WESSA Eden - Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa

15/12/2024

15/12/2024

Researchers Say A Massive Deadly Zone in the Ocean is Growing:

It creates conditions so acidic that it dissolves shells and skeletons, and it could make up half of the global ocean by the end of the century.

The deep ocean harbors an expanding acidic zone where high pressure and low temperature create conditions that dissolve calcium carbonate, a crucial material for marine animals' shells.

This area, which is known as the carbonate compensation depth (or CCD), is growing due to rising carbon dioxide levels in the ocean, which is making the water more acidic. This phenomenon, coupled with ocean acidification at the surface, is shrinking the habitable space for marine life from both the top and the bottom, making it difficult for creatures to survive under such harsh acidic conditions. Recent studies have revealed that the CCD serves as a biological boundary, creating distinct habitats above and below it.

Above the CCD, organisms with calcified shells or skeletons like soft corals, brittle stars, and mussels, thrive, while below it, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, and octopuses are more abundant.

The under-saturated, more acidic habitat below the CCD currently limits life in 54.4 million square miles of the ocean and could expand by another 13.5 million square miles with a 980-foot rise.

The expansion of this acidic zone will have varying impacts on different regions and countries, with island nations being the most affected. It's remarkable that nearly half of the deep sea is already acidic, and this proportion could increase to half by the end of the century.

The rising acidity of our oceans serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need to combat climate change and its devastating impact on marine ecosystems.

Image: Lee Bryant/The Conversation

15/12/2024

GEORGE NEWS - Did you know that the...

13/12/2024

are the foundation of life on Earth.
A world without soils would be a world without life... 🌱

Learn more ⬇️

via Soil Science Australia

06/12/2024

🌱 that composting supports plant nutrient cycles and helps soils become nutrient-rich again?

Healthy soils are vital for and a better environment. Let's take action to now! 🌍

https://x.com/FAOLandWater/status/1644278944777084931

Via Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

04/12/2024

The Blood Lions team would like to urge everyone to submit their comments on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s public notice before 16 December 2024.

Dr Dion George has opened public consultation on his intentions to prohibit the establishment and registration of new breeding, exhibition or rehabilitation facilities involving African lions, inviting the public to add their comments to facilitate the process.

While Blood Lions fully supports the prohibition of new facilities, we have submitted our comments to Ms Boshoff with points outlining both our support and concerns regarding the Minister’s intentions. Should you participate in the consultation process, you are welcome to use our submission in the link below as a basis for your personal feedback.

Deadline for comments: 16 December 2024
Deliver by email to: [email protected]
Link to Blood Lions submission: https://bloodlions.org/comments-on-the-draft-notice-prohibiting-certain-activities-involving-african-lion-panthera-leo/

Humane Society International - Africa For the Love of Wildlife NSPCA - National Council of SPCAs World Animal Protection Conservation Action Trust FOUR PAWS FOUR PAWS ATTA - African Travel & Tourism Association Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Born Free Foundation Wildlands Wildlife ACT - Focused Conservation

06/11/2024

No-Till Gardening: A Sustainable Path to Cultivating with Nature
Key Benefits
1. Healthier Soil: Preserves natural channels made by roots and organisms, improving water retention and 2. reducing the need for frequent watering.
3. Biodiversity Boost: Protects beneficial soil microorganisms, creating a richer environment for plants.
4. Less Erosion and Compaction: Stabilizes soil by keeping root structures intact.
5. Natural W**d Control: Organic mulch like straw or leaves suppresses w**ds and adds nutrients.
6. Lower Carbon Footprint: Minimizes soil carbon release, aligning with climate-friendly practices.
Quick Start Guide to No-Till Gardening
1. Prepare the Bed: Lay down cardboard or newspaper over soil to smother w**ds.
2. Add Organic Layers: Pile on compost, straw, leaves, and grass clippings—6–8 inches deep.
3. Planting: Make small holes in the mulch, insert seeds or seedlings, and lightly cover.
4. Maintain Mulch: Keep a mulch layer to retain moisture and suppress w**ds.
5. Rotate Crops: Rotate plant families each season to balance soil health and prevent disease.
Addressing Misconceptions
1. It’s not maintenance-free: Regular mulching and w**d monitoring are still essential.
2. Cold-climate success: Works well with proper mulch layering, retaining soil warmth.
3. W**d control improves: W**ds often decrease over time as soil health strengthens.

30/10/2024

R is for Rewilding.
The mass restoration of ecosystems damaged by human activity by setting aside large areas for the natural world to regenerate on its own terms.

Check out our everyday guide to the biodiversity crisis in our new Dictionary: https://go.undp.org/oxv

Via United Nations Development Programme - UNDP

30/10/2024

The interaction between aboveground and belowground biodiversity is vital for our planet.
Check out how soil organisms can help maintain 🐜🐞🦗🍄🌱 and why is essential to life on earth 🌎

👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿 Read more in the State of knowledge of soil biodiversity
https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb1929en

Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative

25/10/2024

22/10/2024

As rising temperatures intensify storm surge, coastal resiliency becomes increasingly more crucial.

We’ve seen what happens when coastal communities remove mangroves. We saw it in Fort Myers, Florida, where mangroves were removed to build canals and other construction projects. In the years since, that community has been devastated by storm surge.

We see the same story all over the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. Mangroves are removed to make room for ports or hotels and the homes that depend on that coastal ecosystem suffer the most. It’s time to put an end to the same old story.

Panama is trying to remove a key area of mangroves to build a port. Want to help us stop them? Sign up for our newsletter to get alerted when we launch those campaign actions: www.theoxygenproject.com

18/10/2024

Are you even aware of what mycelium truly is? It’s not just some underground fungi – it’s the unsung hero of ecosystems, operating under our feet like a clandestine internet. This extraordinary network, when it forms its magical bond with plant roots, enables an exchange of nutrients, water, and vital information among various plants. Plants aren’t just static; through mycelium, they are in constant communication, sharing resources and sounding alarms when threats arise.
Picture this: a tree gets hacked down and the mycelium doesn’t just sit there. No, it goes into action, alerting nearby trees of the calamity. In a remarkable display of solidarity, those trees rally together, redirecting nutrients and water to the dying stump in a desperate bid to keep it alive. This intricate dance of interdependence sustains the entire forest, turning each tree into a crucial player in a thriving ecosystem.
Now, when we envision a human society wired like mycelium, it’s a game changer. Imagine everyone actually tuned in to each other’s struggles and needs. In times of crisis, instead of selfishness, there would be rapid collective action, ensuring no one is sidelined to suffer in silence. Fair distribution of resources would reign supreme, igniting a fierce sense of community and support.
This utopia would breed a culture of empathy and cooperation. Just like mycelium nurtures and protects the forest, a human interconnectedness could guarantee each individual’s survival and prosperity. We’d foster an environment where solidarity is woven into the fabric of society—taking care of one another would be second nature, as natural as the processes that sustain a thriving forest.
If only humanity could wake up and embrace such a transformative system! The world could transform into a realm where compassion, support, and solidarity are as fundamental as the mycelium threads binding the forest together.
Copied

17/10/2024

Congratulations, Southern Africa!

In just the past week, Southern Africa has hit a massive milestone—over 5 million verifiable observations and a jaw-dropping 45,000 species recorded!

South Africa, leading the charge, contributed a whopping 4.5 million of those, and the stunning Garden Route District clocked in with more than 500,000 verifiable observations. That's a lot of wildlife wonders captured!

A huge shoutout to everyone who has been part of documenting our rich biodiversity so far. Let’s keep this momentum going—who knows what incredible discoveries lie ahead?
Keep exploring, sharing, and celebrating nature!

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=113055

14/10/2024

We recently held a NO DIG workshop demo at the
Gardeners Market in Sedgefield.
It was well attended and from the comments
a very inspiring presentation.
Here are Michele Schubert, the NO DIG guru and Monica Vaccaro creating a herbal garden in a corner at the market.

12/10/2024

Between land and sea are coastal wetlands — complex ecosystems that provide invaluable benefits to wildlife, climate and people.

12/10/2024

Here is a list of almost extinct animals.

Infographic by Courtney Gross