There is a growing number of clean-up initiatives around town. While it is great that these pull in so many volunteers, what is missing is a systematic approach to the underlying problem.
There is a growing number of clean-up initiatives around town. While it is great that these pull in so many volunteers, what is missing is a systematic approach to the underlying problem.
In poorer areas where most residents don’t own cars, it is difficult for them to transport bulk trash to the official landfill site. Well-managed dump sites an easy walk for most residents would be a big win. But they would have to be managed to avoid abuse.
Though it is great that volunteers clean up, how do we instil a culture of not littering? The Grahamstown Residents’ Association has been growing in membership rapidly, to give it more capacity to take up such problems.
As chairperson of the association, I was pleased to take part in the clean up near Fikizolo Primary School on Friday 5 February. I was thrilled to meet retired teacher Olive Ngesi, a local resident who enthusiastically supported the clean up.
I could not believe she was over 80 – she worked harder than many younger people.GRA is working with the municipality on the wider problem. We have, with partners and Makana, reached agreement to close the dump site at Selworthy Road.
But beyond that immediate eyesore, the whole area, including Gowie Dam, has the potential to be a nature reserve or conservancy. So far residents have raised over R6000 to assist with costs such as fencing off the site and making signs.
Partners working with Makana Parks Department are now clearing invader vegetation, thinning out the bushes, removing rubble that has been allowed to accumulate for over 30 years – and give the whole area a fresh chance to be a local beauty spot.
GRA is committed to building a viable community in partnership with other parts of civil society and the municipality.
Further Information: https://www.facebook.com/GrahamstownResidentsAssociation/
A prickly question If you like the taste of prickly pear fruit, you may be wondering whether you should buy them from street vendors. Would that be supporting an unwanted invader?
I put this question to Ralph Clark, a Rhodes University Botany Department researcher, at a talk hosted by the Kowie Catchment Campaign (KCC) titled “Alien Invasive Plants Regulations & Home Owners Legal Obligations”.
Dr Clark reminded me of how effective biocontrols for prickly pear have been introduced. The best known of these is the prickly pear cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae. This insect thrives on prickly pears and is no risk – determined after extensive research – to indigenous species.
So if you like prickly pear, buy them without guilt: the fruit itself is not prohibited. Dr Clark reported on plant invaders of which we need to be aware, particularly the fact that some are extremely harmful in riverine environments where they damage waterways or suck excessive water out of the environment.
Further information: http://www.arc.agric.za/arc-ppri/Pages/Prickly-pear.aspx For advice on controlling invaders in your own garden, Dr Clark can be reached at 072 439 8981.
Super-Hot 2015 The US National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) reports that 2015 broke all records for high temperature, with the biggest increase recorded over the previous all-time high.
December 2015 had the highest temperature increase of any month on record, at 1.11°C over the long-term average for December. This is the first time a monthly anomaly has exceeded the long-term average by more than 1°C.
2015 was a strong El Niño year; the last really comparable year was 1998, which also smashed records, though not by the same margin. An El Niño year is mostly unusually warm, which is why exceptional records are often set in an El Niño year.
However, the long-term trend is us up, even if you cut out these exceptional years. Time to get serious about climate change is running out.
More details: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201513
Find us Online: www.grocotts.co.za/environews
