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 magazine 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.
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 C~S ” as the message heading.
BIRDING IN SOUTHERN KWAZULU-NATAL
This tour is being run by a fantastic birder, Malcolm Gemmell and backed by his wife Gail, who will look after every other need.
The tour is being run in a special area with a number of endemic birds, and I believe Malcolm is the best specialist available.
Malcolm and Gail have put a tour together for the GRAA that is real value for money. Please pass this on to any birders you have contact with and encourage them to enjoy the event.
GAME RANGERS ASSOCIATION OF AFRICA
THE GAME RANGERS ASSOCIATION OF AFRICA IS OFFERING BIRDING ENTHUSIASTS A LONG WEEK-END OF BIRDING IN SOUTHERN KWA ZULU-NATAL from 25th to 28th January 2007
This is a fund raising project of the Game Rangers Association of Africa
THE TOUR WILL BE LED BY MALCOLM GEMMELL “IN HIS OWN HABITAT” (there is no-one who knows the birds in this area better than Malcolm) and GAIL GEMMELL WILL LOOK AFTER YOU IN HER SMITHFIELD GUESTHOUSE (CREIGHTON)
They have put together a fantastic itinerary to ensure you have a wonderful experience. George Zaloumis (a District Conservation Officer with KZN Wildlife) will be in attendance to provide back-up. Summer is the best time to visit the area, and January is a choice month.
Proposed itinerary.
Thursday 25th Jan
Arrive at Smithfield Guesthouse and settle in between 4 – 5 pm.
Tea and coffee will be available.
6 pm. Depart for Amur Falcon roost (with sundowners).
Dinner is served at 7.30 pm.
Friday 26th Jan
Very early start (depart 4am) to be at Ntsikeni Nature Reserve in time for sunrise at this Wetland Wonderland (and search for Bittern).
Packed breakfast and lunch will be provided.
The rest of the day will be spent birding around this beautiful and remote high altitude Reserve.
(Yellow Breasted Pipits, Cape and Bearded Vultures, Black, Montagu’s, and African Marsh Harriers, breeding Wattled Crane, Broadtailed Warbler and perhaps Short-tailed Pipit).
Return to Smithfield in time for dinner.
Saturday 27th Jan
“Late” start for Xumeni forest – 3.30am, especially for the Orange Ground Thrush using a spot lamp.
Thereafter Cape Parrot, Knysna Turaco and Bush Black Cap.
En route to the Guesthouse for a hearty brunch we will detour for the enigmatic Blackrumped Button Quail.
Brunch is followed by a quick snooze and battery recharge, before venturing out for Blue Swallows and Denhams Bustard.
There is always time before dinner for ‘flufftails’ if they are obliging.
Sunday 28th Jan
A “very late” start – 4.30am Dawn chorus at Hlabeni Forest, Malcolm’s favourite haunt using audio enhancing apparatus with headphones.
This activity is enjoyed from deckchairs overlooking pristine forest bathed in early morning mist, with coffee and homemade rusks. A memorable event and must have for photographers.
This is followed by a guided walk along trails through this magical forest full of surprises for tree-and flower-lovers.
Return for a hearty brunch
Depart for home.
A DEPOSIT of R500.00 is required to confirm your booking.
A cancellation fee of R300.00 will be levied for cancellations after 29 December 2006
Closing Date : - Full amount due by 10th January 2007
Additional information will be sent out once you have booked.
Payment: - by Bank deposit or direct transfer to:-
Game Rangers Association of Africa,
First National Bank, Howick branch 220725, Current Account No. 62103195956.
In the reference section of the deposit slip or electronic transfer, please record your NAME and then fax or email proof of your deposit to either of the fax numbers or emails given below.
Bookings should be made thru’:- Drummond Densham, densham@sai.co.za
5 Davidson Street, Howick, 3290, Tel. 033-330 4039 (Evenings only) or 083-321 7959
Fax. 033-2606118
OR
George Zaloumis, gaz@futurenet.co.za, tel. & fax 033-3307097, 082-4305290
MEDIA RELEASE, 30 November 2006INNOVATIVE WEB-BASED EIA TOOLKITTO ENHANCE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS LAUNCHED
Starts
Last night saw the launch of the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Toolkit during the International Association for Impact Assessment, South Africa chapter (IAIA-SA), Vaal Branch monthly meeting held at the Development Bank of South Africa’s headquarters in Midrand.
This EIA Toolkit is revolutionary in its intent, design, content and accessibility, as the first web-based facility of its kind. The EIA Toolkit developed by the EWT’s Law and Policy Working Group is in response to increasing queries from the general public, including landowners and conservancies, seeking guidance from the EWT on their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities to participate in development planning applications. South Africa has one of the most enabling environmental legislation frameworks in the world but this is often negated by the general lack of a proper understanding and application of the law during development processes. Through this innovative Toolkit, the EWT has developed a user-friendly mechanism to assist people to better understand and more effectively participate in the EIA process, thus improving democratic governance in South Africa.
The EIA Toolkit is a practical, intuitive, and demand-driven electronic guide to EIAs, the EIA process and, specifically, the new EIA Regulations. The Toolkit is aimed at enabling civil society in general and Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) in particular, to better participate in EIAs thereby improving the public participation component and overall satisfaction with the eventual outcomes by disparate stakeholders. The Toolkit incorporates EIA process flow charts, answers to frequently asked questions, document templates, and general and specific information as well as sections on how to consider biodiversity and other environmental concerns in the EIA process. In addition, as the Toolkit is intended to be used throughout South Africa, a section on relevant provincial specific information, i.e. contact details, provincial guidelines, document templates, etc., is also included.
The EWT has been supported by a range of partners in this Toolkit development, including the Tony and Lizette Lewis Foundation, the International Association for Impact Assessment’s Capacity Building in Biodiversity and Impact Assessment Project, CGA t/a Regenisis and Allison Rumsey, who have all invested significant resources as part of their commitment to ensuring that development in South Africa remains environmentally sound, equitable, ethical and fair. It is only through such improved public participation in democratic governance that we will improve decision-making and shift much needed development onto a more sustainable footing, to the benefit of all South Africans.
To access the website, go to: www.eiatoolkit.ewt.org.za
Ends
Contact: Anique Greyling, Coordinator: Law and Policy Working Group, Endangered Wildlife Trust
Tel: (011) 486 1102 / 082 822 8393, Fax: (011) 486 1506, aniqueg@ewt.org.za
Issued by: Dr Nick King, CEO: Endangered Wildlife Trust,
Tel: (011) 486 1102, Fax: 011) 486 1506, Email: nickk@ewt.org.za
Endangered Wildlife Trust Vision:
“A healthy planet and equitable world that values and sustains the diversity of all life!”
Subsidised Solar Water Heaters for Conservation Areas
There is a new initiative from the international travel industry which is setting up the Tourism Industry Carbon Offset Scheme – TICOS. This will involve tourists paying a voluntary contribution towards a fund that will invest in carbon-saving initiatives in destination countries. There is a special emphasis on conservation areas and projects that contribute to social upliftment and living standards. We are looking at setting up a pilot project in South Africa that will involve the installation of solar water heaters as a means to reduce carbon emissions.
In many of the protected areas in South Africa hot water is provided to visitors by electrically heated geysers. The replacement, or supplementation, of such energy intensive equipment with solar water heaters would greatly reduce carbon emissions. If solar water heaters are installed as original equipment on new facilities, this would have the same beneficial effect.
In South Africa, the installation of a solar water heater with a 2 square metre collector will pay for itself in 7 years and four months from the electricity costs saved (and South Africa has the cheapest electricity in the world). During this period, the solar water heater will, by replacing coal-fired electricity, save the use of 12,249 kg of coal and 26,446 litres of water and prevent the emission of 16,473 kg Carbon Dioxide, 3024 kg ash, 161 kg SOx and 77 kg NOx.
The TICOS project is seeking to provide funding that will be used to subsidise the current high capital cost of solar water heaters. The reason why they are expensive is because they contain expensive materials, they are very well made and insulated, and they are built locally in small numbers by hand, or else are imported. One can expect to pay at least double, and sometimes triple, the cost of a standard electric geyser.
We are aiming for a situation where the cost of a solar water heater will be subsidised to bring its price close to that of an electric geyser of equivalent capacity. The benefits to the lodge owner or protected area manager include drastically reduced running costs for hot water, and an improved image with clients who will be made aware of this carbon-saving initiative.
TICOS is also looking at the possibility of full payment for solar water heaters when these are installed for staff accommodation where hot water would normally not be provided. The benefits of improved hygiene and living standards are seen as important social benefits by the people backing the carbon offset scheme.
It is early days, and no promises can be made at this stage, but I would like to hear from any readers who are interested in being involved in this initiative. As soon as enough people have responded, I will start providing further technical information about solar water heaters and progress on the project.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Dr John Ledger
Box 427, Mondeor, 2110 South Africa
Phone / Fax: +27 11 680-1553, Mobile: 083-650-1768
e-mail: John.Ledger @ wol.co.za
Chairperson Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa
Lake Chad - Race Against Extinction, ThisDay, 7 November 2006
Formerly the fourth largest lake in Africa and sixth largest in the world, Lake Chad, initially spanning 25,000 km2 is now a mere 532km2, due of several factors including global warming. Abimbola Akosile attended an international workshop in Abuja, F.C.T. where plans to save the Lake Basin's 20 million inhabitants and vital eco-system were hatched
Coming together
The seriousness of the situation precipitating the workshop was not in doubt, given the calibre of the participants. Personalities like General Yakubu Gowon, former Nigerian Head of State; Alhaji Aminu Masari, Speaker of House of Representatives; Parliamentarians, Professors, Country Representatives, Governm20% of its former volume, due to global warming and increased diversion of water for irrigation purposes. Human activities in the lake's watershed require an increasing volume of water for dam construction, irrigation activities and other purposes.
A few decades back, Lake Chad was referred to as Mega-Chad. At that time, it was the fourth largest inland water body on the African continent and the sixth in the world. Today, the lake has become a shadow of its past.
The recent shrinkage of the lake started in the 1960s and has continued unabated for almost four decades; primary cause being the severe meteorological drought in the area and global warming, resulting in continued high temperatures. Between 1966 and 1997, Lake Chad shrank from 25,000 km2 to less than 1,500km2, and between 1994 and 2004, it receded further dramatically, covering just an area of some 532 km2.
About 50% of the decrease in the lake's size since the 1960s is due to human factor, while shifting climate patterns account for the remainder. Lake Chad's primary source of water is the Logone-Chari river system, which originates in the mountains of the Central African Republic. However, due to reduced rainfall and diversion of the water to other uses, only about one-half of this amount is absorbed by the lake. In a similar vein, the Komadougou-Yobe River in northern Nigeria that also flows into the lake now flows only during the rainy season.
Lake of Peace & Revival?
General Gowon put it succinctly in his Chairperson's opening remarks at a workshop facilitated by the Regional Parliamentary Committee on Lake Chad Basin alongside the African Leadership Forum (ALF).
To the elder statesman, "we had great hopes and plan for the Basin and were determined to make it not only a lake and basin of great economic opportunities and benefits, but also a lake of peace and hope for us all and especially for our people that live around it. But is seems as though things have drastically changed and the story we hear of the diminishing lake and its fortune must give all of us a serious cause for concern"
Gowon, who recalled with nostalgia his past activities involving the lake, urged the participants to critically look at all aspects of the problem and into ways and means to reverse the trend and revive the lake, increase its capacity and viability. He also called for an introduction of a strict regime of water usage for the water that may eventually arrive the lake from the Oubangui Inter-Basin Water Transfer Project, which is currently at feasibility study stage; and the political will to deal with the water project harmoniously among benefiting nations.
Inhabitants' Inventory
The population of the conventional basin is about 20 million distributed as 2,550,000 in Cameroon, 193,000 in Niger, 11,376,000 in Nigeria, 5,048,530 in Chad and about 634,283 in Central African Republic. Majority of these people practice agriculture, nomadic and semi-nomadic animal husbandry and fisheries.
Of the surrounding countries, Chad is perhaps the most reliant on the basin's water resources. About 40 percent of the basin's area and population are in Chad. Areas along the Logone and Chari Rivers are among the most productive in the country, producing approximately 86,000 MT of irrigated rice per year.
Much of the immense agricultural potential of Lake Chad remains untapped. A recent survey by Chad's Lake Development Society (SODELAC) estimated that in Lac Prefecture only 10 percent of the total polder area of 120,000 to 140,000 ha is currently in use.
Over 370 species of birds were inventoried in the lake basin. Animals in the basin include oryx, gazelles, elephants, black rhinoceros, and the Lake Lere manatee. Water dependent species include crocodile, hippo, waterbuck and sitatunga. Most of these species are in danger of extinction as one of the consequences of the shrinking lake. Nesting habitat for the black-crowned crane has been significantly diminished.
Interestingly, current prognosis suggests that population in the basin will climb from to over 36 million by 2025. With a drier climate and less rainfall, agricultural areas become more desperate for water and will continue draining what is left of Lake Chad. It is obvious that the "problem is expected to worsen in the coming years as population and irrigation demands continue to rise."
It is clear that unless immediate actions are taken, Lake Chad would not only disappear, species of birds, animals and water dependent species, would also go into extinction
Lake Chad Basin Commission
The Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) was created on 22 May, 1964, by the Heads of State of the four countries which share geographical boundaries with the Lake Chad, namely Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad, the Central African Republic later joined the LCBC to become the fifth Member State.
The mandate of LCBC is the management of the use of the lake among member-countries. Currently, the Basin Commission uses satellite imagery to monitor and predict fluctuations in water levels. Discussions and processes are underway to integrate other categories of stakeholders, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Libya and Sudan into the membership of LCBC.
Economic, Environmental Challenges
The continued existence of Lake Chad is under threat. As population pressures for water, land and food continue to mount, water in the region will increasingly become even scarcer. In fact, many researchers opine that the first signs of global warming have already appeared in the Lake Chad area.
The waters in and around the lake and the rains that fall over the entire watershed are critical to the livelihoods of some 20 million persons living in the Lake Chad Basin. A larger lake means more fish, and a longer shoreline increases opportunities for recessional cropping and grazing. Clearly, the lake's fishermen have been greatly affected by the shrinkage. The irrigation projects on which millions of American dollars had been invested have become moribund due to the shrinking lake.
Pastoralists have been forced out of the lake to move their herds to the wetter south, and this has culminated in and exacerbated the conflict between herders and farmers. Added to this, are serious environmental problems: soil salinisation, invasion of the evasive species, increasing water demands for irrigation and loss of fisheries, as well as an increase in poverty.
Oubangui - Lake Chad Water Transfer Project
While a number of initiatives are underway to reverse land and water degradation trends and regenerate the Lake Chad's ecosystem, the most critical one remains the proposed inter-basin water transfer project.
The Oubangui - Lake Chad Water Transfer Project entails transferring water from Oubangui River in the Central African Republic (CAR) and channeling it through a navigable canal to Lake Chad. The project has already been approved by the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, which share the River Congo, into which the Oubangui flows.
The pre-feasibility study conducted by the LCBC reveals that the project will serve as an opportunity to rebuild the ecosystem, rehabilitate the lake, reconstitute its bio-diversity and safeguard it. With the replenishment of the lake, irrigation will boost agricultural production, fishing and reforestation.
The canal to be used for water transfer will also serve to facilitate transportation of goods and services within the region. Other expected benefits of the project include about 702 megawatts of electricity that will be generated from the proposed dam and this will contribute towards meeting the region's energy requirements.
Painful Heritage
According to Alhaji Masari, who formally declared the workshop open and invited participants to dinner afterwards, "Lake Chad is a global heritage and now a disaster waiting to happen. Already pastoralists have been forced out of the lake to move their herds to the wetter south, which has caused conflicts between herders and farmers. Added to this are serious environmental problems of soil salinisation, invasion of evasive species, increasing water demands for irrigation and loss of fisheries, as well as increase in poverty".
Masari in his keynote address added, "the consequences of the extinction of the lake, which represents a great civilisation binding over 200 million of seven countries together, would be felt in about 15 of the 36 States of Nigeria, while six other African countries will suffer in a similar manner. The extinction shall trigger an enormous dislocation in the economic, social, ecological and political stability and happiness of the seven countries, with added fallout".
Sharing pains & gains
Africa, according to the Speaker, holds the key to the 'ecological' 21st century. It is home to major ecological resources, but it will be bad for Africa if the process and resources are not managed very well.
To him, there is an imbalance between population growth and the inability of the eco-sysatem to respond to these changes. "More than any other problem, the need to ensure equitable distribution of resources at the local, national, continental and global levels should be the concern of all leaders of the world. You cannot talk of effective governance if the focus is not about how to achieve sustainable development, peace and security".
Conceived Lake Map
Participants, after two days of exhaustive presentations, plenary sessions, brow-beating and brain-cracking, came up with a set of recommendations, which metamorphosed into a 3-page declaration on Lake Chad Basin, to which virtually everyone made inputs.
Members of the regional parliamentary committee on Lake Chad Basin as representatives of the parliaments of members States of the Lake Chad Basin Commission noted that the current 90% reduction in the size of the lake could lead to real extinction and cause inter and intra communal conflicts; and observed that continued environmental degradation and increase in the poverty level along the Basin will undermine current efforts at achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
They re-affirmed a commitment to safeguard the Basin from extinction, reconstitute and rebuild its ecosystem, bio-diversity and create a more conducive environment for the inhabitants of the basin, thus averting a possible calamity and conflict.
Binding Agreements
The committee members, alongside international donor partners, academia, water experts, media and LCBC members present, agreed to facilitate an accelerated implementation of the Oubangui-Lake Chad Water Transfer Project by ensuring that all the necessary and financial support are provided by all concerned stakeholders; and to work with the World Bank on its pledge in organising a donor round-table conference on Strategic Plan of Action.
They resolved to ensure full and effective participation of the member States of LCBC in execution of the water transfer project; to launch an international awareness campaign on the implication of the continued degradation of the lake on the peace and security of the sub-region and Africa as a whole; and to actively promote policy measures among members states that can assist in promotion of integrated water resource management strategy both at the national and sub-regional levels.
Members also agreed to work with civil society organisations in LCBC member states to create awareness and mobilise support for the initiatives on the Lake Chad water transfer project, and take specific measures that would remove all obstacles to effective functioning of the LCBC; and examine all the international treaties relating to inter-basin water transfer and management of trans-boundary resources and draw relevant lessons for the Oubangui-Lake Chad water transfer.
Walking the talk
Beyond recommendations and declarations, participants, concerned stakeholders, members states of LCBC, donor and development partners must cut through all imaginable bureaucratic tapes to get all processes on speedy course to stave off potential disaster in the Lake Chad Basin.
Beyond the agreements, which can be shelved at will by unwilling parties, committees members should bear in mind the consequences of 20 million warring people, both Anglo and Franco-phone, when the water runs out, fishes die off, and crops wither, and tempers flare. A stitch in time...
---ent Directors, and experts from more than ten African and foreign countries rubbed minds together on how to prevent imminent doom in the fast-receding Lake Chad Basin.
This was printed in our local paper and I thought it might be worth adding for your interest.The Gun Refresher.
A. An armed man is a citizen: an unarmed man is a subject.
B. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
C. Gun control is not about guns, its about control.
D. If guns cause crime then matches cause arson.
E. If you don’t know your rights, you don’t have any.
F. Criminals love gun control – it makes their job safer.
G. Assault is a behaviour, not a device.
H. You don’t shoot to kill, you shoot to stay alive.
I. Know guns, know peace and safety.
J. No guns, no peace nor safety.
K. Guns only have two enemies: rust and politicians.
Tailpiece-
Hell explained by a Chemistry Student. You gotta love this guy's explanation of hell.......
The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid-term.
The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well
Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?
Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.
One student, however, wrote the following:
First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.
As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today.
Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell.
Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell.
With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.
This gives two possibilities:
1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.
2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.
So which is it? If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you," and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct...leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my God”
Matter of Fact
This is an electronic newsletter of the Game Rangers' Association of Africa. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Association, nor of the Editor. This is intended to be an exchange of news snips, ideas and communication between members. Newsletter content may be copied and re-distributed without authorisation. Correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at dyunnie@xsinet.co.za