Environment

Tiny weevils are waging war on the invasive water lettuce plant choking South Africa’s Vaal River

By Julie Coetzee, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.), also known as Nile cabbage, is a free-floating aquatic plant from the family Araceae, the same family as the arum lily. It’s found on every continent except Antarctica and grows well in tropical to sub-tropical climates. Research suggests it may have originated in South America because it has natural enemies there which have […]

10 April, 2024

Environment

Cold temperatures, widespread rainfall and flooding continues over parts of South Africa

In a recent report regarding the consequences of the storm in Cape Town, the City's Disaster Risk Management told SA media outlet Independent Online that nearly 3,000 structures suffered damage by the gale-force winds, heavy rainfall, and thunderstorms that have battered the Western Cape. This as extreme weather conditions continue along South Africa's southern and eastern coasts until Wednesday. Officials reported storms with heavy rain and strong winds hitting the […]

9 April, 2024

Business / Economics

World Bank’s IFC under fire over alleged abuses at Liberian plantation it funded

An investigation into the International Finance Corporation’s handling of human rights abuses at a project it financed in Liberia, the Salala Rubber Corporation, is expected to severely incriminate the World Bank’s private lending arm. The World Bank’s Compliance Advisory Ombudsman investigated whether the IFC did enough to address allegations of gender-based violence, land grabbing and unfair compensation by its client, Socfin, between 2008 and 2020. It’s anticipated that […]

8 April, 2024

Africa

Why is Ghana so hot this year? An expert explains

By Yaw Agyeman Boafo, University of Ghana Ghana’s meteorological agency and the state’s health service have issued warnings about a period of very high temperatures expected in the first half of 2024 around the country. Ghana’s experience is part of a global phenomenon: record temperatures were recorded in 2023. Yaw Agyeman Boafo, the programmes coordinator and a senior research fellow at the University of Ghana’s Centre for […]

8 April, 2024

Environment

Microplastics in Nigeria’s Osun River: new study flags alarmingly high levels

The Osun River in Nigeria has high levels of microplastics in its water, sediment and fish. Gideon Idowu, Author provided Gideon Idowu, Federal University of Technology, Akure The Osun River is one of the major rivers in southern Nigeria. It flows from its source in Ekiti State, through several states, before emptying into Lagos state’s Lekki Lagoon. It is an important source of water for the communities that live around […]

8 April, 2024

Africa

South Africa’s conservation model: why expanding the use of biodiversity to generate money is a good idea

By Hayley Clements, Stellenbosch University; Alta De Vos, Stellenbosch University, and Matthew Child, University of Pretoria South Africa’s government is calling for public comments on an updated version of its existing biodiversity economy plan. The National Biodiversity Economy Strategy aims to conserve biodiversity while also contributing to job creation and economic growth. It proposes to do this by promoting sustainable use of the country’s natural resources. The strategy […]

8 April, 2024

Africa

South Africa’s crucial water supplies from Lesotho: what the six-month shutdown means for industry, farming and residents

By Ifedotun Aina, University of Cape Town The main water supply to South Africa’s economic hub, greater Johannesburg in the Gauteng province, and to the country’s breadbasket in the Free State, is scheduled to be cut off for six months. Maintenance work on the 37 kilometre Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnel is due to begin in October 2024. Ifedotun Victor Aina, a senior researcher at the Water […]

8 April, 2024

Africa

Africa now emits as much carbon as it stores: landmark new study

Cattle emit a lot of methane, but they also provide livelihoods and environmental services. Getty Images Yolandi Ernst, University of the Witwatersrand and Sally Archibald, University of the Witwatersrand A landmark new study has found that, in the last decade, the African continent has started emitting more carbon than it stores. When the total amount of carbon that is sequestered by natural ecosystems (such as the soil and plants in […]

8 April, 2024

Environment

Wildlife migratory “corridors” set to grow, Africa-wide

By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Wildlife, particularly roaming species, exhibit remarkable mobility, covering vast distances in pursuit of essential resources such as water, grazing land, mates or favourable conditions like ideal calving sites. Estimates by the Tsavo Trust, a Kenyan conservation nonprofit, reveal that elephants within the Tsavo conservation area undertake daily journeys of between 50 and 150 kilometres, following distinct migration routes and pathways. In […]

5 April, 2024