Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 15 July 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Deputy minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, says the deadline to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and the end of this critical decade for climate action, is just five years away. However, the world is far from attaining these action targets. South Africa is hosting the second G20 Environment and Sustainability Working Group meeting in the Kruger National Park this week. Singh says there is an urgent need to accelerate climate action, as poverty levels are worsening, and greenhouse gas emissions reached record highs last year.

# Good rainfall has been falling in the Namaqua National Park in the Northern Cape since March, and low temperatures have been punctuated by periods of sunlight. This has made it possible for early germination, particularly among the daisy species. SANParks says flowers have started to bloom in the Skilpad area, while sections of the four-by-four eco-route, including Wildeperdehoek and Kookfontein, are already bursting with vibrant colours. It adds conditions are favourable for blooming to extend well into August and even through to September this year.

# And finally: German customs officers have discovered a massive haul of about one-thousand-500 tarantulas hidden inside a shipment disguised as cookies. The seven-kilogramme shipment from Vietnam was intercepted at Cologne-Bonn airport and emitted a strange smell when opened. Inside they found the venomous arachnids packed into plastic tubes and said that many had not survived the flight, with the remaining spiders placed into professional care. A criminal investigation has been launched into the package’s intended recipient for failing to pay duties and make the proper declarations.

Stay tuned for more news………….