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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
lowveldadmin@wessa.co.za
Regional Chairperson : Tony Ferrar
 Download
WESSA Lowveld's newsletter 2 of 2006
Download
WESSA Lowveld's newsletter 1 of 2006
Download
WESSA Lowveld's newsletter 3 of 2005
Download
WESSA Lowveld's newsletter 2 of 2005
Download
WESSA Lowveld's newsletter 1 of 2005
SAVE THE ELEPHANTS
Elephant
Research - newsletter [890kb]
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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