SOUTH AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY MONTHLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PRETORIA 001057 DEPT FOR OES/PCI, OES/ENV, AND AF/S DEPT PASS EPA/OIA, SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV SOCI ETRD SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY MONTHLY BRIEFINGS, APRIL 2008 PRETORIA 00001057 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (U) Summary: This is the South African Environment, Science and Technology Monthly Briefings newsletter, April 2008, Volume 3, Number 4, prepared by the U.S. Embassy Pretoria, South Africa. Topics of the newsletter: -- EMBASSY PRETORIA AND PARTNERS CELEBRATE EARTH DAY -- POWER SWITHCHED OFF TO CELEBRATE EARTH DAY -- ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES CONVICTIONS INCREASE -- DEAT REJECTS TITANIUM MINING ON THE BEACH -- WATER ALGAE KILLS KRUGER ANIMALS -- AIRLINE ON MISSION TO REDUCE CARBORN EMISSIONS -- FROM E-WASTE TO ART AND JEWELRY -- FACTOID End Summary. Embassy Pretoria and Partners Celebrate Earth Day -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) The United States Embassy in Pretoria teamed up for the first time with the Pretoria-based World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG) to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2008. Invitees from the local municipality, national government, NGOs, academia, research institutions and the media attended the event, hosted by the NZG. The Embassy also arranged for three schools from the Pretoria townships of Eersterust, Garankuwa and Mamelodi to visit the aquarium and the zoo. The NZG Executive Director emphasized the need to intensify environmental awareness among people, so they can begin to notice the impact of their daily activities on the environment and, ultimately, the earth. He said this way people could then take corrective measures to remedy their profligate use of the earth and its resources. Invitees saw a documentary about the Galapagos Islands, "Born of Fire", listened to a speech by the Deputy Press Attach on the background and history of Earth Day celebrations. African Association of Zoos and Aquaria Executive Director Dave Morgan made a presentation about the "Year of the FROG and Amphibian Crisis". The event concluded with a panel discussion on topics relating to climate change, pollution, etc. Power Switched Off to Celebrate Earth Day -------------- ¶3. (U) South African National Parks (SANParks) celebrated Earth Day (April 22, 2008) by switching off power for three hours in most of their offices across South Africa. SANParks Chief Operating Officer Sidney Soundy said that switching off the power was SANParks way of demonstrating that they cared about the environment and were committed to combating climate change. Soundy noted that SANParks was "working to create a resilient and sustainable environment" and encouraging staff to embrace environmental ethics. Turning off the power for two hours at SANParks headquarters in Pretoria saved 16.6kW of electricity. ESKOM, the national power company, commented that conserving electricity is the first step to reducing carbon emissions. Environmental Crimes Convictions Increase -------------- ¶4. (U) Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) Marthinus Van Schalkwyk reported at the 8th International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) conference that both reporting and effective prosecution of environmental crimes is increasing in South Africa. The Minister attributed the increase to DEAT's enforcement wing, also known as the "Green Scorpions". The Green Scorpions' second annual report stated that they investigated more than 1,756 cases in 2007/8 and that arrests have increased from Qmore than 1,756 cases in 2007/8 and that arrests have increased from 898 in 2006/7 to 2,612 in 2007/8. Criminal convictions rose from 134 in 2006/8 to 746 in 2007/8, according to the report. Van Schalkwyk said he remains troubled by the discrepancy between the number of criminal arrests and the number of actual convictions for environmental crimes. He noted that DEAT is finalizing an agreement with enforcement officials which will allow Green Scorpions to research and draft final documents and to present cases to the National Prosecution Authority for final decisions on prosecution. He added that the Green Scorpions still needed more inspectors and more intense and deeper training to expand their efforts. PRETORIA 00001057 002.2 OF 003 DEAT Rejects Titanium Mining on the Coast -------------- ¶5. (U) The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) opposes an Australian mining company's proposal to mine titanium in the Xolobeni dunes of Port Edward south of Durban, on the border of the Kwa-Zulu Natal and Eastern Cape provinces. The Mineral Commodities company (MRC) claims that the dunes contain the 10th largest deposits of titanium, which could be worth over R10 billion ($1.3 billion). MRC argues that the operation could help eradicate poverty by developing the area and creating job opportunities with only small impacts on the environment. DEAT rejected MRC's environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, citing deficiencies in several aspects. For example, the report does not provide for dune rehabilitation, waste storage and treatment, and the impacts of various pollutants remains unclear. ¶6. (U) DEAT report classified the area as one of the highest conservation priority areas. Under this classification only game farming and conservation is allowed and all such activities are limited to eco-tourism. A Department of Minerals and Energy official complained that a compromise "win-win" situation could be achieved if DEAT would stop trying to declare the entire coastline off-limits for mining. An amendment to the National Environmental Management Act establishing DEAT as the final appeals authority for mining EIAs is under consideration by the government. Water Algae Kills Kruger Animals -------------- ¶7. (U) Animals in the Kruger National Park (KNP) have died from drinking water contaminated with an extremely high concentration of the blue green algae (cyano bacteria). KNP officials have been forced to drain all the water from the Silolweni dam to correct the situation. Rangers collected five zebra carcasses and postmortems on the animals revealed that they had died from drinking contaminated water. Kruger Park Head of Conservation Management Dr. Freek Venter said zebra deaths were the second case in twelve months where algal poisoning has caused multiple animal deaths in the park. The previous incident occurred in 2007 when more than 54 animals died from algal poisoning. Dr. Venter noted that the large concentration of algal poison was in part caused by the high concentration of hippos in and around the dam. In an attempt to solve the problem, Dr. Venter and his team lowered the water level and burned the grass surrounding the dam to discourage the large resident population of the black and white rhino species. Airline on Mission to Reduce Carbon Emissions -------------- ¶8. (U) Kulula, one of South Africa's low-cost airlines, partnered with NGO Food and Trees for Africa (FTA) to plant more than fifty trees in Monde Primary School in Katlehong Township, which lies to the east of Johannesburg, to compensate for carbon emissions. Kulula parent company Comair is phasing out its MD-82 aircraft fleet and upgrading to Boeing 737 aircraft, which are more fuel-efficient and could help to reduce emissions. Kulula encourages its passengers to donate between R10 ($1.30) and R100 ($13.00) to Project Green, an FTA initiative which has already planted thousands of trees in disadvantaged communities over the past 18 years. Comair CEO Gidon Novick said they have confidence that support will QComair CEO Gidon Novick said they have confidence that support will grow because environmental awareness is increasing in South Africa and because the airline has over 600,000 visitors to its website per month. From E-Waste to Art and Jewelry -------------- ¶9. (U) Electronic waste is increasingly becoming a problem in South Africa. Western Cape-based Waste Plan has started retrieving e-waste including used computers and other electronic gadgets and transforming it into art, clocks and jewelry. Waste Plan Manager Bertie Lourens explained that the company collects the e-waste, removes reusable parts, processes those parts into new computers, and sells those computers cheaply ($53). Lourens noted that the company removes poisonous substances from the electronic gadgets and disposes of it according to environment guidelines. The Waste Plan recycling project is sponsored by Hewlett-Packard with an investment of R640, 000 ($85,000). Monthly Factoid -------------- PRETORIA 00001057 003.2 OF 003 ¶10. (U) South Africa is home to 10% of all flowering species. It is also the only country to contain an entire plant kingdom (The 12 different plant divisions).