Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 2 August  1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Dion George says a significant drop in rhino poaching during May and June is attributed to the dehorning efforts in KwaZulu-Natal. National losses were 21 and 22 rhinos respectively, compared to 42 and 34 in the same months last year. George says the department is currently in the process of finalising the consultative process for the publication of the revised Biodiversity Management Plan for Black and White Rhinos for implementation.

# Packaging manufacturer Mpact has acquired a strategic equity share in Africa Tanks to address drought, watershedding, and infrastructure issues. The equity investment is aimed at accelerating Africa Tank’s growth and entry into the Eastern and Western Cape. South Africa is a dry country, with an average rainfall of 465-millilitres a year. CEO Bruce Strong says they foresee a large and rapidly growing market for high-quality water tanks, as households and institutions invest in water security to ensure continuity of supply.

# And finally, research has linked El Niño events to the spread of a novel cholera strain. Findings published in the open-access journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases show that anomalous patterns of cholera deaths from 1904 to 1907 occurred alongside out-of-the-ordinary seasonal temperatures and rainfall levels associated with an El Niño event. Researcher Xavier Rodo says variation in climate conditions or the evolutionary change of a pathogen can be important drivers of major epidemics and pandemics.

Stay tuned for more news………….