Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 11 December 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The National Nuclear Regulator has invited public comment on Eskom’s proposal to modify its transient interim storage facility licence at the Koeberg nuclear power plant in Cape Town. The power utility wants to add a spent fuel cask storage area to the existing storage facility. The public has 60 days to submit comments on the environmental, health and safety issues regarding the request.

# Wildlife ACT has partnered with CHEP, a leader in sustainable supply chain solutions to protect rhinos in South Africa. Together, they aim to focus on vital conservation efforts such as dehorning, relocating orphaned rhinos, and tracking their movements. Additionally, they plan to engage local communities to ensure sustainable conservation practices. According to the organisations, fewer than six-thousand-200 black rhinos remain, whilst white rhinos continue to decline at an alarming rate. They view this as a call for South Africa to increase rhino protection and promote sustainable development.

# And finally: The number of leopards has tripled in the world’s largest conservation area, the Kafue National Park in Zambia. There are currently 4.4 leopards per 100 square kilometres in the park, which uses camera trap surveys, smarter anti-poaching patrols and GPS-tagging of white-backed vultures to act as an early-warning system for potential poaching activity. This has also lead to a reversal of the decline in the lion population. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists leopards as vulnerable on its red list of Threatened Species.

Stay tuned for more news………….