 26th April 2009
Venue: Southern Cross School
Nestled between two of South Africa’s most renowned Natural Heritage sites, The Kruger National Park (associated with the biggest private land area under conservation in the world) and the Blyde Canyon live a number of communities that realized that they have a more than usual responsibility towards their environment – but also an unique opportunity to jointly embrace ecosystem friendly sustainable development. This responsibility and unique opportunity led to the creation of the Kruger to Canyons (K2C) Biosphere Region (ratified by UNESCO in 2001).
As a recently discovered jewel of South Africa, development is occurring at an accelerated, and at times, out of control rate. Therefore the education and creation of awareness of sustainable principles and ethics within the region are of utmost importance.
Additionally, Looking after our natural environment is no longer a cause simply for the conservation minded. In fact, it may become the only way to ensure a good quality of life for all in the future, with access to sufficient water, secure food supplies, good health and ultimately even our own survival. It is each individual’s responsibility to make the lifestyle and consumer choices to reduce our personal contribution to the causes of climate change and global warming.
With this in mind, The Sustainable Living Festival has been developed to promote the concepts and principles behind this global movement and strongly support and ratify the principles involved in UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme.
The Festival will be held over the weekend of the 24th – 26th April 2009 at the Southern Cross School uniquely situated within the Raptor’s View Wildlife Estate, Hoedspruit.
Hoedspruit sits in the heart of the lowveld and is easily accessible to an extensive number of larger towns from both Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, such as Phalaborwa, Tzaneen, Giyani, Polokwane, Lydenburg, Graskop, Sabi, Pilgrim’s Rest, Bushbuckridge, Hazyview, White River, Nelspruit and Malelane. Marketing of the Festival will be done in each of these towns and regions.
As we have identified Game rangers Association as being relevant to the Festival, we would like to extend an invitation to you to join us in the Lowveld for this exciting annual event with a crucial and important global message.
The potential market is extensive from large conservation organisations, extensive tourism facilities, services and operators, major towns and industrial developments such as mining, the highest concentration of wildlife estate developments within the country, the largest privately owned conservation land in the world (each with their own extensive list of landowners and potential market base), research organisations and potential funders, large scale agriculture and relevant services, adventure activities, nature-based activities and services, and many many more – this is truly a world in one region with a complex diversity of stakeholders, land-users and community interests.
If you are interested in joining us and being part of this revolutionary and vital process and event, email us on festival@hoedspruit.co.za and we will be happy to forward you the necessary registration forms.
We look forward to hearing from you
Kind Regards
THE SUSTAINABLE LIVING FESTIVAL TEAM
New national park on the cards for Garden Route
Katherine Wilkinson - GARDEN ROUTE CORRESPONDENT
OFFICIAL proclamation of the massive new Garden Route National Park is expected within a few months.
The new park‘s formation was gazetted last month, and when proclaimed would become one of only four national parks worldwide with residents living within their borders. The others are in Italy, Canada and the United States.
The new conservation area is set to take in the Tsitsikamma and Wilderness national parks, the Knysna lake area, the Southern Cape indigenous forests and mountain catchment areas all along the Garden Route.
SANParks Garden Route regional manager Mvusy Songelwa said the geographical diversity of the various areas within the Garden Route park made for an exceptional and unique conservation model.
“There will be no other national park (nationally) that will include the unique combination of marine, coastal, lake, indigenous forest and mountain catchment areas.”
No additional gates or fences would be erected to mark the park‘s boundaries other than those already in place.
“Our distinctive economic drive will be conservation without boundaries in the landscape, unlike in other parks with fenced boundaries,” Songelwa said.
About 69000ha of land is set to be given national park status when the Garden Route park is proclaimed. This does not include the large tracts which are already proclaimed national parks and which would be incorporated into the Garden Route park.
New development would still be allowed inside the park, but within strict guidelines set out by a environmental management framework being finalised by the department of environmental affairs and tourism.
The public have been given 60 days to comment on the park‘s formation, during which SANParks is set to host public information sessions beginning next month.
Songelwa said it was important that the community took part in the process. “We want to encourage the public to write their comments directly to the department of environmental affairs as per the gazette requirement.”
Proclamation of the park is expected to follow shortly after the comment period and after possible representations have been made to the government.
“We hope that the new national park will be a reality by Easter 2009,” said Songelwa.
Groups unite to challenge the definition of forests under UNFCCC/REDD
Poznan, Poland (UN Climate Conference)
Global Forest Coalition, The Wilderness Society, World Rainforest Movement, Global Justice Ecology Project, Via Campesina, the International Youth Delegation and the STOP GE Trees Campaign united today to challenge the UN/REDD definition of forests.
Currently the UN considers industrial tree plantations as forests. This is, simply put, an egregious error. Plantations are not forests. Forests are diverse ecosystems and plantations are void of biodiversity. The UN definition endangers Indigenous Peoples, forest dependent people, peasants, small farmers, biodiversity and exacerbates climate change.
The groups held a media conference this morning and several actions occurred on the theme of calling on the UNFCCC to change the definition of forests so it distinguishes between native forests and plantations.
"We have united to challenge the definition of forest under the UNFCCC to ensure that agricultural tree crops, or plantations are not defined as a forest", said Gemma Tillack, an international youth delegate and campaigner for The Wilderness Society in Australia.
"The conversion of native forests to plantations is bad for biodiversity, people and the climate. Human rights, especially women's rights, are being violated where there are plantations, and they should not be defined as forests. In addition, industrial tree plantations impact the climate--tropical forests and grasslands store significantly more carbon than tree plantations", said Ana Filippini from World Rainforest Movement (Uruguay) and member of the GenderCC Network - Women for Climate Justice.
"Schemes such as REDD allow companies to prevent family farmers from using the land to produce the food that is needed to feed their communities and their countries", said Luis Muchanga of Via Campesina in Mozambique. He continued, "Deforestation, which is a major driver of global warming, is not made by peasants and indigenous peoples, but by large companies that are given the right to convert the forest to tree plantations".
The groups are proposing that the definitions are changed so:
Forests are defined as “a terrestrial ecosystem generated and maintained primarily through natural and ecological and evolutionary processes that are home to most of the world's biodiversity”.
Plantations are defined as a crop of trees planted and regularly harvested by humans that do not provide habitat for biodiversity.
"The definition of forests under REDD is utterly ridiculous", stated Sandy Gauntlett, a Maori indigenous rights activist from New Zealand, and representative of Global Forest Coalition. "It leaves wide open the ability of countries to destroy their natural forests and replace them with industrial tree plantations-which destroys wildlife habitat and displaces indigenous and forest dependent communities. New Zealand is an example of the disaster of tree plantations-and now we are in the process of developing genetically engineered trees for plantations", he continued.
"Commercial release of genetically engineered Franken-trees in plantations poses a very serious threat to the world's forests and peoples", added Anne Petermann, Co-Director of Global Justice Ecology Project in the U.S. "GE insect resistant trees, for example, can contaminate water and soils and the pollen may be toxic to people that inhale it or wildlife that ingest it", she stated.
The groups in this joint press release agree that: "If it is not resolved, and REDD applies this definition of forests, the global community could miss the chance of avoiding dangerous climate change and the 1.6 billion people who depend on forests for there survival will continue to be negatively affected".
Contact: Orin Langelle, Global Forest Coalition media coordinator +48 696 723 046
Gemma Tillack, The Wilderness Society +61 427 057 643
Ana Filippini, World Rainforest Movement +48 785 260 455
Good news at Kamfers Dam
Hi SABirdNetters
Some of you may be aware that the Lesser Flamingos are breeding again on Kamfers Dam's flamingo island. The first chicks were observed a bit more than a week ago, and there are hundreds (and perhaps thousands) of adults incubating eggs. The breeding event is six weeks earlier than last year, so we may see more than 9000 chicks (the number produced last summer) during the 2008/9 summer. The significance of this event is that the Lesser Flamingos have now bred during two consecutive years, which is something that is not typical of the other colonies. Lesser Flamingos apparently only breed successful every 12 years at Etosha Pan. If the Lesser Flamingos birds breed annually at Kamfers Dam, I anticipate that the regional negative population trend will be reversed.
What is interesting is that last week, via our webcam (more about that later!), we were able to watch a 4-5 day old chick hop off its nest and within 24 hours be replaced by an egg (obviously produced by another pair).
So with 8517 nests on the island, an extended breeding season, the likelihood that a large number of the nests are used more than once, and possibly >80,000 Lesser Flamingos on the dam, who knows how many young Lesser Flamingos will be produced this season!
To remind you all, this is the first breeding locality (in recorded history) for the species in South Africa, the third breeding locality in southern Africa, fourth in Africa, and sixth in the world!
The Ekapa Mining team (especially Peter and Jahn Hohne, who are currently in Mumbai; see Adam's e-mail message) need to be commended for their enormous contribution to the conservation of Lesser Flamingos.
Regards,
Mark
Tanzania to import black rhinos from South Africa
By Mwanamkasi Jumbe
The Government will next year import 45 black rhinos from South Africa to boost their population in local game parks.
The minister for Tourism and Natural Resources, Ms Shamsa Mwangunga, revealed this during a visit to the Singita Grumeti Reserves in Serengeti district, Mara region. She said the rhinos would be a donation from Kruger National Park, the largest park in Africa.
"At the moment rhinos are very few in our parks and we have evolved strategies to increase their number," said the minister.
She said the black rhinos would arrive in Tanzania when the Government is ready. It was now putting in place final preparations before they are flown from South Africa.
Ms Mwangunga explained that among the 45 rhinos 18 would be females. She said all the black rhinos would be preserved at the Serengeti National Park until they adopt to the environment in the area.
She said at the moment there were only 100 rhinos in Serengeti while some parks had no rhinos at all due to poaching.
Speaking during the event, the managing director of the Grumeti Fund, Mr Brian Harris, said “in endeavours to bring back the rhinos, the company has a special programme known as 'save the rhino programme.’”
This involves returning the zoo-bred East African black rhinos to their homelands.
He explained that in June 2007 the company purchased two captive bred black rhinos, a five-year old male and female from an animal sanctuary in the United Kingdom, (UK) and flew them to Serengeti.
The two rhinos, whose predators (should this be parents - ed) had their origins in East Africa, are currently kept in a sanctuary. They have settled down and are completely dehumanized, he noted.
He said the black rhino repatriation programme aims at contributing towards the restoration of the biodiversity of the Serengeti ecosystem.
Rhinoceros - Rhino Horn Use: Fact vs. Fiction
All five of the world’s diverse species of rhinoceros have been brought to the edge of extinction because of human appetite for their distinctive horns. The horns have been prized for tens of centuries for their beautiful translucent color when carved, and their supposed healing properties. In the Middle Eastern country of Yemen, the horn continues to be coveted by Muslim men, although imports were banned in 1982. The material, whose luster increases with age, is used for the handles of curved daggers called “jambiya,” which are presented to Yemeni boys at age 12. Jambiya are considered a sign of manhood and devotion to the Muslim religion, and are used for personal defense. Yemeni men place great value on the dagger handles, which are commonly studded with jewels. In China, the ornamental use of rhino horn dates back to at least the 7th century AD. Over the centuries, rhino horns have been carved into ceremonial cups, as well as buttons, belt buckles, hair pins, and paperweights.
Far more pervasive, however, is their use in the traditional medicine systems of many Asian countries, from Malaysia and South Korea to India and China, to cure a variety of ailments. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the horn, which is shaved or ground into a powder and dissolved in boiling water, is used to treat fever, rheumatism, gout, and other disorders. According to the 16th century Chinese pharmacist Li Shi Chen, the horn could also cure snakebites, hallucinations, typhoid, headaches, carbuncles, vomiting, food poisoning, and “devil possession.” (However, it is not, as commonly believed, prescribed as an aphrodisiac). Historical mentions of other uses for the horns date back thousands of years. In Greek mythology, they were said to possess the ability to purify water. The ancient Persians of the 5th century BC thought that vessels carved from the horn could be used to detect poisoned liquids, causing bubbles in the presence of some poisons — a belief that persisted into the 18th and 19th centuries among the royal courts of Europe.
Now, science is now stepping in to dispel some of the mystery and fiction surrounding the use of rhino horn. It is believed that there may be some truth behind the rhino horn’s ability to detect poisons, which is linked to the composition of the horn. Rhino horns are composed largely of the protein keratin, also the chief component in hair, fingernails, and animal hooves. Many poisons are strongly alkaline (or basic), and may have reacted chemically with the keratin. Unlike the horns of most animals, which have a bony core covered by a relatively thin layer of keratin, rhino horns are keratin all the way through — although the precise chemical composition of the keratin will vary depending on a rhino’s diet and geographic location. This fact has allowed ecologist Raj Amin of the Zoological Society of London and his colleagues to take “fingerprints” of horn samples and determine the animal populations they came from, which has helped law enforcement officials target and crack down on poaching. Rhino horns are not, as once believed, made simply from a clump of compressed or modified hair. Recent studies by researchers at Ohio University using computerized tomography (CT) scans, have shown that the horns are, in fact, similar in structure to horses’ hooves, turtle beaks, and cockatoo bills. The studies also revealed that the centers of the horns have dense mineral deposits of calcium and melanin — a finding that may explain the curve and sharp tip of the horns. The calcium would strengthen the horn while the melanin would protect the core from being degraded by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. As the softer outer portion was worn away over time by the sun and typical rhino activities (bashing horns with other animals, or rubbing it on the ground), the inner core would be sharpened into a point (much like a wooden pencil). Overall there isn’t much evidence to support the plethora of claims about the healing properties of the horns. In 1990, researchers at Chinese University in Hong Kong found that large doses of rhino horn extract could slightly lower fever in rats (as could extracts from Saiga antelope and water buffalo horn), but the concentration of horn given by a traditional Chinese medicine specialist are many many times lower than used in those experiments.
In short, says Amin, you’d do just as well chewing on your fingernails.
Some useful links
Rhinoceros ~ Video: Rhino Horn Lab
CSI Rhino ~ Lesson
Raising Rhino Awareness ~ Lesson
Rhinoceros ~ Introduction
Rhinoceros ~ Video: Rhino Charge!
Rhinoceros ~ Interactive Timeline: Rhinos Past and Present
Rhinoceros ~ What’s happening with Emi and Suci?
Rhinoceros ~ Additional Web and Print Resources
Rhinoceros ~ Production Credits
Animal Guide: Blue Wildebeest
Invitation to write for the African Protected Area Conservation and Science journal - Koedoe
This message is being posted to several lists. Please circulate our call for papers to relevant individuals and excuse cross-postings.
Researchers, scientists and readers are invited to submit articles for publication in the African Protected Area Conservation and Science journal [www.koedoe.co.za]. Our aim is to provide information and insight into the areas of conservation and science within protected areas across Africa. All articles submitted to the African Protected Area Conservation and Science journal will be published online, under our open-access policy.
At the African Protected Area Conservation and Science journal we work towards understanding, documenting and mitigating the negative influences of human development on conservation areas, as it’s an important, growing issue and often-complex social-ecological interaction.
The papers and knowledge presented in the African Protected Area Conservation and Science journal is applied to the development of concepts pertaining to conservation science and management and is of pertinence to all individuals, researchers and scholars with an interest in conservation. The application of the research results are of relevance to all whose concern is the management and wise use of protected areas.
Possible topics of articles include:
Conservation movement, seeking to protect plants, animals and their habitats
Conservation ethic of resource use, allocation, exploration, and protection
Habitat Conservation
Water Conservation
Wildlife management, multidisciplinary practices, including conservation of species and their habitats
Marine conservation, the protection of ecosystems in oceans and seas
Soil conservation
Conservation authority
You are welcome to choose any of these topics, or another of your own that is within the journals’ focus and scope. Theoretical articles, research studies, "how-to" articles and opinion pieces will be welcome. Articles may be written by individuals or co-authored.
After the journal issue appears online, it will be published as a book and available for purchasing.
If you are interested , or know of someone whom like to contribute an article, please contact me. I will then send you more detailed information and article guidelines as they appear on the online journal [www.koedoe.co.za]. Alternatively, visit the journals website and register as an author, further details can be found under “About”. My contact information appears below.
Please read more on the journal by visiting our call for papers. CLICK HERE.
Dr Llewellyn C. Foxcroft
Editor-in-Chief
editor@koedoe.co.za
Private Bag X402
Skukuza
1350
Email: info@openjournals.net, Website: www.openjournals.net
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park – Cengeni Gate Upgrade
Background Information Document
Introduction Brousse-James & Associates have been contracted by the Zululand District Municipality, via DLV Engineers, who are the Project Managers, to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment Process for the upgrading of the Cengeni Gate entrance facilities at the south-western entrance to Imfolozi Game Reserve in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.
The project consists of two components, as follows.
The main reception building will be partially sunk into the ground and shielded from the wilderness area by means of berms and strategic planting of appropriate trees and shrubs.
Need and Desirability
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife committee has identified the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park as one of the Protected Areas that is experiencing a sustainable increase in ecotourism activity, at present and for the foreseeable future. This is mainly due to the Integrated Development Plan for the area that includes a tarred road, which is currently under construction, between Cengeni Gate and Ulundi, as well as between the proposed Mlaba Centre development. The proposed development has the opportunity to benefit from the close proximity of Ulundi Airport and could network with the battlefield route.
For the full document please contact either me – ed or :-
Contact Details
Environmental Consultants
Barry James
Brousse-James & Associates
PO Box 1304
Howick, 3290
Tel: 033 3304984
Fax: 033 3304984
Cell: 082 8954089
e-mail: brousse@sai.co.za
Project Managers
Mr Sachen Harrichandparsad
DLV Engineers
21 Hlobane St
Vryheid, 3100
Tel: 031 266 8345
Fax: 031 266 8336
Cell: 084 5805465
e-mail: sachen@mcj.co.za
Any comments regarding the proposed upgrade to Cengeni Gate to be submitted to Brousse-James & Associates before Friday 29th December 2008.
POSITION(s) AVAILABLE
Tswaing
Dear all
I am the manager of Tswaing Meteorite Crater Reserve which is located next to Shosunguve, north of Pretoria. We have a variety of ungulate species which have been under extreme pressure due to poaching. Our fencing is also under pressure due to the local community stealing the droppers. Our tree populations are also under pressure due to deforestation taking place in the reserve.
We are looking at possible solutions including:
A task team to come in and patrol the area on random days and times to "scare" and alert the community to the additional security on the reserve. Also to facilitate teh removal of snares.
Please would you let me know if you offer such services and if this is within your realm of products on offer.
I am very keen to hear from you to discuss a quote or alternately if you have recommendations of other service providers who would offer similar products
Yours sincerely
Julia Barnes
Tswaing Crater Museum, Cel: 079 8295464
You may also contact Mr Inus Swart, Cel: 083 505 2271
--- Zwahili Dear Sirs,
We have currently two posts at Zwahili available, 1 game ranger and 1 reserve manager
. Can you assist us in advertising these posts to your members ?
Candidates must be aptly qualified
We offer above average remuneration packages, proper career path planning, and excellent staff accommodation.
Zwahili Private Game Lodge was voted " Best Game Lodge 2006 " and finalist 4 years running. We were the first Game Lodge in Africa to become ISO 9001 accredited and seek like minded individuals to join our professional team.
Warm Bushveld Regards
Dr. Kevin Gast, Chairman
Zwahili Game Lodge (Pty)Ltd
Tel: +27 12 660 1616, E-Fax: 086 659 9484, Int' Fax: +27 12 653 4340
E-Mail: kgast@zwahili.co.za, Web-site: www.zwahili.co.za
Tailpiece
Christmas, - PC-style,
with acknowledgements to the Idler, The Mercury, December 19th, 2008.
It’s the night before Christmas, and Santa’s a wreck,
How to live in a world that must be correct.
His workers no longer answer to Elves;
“Vertically Challenged” they called themselves,
Four reindeer had vanished without much propriety,
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society,
Affirmative Action had made it quite clear
That Santa must not use only reindeer;
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid
Were replaced by four bushbuck which really looked stupid,
And as for the gifts, he ne’er had a notion
That making a choice could cause such commotion.
Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,
Which meant nothing for him, and nothing for her;
Nothing that might be construed to pollute,
Nothing to aim and nothing to shoot,
Nothing insulting, nothing uncouth,
Nothing that seemed to embellish the truth.
So Santa just stood there, dishevelled, perplexed,
He just could not figure out what to do next.
He tried to be merry, he tried to be gay,
(But you’ve got to be careful with that word today).
Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to the Left and give to the Right,
A gift that would satisfy …. no indecision,
Each group of people, every religion,
So here is that gift, it’s price beyond worth:
“May you and your loved ones enjoy Peace on Earth”