Water and sanitation in the rural context in South Africa ... Feb 2018.pdf · Wildlife fact file 20 ... the tiny gems of wildlife that still exist in our urban ... reptiles and small

Conservation Matters - Issue 7: The Water and Biodiversity Edition 1

Issue 7 The Water and Biodiversity Edition

February – April 2018

Controlling Invasive Alien Plants to protect water resources

Protecting our critical water factories

Water and sanitation in the rural context in South Africa

Conservation Matters - Issue 7: The Water and Biodiversity Edition1

Physical Address: Building K2, Ardeer Road, Pinelands Office Park,Modderfontein 1609, Gauteng, South Africa, Postal Address: Private Bag X 11, Modderfontein 1645, Gauteng, South Africa

Tel: +27 (0) 11 372 3600 Fax: +27 (0) 11 608 4682 NPO

What’s InsideA word from the CEO 2

Guest contribution 3• Linking Cheetah conservation, human population growth, and family planning

Features 4• Water and sanitation in the rural context in South Africa• Protecting our critical water factories• Controlling Invasive Alien Plants to protect water resources• Seagrass: an unsung hero• Emerging farmers set the pace for climate smart farming

Showcasing our supporters: Accelerate 11

Tails from the field 12• Creating a conservation haven in the magical Soutpansberg Mountains • Conservation Canine stops poachers in their tracks• Preserving free-roaming carnivores in rural communities• Eskom hooking up at heights with vulture chicks

Showcasing our supporters: Relate 15

Green heroes 17• A portrait of a conservationist

Walking the talk 18• Saying no to single-use plastic

Science snippets 19• What role do wild birds play in outbreaks of bird flu?

Wildlife fact file 20• Cape Clawless Otter• Heaviside’s Dolphin• Blue Whale

Showcasing our supporters: Wildlife Campus 21

Meet the pack• Kulani Rob Nyakani• Oldrich van Schalkwyk• Miranda Kambule

Supporters’ corner 24• Events• Giving made easy

Pups’ place 28

In closing: Mwitu’s missive 29


However, the tiny gems of wildlife that still exist in our urban environments are not be overlooked or cast aside. In Johannesburg, we are surrounded by millions of trees that are home to thousands of birds, insects, reptiles and small mammals. If you just open your eyes and ears, you will be astounded to see who shares out city with us!

I had a wonderful family move into the tree outside my office window in November. A Hadeda Ibis couple built their (very rickety and unsafe looking) nest in the highest branches (my office is on the top floor) of a Water Pear tree and in time, had produced three large, speckled eggs. During the December break, either one or all of the eggs hatched, and if the latter, something happened to two of the chicks. Because when I returned in January, I was greeted by the clicking sound of one very hungry, fluffy young Hadeda balancing precariously on an increasingly insecure collection of sticks held together by bird poo and not much else. Throughout the month, the parents of this gangly creature took turns to watch over it or collect its food. Despite gale force winds, hailstorms and torrential rains, the little fluffball held on for dear life and it was with trepidation that I arrived at work every day to gingerly peer out of my window and see if he was still alive. By gingerly, I mean creeping up to the window, as, practically from birth, it was clear that mom and pop Hadeda had instilled in their chick a mortal terror of human beings and a hissing, fluffing of wings and an open beak to scare me was what greeted me if they even vaguely saw my shadow appear. This made me sad.

As Mother Nature is all-powerful, the survival skills of this little chick were remarkable and reminded me again of how natural resilience exists in so many species whilst human beings appear to be far needier and less happy with a bed of sticks and a diet of grubs.

I learned a lot from my own “field experience” that I too can share, so it is not just my staff working with Wild Dogs or cranes that have cool stories. Lessons from the Hadeda family:

1. The bond between a mother and her child, of almost any animal, is unique, powerful, all prevailing and should garner respect from all humans. It is not just humans who will die for their young, and whose sole purpose is to protect, teach and develop their offspring. We should respect that a LOT more in our fellow species.

2. Wild animals naturally distrust and fear humans. With good reason no doubt. We should not simply accept that as our right as apex predators, and we should never exploit that fear. Instead, we should learn to be more humble about the fact that we are the MOST feared species on earth. By everyone.

3. Life is about a few simple rules. Food and water, shelter, parental love and protection, learning, and growing. If we don’t grow, we die. Interpret that in a number of ways.

4. Take only that which you need. And live lightly. Despite Hadedas sometimes reusing old nests, my neighbour’s home finally succumbed to the ravages of a Gauteng thunderstorm and there is now almost no sign at all that any life even existed on those branches. Fortunately, fluffball was sitting further along the branches at the time and seemed to have moved out by then.

5. Focus on what we have and what can do in the future. I will never

know what happened to the other two eggs/chicks, or if the Hadeda parents lamented their loss, but I am guessing that the full time job it was to raise one healthy, strong and demanding youngster was all that they could manage and more than kept their days busy. Darwinian theories aside, we need to trust in the future that we are building and not stay hung up on the past.

6. Above all, look around you. See life through the eyes of others; appreciate other animals’ risks, threats, fears, needs, aspirations and their role in building a colourful and thriving world. Give more than you take.

The photo that I managed to get is particularly bad as I was creeping in the dark around the back end of my window, but it’s a tribute to the little squawker that is probably yelling outside your window right now and may be annoying you as only a Hadeda can. But I love that sound now. For the little bit of field that was brought into my top story office, no matter how less glamourous than a Cheetah he may have been. Nature is all around us, aren’t we blessed! And he may even make into the next edition of the EWT’s Conservation Week video tribute at the of this year!

Thank you for all your emails and comments received on these newsletters, please keep them coming.

Yolan Email: [email protected]

A word from the CEOThe nature of the EWT’s work is to be in the field, making a difference where it matters the most. As a result, video footage of spectacular landscapes and exhilarating wildlife often makes for jealous office staff, whose offices do not vaguely resemble pristine beaches,

rolling hills or Big Five reserves.


LINKING CHEETAH CONSERVATION, HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH, AND FAMILY PLANNINGDavid Johnson, Chief Executive, Margaret Pyke Trust, with the Population & Sustainability [email protected]

The EWT was the first conservation NGO in South Africa to recognise the importance of Population, Health and Environment (PHE) programmes as a means of acknowledging women’s reproductive and health rights, and the role of empowering women in keeping family sizes sustainable and small. These kinds of programme provide an important model for marginalised rural areas where community health and wellbeing is dependent on ecosystem health, like many of those in which the EWT operates. PHE programmes integrate improved sexual and reproductive health services with conservation actions and support for improved livelihoods. They have been proven to result in greater health, human welfare and conservation outcomes than single sector approaches, and the EWT is proud to be the only South African conservation organisation currently implementing such programmes.

The EWT is a member of the Population & Sustainability Network, a global alliance promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights as a critical element of sustainable development. Members of the Network promote the importance of voluntary and rights based family planning interventions to not only benefit infant and maternal health, but also because they understand the cross-sectoral benefits of family planning. For some time, the EWT has incorporated family planning interventions at its project site in Groot Marico, with two other members of the Population & Sustainability Network.

The latest conservation organisation to join the EWT, and make the links between improvements in family planning knowledge, rights, and services, population growth, and conservation policy and programme design is the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). Whilst the EWT is already involved with Population, Health and Environment (PHE) programmes, which integrate family planning actions with sustainable livelihood interventions, it is encouraging to see the approach gaining traction in the conservation sector.

When the CCF joined the Population & Sustainability Network, it marked the occasion by publishing the importance of human reproductive health and rights for cheetah conservation, which it co-authored with Network coordinator, the Margaret Pyke Trust. This is perhaps the first time a paper making the connections between human reproductive health and rights and the conservation of a specific species has been published.


Dr Laurie Marker of the CCF explained the importance of family planning to the organisation, “For the last 25 years, the CCF has worked tirelessly to conserve the global Cheetah population. We have always partnered with rural communities to empower and improve their lives, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because we believe conservation and community development go hand in hand. As the links between conservation, population growth, and barriers to communities accessing sexual and reproductive health services, including rights-based family planning services, have become increasingly apparent, we knew it was time we took these links into account in our organisational strategy.”

Programmes integrating family planning improvements with conservation actions have been demonstrated to have greater conservation, health and gender outcomes than traditional single sector ‘health’ or ‘conservation’ programmes, although they are not widely implemented. It is therefore significant that the CCF has not only committed to do so, but has co-authored a paper looking at the links between human reproductive health and Cheetah conservation.

Over the last 100 years, the global Cheetah population has decreased by around 90%, so that today there are only around 7,000 adult

and adolescent Cheetahs remaining in the wild. Currently classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Cheetahs face threats including habitat loss, declines in prey, poaching, the illegal pet trade and climate change. Many conservationists believe their status should be reclassified by the IUCN as Endangered.

There is very often an overlap of the areas of most conservation significance, and where the barriers to family planning services are greatest, and as human needs and settlements grow, so do pressures on Cheetah habitat. Improving knowledge of contraception and the provision of rights-based family planning services can only ever be one part of any conservation programme, but it is an important consideration nonetheless. It is exciting that another conservation organisation has recognised these connections, and has committed to collaborating with expert health partner organisations to address human and environmental health in an integrated and holistic way.

Read the full paper here: The importance of human reproductive health and rights for cheetah conservation.

WATER AND SANITATION IN THE RURAL CONTEXT IN SOUTH AFRICAOscar Mohale, Field and Research Assistant, Source to Sea Programme and Bridget Jonker, Source to Sea Programme [email protected] and [email protected]

In a dusty town in the North West Province, young Moremi wakes up in the morning, washes himself in a corner of the tiny RDP house he shares with his family, puts on his school uniform and goes outside to use the toilet. The pit latrine is built behind their house and is a breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes. The structure has been moved around so many times it is falling apart. The stench is almost unbearable and when it rains, the water runs down the hill and fills the hole, spilling waste everywhere. The latrine is overflowing, they need to relieve themselves in five-litre buckets in the house, gather the waste in plastic bags and dump it into the nearby river. The same river they rely on for their drinking water….

Moremi and his family are not alone. Managing waste is a reality for many residents in rural settlements across the country, despite the government’s promise to eradicate the bucket toilet system by the end of 2007.

In the 2015/2016 period, R975 million had been allocated to eradicate bucket toilets, which would cover close to 90,000 households across the country. In reality, we are not doing well on this target. According to the Department of Water and Sanitation, an estimated 2.2 million households still use pit latrines, chemical toilets or have no access to sanitation at all.

South Africa is generally an arid country and erratic rainfall patterns exacerbate this. This creates problems in supplying water to the 55 million people who live in the country. If water is such a precious commodity in this country, surely we should be far more careful about how we treat it and dispose of it. As a result of these water supply and sanitation issues, we have seen social protests across the country. And rightly so.

Freshwater ecosystems in South Africa are highly threatened, much more so than terrestrial ecosystems. Almost 60% of river ecosystem types are threatened, with 25% of these Critically Endangered. Wetland ecosystem types are of even more concern, with 65% identified as threatened, including a staggering 48% Critically Endangered. This is


of enormous concern given the crucial role of wetlands in delivering ecosystem services such as water purification, flood regulation and drought mitigation. Some of the major pressures on freshwater ecosystems include pollution from failing Waste Water Treatment Works and pollution from settlements with no or very basic sanitation facilities.

In terms of the South African Constitution, the executive responsibility to deliver water and sanitation services falls on local government. Where there is a backlog in the delivery of water and sanitation services, and where municipalities are unable to meet their constitutional and statutory obligations, local government is also most likely to be held legally accountable. However, national or provincial governments should also take responsibility for the failure to perform local government functions or performing them inadequately. This is provided for in the Constitution, where national and provincial governments have the legislative and executive authority to see


to municipalities’ effective execution of their functions. Civil society can put pressure on national and provincial governments to exercise their mandates, through bringing dysfunctional situations to light and legally challenging departments that are not fulfilling their mandates. There is also an opportunity to enhance public participation in decision-making processes and to encourage statutory bodies such as the South African Human Rights Commission and the Water Tribunal to play watchdog functions. Members of the public can get involved by supporting the work of these organisations and engaging actively in stakeholder meetings and public participation processes.

Other solutions involve public private partnerships, where government collaborates with business to manage sanitation and water delivery projects and at a smaller scale - innovative local interventions, such as dry sanitation systems that can be rolled out quickly at minimal cost. Social entrepreneurs come up with ideas to society’s most pressing social problems. Rather than leaving societal needs to the government, social entrepreneurs find what is not working and solve the problem by changing the system, scaling the solution, and persuading entire societies to take new leaps. In the sanitation space, organisations and start-ups are creating high quality sanitation solutions that save water, limit pollution of water resources and are accessible to the poor.

The EWT is working in a number of catchments, including the Marico River Catchment where water pollution from domestic effluent is a serious issue. We are working closely with the affected communities to hold government accountable through supporting active citizenry, monitoring the health of the water resource (and feeding this

information back into the relevant departments that need to response accordingly). In the next year, we are looking to pilot innovative dry sanitation solutions in the areas we work to reduce impacts on the river systems and to address the imminent public health threat that comes with failing (or lack of) sanitation systems. If the uptake of these solutions is positive, we will be engaging with local government to roll out these solutions at a large scale.

Our work is supported by UNDP and Coca Cola, the Elizabeth Wakeman Henderson Charitable Foundation, and the Population & Sustainability Network.

PROTECTING OUR CRITICAL WATER FACTORIESNkosinathi Nama, Amathole Endangered Freshwater Species Project Coordinator, Source to Sea [email protected]

A number of catchments in South Africa are recognised as strategic water source areas. These high rainfall areas channel water into rivers, lakes, dams, wetlands and groundwater systems. They provide a vital service to ecosystems and form the foundation of water security for our country.

South Africa is classified as a water scarce country. With over 98% of its surface water sources already allocated, South Africa depends heavily on its catchment areas for water. The national Department of Water and Sanitation, in collaboration with other civil and research partners, has identified 21 strategic surface water source areas in the country that are critical for water security and economic development. Research conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) highlighted the importance of these areas that make up only 8% of the country’s surface area but contribute more than 50% of its surface water.

The strategic water source areas have been referred to as the country’s “water factories”. An example of such a water factory, and perhaps one of the most important, is the Drakensberg mountain range, which has disproportionately high rainfall compared to the rest of the country. These water source areas are not only important for water production, but are also important ecologically as they drive and maintain terrestrial, and more importantly, aquatic ecosystem functioning.

South Africa’s surface water strategic water source areas

Amathole – Eastern Cape Eastern Cape Drakensberg – Eastern CapeMaloti Drakensberg – Eastern CapePondoland Coast – Eastern CapeTsitsikamma – Eastern CapeMfolozi Head Waters – KwaZulu-NatalNorthern Drakensberg – KwaZulu-NatalSouthern Drakensberg – KwaZulu-NatalZululand Coast – KwaZulu-NatalSoutpansberg - LimpopoWolkberg – Limpopo Enkangala Drakensberg – Mpumalanga Mbabane Hills – MpumalangaMpumalanga Drakensberg – MpumalangaBoland Mountains – Western CapeGroot Winterhoek – Western CapeKougaberg – Western CapeLangeberg Mountains – Western CapeOuteniqua – Western CapeSwartberg – Western CapeTable Mountain – Western Cape


Aquatic ecosystems such as rivers and wetlands depend on high quality water sourced from catchment areas. Ecosystems such as estuaries, which are the interface between land and sea, also depend on catchment areas as sources of fresh water as they provide the flow of fresh water that sustains their unique ecosystems and supports estuaries as fish nurseries.

The effects of climate change and poor natural resource management, coupled with social challenges such as rural unemployment, urban sprawl and increased economic activities, are placing increased pressure on these water source areas through increased pollution and secondary effects from heavier grazing pressure. It is crucial that various management tools are utilised in tandem to ensure efficient and holistic catchment management solutions that respond to these challenges and more.

The EWT, in partnership with other civil organisations and government departments, is implementing a range of holistic catchment management solutions in the Amathole Mountains, which are a strategic water source area in the Eastern Cape. With the support of the European Union and Rand Merchant Bank, the Amathole Endangered Freshwater Species Project aims to conserve the integrity of this precious water source, which is home to five threatened freshwater-dependent species (two fishes, the Border Barb Barbus trevelyani and the Eastern Cape Rocky Sandelia bainsii; a damselfly, the Amathole Malachite Chlorolestes apricans; and two amphibians, the Amathole Toad Vandijkophrynus amatolicus and the Hogsback Chirping Frog Anhydrophryne rattrayi), They are all threatened by invasive alien species and habitat loss/degradation. Through invasive alien plant clearing along riparian zones (the areas along the banks of rivers) we have seen tangible increases in indigenous fish populations. Our work on promoting inclusive eco-economies such as beekeeping is starting to benefit our local entrepreneurs with the first honey harvest inspiring others to join this initiative as a sustainable alternative to the Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWP) that they are currently involved in. We catalyse stakeholder engagement and collaboration through hosting the Amathole Catchment Forum, where biomonitoring information is shared and NGOs, government and community members can share experiences and information.

The EWT would like to thank the European Union, Rand Merchant Bank and the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Water and Sanitation for their continued support in the Amathole Mountains.

CONTROLLING INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS TO PROTECT WATER RESOURCESNicholas Armstrong, Amathole Freshwater Species Conservation Project NRM Field Operations Officer, Source to Sea [email protected]

Quite a number of plant species are introduced from a foreign country and the new ecosystems are not adapted to these species. Many of them are able to flourish and become invasive because they lack the crucial natural pressures that control their population numbers. Without external pressures, these Invasive Alien Plants (IAPs) quickly colonise large tracts of land and riparian zones, where water is abundant.

The control of IAP species is critical for the protection of water resources, both globally and locally. Some invasive species are very thirsty, extracting excessive volumes of water from both groundwater and river systems. When growing en masse, this has a significant impact on the ecosystem found in a catchment area, especially in sensitive areas.

Not only do IAPs reduce water availability, but they often replace and exclude indigenous flora, impacting negatively on all organisms in the system. In the case of Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii), large dense stands of trees grow in the areas close to river banks, affecting both water quality and water quantity. They exclude the natural grasses, bulbs, succulents and saplings that should grow there through competition for water and light. Indigenous plant resources are no longer available to carry the populations of animals that naturally occur. In addition, large tracts of productive grassland are lost, impacting negatively on livestock farming in rural areas.

Invasive Black Wattle stands alter both the physical and biological conditions of the environment to such an extent that ecosystem functioning is impeded. Exclusion of grasses and other herbaceous plants leave the soil exposed and susceptible to erosion every time it rains. These soils are even more erodible because the Black Wattles have dried them out.


The landscape surrounding rivers in a catchment area stores water like a sponge, and slowly releases it into the river over time. This helps to filter the water, and make sure that the river does not run dry, especially during the dry season. It also reduces the flooding risk during very high rainfall periods. Not only do IAPs extract groundwater reserves, but they can change the nature of the soil to such an extent that it no longer performs the essential function of water flow management.IAP control is a critical intervention for the conservation of our natural habitats and water resources. As a water scarce country, South Africans should unanimously rally behind all efforts to control IAPs. The Working for Water programme of the Department of Environmental Affairs has been active since 1994, creating work opportunities for impoverished South Africans to clear IAPs from water resource areas. This programme has been very successful in many areas but the challenge remains in how to maintain the areas as alien plant free after the initial clearing interventions. Often landowners and communities do not have the necessary resources to do follow up clearing.

The EWT’s Source to Sea Programme is implementing a catchment rehabilitation programme as part of our Amathole Freshwater Species Conservation Project, in partnership with Working for Water. The project focuses on the Amathole Mountain Catchment of the Eastern Cape, and manages Black Wattle populations in over 2,000 hectares of key catchment areas. In this year, we have treated 1215 ha creating 3862 person days of work and we are already starting to see the benefits of better catchment management with local tributaries flowing again as well as increases in indigenous fish populations, due to improved water quality. Through this work, we are able to contribute effectively to the protection of a critical water resource, ensuring that life’s most important ingredient is available for generations to come.

The EWT would like to thank the Department of Environmental Affairs, European Union and Rand Merchant Bank for their continued support of the work we do in the Amathole Mountain area.


SEAGRASS: AN UNSUNG HEROIsabelle Giddy, Marine Project Officer, Source to Sea [email protected]

Seagrasses are marine flowering plants commonly found in estuaries, shallow coastal banks and the rooftops of reefs. While seagrasses are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world (comparable to that of coral reefs and tropical rainforests), they are also one of the most rapidly declining, losing 7% of their known area annually. Seagrasses support a diversity of marine life, being particularly important as refuges for juvenile fish, as well as providing a number of ecosystem services, such as bank stabilisation and carbon sequestration. They are however, a “forgotten” ecosystem, not being outwardly fantastic like tropical rainforests, and therefore neglected. Seagrasses are most vulnerable to sedimentation and excess nutrients in the water, caused by development encroachment in coastal areas.

Mozambique is home to one of the largest extent of seagrasses in East Africa, covering an estimated 459 km² and including 18 different species. The island of Bazaruto in Mozambique supports an artisanal fishing community of about 3,500 people who collectively own 72 seine-nets varying from 160–350 m in length. Fishing on Bazaruto is a family business. With everybody participating in some way or the other, the act of fishing has become closely linked to the identity of the community. Grandfathers supervise, babies are rocked on their mother’s backs as the women pull the nets to shore, young men do the hardest of the physical work, and women de-gut the freshly caught fish on the beach. The important livelihood of seine-netting relies on seagrass beds, where a diversity of commercially important resident fish and migratory fish can be found feeding on the seagrass, invertebrates and baitfish.

Seagrass meadows are not only important to the fishers’ livelihoods and identity in Bazaruto, but are also the primary food source for Green Turtles and regionally Endangered Dugongs. Above the water, seabirds, Pied Kingfishers, Egrets and flamingos can also be seen enjoying the rewards of a diverse seagrass meadow. The tourism lure of these incredible creatures is also not to be forgotten. Because of the growing pressures on the seagrass meadows, there is an increasing

need to declare seagrass-focused protected areas in the region. To this end, the EWT has initiated a study of the fish assemblages in the seagrass meadows within the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, in partnership with the University of Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo. We are using Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) surveys to assess the fish communities in areas zoned for varying levels of use (from open access, to only local fishers, to complete no take zones). This should give us an idea of the level of exploitation of the fishery, with the goal of testing this method as a tool for long-term monitoring within the park to inform sustainable fisheries management.

South Africa hosts a dismal and heavily impacted 7km² of seagrass, mostly concentrated in the Knysna estuary and St Lucia region. The Langebaan lagoon has almost lost the entirety of its seagrasses due to nearby development. The last stronghold in the Knysna lagoon, is also struggling, especially after the Knysna fires in June 2017, causing sediment, due to subsequent erosion, to flow into the lagoon; blocking the seagrass from light, like volcanic ash might do in our skies. The state of the seagrasses is also impacted by excess nutrients in the water due to inadequate waste treatment works and the inability to cope with an increasing population’s sanitary requirements. The threats to seagrasses in Knysna cannot be lessened by declaring protected areas, as sediment and nutrients seep in from external sources. Knysna is reliant on its reputation as a popular tourism destination and an attractive lagoon, which is also home to the Endangered Knysna Seahorse, a seagrass adapted fish.

Over the next three years, the EWT will be working with the Knysna Basin Project, SANParks, the Knysna Municipality, the Garden Route Rebuild Initiative and WWF-SA to address the direct threats to the health of this estuary that resulted from the June fires.

Both South Africans and Mozambicans garner livelihoods and ecosystem services from seagrasses to varying levels. Seagrasses play an essential role


in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which impacts everyone across the world. At the local level, subsistence fisheries rely heavily on the health of seagrass meadows. However, the seagrasses are faced with very different challenges. We do not live in silos. The first step in improving the status of seagrass meadows is to begin to realise their specific roles and importance to all humans, locally and globally, and begin to appreciate the secrets hidden in the shadows of the seagrass shoots.

Our work on seagrasses is supported by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the Elizabeth Wakeman Henderson Charitable Foundation, and Nedbank.

EMERGING FARMERS SET THE PACE FOR CLIMATE SMART FARMINGJean-Pierre Le Roux, Aquatic Conservationist, Source to Sea [email protected]

Climate smart farming is an approach to farming that aims to increase the sustainability and resilience of farming practices to better manage

the effects of climate change. Maximum water conservation and the selection of production systems with minimal water requirements is set as a priority. The need for these farming practices is on the rise, as most of South Africa is under increasing water stress. Current farming practices in South Africa are highly resource intensive and many of the techniques are not as efficient as they could be.

The EWT, together with our local partners African Pride Nature Conservation Association and Koffiekraal Community Property Association, identified the need for climate smart farming in the villages around Groot Marico in the North West Province. One of the villages, Koffiekraal, lies within a semi-arid region and water is very limited. The project started with a regional analysis of the area, which generated the information necessary to make recommendations on appropriate


land and water management practices as well as suggestions on possible agricultural products ideally suited to the region’s climate and prospect of conservation and restoration agriculture.

With the analysis done, we identified five emerging farmers with the help of the traditional council and community property association. These farmers would start with the implementation of this new type of farming. Five farmers grew to 17 after it was decided to include more of the local farmers. Some of these farmers are women that have been subsistence farmers for many years. This was a great addition to the group, as they had local knowledge of the area as well as experience in planting traditional crops. The young emerging farmers were included in a range of different training events. They started with training in permaculture, which brings across the basics of climate smart farming. Permaculture works on the principal of a farm functioning as a natural system, where the farmer and the environment’s needs are taken into consideration. The second phase of the training was run by the South African Institute for Entrepreneurship. Their Agri-Planner Programme was aimed at more in depth crop production and making the farm profitable. With this training, the farmers would be able to go from sustainable livelihoods to economic empowerment. In order to improve budgeting and personal financial skills, we had Old Mutual come in and provide their On-The-Money financial literacy course. A group of the farmers also participated in Alien Invasive Management Training to improve the condition of their land as well as to equip them with the skills they needed to contract their services in Natural Resource Management Programmes.

With their newfound skills, they teamed up with the other farmers, sharing their knowledge and implementing both the new and traditional skills on a pilot site. The site that they identified was barren and eroded, as most of the farmlands in the area are. Many months of work went into the site, prepping the soil and getting it ready for planting. Climate smart techniques were implemented from the start to make sure that the farm could survive the harsh climatic conditions of the area. These techniques included rainwater harvesting, the selection of crops better suited for dry conditions, crop rotation, soil protection in the form of mulch to minimise water loss and to protect the soil from erosion, a drip irrigation system to apply water directly to the plants roots minimising evaporation, and crop shelter in the form of a shaded net area. As emerging farmers with limited funds, the concept of organic farming was also implemented, cutting out the costs of herbicides and pesticides, which also have a negative effect on the environment. The farmers used plant extracts to ward off pests and used manure and compost to fertilise the ground. All of these practices soon showed their reward as they were producing more crops than they could sell and they were able to continue even during the worst drought the area has seen in many years, which is better than some of the commercial farmers were doing in the area using a conventional farming approach.

The farm has grown over the last few months and now has a solar powered pump, making it even more environmentally friendly. These inspiring young farmers are setting their sights on bigger plots of land where they can implement their skills and even employ people from their own community. They have also inspired many people from the community to follow their example, taking climate smart farming to new highs in the area. With land reform at the top of the national agenda, it is so important to support emerging farmers so that they can ensure food security for their communities, the country and eventually, international markets.

This work has been made possible through funding from the Foundation for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Coca Cola and the Elizabeth Wakeman Henderson Charitable Foundation.

Showcasing our supportersACCELERATE SPORT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION THROUGH THE EWT SENIOR GOLF SERIES

In just its second year, the SA Senior Open has established itself as the premier event on the EWT Senior Golf Series. As the only annual professional golf event in the Bitou Municipality, the SA Senior Open offers a unique opportunity for corporates and individuals to experience tournament golf.

Held from 3 – 6 April 2018, the event returns to the Plettenberg Bay Golf Course, which is set on a private nature reserve and considered a ‘must play’ course on the Garden Route.

The event brings together Africa’s best senior professionals over the age of 50 to compete alongside international senior professionals. An exceptional roll call of former champions, including the likes of John Bland and Hugh Baiocchi, will all have the aim of dethroning 2017 Senior Open Champion Mark McNulty.

Proceeds from this event are donated to the EWT’s conservation work.For further information or to book, please contact Daniel Quinta from Accelerate Sport on 083 308 6682 or [email protected], or visit www.acceleratesport.com


Tails from the fieldCREATING A CONSERVATION HAVEN IN THE MAGICAL SOUTPANSBERG MOUNTAINSOldrich van Schalkwyk, Soutpansberg Protected Area [email protected]

The Soutpansberg Mountains within the Limpopo Province are South Africa’s most northern mountain range, and are full of mystery and magic. This is largely because they are home to thousands of species of insect, plants, birds and mammals that are found nowhere else on earth. The EWT has identified this region as being in urgent need of protection due to the high presence of Endangered species, its extraordinary variety of important habitat types, its crucial role in water production, and its value as a centre of cultural heritage for many communities. Despite the significance of the region, the Soutpansberg Mountains currently receive little conservation support, with less than one percent of the area being formally conserved in nature reserves.

The EWT is thrilled to have purchased its first ever land and it’s in this unique habitat, in the form of the Medike Nature Reserve. Medike comprises some 1,400 ha and was bought through the generosity

of the Roberts family in Australia. This is the first step in a long-term project to realise the dream of establishing the Soutpansberg Protected Area (SPA), which will ultimately span in excess of 23,000 ha and will connect the existing Happy Rest Nature Reserve in the east and Luvhondo Private Nature Reserve in the west.

By embarking on this journey to protect the area, and purchasing this special tract of land in the western Soutpansberg’s Sand River Gorge, the EWT is about to change all that. Medike Nature Reserve will serve as the catalyst for an ambitious project that will bring in neighbouring properties into the larger Soutpansberg Protected Area, which will safeguard the future of hundreds of threatened species and support the development of sustainable livelihoods in the western Soutpansberg Mountains. In essence, we will work with existing landowners and local communities to make this one large protected area with the aim of saving species and habitats, providing critical ecosystem services, such as clean water, and developing climate change resilience.

Environmental threats in the area include illegal killing of wildlife, such as Leopards, for the local bush meat and skin industry, and pangolins, for export trade; illegal and unsustainable harvesting of medicinal plants, as well as the uncontrolled collection of firewood; ongoing illegal sand mining in the Sand River; and illegal clearing of indigenous forest, among others. Many of these threats stem from a lack of socio-economic development in the area, and the EWT’s far-reaching vision for this region will result not only in the conservation of its unique biodiversity and the sustained integrity of its water resources, but in sustainable livelihood options for the local communities too. Much of the work will revolve around addressing human-wildlife conflict, and supporting the local communities to farm in an environmentally


friendly manner. The EWT will also promote the establishment of a long-lasting conservation-based green economy, linked to innovative local micro-enterprises.

The Roberts family fell in love with this magical mountain when they visited it 2014 and their generosity has allowed the EWT to secure the Medike Nature Reserve and catalyse a bigger conservation vision for the area. The proposed SPA will result in protected area expansion, water security, socio-economic development, ‘green’ job creation and threatened species conservation in the western Soutpansberg. This vision has subsequently leveraged further support from major donors including Rainforest Trust and the Nedbank Green Trust, allowing this dream to approach reality.

Yolan Friedmann, EWT CEO, says, “The purchase of Medike signals a new era for the EWT, as we embark on one of the most exciting projects in our history: that of a private landowner and conservator, as well as driver of community stewardship and socio-economic development as a both neighbour and a supporting partner. We remain forever grateful to our investors in conservation, the Roberts Family Trust, as well as Rainforest Trust and the Nedbank Green Trust, for taking this vision forward. We also thank Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr for their enormous support in all the work of the EWT.”

The SPA will act as a demonstration project for the expansion of this work throughout the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve and other Man and Biosphere Reserves across the country and continent. We welcome contributions and partnerships from other NGOs and corporates to grow this dream and to establish this unique area as a conservation icon.

PRESERVING FREE-ROAMING CARNIVORES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES: A FIRST FOR THE EWTDerek van der Merwe, Limpopo Regional Coordinator, Carnivore Conservation [email protected]

Carnivores are essential elements of healthy ecosystems. In South Africa, carnivores are afforded high levels of protection in the national

parks and private game reserves but what is the status of those living outside of these protected areas? In such areas like the livestock farmlands and game breeding areas of the Waterberg there is a high level of conflict between farmers and carnivores.

Recently, there has been a lot of conflict between rural communities and large predators in the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve. These rural communities have resorted to using indiscriminate and unselective methods such as poison and snares to persecute problem predators, often as a last resort with limited other solutions available to them. From recent surveys in the Waterberg region, seven Leopards have been poisoned in two rural communities in the last two years. Two of these Leopards were skinned and the skin was sold to the illegal muthi markets in South Africa. We are therefore very worried that these carnivores outside of protected areas may be targeted as a source of income because of illegal wildlife trade.

These levels of persecution, as well as the methods used, are unacceptable and have major detrimental effects on healthy populations of carnivores living in close proximity to people. Our project aims to implement proactive, non-lethal conflict reduction methods so that humans and carnivores can coexist in rural livestock farmlands. Solutions should ideally prevent predation while enabling livestock owners to effectively coexist with carnivores present on community land. One such solution is the use of Livestock Guarding Dogs (LGDs) to protect herds from predators.

The use of Anatolian LGDs to protect livestock is not a new idea, dating back 6,000 years to Turkish herding practices. In Africa, they were first utilised successfully in Namibia to prevent Cheetah predation on livestock. We have refined management techniques to suit the South African scenario, which follows very different livestock farming practices from those in Namibia. We also use Africanis bred Maluti dogs for livestock guarding. This indigenous African breed has been used historically to safeguard livestock in Lesotho. Compared to Anatolians, they are hardier, more affordable and easier to source. This method has reduced human-carnivore conflict between 52 and 90%, and increased tolerance from landowners and community members towards carnivores. Our solution places LGDs on farmland. This ensures that farmers are actively involved in the management of the dogs and ultimately the conservation of predators on their


farms through the implementation effective livestock husbandry strategies. In order to maximise project success, farm owners, farmers and herders are actively involved in the care and raising of the LGDs according to best practices developed by the EWT. The method is relatively easy to implement, as once farmers have trained their LGDs, they remain with the herd at all times, and less time needs to be devoted to herd management. The solution is also beneficial to consumers, as the farm management methods on these predator-friendly farms greatly reduces the likelihood that any predators are killed in the process.

The effectiveness of these dogs was recently highlighted by an Anatolian puppy named Jumbo. For the first time since the project inception, we have been placing LGDs in rural communities. We placed Jumbo in the Rebone community north of the Waterberg, with a subsistence farmer who had lost cattle to Leopards. Since Jumbo’s placement, there has been no reported livestock losses on the farm. Furthermore, the baboons that used to drink at the kraal and harass the cattle have also moved away from the area and no longer drink at the water trough. This has illustrated that the mere presence of the puppy was enough to deter carnivores and other damage-causing animals from getting close to the livestock. Sadly, the puppy got sick and had to be taken to the vet. Under the vet’s instructions, the puppy was to be kept at a different location to monitor its recovery. Less than a month after the puppy had been removed from the farm the unthinkable happened: one calf was killed by a Leopard on 1 January 2018. Thereafter it only got worse for the farmer as a second and third calf was killed on the 3 January 2018. Was this sequence of events a coincidence or did the removal of Jumbo give predators an opportunity to predate on livestock again? To us, it confirms that the presence of Jumbo was enough to deter a Leopard from predating on the farmer’s livestock.

Sadly, after the three calves were killed, the farmer resorted to poisoning two of the calf carcasses. Fortunately, the community came forward and let us know about the poisoning. We were able to get access to the two carcasses and burn then before any scavenging could take place and prevent the death of any carnivores in the area. Despite the farmer resorting to lethal control, we will still assist him going forward and should his attitude toward poisoning carcasses be changed we will consider providing him with another LGD in the future, as poisoning is a huge threat to LGDs in the field.

This story highlights the potential that the LGDs have when placed on farms. It also shows the devastating effects that carnivores can have on farms if necessary steps are not

taken to mitigate predation, which almost always ends up in these beautiful and majestic animals killed by farmers in retaliation.

This work is made possible by Bakwena, Elizabeth Wakeman Henderson and Phumelela Gaming.

CONSERVATION CANINE STOPS POACHERS IN THEIR TRACKSDr Kelly Marnewick, Senior Trade Officer, Wildlife in Trade [email protected]

Conservation Canine Annie, a member of the EWT’s Wildlife in Trade Programme (WIT) team, recently helped anti-poaching units nab two alleged rhino poachers and potentially saved another rhino’s life! In mid-January, Annie joined a multiagency anti-poaching operation with Moholoholo field rangers, the Black Mambas, Hemmersbach Rhino Force, Hoedspruit Farm Watch, Protrack, and the South African Police Service (SAPS). This operation was coordinated through the Balule Operations Centre. After rangers noticed an incursion into Balule Olifant’s West Nature Reserve, Annie and her handler, Colin Patrick, jumped into action and tracked through the night, over a distance of more than 20 km through Big Five country. This finally culminated in Annie leading the anti-poaching units right to the alleged poachers.


Two suspected rhino poachers were arrested, and a .375 rifle with silencer, 15 rounds of ammunition, an axe, four large knives, and other poaching equipment were seized.

Annie was placed with Colin seven months ago through the WIT Conservation Canine Project, which focuses on the provision of trained canines to fight wildlife trafficking within protected areas and at ports of entry and exit. Annie and Colin went through extensive training at the Southern African Wildlife College before deployment.

The EWT would like to congratulate Annie, Colin and the rest of the huge team that brought these poachers to book. With effective teamwork from brave, dedicated people (and dogs) like these, it will become harder and harder for rhino poachers to do their work.

The Conservation Canine Project has been made possible through the generous support of United States Fish and Wildlife Services, the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, The MyPlanet MyRhino Fund, Relate Bracelets, and many individual donors.

Showcasing our supportersConserving our heritage one bracelet at a time Trappers recently embarked on a new adventure with social enterprise, the Relate Trust and has launched their own cause bracelet in support of the EWT.

Sold through Trappers stores nationally for R50 each, proceeds of these beaded bracelets contribute directly towards the EWT to conserve and protect threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa – our heritage. “Trappers and the EWT have a long established partnership based on an alignment of core values. As an outdoor lifestyle brand, Trappers respects nature and supports the EWT’s conservation efforts,” commented Vanessa Marx, Trappers: Marketing Manager.

Relate’s core philosophy rests on the concept that lots of small purchases add up to make a big difference. Locally made and proudly South African, all Relate products contribute not only to charitable causes (like the EWT), but the senior citizens who thread the bracelets, the young Relate production staff who are upskilled in their chosen future careers, and various enterprise development initiatives.

Neil Robinson, CEO of Relate Trust, adds, “It is hugely important to protect and preserve all life on this planet, and with partnerships like these, we are able to do so while creating employment and learning opportunities in the process.”

ESKOM HOOKING UP AT HEIGHTS WITH VULTURE CHICKS Megan Murison, Senior Field Officer, Wildlife and Energy [email protected] photo credits: Arno Ellmer

For the last few years, Eskom Distribution Limpopo Operating Unit has assisted the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism (LEDET) with a cherry-picker truck (a truck with an articulated lift) to ring White-backed Vultures (Gyps africanus) on Atherstone Nature Reserve (ANR), in Limpopo Province. Banding/ringing of birds is a process that permanently marks wild birds with unique metal rings. The ringing of birds has been a research method used in southern Africa for almost 60 years as a relatively inexpensive way to study different aspects of avian biology, such as movements and population sizes. The first birds to be ringed in South Africa were a group of 31 Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) nestlings at the Kransberg colony in Limpopo in 1948. Bird ringers are qualified through the South African Ringing Scheme (SAFRing), who adhere to a strict code of ethics on how to handle wild birds. SAFRing was historically coordinated by Patrick Morant with the help of the EWT’s then CEO, Dr. John Ledger. The uniquely marked metal rings are placed around the leg of the birds and all of these data are curated by SAFRing.

Each year, Joseph Heymans (LEDET) and a group of qualified bird ringers ring and tag the White-backed Vulture chicks at ANR. As a tree-nesting species, these birds have nests resting in the crown of trees at varying heights from 8 to 25 m! Generally, the preferred tree species are Marula, thorn, and Shepherd’s trees. Recently, John Maake (Eskom Distribution Limpopo Operating Unit) met with the bird ringers at the ANR. At each nest, Joseph will verify the age and size of the chick to determine if the bird is large enough to ring (the chick needs to be big enough to be able to carry the metal ring). If the chick fits the profile, two of the qualified bird ringers climb into the bucket of the cherry-picker truck to access the nest, put the vulture


chick inside a bag, which is slowly lowered to the people on the ground, who ring and tag the chick. The chick is then hoisted back up and put safely into the nest.

Information gathered from rings and tags is vital to aid with monitoring of an endangered species such as the White-backed Vulture. Population sizes can be monitored and the data collected feeds into the measuring of the conservation success of this species. If any birds with these metal tags are found, members of the public are kindly asked to relay any information to SAFRing (http://safring.adu.org.za/).

Thanks must go to those involved, including Joseph Heymans, Kobie Raijmakers, Shonie Raijmakers, Arno Ellmer, John Maake (Eskom) and Eskom Distribution Management for approving the support to this project.

Did you know? White-backed Vulture nests are made up of a platform of sticks, lined with grass and green leaves, situated in the crown or fork of a large tree. Generally a single egg is laid, which is incubated for 56 days.


Green heroesA PORTRAIT OF A CONSERVATIONISTConita Walker is married to South African conservationist Clive Walker and has been a driving, dedicated force behind their combined careers for almost as long as their 50-year marriage. With the founding of the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve in 1981, she became the alternate director there, and managed the ‘bush camp’ operations for over 23 years. In 1985, she assisted in establishing the Lapalala Wilderness School, which to date has seen more than 80,000 children, teachers and university students pass through its doors.

Clive Walker entered the battle for the rhino with the founding of the EWT in 1973. He co-founded the Rhino and Elephant Foundation and the African Rhino Owners Association, and served on the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group for close on 19 years.

Now, together they have embarked on their latest conservation adventure at Walker’s Islands, a small sanctuary where their family is creating a ‘living’ museum and botanical garden.

In her recently released book, A Rhino in my Garden, Conita tells the story of the love match that lured her from the world of international air travel to plunge, somewhat naïvely, into the life of a conservationist. It’s a tale of adventure, mishaps, humour and heartbreak.

Conita’s life began on a remote missionary station; she survived the WWII bombing of Berlin, witnessed the defeat of political systems in both Europe and South Africa, and eventually found her true mission in the rescue and hand rearing of Black and White Rhino orphans. These rhinos became her life’s work. The Walkers’ commitment to preserving these magnificent creatures continues to this day, and they form an invaluable part of what is now one of the leading private rhino sanctuaries in South Africa.

A Rhino in my Garden is an intimate and loving portrait of the life of a conservationist, from the inside.We chatted with Conita to find out a little more about the woman behind this incredible book.

What would you do if you won R100 million in the lottery?I would invest in children’s literacy programmes. I’d also support day visits to our Living Museum by rural children both primary and secondary, and support the Eco Schools programme of the Lapalala Wilderness School. I’d establish a functional ‘bush lab’ for the biodiversity research of the Waterberg, and financially support my husband’s desire to record in book form his journey in art and photographic form from the founding of the EWT. And I would establish a capital fund to support our Waterberg Living Museum in future development.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?Our two sons, Renning and Anton, and in old age, having them close at hand.


When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?A teacher and that’s exactly what I did.

What inspires you?The resilience of the human spirit.

What’s one thing about you that would surprise people to know?The choice of my husband, Clive! When we met, he owned an elephant rifle, a box of books, an Alsatian dog and an old Volkswagen Beetle.

Where is your favourite place to travel?The Okavango Delta, in a dugout canoe with a bird book and binos.

What is the last book you read?My own book, A Rhino in my Garden.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?Supporting Clive in every activity and adventure he undertook in the world of conservation since 1973, with the founding of the EWT.

Do you have any advice for young conservationists?Never ever forget the impact you can have on other people’s lives by virtue of how you live your own life, how you treat others, your moral conduct, service to others and the environment. Responsibility must never stop at the front gate.

Walking the talkIn this new feature, we’ll be sharing tips on how we can all make a difference to the environment in our daily lives. We’d love you to share some of your tips too! Please tell us how you make a difference by emailing your tips to [email protected], and we could feature them in a future issue of the magazine.

Our focus in this edition is water, and as you are likely aware, single-use plastics, which generally cannot be recycled, have a massive impact on the quality of our water, as they invariably end up as pollution in our rivers, dams and oceans. Here are some easy changes you can make to reduce, or even better, eliminate your use of single-use plastics.

1. Always make sure to take reusable shopping bags with you when shop-ping and never pay for single-use plastic carrier bags.

2. You can also use net bags for your produce, rather than placing them in the plastic bags available in stores.

3. Say no to plastic straws! If you really need a straw, purchase a glass or stainless steel straw that can be reused.

4. Buy in bulk to reduce packaging.5. When alternative products are unavailable, inconvenient or

expensive, plastic products (designed for single-use) can be reused a number of times if washed out after use. These include plastic bags, bottles, cutlery, etc.

6. Bring your own container to restaurants and markets.7. Think carefully about how you package your lunches – use

re-useable containers as much as possible to limit the usage of cling wrap, plastic bags, etc.

8. Find out which plastics can and cannot be recycled and what types of plastics your local recycling drop-off facility will accept.

9. Buy refills.10. Avoid body and face scrubs, shower gels, toothpastes,

sunscreens and washing powders that contain microbeads (look for polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, or polystyrene in the list of ingredients).

Get your reusable net bags from our online shop and say no to single use

plastic bags for produce! www.ewtshop.co.za


Science snippetsDr. Lizanne Roxburgh, Senior Scientist, Conservation Science [email protected]

The Endangered Wildlife Trust regularly publishes the results of our conservation science research in scientific journals, so that our work can contribute to a growing body of knowledge on conservation science. Here we highlight our most recent scientific publications and other important science-related news.

What role do wild birds play in outbreaks of bird flu?Since June 2017, at least 90 confirmed outbreaks of bird flu, or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), have been recorded in South Africa, in poultry, ostriches, zoos, bird parks and wild birds. This has led to great economic losses for the farmers involved and loss of valuable specimens in the bird parks. The production losses, in the more than 63 confirmed cases in the Western Cape alone, have been estimated at around R900 million. Close to two thirds of the Western Cape’s egg-laying hens have had to be culled to contain the outbreaks. However, since mid-January 2018, no more official reports have been received, and for now the disease seems to have died down.

Since 1997, when the first human caught and died from bird flu, the WHO (World Health Organization) and the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) closely monitors outbreaks, and the disease is being studied by universities across the globe. Although there have only been around 500 human deaths from bird flu in the past 20 years, a small fraction of the number of people that die annually from seasonal “human” flu, concerns still remain that bird flu could become a human pandemic, hence the continued focus on, and concern about, the disease.

Wild birds are reported in the media as being responsible for the global spread of the disease. Wild birds can catch HPAI and die

from it too. However, there is no convincing evidence that wild bird species are able to carry HPAI without causing their own death during long distance migration, which is an extremely strenuous activity. The scientific community do not agree on the role that wild birds play in the spread of the disease. A global scientific task force has been set up to monitor bird flu in wild birds. It consists of both members of the veterinary and agricultural communities as well as conservationists and biologists. The task force have concluded that there is no convincing evidence that wild birds are playing a role in the long distance spread of the disease. However, there is good evidence to show that highly pathogenic strains of bird flu evolved in intensive poultry production systems, where the conditions are ideal for these viruses, and that these virus strains are spread through the poultry trade. Considering the huge global trade in poultry, including those between HPAI-affected regions, the risk of HPAI virus circulation by poultry production and trade remains high.

Spread of HPAI viruses to wild birds has resulted in mortality and conservation issues for wild birds. Our concern should not only be with preventing the spread of the disease among poultry farms, and the huge economic and personal impacts that has on the farming community, but also on preventing the spread of the disease into wild bird populations. The most important way to prevent infection of poultry flocks on a farm, and spread between flocks, is a strict biosecurity regime. The virus is easily spread on vehicle tyres, gumboots, other clothing and equipment and even feed. Introductions of new poultry stock and hatching eggs onto farms also carry a risk. Keeping poultry away from wild birds, especially waterbirds such as ducks and geese, is also key to preventing the spread of the disease, both from domestic birds into wild birds and back. Rare and threatened waterbirds, such White-winged Flufftails and Wattled Cranes, might be at highest risk, and could even be driven to extinction by outbreaks.

Bird flu experts agree that culling of wild birds and draining or disinfecting wetlands should not be undertaken.


These measures do not work for controlling the spread of HPAI, and might make things worse. Disturbance of waterbirds and habitat destruction would lead to unforeseen movements of birds into other areas, potentially spreading the virus even further. In addition, these activities are illegal, both at a provincial and national level, as well as internationally. Waterbird species, such as ducks, geese, gulls, terns and waders, are protected under South African laws. Species that migrate are also protected under several international agreements, such as the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Chickens have been described as the world’s largest migratory bird species, with a global population estimated at around 20 billion birds, which produce 1.3 trillion eggs annually. Compare this to the total global population of migratory waterbirds, which is estimated

at less than half a billion. These vast quantities of chickens and eggs are moved around the globe, potentially carrying viruses from one country to another. In addition, all the equipment, transport vehicles, and people that they have come into contact with could also carry the virus. The global focus on wild birds is hampering our understanding of how the disease is spread, and putting farmers’ livelihoods and the lives of our wild bird species at risk.

Wildlife fact fileIn this new feature, we’ll be introducing you to some incredible creatures, starting with a few of the mammals highlighted in our popular Mammal of the Week campaign.

Cape Clawless OtterAonyx capensisThe Cape Clawless Otter is the most widely distributed otter species in Africa, occurring in all nine South African provinces and in Lesotho and Swaziland. The main threat to the Cape Clawless Otter is the deterioration of freshwater ecosystems across their distribution. Sadly, habitat quality in all major rivers and inland water sources is deteriorating, especially due to increases in pollution and litter. Otters are dependent on healthy ecosystems and globally, otter species are considered indicators of water quality as they favour healthy river systems. Otter skins also used by traditional healers for medicine or clothing items and they are also killed for bushmeat. Unfortunately, due to these threats, the Cape Clawless Otter population in South Africa is declining and therefore the species is listed as Near Threatened. You can do your bit for otter conservation by becoming involved in beach and coastal clean ups and keeping water systems clean and litter-free.

Blue WhaleBalaenoptera musculus Weighing in at 140,000 kg, the Blue Whale is the largest mammal on the planet. There are two Blue Whale subspecies found in the waters of southern Africa: the Antarctic Blue Whale and the Pygmy Blue Whale. These whales only appear blue (hence


their name) when seen through the water and, in the air, their bodies are more aptly described as gunmetal grey. They also have variable mottling of lighter grey spots scattered over the back and flanks, which may only be seen clearly when the sun is behind the observer. Like other Cetacean species, whalers have exploited them in the past. For example, Soviet whalers illegally killed more than 8,000 Pygmy Blue Whales in the 1960s and 1970s. Very little is known regarding the population size of Pygmy Blue Whales and they are therefore listed as Data Deficient. The Antarctic Blue Whale, on the other hand, is listed as Critically Endangered – it is the only Cetacean species with this listing. Critically Endangered means that the species faces a very high risk of becoming extinct.

Heaviside’s DolphinCephalorhynchus heavisidiiThe Heaviside’s Dolphin is found northwards along the west coast of South Africa from Cape Point to southern Angola, and is a flagship species for that coastline. The greatest threat to the species is direct mortality from bycatch, as they are susceptible to entanglement in inshore fishing gear. In addition, a potential threat is competition with hake fisheries, which may reduce the prey base available. We therefore encourage people to use information dispensed by the South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) to make good choices when buying fish in shops and restaurants. As there is currently no evidence for population decline, the species is listed as Least Concern.

Showcasing our supportersMAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH WILDLIFECAMPUSWildlifeCampus is a Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) endorsed distance-learning provider, and has been offering wildlife, wildlife-related, guiding and natural science courses for over 16 years.

As a supporter of the EWT, WildlifeCampus is proud to share that by signing up for one of our online courses, 25% of your tuition fee will be donated directly, free of any administration or facility fees, to the EWT!

By using the reference EWT when registering, you will be helping to make Conservation in Action possible.

Find out more about the available courses at www.wildlifecampus.com or contact us on [email protected]

Meet the packKulani Rob Nyakane – Lowveld Carnivore Conservation Community Intern, Carnivore Conservation Programme We recently chatted to Kulani Nyakane, who has joined our Carnivore Conservation Programme team as the Lowveld Carnivore Conservation Community Intern. Kulani received a National Diploma in Nature Conservation at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria and is currently furthering his studies towards a B.Tech in Nature Conservation. He started his conservation career in 2013, working as an Ecological Research Technician for the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, where he was responsible for data collection for ecological research projects at the reserve. His other responsibilities included veld condition assessments, wildlife management, game capture, wildlife tracking, environmental education and reserve security (anti-poaching).

He has also worked as a Field Manager for Human Wildlife Solutions, where he was responsible for human-wildlife conflict mitigation

working mainly with the baboon troops at the Cape Peninsula and raising conservation awareness, and as an Armed Environmental Monitor at Kruger National Park, where he was responsible for vegetation and wildlife data collection for Skukuza Scientific Services.His new position at the EWT focuses on engagement with communities adjacent to protected conservation areas at the western boundary of the Greater Kruger National Park. He also assists with investigating threats to carnivore populations, human-wildlife conflict mitigation in communities, reduction of infectious disease in domestic dogs, and carnivore conservation awareness for both rural communities and high-end tourists in the area – two very different audiences.

What excites you about this new position?I enjoy the fact that I get to work with rural communities where I grew up, improving their knowledge and understanding of carnivore


conservation. I am really excited to be giving the rural community a voice in wildlife-conflict issues that affect their livelihoods, and improving the way they manage these issues at the community level. I also play an important role in inspiring youth in the community to develop an interest in taking conservation as a career path.

What are you passionate about?I am passionate about improving the way we manage wildlife and not excluding people from benefiting from natural resources. I believe we as conservationists have the highest responsibility to protect the environment for future generations and slow down the loss of species.

If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it be and why? It would be with my two-year-old son, Nsovo. He would be the first person I would be thinking about and he always finds ways to lighten up my day.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who did it come from? Adolf Manganyi (Senior Biotechnician at SANParks) once told me, “Keep working hard, even if you’re not being recognised or rewarded now, sooner or later surely they will acknowledge all your effort and hard work.”

Oldrich van Schalkwyk – Soutpansberg Protected Area ManagerWe also caught up with Oldrich van Schalkwyk, who is managing the EWT’s recently purchased Medike Nature Reserve, as part of the envisaged Soutpansberg Protected Area. After Oldrich matriculated in 1990, he enrolled in the South African

Air Force, where he became the head meteorologist at Louis Trichardt Air Force Base as part of his national service. He then obtained his National Diploma in Nature Conservation at Tshwane University of Technology. Oldrich started his career in nature conservation as an assistant manager at a private nature reserve near Marble Hall. He later went on to obtain a B-Tech Degree in Nature Conservation at Tshwane University of Technology, and then worked as a researcher, specialising in the breeding of threatened wildlife species using assisted reproduction technology. This was done under the auspices of the Wildlife Biological Research Centre, then a Working Group of the EWT.

In the late nineties, he turned to environmental education, and joined the Wilderness Trust of SA and became the trail operations manager at Lapalala Wilderness School in the Waterberg. More recent positions have seen him spending the last decade working in various roles in the Soutpansberg, making him the perfect person to head up this new project. He lives with his wife Judy in the Medike Nature Reserve, where he is tasked with establishing an inclusive conservation-orientated protected area that offers sustainable livelihood options to local communities, who directly or indirectly depend on it. His mandate also includes the protection of threatened wildlife and important ecosystems, many of which are found only in the western Soutpansberg.

What excites you about this new position?I am extremely excited to be part of such a progressive and dynamic conservation NGO that has the drive, skillsets and resourcefulness to let our fledgling reserve in the western Soutpansberg grow into a world-class conservation area, positively impacting not only the environment but also the impoverished communities adjacent to it.

What are you passionate about?I’m passionate about all matters pertaining the natural world, but in particular the conservation of arguably the ultimate apex predator, the African Leopard, and large indigenous trees such as ancient baobabs


and yellowwoods. These have led to my mission, to one day see the declaration of a large protected area in the Soutpansberg Mountain Range, where you still find these free-roaming big cats next to gigantic trees (not to mention the multitude of other unique and wonderful species of this region).

If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it be and why?James Stevenson-Hamilton or ‘Skukuza’, meaning ‘the man that turns everything upside down”, who was the warden of what is today known as the Kruger National Park, from 1902 to 1946. I’d love to find out what drove him – his inner resolve – to have such grit when he was facing so many odds against him, when fighting for the establishment off this now iconic conservation area in Africa.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who did it come from?“Respect is the key to success in life.” This is something my dad told me that I’ve never forgotten.

Miranda Kambule – Information Technology Office Sup-port InternMiranda Kambule recently joined our Support Services team as an IT Office Support Intern. She studied at Boston City Campus College, completing courses in Software Specialist and Networking. She is also in the process of completing her MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solution Associate) course. Miranda had very little experience prior to joining the EWT, and has shown herself to be committed to providing excellent service to the organisation. She was raised by her grandparents and is passionate about living up to the example they set for her.

Miranda’s role is to assist with troubleshooting technical issues with equipment such as laptops, and maintain their systems. On any given day, she could be installing and configuring computer systems, diagnosing hardware or software faults, and solving technical and application problems. She also replaces computer parts as required, and provides any other IT support that is needed, all under the capable guidance of her manager.

What excites you about this new position?I love being in a space or position where competitiveness, flexibility and challenges are prevalent. The IT field brings a whole lot of that and much more. There are plenty of challenges to enable growth and the cognitive process of acquiring skills and knowledge each time. In the IT field there is always room for productivity, educating oneself and pressure to work as fast as possible to solve problems; some I may have encountered before and some I am being exposed to for the very first time. Interpersonal skills regarding technical issues can be a challenge, but this is easily overcome once an end-user is pleased to have their technical issue resolved. I must add that most importantly I get to enjoy the opportunity to display creativity, effective thinking on the spot and to also reap the benefits of being hands on.

What are you passionate about?I believe I am a creative at heart, and fortunately very ‘girly’. Creativity and making things look pretty is what I was born with. IT is not at all pretty, however, because it forms part of my passion, I always strive to make it look pretty and a lot more feminine – deleting the face of overalls and all that boring wear the masculine seem to exude!

I enjoy active participation or flexibility, being hands-on; fixing the fixable. The outcome of getting something technical done with my hands makes my heart sing. And it remains the prettiest thing ever for me. I won’t say I am passionate about technology because that would sound clichéd, however, the methods, the whole process of producing the ‘non-living’ systems into ‘living’ systems is total bliss. Anything that cracks the brain, and causes one to keep digging for what could be, in the technical realm, is soothing. It is passion in a nutshell.

If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it be and why?It would undoubtedly be Mother Florence Crawford. Her testimony still rings clear in my head. She was a woman who founded a church organisation in 1908, in Portland. Her boldness, zeal and humility inspire me. I would most assuredly enjoy a few hours with her and I would love to see her relate her testimony, and how she stood against all odds and managed to fight the good fight of faith until her very last breath. She is one martyr who truly inspires me.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who did it come from?The best piece of advice I have received is from a dear friend of mine – Mrs Lufuno Kamba. These are the words I carry with me, all the time: “Always dare to be different. Dare to leave a mark of difference. Never conform and stand firmly on what you believe in.”


Supporters’ cornerEVENTSEnvironmental Days3 March: World Wildlife Day22 March: World Water Day22 April: International Earth Day

EWT EVENTS10 April: Country Club Johannesburg talk – Book launch: Rhino Revolution by Clive & Anton Walker (Clive Walker, in conversation with EWT CEO, Yolan Friedmann)

24 April: EWTea and Talk at Modderfontein head office – Renewable energy (Constant Hoogstad)

1 June: Golf and giggles for a good cause – save the date for the annual EWT charity golf day, taking place at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Course

GIVING MADE EASYDid you know that there are a number of effortless ways to donate to the EWT, and make a tangible difference to saving wildlife and habitats?

USING YOUR PHONESupporters can now donate to the EWT quickly and safely, using SnapScan. All you need to do is:1. Download the SnapScan application on your smartphone

2. Register with your details – this should take no more than a few minutes

3. Scan our EWT barcode to make your donation in the amount of your choice (be sure to choose donation rather than e-shop from the dropdown menu) – you’ll be asked to enter your PIN so you know the transaction is secure

It’s as easy as one-two-three! Once you’ve made your donation via SnapScan, you’ll get an SMS confirming the transaction, and the EWT will be notified via SMS too. Protecting forever, together – made easy!

No SnapScan? No problem! Simply SMS ‘SAVE’ to 31913 to donate R15 to help make our work possible.

SHOPPING FOR A GOOD CAUSEDid you know that you can support the EWT through the MyPlanet programme? The MyPlanet fundraising programme was launched as an extension of MySchool to provide community-minded people like yourself the opportunity to support a worthy cause, such as the EWT, that is focused on the improvement and protection of the environment and animals. And it doesn’t cost you a cent!

So get your free MyPlanet card (no monthly fees, no costs to you!) and nominate the EWT as the beneficiary you wish to support. Then swipe your card at partner stores when you shop, and they will donate a percentage of the value of your purchases on your behalf.

• If you don’t have a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card yet, simply apply for your free card now and select the EWT as your beneficiary. Once you start swiping your card, we’ll start receiving funds.

• If you already have a MySchool card, but would like to change your beneficiary or add a charity, simply call the Client Service Centre on 0860 100 445 or email [email protected] – there is no need to get a new card!

Find out more by visiting http://www.myschool.co.za/schools/myplanet

You can also donate your Pick n Pay Smart Shopper points to the EWT. Simply visit a Smart Shopper kiosk in-store, swipe your card and donate as many of your points as you’d like – the EWT will receive the monetary value of those points.

For more information, visit http://www.picknpay.co.za/smartshopper-overview


BODUM TRAVEL PLUNGER MUG

R390

MEMORY STICK 32GB

R190

FLUFFY TOYS

RHINO COPPER BANGLE R110

Eshop

www.ewtshop.co.za

The EWT has been proudly associated with the Relate Trust and the original range of EWT bracelets produced by Relate since 2013.

To show your support for EWT projects, head over to our e-shop at

CAP R110


Conservation Matters is the bi-monthly printed magazine of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, bringing readers the latest news from the EWT, as well as thought-provoking insights into current conservation hot topics, and fun activities for the kids. It is a magazine for lovers of wildlife and nature, and includes something for readers of all ages!

Yes, I would like to subscribe to Conservation Matters!

1-year subscription (5 issues) for R175 (includes VAT and postage within South Africa)

2-year subscription (10 issues) for R315 (includes VAT and postage within South Africa)

Please complete the form overleaf with your personal and payment details.

Want to make even more of a difference? You can include a donation with your subscription fee – any donations over and above the subscription fee will be eligible for tax relief in the form of an 18A tax certificate.

I would like to include a donation of _______________________

Monthly Quarterly Yearly Ad hoc

I will pay by:

EFT (Endangered Wildlife Trust, First National Bank, Rosebank, Acc. No. 50371564219, Branch Code 253305)

Direct debit (see form overleaf)

Credit card (see form overleaf)

Subscribe to Conservation Matters today! 2018

Protecting forever, together.

Email us at [email protected] (typed or a scanned/photographed copy of this page completed), or post this page to us at Private Bag X11, Modderfontein, 1645


PERSONAL DETAILS Title:

Initials:

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Date of birth: (DD) (MM) (YY)

Postal Address:

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PAYMENT DETAILS

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I acknowledge that the party hereby authorised to effect the drawing(s) against my account may not cede or assign any of its rights to any third party without my prior written consent and that I may not delegate any of my obligations in terms of this

contract/authority to any third party without prior written consent of the authorised party.


Pups’ place


In closing: Mwitu’s missiveDear Readers

I hope you’ve enjoyed the first issue of Conservation Matters for 2018! You may have noticed that we have changed our look and feel to improve readability, and added some additional features so that there is even more for you to read and discover now. Many of these changes were based on the valuable feedback we received from you, our readers, in the survey we conducted in the last issue. Thank you to those of you who took the time to respond – we are so grateful for all the comments and suggestions we received. And congratulations to Andrew McKechnie, who is the lucky winner of a hamper of EWT goodies. His name was randomly drawn from the respondents to the survey.

If you didn’t get a chance to respond in the last edition, or you’d like to give feedback based on some the changes you’ve seen in this issue, we are keeping the survey open, and will continue to draw a prize winner after each issue. We’d also like to make it as easy as possible for you to submit your answers to the below questions, so you can either email them to us at [email protected] (typed or a scanned/photographed copy of this page completed), post this page to us at Private Bag X11, Modderfontein, 1645, marked for Belinda Glenn’s attention, or drop it off at our offices at Building K2, Pinelands Office Park, Modderfontein, 1609. Please ensure your name is included with your submission if you’d like to be considered for the prize.

1. How would you rate the magazine, overall, on a scale of 1-5, where 1 is extremely poor and 5 is excellent?

1 2 3 4 5

2. Do you find the content enjoyable and easy to read?• Yes• No• SomewhatReasons (optional)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Do you find the magazine visually appealing?• Yes• No• SomewhatReasons (optional)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How do you think we can improve on the magazine?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Do you like the fact that each issue has a theme?• Yes• No• I didn’t notice the themes

6. Which is your favourite section (Features, Tails from the Field, Science Snippets, Meet the Pack, Members’ Corner, Pups’ Place)?• Guest contribution• Features• Tails from the field• Green heroes• Walking the talk• Science snippets• Wildlife fact file• Meet the pack• Supporters’ corner• Pups’ place• I love them all

Reasons (optional)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Is there a section that you don’t find valuable?• Guest contribution• Features• Tails from the field• Green heroes• Walking the talk• Science snippets• Wildlife fact file• Meet the pack• Supporters’ corner• Pups’ place• No

Reasons (optional)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Do you prefer printed or electronic publications, or enjoy receiving both?• Printed• Electronic• Both

‘Til next timeMwitu

P.S. If you don’t already receive our electronic newsletter, ChitterChatter, which goes out in alternate months from Conservation Matters, and you’d like to subscribe, please email me ([email protected]) and we’ll add you to the mailing list.


Description One insertion Five insertions Dimensions

Outside back cover R10,500 R8,500 each 303 x 216mm

Inside front cover R8,000 R6,000 each 303 x 216mm

Inside back cover R8,000 R6,000 each 303 x 216mm

Double page spread R13,000 R11,000 each 303 x 430mm

Full page R7,000 R5,500 each 303 x 216mm

½ page R3,750 R2,250 each140x215mm (H) 280x108mm (V)

¼ page R2,000 R1,000 each 70x215mm

Corporate sponsorship (includes logo on cover and one full page advert)

R20,000 R15,000 each

Conservation Matters is the printed magazine of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, bringing readers the latest news from the EWT, as well as thought-provoking insights into current conservation hot topics. It is a magazine for lovers of wildlife and nature, and include something for readers of all ages.

Five bi-monthly issues of the magazine are produced each year, with a distribution of 7,000 copies per issue. The magazine is distributed to EWT members and other stakeholders (primarily high LSM), as well as being made available at key locations such as check-in counters, departure lounges and car hires (list available on request) within OR Tambo and Lanseria international airports in Johannesburg.

For more information or to book your space, please contact Belinda Glenn on [email protected]


Documents

Water and sanitation in the rural context in South Africa ... Feb 2018.pdf · Wildlife fact file 20 ... the tiny gems of wildlife that still exist in our urban ... reptiles and small