Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 21 August 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Southern Africa has the potential to grow a vibrant wildlife-based economy that contributes directly to local livelihoods while safeguarding biodiversity. This is according to deputy minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Narend Singh. He says what is needed is the mapping and monitoring of the frequency and locations of human-wildlife conflict incidents to guide targeted interventions. Singh says establishing early warning systems that combine technology with local patrols and sharing tourism and biodiversity benefits equitably are also necessary.

# The South African Weather Service has issued a red fire danger index warning for extremely dangerous veld fire conditions in Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. Very hot, dry and windy conditions may result in the development of runaway and veld or bush fires and strengthen existing fires. Tshwane Emergency Services Department’s spokesperson, Lindsay Zwelithini, says these conditions are set to persist until midnight tomorrow:

# And finally: The City of Cape Town’s Urban Waste Management Directorate has praised the Cape Peninsula University of Technology for its bold step in leading and embracing a zero-waste journey in the higher education sector. Last year, CPUT introduced a three-bin separation system across all its campuses, becoming Cape Town’s first zero-waste university. Mayoral committee member for Urban Waste Management, Grant Twigg, says small action, from separating recyclables to refusing single-use plastics, contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable Cape Town:

Stay tuned for more news………….