2014 Green Events
Every year there are green events aplenty in our little city.
2014 Green Events
Every year there are green events aplenty in our little city.
Check this paper’s Community Pages, scan publicity and notice boards, and visit online sites such as www.grocotts.co.za/event, www.edutourism.co.za/calendar.htm and www.ru.ac.za/environment/events.
The Makana Green Fun Run – a highlight on annual sporting and environmental calendars, as well as on the Scifest Africa programme – takes place on Sunday 16 March. More info about this colourful event at www.ru.ac.za/environment/funrun.
Family Farming
2014 has been declared the international Year of Family Farming.
Family farming and smallholder farming can play a significant role in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development, particularly in rural areas.
It wouldn’t harm to slip in some family planning at the same time.
Sustainable farming requires a basic understanding of how natural ecological processes work.
For example, think about the impact of chemicals on soil health which in turn affects the health of food plants growing in that soil, and thus our own health.
If we don’t look after our natural resources, we can say goodbye to food security, good health, and social and economic wellbeing.
More info: www.environment.co.za/sustainable-green-business-news/what-makes-a-great-sustainable-farm.html
Celebrating our Wonderful Wetlands
In a water-stressed country like South Africa, failure to manage wetlands properly may lead to a complete depletion of the country’s water supply by 2025 (Green Times).
What’s a wetland, you may ask?
Is it a stinky swamp swarming with biting insects?
Simply put, a wetland is any area that holds water – permanently or for a short time.
It is a living ecosystem, which can provide all sorts of important services: flood protection, shoreline erosion control, natural products of economic value, opportunities for recreation and tourism.
Most importantly, wetlands filter out pollutants and disease-causing organisms, for clean and healthy groundwater – which feeds springs and streams.
Just think how many people use the spring outside Grahamstown. By protecting wetlands, we protect our own lifeline!
Educators celebrating World Wetlands Day on 2 February might want to get the Wessa Share-Net “Exploring Wetlands” pack. More info: www.wessa.org.za/
All about Water
With money we can build roads and towns, but no amount of money can build a river or a stream (Anonymous).
The Institute for Water Research (IWR) at Rhodes University researches and promotes understanding and wise use of natural water resources in southern Africa.
On 29 January, the IWR’s annual open day will focus on Modelling the South African Water Sector.
Speakers include the well-known Tally Palmer, who will discuss the complexities of social-ecological systems and Denis Hughes, who will talk on complex models and simple models for water studies.
Jane Tanner will present her PhD work on surface-groundwater modelling, Tony Palmer will share insights on Geographical Information Systems and remote sensing to model water use, and Andrew Slaughter will explain the use of the Water Quality Systems Assessment Model (WQSAM) in managing South Africa’s freshwater resources.
Hugo Retief will consider the use of the WQSAM for co-operative management, Jill Slinger will look at system dynamics modelling in water management, and Jai Clifford-Holmes will discuss his PhD work on system dynamics to encourage strategic conversations between conflicting role-players at the municipal level.
More info: www.ru.ac.za/iwr or call 046 622 4014.
Contacts for Makana Enviro-News:
Nikki Köhly: n.kohly@ru.ac.za, 046 603 7205 | Jenny Gon: j-gon@intekom.co.za, 046 622 5822 | Trisha Nathoo: nathootrisha83@gmail.com,ITAL., 078 584 9496 | Nick James: nickjames@intekom.co.za, 082 575 9781 | Philip Machanick: p.machanick@ru.ac.za, 046 603 8635 | Strato Copteros: strato@iafrica.com, 082 785 6403
