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.
Thriving elephants face big new cull
UK\20070301\The Daily Telegraph\News\Mike Pflanz, “ Hundreds of elephants could be culled under plans announced in South Africa yesterday. In the face of a soaring population, culling is one of a range of measures, including contraception, being considered to cut the damage elephants cause to the environment. There are now 17,000 elephants in the country after a 13-year ban on culling, and the number could double by 2020. "Culling and contraception I would personally have preferred not to consider, but I am persuaded that all these options have a potential role to play under different circumstances," said Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the environment and tourism minister. "In an ideal world, humans would co-exist peacefully with other life forms in a natural state, but this is no longer possible. "However... the management of our natural resources should be conducted ethically, humanely and rationally. Willful cruelty to animals must be condemned and avoided at all costs." Culling is usually carried out by rounding up elephants with helicopters. The animals are then darted with a muscle relaxant before rangers on the ground shoot the animals. Whole families are killed because juveniles often do not survive without their parents or extended relative group. "It is an extremely emotive issue, and any decision to bring back culling, which no one wants to do, is never taken lightly," said Rob Little, the director of conservation for the World Wildlife Fund in South Africa. "Culling has to be a last resort, and it is good to see the minister has made it the last resort, but let's not forget that the authorities have the responsibility to preserve the biodiversity of all habitats they manage. One single species cannot be sacrosanct." South Africa introduced a moratorium on elephant culling in 1995, after conservationists argued that the practice was having no proven bearing on reducing the impact of large herds on their habitat. A single elephant devours up to 300kg of grass, leaves and twigs a day, and 60 per cent of the branches and bushes they tear down is wasted. The country culled 14,562 elephants between 1967 and 1995. Since the ban, the number of elephants in Kruger National Park, which is home to two thirds of South Africa's elephants, has jumped from 8,064 to 12,427. Aside from the environmental impact, overcrowding is already affecting the elephants themselves. Cow elephants still live to an average 65 years, but fighting for primacy between bulls has reduced their lifespan to 45 years. "The problem is one of space," said Jason Bell-Leask, the southern Africa director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare. "There are increasing pressures from people living and growing crops near elephant habitats, which limits the space the elephants can move around in. "If too many elephants are concentrated in one place, their impact on their environment is going to be that much greater. "We knew culling was going to be one of the minister's options, but what is exciting is that he has shown he is keen to look at other tools for managing elephant populations." The Draft Norms and Standards document launched by Mr van Schalkwyk yesterday will be open to public consultation for two months, before the process begins to enshrine it in law. Culling is the last of five options for elephant population control. Top of the list is a greater focus on investigating ways to give the current numbers more land to roam. Corridors between elephant habitats could be created. Larger game reserves, dubbed "megaparks", crossing national boundaries could be formed to ease pressure in South Africa by encouraging herds to migrate into Mozambique or Zimbabwe, for example. Contraception, which is fired into the elephant by dart, could also be extended, but it is only viable for smaller populations as it must be administered annually and individual elephants must be tracked and managed. In vast habitats such as the Kruger National Park, culling may be more appropriate, but is likely to face stiff criticism from animal welfare groups.
GRAA DEDICATES SPECIAL DAY TO DISCUSS MARINE ISSUES
The beginning of February saw all roads leading to De Hoop Nature Reserve for the annual general meeting of the Game Rangers Association of Africa, which was held at the Reserve’s Potberg Environmental Education Centre from the 5th-9th of February 2007
This meeting gave the many conservation practitioners and enthusiasts that attended an opportunity to meet, network and discuss environmental issues as well as highlight various problems and achievements experienced in conservation across the continent.
A day was set aside to hold a marine symposium, whereby issues around marine and estuary management in South Africa were discussed and debated upon.
The marine symposium, held on the 6th of February, was a well organized event that attracted representatives and members of the public from nearly all organizations involved in marine and estuary management from the west to the east coast of South Africa’s 2000km coastline.
Guest speakers on the day included:
Dr Deon Nell, the Manager of the Aquatic Unit from WWF-SA;
The well renowned marine biologist and photographer, Thomas Peschack
;
Dr Colin Attwood, marine researcher, whose tag and release research on species such as the galjoen, on the De Hoop Marine Protected Area has proven important in the management of the resources;
Alison Kock, Great White Shark researcher;
Dr Alan Boyd from Marine and Coastal Management who reported back on World Wetlands Day &Sustainable livelihoods in the coastal and marine environments;
Dr Peter Ryan who spoke about the risks to sea birds;
Richard Davies - Commercial operations within the conservation environment;
Steve Lamberth talked about the importance of estuaries in the coastal and marine environment; and
Sindiswa Nobula, from the reserve’s Potberg EE Centre spoke about the role of education on the marine environment.
The collection of speakers really gave an insight into the state of marine and estuarine affairs in the country. Through their wise words and breath taking pictures, they managed to paint a clear picture of how wonderful, beautiful, rich and fragile the marine environment is. Their presentations were truly enriching and insightful and they managed to draw attention on this unknown and often misunderstood environment.
Because of the presence of the many knowledgeable people in the field, many questions and concerns were answered and many myths were dispelled, from the likely causes of the recent Great White shark attacks on humans along our coast, to the impacts of development and commercial activities in protected areas.
Though the speakers focused on different issues, they all agreed on one thing, and that is that the vast knowledge carried by scientists and conservationists about the marine environment, will not benefit marine conservation if it is not shared with the ordinary man on the street, the resource user – you- the person reading this article.
Individuals from the different organizations that have completed their training in Marine Protected Area management also received their certificates at the event. It was very encouraging to see that Marine Protected Area’s in South Africa are in the really good hands of individuals not only passionate, but also knowledgeable and well trained.
All the individuals that attended the symposium agreed that more effort should be made to ensure that all South African’s have easy access to factual, honest and easy to understand information about marine and estuary conservation in South Africa.
This pointed to the role of education in the marine environment, which was identified as the one way in which the gap that exists between the research community and the general public can be bridged. One fact that cannot be denied is that, success in marine conservation largely depends on the support and participation of our communities. And the one way we can gain public support and participation is through education - only when we are informed, will we be able to make sound decisions and actively participate in the protecting of our marine environments for current and future generations.
The day was such a great success, and not only did it manage to bring many great minds in marine conservation together under one roof, it also afforded the different organizations an opportunity to learn from each other and even build partnerships. It was generally agreed that an event such as this should be held on a regular basis, and that organizations should come together, share ideas and resources in order to make the complex task of managing marine and estuarine resources a much easier one.
For any further information on the symposium or about some of the issues that were discussed please contact De Hoop Nature Reserve at 028 542 1253 or fax 028 542 1679.
Public Recreational Beach DrivingFor immediate release 18 February 2007
STATEMENT BY THE OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ON 18 february
Minister Van Schalkwyk takes final decision on Public Recreational Beach Driving
"The decision surrounding public recreational beach driving is now final," said Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South African Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, as he released a report on the ecological and socio-economic impact of the beach driving ban.
The Minister said," I am now entirely satisfied that the decision to ban/restrict public recreational vehicles on South African beaches was the correct one. There is now overwhelming evidence that this is the best decision for the environment, and more broadly sustainable development and tourism growth. While there may have been an initial negative economic impact, it is clear that this trend has reversed and the stage is set for further growth. In fact, there is conclusive proof that several businesses have been successful at capturing new niche markets, including the lucrative eco-tourism market".
"I would like to emphasise that this policy is here to stay. Future tourism and investment planning no longer has to contend with any uncertainty regarding public recreational beach driving in South Africa. We now have clarity regarding the legislative and regulatory context in which planning frameworks and investment strategies can be developed to further promote eco-tourism associated with the Wetland Park, and, indeed, the greater coastal landscape of the country."
Key findings of the REPORT
A study was conducted in the context of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, with a view to determining the best possible outcomes in terms of sustainable economic growth and its attendant ecological and social co-benefits.
Further, there was an examination of a number of ecological indicators that showed the ecological effects associated with continued vehicle use are negative and the effects associated with the withdrawal or decrease of vehicles are positive. From an ecological viewpoint, and if the precautionary principle is to be applied, beaches should not be re-opened to public recreational vehicles.
The tourism chapter concludes that the introduction of the Regulations, at the time of the beach-driving ban and up until 2003, had an initial negative impact on tourism in the Wetland Park area. However, the impact was arguably exacerbated by several other factors: the opening of Mozambique as an alternative destination (new tar road and easier access), a major drought, high fuel prices, and a weak Rand, amongst others. However, the negative economic impact has been softened by several factors. These include ongoing Government efforts through the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative and the Wetland Authority for improvement and upliftment of the area, the World Heritage status of the Park, game re-introductions, improved Park infrastructure, a change in the profile of visitors to the area (more foreign visitors and domestic holiday makers interested in the eco-tourism experience; and fewer visitors focused on beach-driving and fishing) and an adaptation and broadening of tourism products and services.
Since 2003/2004, tourist numbers have shown a recovery, and new business opportunities have continued to arise. Similarly, tourism patterns have changed with a shortening of the so-called off-season. Changes in the formal tourism business sector have been most marked in St Lucia Town where, in particular, the higher end accommodation market has grown. A July 2006 inventory of tourist accommodation in and around the Wetland Park revealed a 59% increase in establishments and an 18% increase in beds since 2000.
A crime study showed that the overall trends have not changed since the introduction of the Regulations governing the use of vehicles in the coastal zone. No direct causal link could be found linking the frequency of crime incidents with the introduction of the beach driving ban. It is important to note that crime hotspots could not be directly correlated with areas where beach-driving had or had not been permitted prior to the introduction of the Regulations.
Information on the informal sector showed that the income generated by the tourism-related informal economy is critical to the survival of numerous poor families living on the periphery of the Park. It appears that informal sector businesses have not been able to capture adequately the opportunities arising from the increase in foreign tourists. This is an area that requires substantive interventions to bridge the gap between the formal and informal economies and to achieve a broader spread of the new economic opportunities and benefits. Added to this, it is considered necessary to broaden the transformation of tourism service providers operating adjacent to the Wetland Park.
From the different specialist perspectives it is evident that the beach-driving ban had both positive and negative impacts. It is, however, difficult to separate the precise effects of the ban from the effects of several other important factors that have influenced and contributed to the trends in tourism and the tourism related economy in and around the Wetland Park. Also a conclusion is reached that many of the perceptions on crime and socio-economic or tourism impacts advanced by those in favour of ending the beach-driving ban are not based on fact.
In line with international best practice, all legislation and Government policy that relates or impinges on conservation and natural resource use and management, makes a fundamental commitment to sustainable development and the upliftment of people. In terms of sustainability criteria, it is unlikely that allowing public recreational beach-driving will make a significant contribution to sustainable development.
In pursuit of its development goals through tourism, Government has invested heavily in the greater area of the Wetland Park and its surrounds, initially via the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative and more recently via the Wetland Authority.
Outcomes are seen in the new tourism mix, which includes the full range of the lower to higher end tourism market, and which properly balances domestic and international tourism, is more sustainable into the future.
The study is available on www.environment.gov.za
enquiries: Chief Director: Communications, Blessing Manale - 083 677 1630 .
Australia's First Wave Power Plant Ready to Roll
March 01, 2007 — By Rob Taylor, Reuters
PORT KEMBLA, Australia -- Australia's cities are drought-parched and its desert outback drenched by floods, but climate change has not yet killed the country's famed surf beaches, or their promise of clean eco-power.
Australia's first commercial wave-generated power station will in weeks begin supplying homes south of Sydney with electricity and fresh drinking water, courtesy of the sea.
"The energy in waves is the densest of any natural sources of energy. It's pretty much always there and it doesn't go away like sun and wind do," John Bell, the Chief Finance Officer from station developer Energetech told Reuters.
Lying anchored just 100 metres (yards) off a popular surf beach near Wollongong, a city of around 200,000 people just south of Sydney, the 485-tonne plant will power 500 homes along the local grid.
Electricity is generated when waves wash into a funnel facing the ocean, driving air through a pipe and into a turbine capable of pumping 500kw of clean power each day into the local grid.
The A$6 million ($4.7 million) floating plant, built to withstand a 1-in-100 year storm, can also desalinate 2,000 litres of drinking water each day for almost as many homes as it powers.
The station is also popular with local surfers, having created a nearby sandbar with a small surf break, despite the difficulty of getting to it from Port Kembla's port.
Bell said the plant was the prototype for a larger installation of 10 stations to be built on the wave-battered southern Australian coast near Portland, in Victoria.
"We'll have a queue to roll these things out, because the fact we can do both electrical energy and desalinated water is quite compelling," he said.
Interest in building similar plants has come from Hawaii, Spain, South Africa, Mexico, Chile and both U.S. coasts, with Energetech having just completed a round of venture capital raising, mainly in Europe.
"Our production units will be producing one million litres of water each day and we can produce at very low cost," Bell said.
The costs of power from the plant ranged below 10 cents per kilowatt of electricity and under A$1 per 1,000 litres of water.
The Portland plants, floating like an ocean-bound wind farm, would produce 10 megawatts, enough for around 15,000 homes.
The turbine at the heart of the station employs new technology which allows it to spin in the same direction, irrespective of wind direction in the tunnel.
"We believe its got the best chance of any of those natural sources to get close to, or we believe get below, the cost of fossil fuel," Bell said.
POSITION(s) AVAILABLE
Laohu Valley Reserve
We are looking for an Assistant Manager for Laohu Valley Reserve which is 33 000 ha and is situated near Philippolis in the Free State. We are looking for a very practical, 'hands on' individual to supervise labour, maintain vehicles and static plants, oversee building, fencing and road maintenance operations and be involved in all aspects of the daily running of a game ranch. Due to the isolated nature of the property and available housing the position would ideally suit a young, fit, single male. I can be contacted at 051 773 7042 or laohuvalley@mweb.co.za for additional information.
Many thanks
Peter Openshaw
Manager: Laohu Valley Reserve, Tel.: +27 51 773 7042, Fax.: +27 86 670 5229
POSITION WANTED
Please assist a damsel in distress...
Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will be without a job as of 1 May 2007. If there is anybody who can give me pointers to find a position in nature conservation I will really appreciate it.
I have a National Diploma in Nature Conservation as well as a National Diploma in Travel and Tourism. I have eight years of reserve management experience, obtained in KZN Nature Conservation Services (old Natal Parks Board), the Balule Nature Reserve and the Umbabat Private Nature Reserve, both part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park.
Being a 32 year old single gent, I can operate almost anywhere and under almost any conditions.
Marius Fuls
Warden - Umbabat Private Nature Reserve
Chairman - GRAA Lowveld Region
+27 (0)15 793 3071
+27 (0)83 305 3104
PO Box 995; Hoedspruit; 1380; South Africa
Can anyone help this colleague?
Dear sir
I am a Norwegian Ranger working for the Norvegian nature inspectorate.
For the time being I am on one years leave from my job, to follow my fiancé to Zambia, where she works as a voluntary lecture for the norvegian peace corps.
I got your email address from Rigmor Solem Who is the norvegian representativ for the norvegian ranger assosiation, which is a part of the International ranger association.
I would like to know about the opportunity to come and visit or stay with rangers in parts of southern Africa, during my stay in Zambia and wonder if you could advise me on this issue.
I would really like to see how you are working here.
Best regards
Thomas Johansen
Field inspector
Tailpiece-
For us "big" kids......
For those of you not up to speed, don't feel left out - just take a trip down memory lane along with the rest of us... According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 50's, 60's,and 70's probably shouldn't have survived, because...
Our baby cots were covered with brightly coloured lead-based paint which was promptly chewed and licked. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, or latches on doors or cabinets and it was fine to play with pans.
When we rode our bikes, we wore no helmets, just flip flops and fluorescent 'clackers' on our wheels. As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or airbags - riding in the passenger seat was a treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle and it tasted the same. We ate dripping sandwiches, bread and butter pudding and drank fizzy pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing. We shared one drink with four friends, from one bottle or can ,and no-one actually died from this. We would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then went top speed down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes.
After running into "stinging nettles" a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back before it got dark. No one was able to reach us all day and no one minded. We did not have Play stations or X-Boxes, no video games at all. No 99 channels on TV, no videotape movies, no surround sound, no mobile phones, no personal computers, no Internet chat rooms. We had friends - we went outside and found them.
We played elastics and street rounders, and sometimes that ball really hurt.
We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits. They were accidents. We learnt not to do the same thing again. We had fights, punched each other hard and got black and blue, we learned to get over it.
We walked to friend's homes. We also, believe it or not, WALKED to school - we didn't rely on mommy or daddy to drive us to school, which was just around the corner. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate live stuff and although we were told it would happen, we did not have very many eyes out, nor did the live stuff live inside us forever.
We rode bikes in packs of 7 and wore our coats by only the hood. Our actions were our own.
Consequences were expected. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law. Imagine that!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. And you're one of them. Congratulations! (But we were the ones that produced the regulators and bureaucrats! Fancy that!).
Pass this on to others who have had the luck to grow up as real kids before lawyers and government regulated our lives, for our own good. For those of you who aren't old enough, thought you might like to read about us. This my friends, is surprisingly frightening......and it might put a smile on your face. The majority of students in universities today were born in 1983..... They are called youth. They have never heard of "We are the World, We are the Children", and the" Uptown Girl" they know is by Westlife not Billy Joel. They have never heard of Rick Astley, Bananarama, Nina or Belinda Carlisle. For them, there has always been only one Germany and one Vietnam. AIDS has existed since they were born. CD's have existed since they were born. Michael Jackson has always been white. To them John Travolta has always been round in shape and they can't imagine how this fat guy could be a god of dance. They believe that Charlie's Angels and Mission Impossible are just new films out last year. They think that N-Trance "set you free" is an Old School song. They can never imagine life before computers. They've never heard of Pac-Man or Space Invaders or BBC computers that have Bat 'n Ball games. They'll never have thought Jazz was the sexiest aftershave ever. They'll never have pretended to be the A Team, Red Hand Gang or the Famous Five. They'll never have applied to be on Jim'll Fix It or Why Don't You. They can't believe a black and white television ever existed and don't even know how to switch on a TV without a remote control. And they will never understand how we could leave the house without a mobile phone.
Now let's check if we're getting old...
1. You understand what was written above and you smile.
2. You need to sleep more, usually until the afternoon, after a night
out.
3. Your friends are getting married.
4. You are always surprised to see small children playing comfortably
with computers.
5. When you see teenagers with mobile phones, you shake your head.
6. You've developed more and more feelings about your work. It's now
your life.
7. You spend less and less time talking on the phone with your friends
daily.
8. You meet your friends from time to time, talking about the good old
days, repeating again and again all funny stories you experienced
together.
9. Having read this mail, you are thinking of forwarding it to some
other friends because you think they will like it too...
Yes, you're getting older!!!!
ah....
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