Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 9 June 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, has reiterated his department’s commitment to shark conservation and bather safety. This follows the death of a tagged great white shark in a drumline off the coast of Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, last month. The department’s spokesperson, Thobile Zulu-Molobi, says the balance between effectively protecting bathers from potential shark attacks and ensuring the conservation of the country’s vital marine ecosystems is a complex and evolving issue:

# The fear of open-cast coal mining is reportedly driving landowners in Mpumalanga’s Highveld to declare private land as protected areas. The move is not purely motivated by conservation, but it seeks to help shield South Africa’s biodiverse grasslands, which are home to species like the wattled crane and oribi. According to the World Bank, about 476-million indigenous people hold tenure rights to about a quarter of the world’s surface area. Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency says this growing interest in biodiversity stewardship will offer legal protection from mining.

# And finally: New UK research shows that the ocean is darkening due to climate change, which is now threatening marine ecosystems. Less sunlight is now reaching the photic zone, affecting seaweed and phytoplankton, which are vital for marine life and carbon absorption. Pollution and altered ocean currents are among the key causes. Experts say with over 20-percent of oceans affected, species are now competing for survival. According to scientists, the shift also limits the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

Stay tuned for more news………….