Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 22 January 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute

# Gauteng residents are urged not to worry about recent social media claims regarding algae in waterways like the Hennops River and Hartbeespoort Dam. The DA confirmed that a natural part of aquatic ecosystems, cyanobacteria, supports oxygen production and nitrogen fixation. The party’s Leanne de Jager highlights that public concerns about water quality are acknowledged, but recent alarmist claims are unfounded:

# The Western Cape’s endangered seabird, the Cape Gannet colony at Lambert’s Bay Bird Island, has seen a record growth of 45-thousand, its highest population in 19 years. CapeNature has attributed this growth to effective conservation efforts, including daily monitoring, patrols, and predator management. It says the increase is a reflection of both breeding success and gannets from other colonies joining the island. It adds that threats such as seals and extreme weather have been mitigated to protect the colony and to ensure its continues contribution to ocean health.

# And finally: A third of the Arctic’s forests and wetlands now emit more carbon dioxide than they absorb. A new study in Nature Climate Change has attributed this to longer growing seasons, increased microbial activity, and an uptick in the frequency and intensity of wildfires. Over 40-percent of the Arctic ecosystem, spanning Siberia, Alaska, the Nordic countries and Canada, acts as a net carbon source. Co-author of the study, Marguerite Mauritz, says there is an urgent need to continue monitoring the Arctic ecosystems.

Stay tuned for more news………….