African Wildlife & Environment Issue 81

& ENVIRONMENT

ISSUE 81 (2022)

The uMzimkhulu OUR LAST FREE FLOWING RIVER

Rhino Poaching THE NEGOTIATION

An Ecological Perspective on Locusts CURSE OR BLESSING?

THE MAGAZINE OF THE WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA

CONTENTS

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1 Editorial 2 Good reads FWF Newsletter 7 Ford Wildlife Foundation Newsletter 2 (2022) Conservation 11 The uMzimkhulu - our last free flowing river 15 Rhino poaching - the negotiation 18 New life at Inverdoorn Fauna, Flora & Wildlife 20 Marula stories 26 Marula, the tree that gives so much 29 An ecological perspective on locusts: curse or blessing? 32 The importance of private game reserves Gardening for Biodiversity 39 Pig's Ears - a no-nonsense plant Destinations 46 Kruger National Park, Satara Camp Birding 52 Southern White-faced Owl Eco Hero 57 Professor E.O Wilson Special Book Review 62 Montane to Mangrove Framework of the Gorongosa Ecosystem Nature Notes 70 Kid's Corner with Candice 74 Forests big and small Subscriptions / General 88 WESSA membership 89 Leaving a legacy 90 Region, area office, branch & centre contacts 91 Publication details

Rhino poaching - the negotiation

Marula stories

Pig's Ears - a no-nonsense plant

Kruger National Park, Satara Camp

Copyright © African Wildlife & Environment. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by and means, electronic or mechanical without the prior written permission of the publisher. African Wildlife & Environment retains the right to make alterations to any material submitted. The publisher, while exercising due care, cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to material submitted. The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of WESSA. Copyright on all content belongs toWESSA and the individual contributors.

Cover photograph: John Wesson

GENERAL

The slaughter of our rhinos continues unabated, and veteran conservationist John Varty makes the thought- provoking suggestion that we need some kind of mediation between the warring parties, brokered by one or more of our NGOs. This would be amazing if it could happen, but I have little hope of that. This is because the prime villains in the rhino war are the criminal syndicates that control the poaching business, as well as other activities around the country's national parks and nature reserves. These syndicates will never reveal their true identities. Not only are they guilty of numerous crimes, but they also know the government officials that participate in this whole sordid business. The corrupt state employees in the protected areas themselves, the police who turn a blind eye in return for money, and people in high government positions would be exposed, and this would not do at all. The state security department must know exactly who is involved in the rhino poaching syndicates. One day the truth will come out – probably too late for the rhinos. It is a dreadful situation. Dr Ian Player must be turning in his grave. We are truly fortunate to have Professor Anthony Turton as a regular contributor to our magazine. His wide knowledge and communication skills bring new understanding of complex topics to our readers. In this issue he tells us about the threats to the uMzimkhulu, our last free-flowing river. It is a tale of EDITORIAL In this issue of your magazine we examine the state of South Africa's last free-flowing river, touch on rhino poaching, learn a lot about marula trees, locusts, private game reserves, and the Pig's Ears plants for your garden. We visit Satara Camp in the Kruger National Park, learn about the Southern White-faced Owl, then zip across into Mozambique to meet our world-famous Eco Hero who was astounded by the biodiversity of the Gorongosa National Park and the work being done to restore it after years of civil war. We read about the remarkable Dr Ken Tinley, who studied Gorongosa for five years, then put together a ground-breaking DSc thesis that explains in great detail how the kaleidoscope of geology, vegetation, climate and animals come together to create the amazing ecosystems of the park. Finally, in Kid's Corner, we revisit some of the wonderful educational material from past issues of WESSA's publications that are still very relevant today.

Dr John Ledger

bad decisions, lack of understanding of how hydraulic systems work, and illegal activities such as sand-mining. We can but hope that his article will be read by some of those responsible for decision-making in this matter. The Marula is a well-loved and commercially important tree in southern Africa. Professor Eugene Moll gives us a full lecture on this iconic member of the Mango family. Sandy Roberts adds some medicinal uses for marula bark, and a recipe for marula syrup, which sounds delicious! Eugene comes back to our pages with insights on the ecological role of locusts, which should give many readers some pause for thought. We accompany John Wesson to the Kruger National Park, to stay at Satara Camp and explore the surrounding areas. John is a talented photographer, and it is wonderful to have him as the leader of the editorial team, because when we need a particular image, John is sure to provide one. Our Eco Hero is the late Professor Edward O Wilson, world-famous entomologist, prolific author and renowned academic from Harvard University, who was captivated by the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique and did field work there as well as inspiring and mentoring students. When Greg Carr secured a 20-year contract with the Mozambique government for the restoration of Gorongosa, he came across Dr Ken Tinley's seminal study of the park. This thesis contained astonishing details of the 'framework of the Gorongosa ecosystem', and is regarded as one of the most important studies of its kind. Tinley's thesis has now been published as a beautifully illustrated book, an electronic version of which is generously available as a free download. On page 67 of your magazine is a poignant photograph of the 86 year-old Dr Ken Tinley sharing his knowledge and experience with Dominique Gonçalves, a young Mozambican woman who is the manager of elephant ecology in Gorongosa. 'Passing the baton' does not get much better than this!

Dr John Ledger Consulting Editor john.ledger@wol.co.za 083 650 1768

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Book reviews by Dr John Ledger GOOD READS

knowledge of freshwater systems, combined with his excellent photographs, brings the unseen organisms in wetlands to life. As a child, I never trawled through pond water. Now I have the privilege of a second childhood when children and I collect samples from our natural pan. Their discoveries are just as exciting for me as them, as they exclaim over and over "Look what I found!".That is why this book will be so valuable; it fills a gap and opens up a new world of biodiversity in water. This book does not aim to identify organisms to species level. Although it is intended for field use, there is essential information on the ecology of each order, to read at home. For example, I finally know why freshwater crabs are often found moving away from wetlands – they are migrating to colonise new water bodies. The macroinvertebrates covered in the book range from crabs and snails, through insects, down to almost-microscopic water fleas and copepods. It describes how and where to find them – by turning over rocks or sweeping aquatic vegetation, whether the insect prefers standing or running waters, and how sensitive it is to water quality. This guide goes into detail about the larval stage of insect orders such as dragonflies (Odonata) true flies (Diptera) and caddisflies (Trichoptera). I found it interesting how most aquatic insects spend the majority of their life cycle as larvae and only transform into adults for a short final mating stage of life. In caddisflies, the larval stage can last up to two years; in mayflies, the adult stage is as short as one hour. It's an achievement that the author has managed to find and identify so many larvae to include in the book. The photographs are clear and some pictures have descriptive labels of the organism's parts. This helps in understanding the scientific terms used, because even as an enthusiastic citizen scientist I found the academic level of the terminology a challenge. Considering that the book's target market includes amateurs and children, readers who are not scientifically trained may have to look up several definitions not included in the short glossary. This super new book will inspire readers of African Wildlife & Environment to grab a net and explore the nearest wetland to discover fascinating creatures.

Freshwater Noonoos Fry, Christian (2021). Field Guide to the Freshwater Macroinvertebrates of Southern Africa. Jacana Media, Auckland Park, Johannesburg. Soft cover, 24 x 17 cm, 256 pp, illustrated in colour throughout with photographs, drawings and maps. ISBN 978- 1-4314-3105-2.RRP R295. The book is available for purchase from https://jacana.co.za/product/ freshwater-macroinvertebrates/ or from your local bookstore. Guest Book Review by JaneTrembath This is the first field guide focusing strictly on freshwater macroinvertebrates. The author, Christian Fry, is a passionate freshwater ecologist with experience across Africa. Christian's

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Vultures VulPro (2020).

are often wary of humans and when they are feeding on a carcass they form such a seething mass that it is virtually impossible to get clear images. And during my early years of trying to photograph vultures, we used film in our cameras, and our lenses were shaky at high magnifications. But now, with the advent of 'vulture restaurants' with hides built especially for photography, and with the development of cameras that contain sophisticated computers, coupled with lenses that cost more than some motorcars, we have reached the stage of technology that enables some truly astounding images to be captured for posterity. As a group, vultures worldwide are in trouble. Long scorned as rather nasty cartoon creatures, and generally avoided even by ornithologists themselves, vultures took a long time to have their photographs shown on the covers of birding

Magnificent Vultures of Africa . Vulture Programme for the Conservation of Vulture Species in Southern Africa, Skeerpoort, South Africa. Sponsored by the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust (managed by Nedbank PrivateWealth) Hard cover, 38 x 30 cm, 72 pp, illustrated throughout with (mostly) colour and (a few) monochrome photographs. ISBN 978-0-62088 -355-9. R 760 (includes delivery to your nearest Postnet), Contact kerri@vulpro.com to order. Vultures are magnificent birds, and this is a magnificent book, a true 'coffee table', hardcover, large-format, landscape orientated production, with some of the most stunning photographs of vultures I have ever seen. As one who has been pursuing vultures around many parts of the world, photographing them has never been easy, as they

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magazines. In March 1979 Peter Mundy, Russel Friedman and I attended the First International Symposium on Vultures at the Natural History Museum in Santa Barbara, California. At that time, the California Condor was heading towards extinction in the wild, while vultures in Africa and Asia were deemed to be numerous and in no trouble whatsoever. Since then, the California Condor has been brought back from the brink of extinction through an extraordinary captive breeding effort by the Americans, with the few remaining condors in the wild all being brought into the programme, and the birds have now been re-introduced to several areas of their historic range. Meanwhile, vulture populations in Africa and Asia have crashed, and many of them are now considered to be endangered species. How did this dramatic reversal happen? In India and Pakistan, millions of vultures died when they consumed the carcasses of domestic animals that had been treated with diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory veterinary drug that is also used by humans in the form of 'Voltaren'. In Africa, large numbers of birds have been poisoned to obtain their body parts for traditional medicine and magic, others have been poisoned by poachers who do not want their nefarious deeds to be advertised by wheeling columns of vultures, many are killed and injured by electrocution or collisions with powerlines and, more recently, the wind farms that are allegedly going to save us from the 'climate crisis' are killing vultures with their turbine blades and the powerlines built in remote areas to extract this 'green' electricity. This book is a dramatic panorama of the African vultures, displaying their sheer power, grace, and characters. It is an art gallery of the finest photographs ever recorded for this group of irreplaceable scavengers, who clean the countryside of dead and decaying bodies. It is an ode to these wonderful birds, that "E'en when bloody, have done no creature harm!" VulPro, the publisher of this fine book, is a non-profit organisation that works tirelessly for the well-being of vultures. The publication is a show-case and fund-raiser for their various conservation, rehabilitation and captive breeding programmes. A visit to VulPro to see their wonderful vultures, many of which have been

permanently maimed and cannot be released back into the wild, is a moving experience. And time sent in the hide at their vulture restaurant, watching the wild Cape Vultures dropping out of the sky and rending a carcass to the bare bones in the shortest time, is an African wildlife ritual that will take your breath away. This book may sound expensive, but you will treasure it as long as you live, and by purchasing a copy you will be helping VulPro with their very good works. Check their website to learn more: https://www.vulpro.com/ Grass

Martins, Dino J (2022). Grasses of East Africa. Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town. Soft cover, 15 x 21 cm, 232 pp, illustrated in colour throughout with photographs, sketches and a habitat map. ISBN 978-1- 77584 -584-5. RRP R300.

This is a wonderful book authored by a very talented scientist and naturalist. Dr Dino Martins is a Kenyan entomologist and evolutionary biologist with a PhD from Harvard University. He is a research scholar and lecturer in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University, and executive director of the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya where he teaches and mentors students. His research interests focus on the interactions between insects, plants and fungi. He is also an accomplished photographer and artist; the only other photographer mentioned is Anne E Powys, so I suspect that most of the images are those of Dr Martins. The introductory pages deal with the economic significance of grasses. They are, of course, the most economically important group of plants on earth. Besides feeding the planet's burgeoning human population with wheat, rice and maize, they support animal husbandry and wildlife populations. Grasses also soften

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'MiddleAfrican' Parks and Reserves

urban landscapes with lawns and road verges, and provide human shelter as thatching and construction material. Further information is given on the structure of grasses, the ecology of grasses, grasses and grazers, grasses and arthropods, grasses and fungi and grassland conservation and management.We next learn about the habitats of East Africa, and 'How to use this book'. Then follows the descriptions of 100 species of common, ecologically important or remarkable grasses found in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. A double-page spread is allocated to each species, with the following information: common name/s; scientific name; description, distribution and habitat; ecology and uses; spikelet measurement and illustrations and labels. Each spread has excellent photographs and often will include a drawing or images of some or other insects or interesting features. The result is a truly outstanding book that will delight anyone interested in natural history. A number of the grasses described in the book have a wide distribution on the continent, and I was pleased to see my beloved 'Rooigras' (Red Grass) that I knew so well growing up on the farm, described on page 220. Themeda triandra is called Red Oat Grass in East Africa, where, like here, it is "One of the most palatable grasses and a favourite grazing for both livestock and wildlife where it occurs.The leafiness, robust growth and nutritious composition make it one of the economically important wild grasses of the region."

Stuart, Chris and Mathilda

(2022). Stuarts' Field Guide to National Parks & Game Reserves in Namibia; Zambia; Malawi. Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House Botswana; Zimbabwe;

South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town. Soft cover, 13 x 19 cm, 320 pp, illustrated in colour throughout with photographs and maps. ISBN 978-1-77584 -720-5. RRP R350. Chris and Mathilde Stuart continue to make a major contribution to our knowledge of African mammals, wildlife and conservation, through their extensive range of books, field guides and mobile applications.You can learn more about this remarkable couple online at www.stuartonnature. com. Their new offering is a concise guide to 50 parks in five countries - quite an achievement! - in a densely-packed, information-rich 320 pages that may challenge the eye-sight of senior citizens, but will be a boon to those travellers who are visiting the continent and want to see some of the wonderful wildlife areas on roads less travelled in parts other than southern and eastern Africa. This is the first guide to document and explore the diverse parks and reserves of Africa's 'middle belt' countries, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. This part of Africa contains some prized spots such as the world- famous landscapes of the Namib and Kalahari deserts, the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls and Lake Malawi, and some of the continent's best- known conservation areas like Etosha, Chobe,

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unsustainably high elephant numbers in Botswana, for example. There is no index, but at the end of the book is a list of suggested 'further reading' as well as a list of contacts for each of the countries. The authors provide a rationale for not including Angola and Mozambique in their guide. Angola's parks and protected areas are still in a shambles following years of civil war. Mozambique was likewise affected, but its protected areas are making a slow recovery, with Gorongosa leading the pack, and several other important areas being rehabilitated through the work of the Peace Parks Foundation. Hopefully the Stuarts will be able to compile a guide to Mozambique's protected areas in a few years' time.

Mana Pools, Hwange, Kafue and Nyika. The book is organised by country, covers some 50 conservation areas, and for each includes: • Detailed descriptions of the history, geology, climate, vegetation and wildlife; • Annotated park maps, indicating places of interest and the best sites to view key species; • Text panels featuring each park's highlights, facilities and activities, wildlife facts and important alerts; and • A concise photographic gallery of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and trees, for quick identification of commonly seen species. Browsing through this lovely little book, one is struck by the excellent quality of the maps, the photographs and the content. The authors do not avoid mentioning the threats to the protected areas posed by population growth, the encroachment of agriculture and poaching, and the

THE WONDERS OF DESERT L IFE : A COMPELL ING, IN-DEPTH READ THE LIVING DESERTS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA Barry Lovegrove

A DEFINITIVE NEW EDITION OF A CLASSIC AVAILABLE AT LEADING BOOKSTORES NATIONWIDE & ONLINE

Join the Struik Nature Club for online talks and events, special offers, prizes and upcoming natural history publications: www.struiknatureclub.co.za

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FWF NEWSLETTER 2 (2022)

FORDWILDLIFE FOUNDATION Newsletter 2 (2022)

The conservation and preservation of the environment has become a major worldwide issue, dramatically changing the attitudes of consumers and the way large corporations do business. Against this background the Ford Wildlife Foundation (FWF) was announced in September 2014, funded by the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa and supported by its nationwide network of Ford Dealers. The FWF supports environmental education, research and conservation projects in mainly Southern Africa. The Ford Ranger is used to enable the projects to go further and make a real impact in the communities in which they operate. For further information on the FWF, please email wildlife@ford.com.

Sea Search Research and Conservation 9. Leopard Research Project - Cape Leopard Trust 10. Cheetah Metapopulation Project - Endangered Wildlife Trust 11. Black Rhino Range Expansion Project -World Wildlife Fund (WWF-SA) 12. Coral Reef Programme - Oceanographic Research Institute 13. SA Cranes,Wetlands and Communities Project - EndangeredWildlife Trust 14. Threatened species projects, Landscape Conservation Programme – BirdLife SA 15. Ecology and conservation of vultures in southern Africa and impacts of changing land use - UKZN School of Life Sciences 16. Wildlife &Transport Project - Endangered Wildlife Trust 17. Behaviour and ecology of hippos and their ecological role in aquatic and terrestrial systems - UKZN School of Life Sciences 18. International Schools Programme -WESSA – Gauteng 19. Seabird Rehabilitation Support Project - SANCCOB – PE 20. Tourism Blue Flag -WESSA 21. Spatial Planning and Data Project – BirdLife SA 22. SomkhandaWildlife ACT Emergency Response - Wildlife ACT Fund Trust 23. The People in Conservation Programme – people thriving alongside wildlife - Endangered Wildlife Trust 24. Drylands Conservation Programme - EndangeredWildlife Trust 25. Tourism Green Coast -WESSA 26. Cape Critical Rivers programme – Freshwater Research Centre 27. MozambiqueWildlife Alliance -Wildlife

LIST OF PROJECTS - NOVEMBER 2021

1. Threatened Amphibian Programme - Endangered Wildlife Trust 2. Capacity Development of LWS Community Outreach Programmes in Limpopo Province - LapalalaWilderness School 3. Mabula Ground Hornbill Project - MGHP 4. Critically Endangered Renosterveld Conservation Easement Programme - Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust 5. Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds - SANCCOB 6. Carnivore Conservation Programme - EndangeredWildlife Trust 7. Establishment of a National Grassland Park in the Eastern Cape -WorldWildlife Fund (WWF - SA) 8. Sea Search Research and Conservation Project -

Veterinary and HumanWildlife Conflict mitigation interventions in Mozambique

SHORT-TERM LOAN VEHICLE

Southern Mozambique Sea Turtle Research Project (Supported annually for six weeks with a loan Ford Ranger) - Pierre Lombard

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WESSA LEADERSHIP FWF NE SLETT R 2 (2022)

The Hilton College Isivivane –WESSA e-STEAM in action In 2018,WESSA uMngeni Valley and Hilton College conceptualised the Isivivane Journey (Throw a stone onto the monument). Annually, the Grade 10 boys hike approximately 200 km and ‘journey’ from the Hilton College campus, through uMngeni Valley, into the Karkloof and Albert Falls areas. The boys collect a stone from Mount Gilboa, the highest summit in the Karkloof Range (1,765 metres above sea level) and carry it ‘home’ to ‘throw it onto their monument.’ While the boys are hiking, cycling, zip- lining, canoeing, and camping, they are also fully immersed in nature where the WESSA guides educate the groups on the importance of water resource management, invasive alien protection, indigenous forest protection and biodiversity protection across at least 8 different habitats. The WESSA e-STEAM Programme is also fully integrated into the hike, where each group conducts a series of field surveys and a full catchment study of the upper uMngeni River,

from Howick Falls to Albert Falls Dam, including the Karkloof, Yarrow, Molweni and uMshwati Streams, while also considering the importance of environmental education and protection. On Tuesday, 31 August 2021, we completed the 15-day Isivivane, where nature threw all her elements at us, from 34 degree berg wind days, to -2 degree nights, rain, wind, snow, sleet, fog and beautiful sunny winter days. We had it all, but got the teams through safely, and contributed to their personal growth, and their own mindfulness towards Nature. On behalf of WESSA uMngeni Valley and Hilton College, I would like to thank the Ford Wildlife Foundation for the use of their 4x4 Double Cab Ranger, which has been integral to the success of this programme.

Matthew Cocks WESSA Education Centres General Manager

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WESSA LEADERSHIP FWF NE SLETT R 2 (2022)

Sea Search Research and Conservation (SSRC) SSRC is a not-for-profit organisation that conducts high quality, internationally recognised scientific research, which feeds back into education and policy recommendations. Our focus is scientific research output, education and advice to managers with the overarching aim of promoting the conservation of cetaceans.

The Sea Search team using the Ford Ranger to access more remote parts of the West coast during their investigation of the unusual seal die-off in late 2021. This research involves counting animals, dead animals, investigating differences in sex and age classes across areas and time, and most importantly collecting biological samples for analysis by collaborating vets and pathologist.

SSRC leads a series of marine mammal research and conservation projects in southern Africa with most research taking place in the Western Cape and Namibia. We also collaborate on several regional and international projects. Our current main research themes are: • Bioacoustics with a focus on whales and dolphins in southern Africa • Southern African Cape Fur Seal project - work across Namibia and South Africa • SouSA Consortium – Conserving the Humpback Dolphin • Namibian Dolphin Project – Research, Conservation and Education in Namibia The Sea Search team using the Ranger to tow and launch their research vessel Lula at Saldanha Bay Yacht Club to conduct research on whales and dolphins in this rapidly developing area.

Human use of the oceans for shipping, fishing, aquaculture and recreation is widespread and continues to grow. Of particular concern is the large feeding groups of Humpback Whales which form in summer months along the west coast where animals frequently encounter large ships and death from ship-strike is known to be increasing. Can knowledge of their acoustic behaviour help us to develop an early-warning system to reduce interactions?

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making a difference For As the Ford Wildlife Foundation we are proud to assist, support and celebrate those who protect South Africa’s rich biodiversity. From enabling our partners to reach remote locations with our Ford Rangers to supplying them with protective face shields, we’ll continue to help those who make a positive contribution to this beautiful country.

#ForSouthAfrica 8025051N_E

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8025051N_WILDLIFE_PRINT_275x215mm_APR_FA.indd 1

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CONSERVATION

The uMzimkhulu OUR LAST FREE FLOWING RIVER

TheWorld Commission on Dams Shortly after our transition to democracy, the World Commission on Dams (WCD) was created.The core objective was to perform a global assessment of the unintended consequences of dams, where the cost of development was unevenly distributed across society, often by destroying future options. Professor Kader Asmal, our first democratically elected minister of Water Affairs, and a lawyer by training, was appointed When South Africa became a democracy in 1994, it created a series of expectations locally, regionally and internationally. South Africa had negotiated a peaceful end to a festering confrontation that had persisted for 350 years. That was a remarkable achievement. Central to that achievement was the rule of law as a cornerstone of our young democracy. The significance of this was manifest in many dimensions. One was the notion of equity, so carefully crafted into our Constitution.

Dr Anthony Turton

to head the WCD. This thrust South Africa into the global spotlight, but as a shining beacon of hope. More importantly, it enabled us to understand at a very deep level of analysis, the intrinsic value of free- flowing rivers. These are rare indeed, with most rivers having been reduced to a mere cascade of dams, no longer capable of maintaining their ecological integrity. This is at the heart of the National Water Act (NWA), which became the first piece of water legislation in the world to protect the aquatic ecosystem by giving it a right equal in status to that of the Basic Human Needs (BHN). These two rights – the environmental flows and human needs – are both enshrined in the NWA, manifesting as the delicate balance between protection for future generations, versus productive use for the developmental needs of the current generation. The Flood Pulse

While the WCD was executing its mandate, aquatic ecology came of age. In South Africa this was manifest as the Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists (SASAQS), members of which became deeply involved in the science underpinning the sustainable use of water from rivers. One of the core concepts that emerged at the time was known as the flood pulse. Each river has a specific flood pulse, almost like the heartbeat of the landscape, as water is transformed from precipitation into streamflow. In general, all rivers with a functional flood pulse tend to be healthy

First forensic evidence of sand mining upstream of the St Helens Pump Station on the uMzimkhulu River is available from Google Earth on 4 September 2010.

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is part of a large offshore marine protected area of enormous biodiversity.The upper limit of the estuary is St Helens Rock, which is the location of a large pump station for Ugu District Municipality. It is at St Helens Rock that the natural flood pulse of the river meets the natural tidal pulse from the ocean. The tidal range at the mouth is just under two meters, and this daily pulse pushes upstream, where sediment prevents it from reaching the St Helens Rock Pump Station. Sand mining operations, on an industrial scale, have fundamentally altered the bed, bank and flow of the river, to a point upstream of the pump station. The altered channel has created a larger volume for the estuary, and this means that each tidal pulse does not drain the entire estuary.The altered river channel in the immediate vicinity of the pump station, has enabled saline intrusion to occur, for short periods of time. Those short periods coincide with the attenuation of streamflow arising from abstraction upstream in excess of the Existing Lawful Use (ELU) defined by formalWater Use Licenses (WUL). Sand mining on an industrial scale has fundamentally altered the bed, bank and flow of the river The interaction of the flood pulse with the tidal pulse is complex. In essence, salt water is denser than

In general, all rivers with a functional pulse tend to be healthy. In the WCD context, it was the attenuation of the flood pulse in rivers that became the key driver of ecological integrity. The flood pulse defines the aquatic ecosystem, by sending signals to the various organisms that collectively comprise a functional environment. In this regard, most rivers globally have lost their flood pulse, primarily because of dams.Therefore, theWCD highlighted the intrinsic value of free-flowing rivers, with intact flood pulses, as being a national asset worthy of protection. In an African context, one of the last free-flowing rivers is the Okavango, which is shared between Angola, Namibia and Botswana. But in a South African context, the last free-flowing river of any significance is the uMzimkhulu. The Okavango and the uMzimkhulu are similar for specific reasons. Both still have a flood pulse that is largely intact. Both sustain an enormous biodiversity. Both present huge potential for future generations, as livelihood creators in areas of otherwise limited economic activity. Both represent inter-generational equity at its very best, and both are treasures worthy of protection. The Helens Rock Pump Station at Port Shepstone The uMzimkhulu river sustains the ecological integrity of an estuary, some ten km in length. This

freshwater, so it sinks to the bottom. The freshwater, being less dense, flows over the salt water. This results in a saline wedge, well described in coastal aquifers as the Ghyben-Herzberg Principle.This wedge pulses back and forth along the estuary. The location of the actual halocline – the plane separating salt from freshwater – is dependent on several factors. The simplest explanation is to think of the position of the saline wedge as being the balance of the tidal pulse pushing upstream, and the flood pulse pushing downstream. This is where fresh and salt water collide. When the saline wedge is unable to go out to sea, there is a volume of saltwater that is retained in the estuary. This becomes more saline over time,

The alteration of the river profile by industrial scale sand mining in the immediate vicinity of the St Helens Pump Station has enabled saline intrusion to put the drinking water supply of the Ugu District at risk.

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generational inequity that our noble constitution sought to dismantle. A Permanent Solution to a Misdiagnosed Problem The Ugu Municipality is proposing a permanent solution to the temporary saline intrusion at the St Helens Rock Pump Station, in the form of an expensive concrete weir. It is claimed that this weir

because of the loss of freshwater above it, either to evaporation, or from reduced streamflow arising from the over-abstraction upstream. The alteration of the profile of the riverbed, by industrial scale sand mining, has created two new drivers of change. The first is an increase in the volume of the estuary. This means that each tidal pulse is increasingly unable to reach the mouth and discharge fully into the ocean.This leaves a saline plug in the estuary, that is slowly forced upstream by each

will create a separation barrier between fresh and salt water. However, this simplistic solution ignores the complexity of the interaction between the natural flood pulse and the tidal pulse, because once the permanent barrier has been created, the probable outcome will be a permanently hypersaline estuary. We have already learned about hyper-salinity in places like St Lucia, so it is vital that we interrogate the logic underpinning the proposed solution, by applying the best available science, tempered by the precautionary principle entrenched in our environmental law. Forensic evidence has shown that no less than eight berms have already been built across the river, in two different

Satellite image showing the encroachment of the first dredger approaching the pump station on 1 May 2015, but with limited alteration of the bed and bank upstream of the abstraction point

locations. Each berm has failed, and none have ever halted the intrusion of saltwater at the pump station, simply because they have ignored the complexity of the interaction between the natural flood pulse and the tidal pulse. It can be argued, with considerable scientific evidence in support, that there are two major drivers of saline intrusion in the uMzimkhulu estuary – attenuated flood pulse from upstream abstraction in excess of the legal WUL allocations, and the alteration of the bed, bank and flow of the river by industrial scale sand mining. Both can be remedied by means of regulator intervention. That intervention will remove the need to permanently alter the last free-flowing river in South Africa, and will return us to the rule of law that seems to have been abandoned by municipal officials looking to justify big ticket projects, from which they can sustain the patronage networks that keep them in power.

successive tidal pulse. The second is the removal of sandbanks that previously created a natural shallow pooling of water. This is an activity that burdens the next generation to pay for the short-term needs of the current generation Those sand banks accelerated the velocity of flow over them, creating turbulence sufficiently strong to keep the saline wedge away from the St Helens Pump Station. These natural barriers were most effective during the lowest flow of the river, at the exact time when the wedge was the furthest upstream. Nature had provided a brilliant solution, disrespected by Man, and removed by sand mining in the pursuit of profits. In short, this is an activity that burdens the next generation to pay for the short-term needs of the current generation. It is a classic example of the inter-

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Conclusion The presence of one river that still has a functional flood pulse, is a national heritage. The uMzimkhulu River is as significant as the Okavango and needs to be treated as such. Conservationists need to make their voice heard in the decision-making around the construction of a permanent weir at St Helens Rock. At best, this is a permanent solution to a

Forensic evidence that the berm, allegedly authorized to prevent saline intrusion, enables the mining that ultimately places the Ugu Municipality water supply at risk. This ought to be investigated by the Public Protector to determine what unlawful payments might have been made.

misdiagnosed temporary problem, easily remedied by the application of the world class legislation that South Africa has become famous for. We need to insist that Section 21 (c) and (i) of the National Water Act is applied to the eight berms that have already been constructed, all of which have failed, as well as the ongoing industrial scale sand mining that is altering the channel of the river. It is this altered river profile that is causing saline intrusion at St Helens Rock, so we can only remedy the problem by dealing with the driver. In short, we need the rule of law, not concrete, to solve this problem. Section 21 (c) and (i) of the National Water Act. All expenditure related to these eight structures is potentially unlawful, and deserves to be forensically investigated, to determine whether the money can be clawed back. Eight berms have been built, at two sites. All have failed, and none have ever prevented the movement of the saline wedge. All have visibly enabled the sand mining activity that has eventually placed the pump station at risk. All berms have fundamentally altered the bed, bank and flow of the river, so they are subject to

We need the rule of law, not concrete, to solve this problem. We also need to insist that the Minerals and Petroleum Development Act (MPRDA) be applied to sand mining operations, most specifically in the quantum of cash needed to be set aside in the environmental rehabilitation fund that accompanies each mining right.We need to insist that both DWS and DME intervene in this matter, if we are to protect the last free-flowing river in South Africa. If these two regulatory authorities fail to intervene, then we need to consider a formal complaint to the Public Protector, where we will call for a forensic investigation of all municipal decisions that have enabled public money to be used for eight berms, all of which have failed, but each of which seems to have enabled the same sand mining that has ultimately caused saline intrusion at the St Helens Rock Pump Station. In this we need to ask the core question raised by theWCD – who benefits and who pays?

Prof Anthony Turton Centre for Environmental Management University of the Free State tony@anthonyturton.com

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Rhino Poaching THE NEGOTIATION

John Varty

A long time ago when I was at Wits University, I was introduced to the work of a guy called Edward de Bono. He was hired by governments and multi-nationals to solve problems and negotiate settlements. However, de Bono had an unusual way of going about things. He was very much an 'out of the box' type of thinker, referred to as 'Lateral Thinking'. I became fascinated by the problem-solving methods of Edward de Bono. Unfortunately he has passed on, so he is unable to chair my proposed negotiation meeting. Therefore I have taken license, and this is my interpretation of what de Bono might have said, should he still have been here…

• John Hume, a private businessman has a herd of 2,000 rhino and produces 200 rhino calves a year. He has removed the horns from his rhino and he would like to trade his horn. He will be known as 'The Breeder' • The buyers of rhino horn are businessmen who trade in rhino horn, ivory, drugs and an array of wild life products. They are from Asia, The Yemen, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Nepal, China and others. They are called 'The Buyers' • Barbara Creecy the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment, has just made a law which makes the trade in rhino horn illegal. Previously the South African Government was pro rhino horn trade, now they are anti the trade. They will be known as the 'The Government'. Edward de Bona opens the conference and welcomes all attendees. My name is Edward de Bono. I am neither a conservationist, scientist or activist. I have no investment in rhino or rhino horn. I am a deal- maker and my mandate is to bring an end to the 'Rhino War'. Never in the history of the Rhino War have all the role players been assembled in one place. In the audience are conservationists, scientists, activists, traders, breeders, syndicate bosses and other interested parties. The Honourable Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has graced us with her presence. Ladies and gentlemen, my research went back to the time when Jacob Zuma came to power in South Africa. It was at this time that rhino poaching began to escalate. The Conference

Edward de Bono

• The rhino poaching phenomenon is a war and must be dealt with as such. • My mandate is to seek a cease fire between the warring factions. • The warring factions are between the Anti-Poaching Forces of the South African National Parks and the Private Reserves and the Syndicates who hire and pay the poachers. They will be known as the 'APU' and 'The Syndicates' and the 'Private Reserves'. • Among the conservationists are two schools of thought; those who believe that the horn should be traded and those who believe that it should be illegal to trade the horn. They will be known as the 'Traders' and the 'Non Traders',

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At its peak during Zuma's term of office, more than 1,000 rhinos a year were being lost to poaching. To date some 6,500 rhinos have been lost in South Africa. I'm sure you will all agree that this is a staggering amount of rhino. When I began my research for this assignment, I was able to find many arguments for rhino trade and many papers arguing against rhino trade. While you have spent considerable time and energy debating the pros and cons of the rhino trade, I came to the conclusion that none of you really know if trade or non-trade will help the rhino. You are shooting in the dark so to speak! I ask the Traders and the Non Traders to keep an open mind. There will be times when you need to trade rhino horn and there will be times when no trade is advised. It is not cut and dried! My research into The Breeder revealed that a herd of 2,000 rhino is maintained in captivity and some 200 calves are produced a year. This is a substantial number of rhino. I sense a huge opportunity for rhino conservation here! Therefore it is disappointing indeed that John Hume and the Government should be wasting valuable time and money on court cases. Surely the Government should be assisting John Hume to get a return on his investment, while at the same time benefiting the rhino? My research into the South African Government is that previously the Department of Environment and Tourism supported a trade in rhino horn, and then changed their stance and reverted to no trade in rhino horn. Honourable Minister, my research shows that there is no easy answer to trade or not to trade. Perhaps you need to assess each project on its merits and then decide to trade or not to trade the rhino horn. However, Honourable Minister, you will accept that you are in a war. Foreign nationals are entering your country and killing and stealing your national assets.To win this war you have to provide leadership. You have to be decisive. There is a great deal of confusion in your industry. Honourable Minister, I respectfully suggest there is no leadership. To win this war you need to put qualified leadership in place and you need to do it quickly! Being a woman, I think you will relate to the history of the Falklands War.When the Argentineans invaded the Falklands, Margaret Thatcher dealt with it very quickly and very decisively!

My research into the Anti-Poaching Units revealed that the troops on the ground are understaffed, underpaid, overworked and demoralized. These are men putting their lives on the line daily for the rhino. However, the signs are that you are losing the war and will lose it, if you don’t change your strategy. In all my research I could not find one instance where you have sat down at the negotiating table with the enemy. Do you know what the Syndicate Bosses want? Do you know what their aspirations are? The Syndicate Bosses live in the same ecosystem as you do. You live inside the Kruger National Park; they live outside the park.They are fathers, they have families to feed and school fees to pay. I was unable to find any information on the Syndicates for the simple reason that their activities are illegal. However, from personal interviews, I was able to ascertain the following about Syndicates operating in the Hazyview, Bushbuckridge and Acornhock areas. • The Syndicates control the police and the courts. The Syndicates recently attempted to close the Magistrates Court at Skukuza. • The Syndicates control the taxis, the bottle stores, the butcheries and many of the taverns in the area. • The Syndicates control subsistence poaching in the area of Kruger National Park and the Private Reserves. • The Syndicates' modus operandi is to hire local men, provide them with guns and ammunition and pay them to hunt the rhino in the Parks. • The Syndicates have contacts in Pretoria, Durban and Mossel Bay which will move the rhino horn back to China and other countries. I was unable to gain an interview with any Syndicate Boss, but a statement by a recently assassinated Syndicate Boss, Petros Mabuza is revealing: "South Africa will soon be a Socialist country. All wildlife will belong to the people. I will soon legally be able to hunt under quota, rhino, buffalo, elephant and hippo. I will be able to legally sell the horn, tusks, skin and meat of the animals I have hunted. For the National Parks to allow 300 hippo which recently died in the drought to rot in the sun while on their boundary are hungry people, is unacceptable". I am a deal-maker, and my brief is to end the rhino war. I will be seeking to put the leaders of the Anti- Poaching Units and the bosses of the Syndicates together around one negotiating table. I am happy to Chair that meeting. It is imperative that the head

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of SAN Parks, the Private Game Reserves and the Honourable Minister sit in that meeting. My message today to the South African government, the South African National Parks the Private Game Reserves is crystal clear. You cannot end the Rhino War without negotiating with the

Trust, WESSA and other concerned organisations to arrange another conference in 2022. The title of the conference should be Parks and Neighbours – the Rhino Dilemma.

The conference would be run on the guidelines listed

Photo: Jaco Marais

Syndicate Bosses. They must be included every step of the way! Lastly my research into the Buyers of the rhino horn; they are part of a global network which runs the wildlife trade industry. Whether they are dealing in a rhino horn, cocaine, ivory or tiger body parts they are the same people. It is a multi-billion dollar industry! In the 1980s The Endangered Wildlife Trust launched a conference called National Parks, Nature Reserves and Neighbours . It was the first inkling that the future of Game Reserves and National Parks may be tied to the attitude of the surrounding communities. I call on the Endangered Wildlife

above. See also: KNP in Perspective (Part Two)

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-01-25- beyond-its-exceptional-beauty-kruger-national-park- is-on-the-ropes-and-hurting/

John Varty Global Environmental Futurist jv@jvbigcats.co.za Tread Lightliy on the Earth

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