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LOWVELD REGION
PO Box 678, Barberton, 1300
Mobile : 072 376 2581
Tel: ++27(0)13 712 4508
Fax: ++27(0)866139622
Email
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Regional Chairperson : Tony Ferrar
NOTICE:
WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY OF SA LOWVELD REGION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting
of the Lowveld Region of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa
will be held on Wednesday 26 August 2009
at the Captain’s Cabin; Lowveld High School, Figtree St, West Acres, Nelspruit
at 18:30 for 19:00.
All members and the general public are very welcome to attend.
The order of business will be:
- Welcome
- Chairman’s Annual Report – Tony Ferrar
- Treasurer’s Annual Report – Simon Evered
- Nominations for and election of the Committee Members
- Presentation by Mumsie Gumede -National CEO of WESSA
- WESSA – looking ahead
- Presentation by Michelle and Steve Henley of the Elephant Research Centre
- Elephants- where are we now
A warming light supper will be available.
NEWSLETTERS
 Elephant Research - newsletter [890kb]
June 2008
December 2008
Lowveld Region hosting of Jane Goodall
On March 20 th , WESSA Lowveld Region and the Umhloti Lodge, co-hosted the  legendary and charismatic Dr Jane Gooda ll of the Jane Goodall Institute, at a fundraising dinner to open the new JGI Chimpanzee Eden Sanctuary at the Lodge outside Nelspruit. The evening was very well supported, even though the Lowveld heavy rains tried to disrupt the proceedings. Dr Jane Goodall is known to many for her continuous and tenacious rescues of maltreated and abused chimpanzees all over the world.
Her numerous honours include the French Legion of Honour , National Geographic Society's Hubbard medal and in 2003 she was created a Dame of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. In her address, Dr Goodall was complimentary about the amount of work and conscientiousness that had gone into the building of this magnificent sanctuary. "This is the best sanctuary in Africa and you can be really proud of it" she said.
WESSA Lowveld supported the venture from the outset and was pleased when the Mpumalanga authorities relaxed their rule that exotic species should not enter the province. The JGI runs an education programme called "Roots and Shoots" for schools and several were invited to the sanctuary while Jane Goodall was there. It is possible that WESSA Lowveld's education programmes may be linked to the JGI so that an ongoing relationship can be developed for the future.
EXCITING NEWS
WESSA Lowveld does it again – Mthayiza Primary wins prestigious award
On Friday November 19, at the Eskom ETA Environmental Award Ceremony at the Theatre on the Track in Midrand, Mthayisa Primary School of Kabokweni was presented the Young Designers Award by the Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy Ms Lulama Xingwana and the Chairman of Eskom Holdings, Mr. R Khoza.
The team consisted of educator Michael Nsimba and learners Innocent Ngwenyama and Lynette Maluwa. The project involved the efficient use of an energy in a rural environment and comprised a fire burning recycled fuel, which at the same time, could be used for cooking, for warming the family sitting round it and for heating water in a tank for use by the family.
Michael Nsimba was thrilled when Mthayisa was announced as the national winner. The school had triumphed in the Lowveld regional final and was then pitted against 10 other schools from all over the country, each a regional winner. A total of 113 schools were in the programme. In an elimination process, a short list of four was generated and Mthayiza were then summoned to Eskom Headquarters to present the project in model form when the list was reduced to three. Last Friday the three presentations were shown in video form to the 300 invited guests and the winner announced.
Dr. Simon Evered, WESSA Lowveld Chairman, said the competition was very tough and he was both amazed and delighted when Mthayiza triumphed. Allan Mdaka, WESSA Lowveld Environmental Education Officer, said that the effort over the months had now proved justified and he hoped tp see an enthusiastic group of schools joining next year’s programme.
Mthayiza Primary were awarded a plaque, a certificate and a cheque for R30 000.
WESSA Lowveld feels that the project has such merit that it intends to publish a flier on collecting the materials needed and how to put them together, to be disseminated in rural areas all over the country.
The following are some of the projects and initiatives in which WESSA: Lowveld is currently involved:
Ground Hornbill Project
The salary for an assistant ranger to the project is being paid by WESSA Lowveld. The project leader has distributed his December report, describing some success in terms of normalising social behaviour and improved breeding rates. The project is being pursued in the Timbavati Nature Reserve, where breeding has been poor due to the lack of satisfactory nesting sites in large trees. The photo shows an artificial nesting log with its first tenant.
Sappi Expansion - Important Lowveld EIA
The Ngodwana Mill is planning a 50% expansion which is the subject of an extensive EIA. The report was promised before Christmas but has not materialised. Sappi were surprised at the extent and depth of the opposition to the proposal, and is preparing a thorough EIR. WESSA has been in the forefront of opposing the expansion on the grounds that the river cannot handle any further pollution and that Sappi has been environmentally irresponsible in its methods of waste disposal thus far.
Sheba Mine, Barberton - EMPR for open cast mining
WESSA attended the first public meeting concerning the mine's application to start an open cast working on a ridge just below Eureka City. This is a sensitive eco-tourist and mountain grassland area, partly in a reserve. Opposition and concern generally was a little slow to materialise but has now reached meaningful proportions. WESSA, in the form of the Chair and Tony Ferrar, has prepared a newsletter, voicing concern over open cast mining in a Reserve and asking for comment. The Scoping Report has not yet been published.
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