The Eden District Municipality has been selected by Provinicial Government Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning to participate in the Development of Climate Adaptation Plans Programme.  The Eden Climate Change Forum is made up government officials of Water Affairs, Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, the Department of Agriculture, Disaster Management, 6 B municipal officials from across the District, SANParks, CapeNature and  NGO’s like WESSA and Bitou Wetlands, and local conservancies and environmental forums.  

The programme, which started in January has included the following  components: 

• Stakeholder analysis in consultation with municipality contact person and key stakeholders;
• Undertake a climate vulnerability assessment, examining vulnerability to current as well as projected climate impacts;
• Identify adaptation interventions aimed at reducing these risks;
• Prioritising interventions according to risk, municipal priorities, funding, capacity and other requirements.
• Develop an Adaptation Plan of Action for the entire district inclusive of all the B municipalities. 

The adaptation programme led by Penny Price of the Climate Change Directorate and Vernon Gibbs-Halls of Eden District Municipality has incorporated the active engagement of the B municipalities within Eden, all of which have contributed to the process of identifying climate change vulnerabilities and creating interventions for all of Eden’s residents to adapt to extreme weather patterns, control the outbreak of diseases, strenthen natural ecological services and build resilience and promote more robust structures to withstand floods. Alternative agricultural practices have also been considered to adapt to prolionged droughts and flooding associated with extreme climatic trends. The programme will follow a similar pattern as the Eden District MCoastal Management programme in which all B municipalities contribute to a District wide Plan to benefit individual B municipalities in seeking climate change adaptation interventions.  

The COP17 held in Durban in 2011 where the Eden District Municipality arranged for various learners throughout the District to deliver presentations marked the beginning of Eden’s strong commitment to both climate change mitigation and adaptation. Vernon Gibbs-Halls remarked that “ The United Nations Climate Change Conference, Durban 2011, delivered a breakthrough on the international community’s response to climate change. In the second largest meeting of its kind, the negotiations advanced, in a balanced fashion, the implementation of the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, Bali Plan, and the Cancun Agreement. The outcomes included a decision by Parties to adopt a universal legal agreement on climate change as soon as possible, and no later than 2015.”

EARTH DAY CELEBRATIONS  

2 732 WONDERBAGS  have been handed over to  the Eden District Municipality to the value of R400 000 for distribition to our vulnerable communties of Knysna, Bitou, Mossel Bay, Hessequa, Kannaland and Oudtshoorn in  a joint Provincial and Municipal Climate Change Adaptation Initiative. The Initiative kicked off in Touwsranten where 200 Wonderbags were distributed after Vernon Gibbs-Halls of Eden Municipal Environmental Unit demonstrated how the unique cooking bag is to be used. Last week, it was Touwsranten’s turn where 180 Wonderbags were presented to the community. 

A Wonderbag is an insulated bag in which people can cook anything from meaty stews or vegetable curries to simple rice and soups. You heat up your pot of food on the stove, kick-starting the cooking process, and then place it in the Wonderbag. 

Wonderbag’s clever insulating properties allow food that has been brought to the boil to finish cooking while in the bag without the use of additional energy. So, families can cook appetising hot meals, while saving energy – and money. It also means less time tending cooking food – time that can be better spent looking after children, earning an income or doing essential chores.

As of June 2012, 500K Wonderbags have been distributed throughout South Africa, set to improve the lives of over 2 million people, made possible by carbon offsets.. With key partnerships in place, we hope to see that figure rise to at least 5 million in the next few years. 

Vernon Gibbs-Halls explained that the Wonderbag has many benefits…  

• It can reduce a family’s fuel usage up to 30% – saving money and easing poverty
• It reduces CO₂ emissions
• It reduces toxic fumes which means less respiratory problems and other diseases, particularly in children
• It reduces accidents in the kitchen, because stoves are used less
• It reduces time spent cooking, giving more time for child-care and other activities
• It saves precious water. When the pot is insulated in a Wonderbag at a fairly constant temperature, less evaporation occurs, so less water is needed
• It saves food. 20% of all staple food in Africa is burned, due to pots being placed on open fires and unregulated stove tops. With the Wonderbag no burning happens 

Adaptive measures like this one form part of building resilience amongst vulnerable communities to the ever-increasing effects of climate change and the launch was therefore aptly chosen for the Earth Day Celebrations. 

A special word of thanks to Wendi and Manfred Skowrenek, Pieter and Hanna Coetzee and Tony Gibbs-Halls for all your help to making the day a successful one!

“It was the best workshop ever!”.   They say that I say that every year, but it really was.  However, right now I’m jumping the gun.

On Wednesday a depleted party from WAGS travelled to Oudtshoorn to climb Waboomsberg at the top tof the Swartberg Pass.  After handing in our wildcards at the Cape Nature offices and saying “Hi” to everyone, we set out for the mountains.  When we reached the top of the Pass, the mist was on the deck, rain threatened and there was a howling wind.  Patently these were unsuitable conditions for the ascent of this peak, which is just under 2000m.   Instead, we decided to do Platberg   This is an attractive track that heads north from the Gamkakloof Rd in the direction of Scholtzkloof.  Little showers of rain didn’t dampen the spirits.  Highlights were finding a colony of Leucadendron tinctum (Near Threatened), Protea canaliculata in flower and some rather dead Syncarpha montana (Rare). 

We left for Greyton and the workshop on Friday morning. Some of the party stopped off at Bontebok Park en route and found some very interesting plants. Some are represented in the pics of the week. Gladiolus eimiliae (Near Threatened), Stoebe rugulosa (Endangered), Cyrtanthus leptosiphon (Critically Endangered) were some of the finds. 

After settling in, we had 3 brilliant talks.  Lief Petersen talked about the informal economy of Cape Town.  Growing collection of plants for medicinal purposes is becoming a real threat to the flora of the the Western and Eastern Cape.  It was a fascinating presentation.  Barry Low talked about mapping of the vegetation and the work of the River Dancers in the kloofs of the Western Cape.  Cameron McMaster gave an excellent presentation on the evils of mowing road verges and the threat that it poses to many plants. 

On Saturday the feedback presentations from the various CREW Groups were inspiring.  Overviews from Ismail Ebrahim the Cape co-ordinator and Tilla Raimondo, who heads the Threatened Plant Programme for SANBI, gave us a good picture of where CREW is right now. Vats told us about the work she’ll be doing with the community in the Eastern Cape.  Dee Snijman talked about Amaryllis and showed us some magnificent pictures of this very beautiful genus. On Saturday evening, some of the Groups told stories of exciting trips.  The Outramps did a skit on the activities of the last couple of years to the background of  Jean’s poem, copied below. 

On Sunday morning the highlight was Lize van Staden’s presentation on what the CREW data has meant to the Red List and keeping it updated.  Of interest, is the fact that the CREW volunteers produce the bulk of the information. Professional botanists contribute far less  It certainly inspired us to work harder in the future.  The value of the amateur contribution cannot be underestimated.  In the afternoons we had wonderful field trips into 2 very different areas around Greyton.  It was great to see different plants that were new to us. 

But in the end, it’s about the people.  It was wonderful to meet up with old friends.  We also made a lot of new ones.  Putting names to iSpotters was great fun.  I have no doubt that iSpot is going to be a great source for recruitment of volunteers for the CREW project.  Thank you all for all the work you did to make this workshop so good on the 10^th anniversary of CREW,   We are already looking forward to next year.  So thank you, thank you, thank you.

Groete en dankie

Di Turner

Outramps CREW Group

Southern Cape

The Outramps by Jean Purcell

A’s for the Aunties, each one without flaw

B’s for the Bus and for Bill – say no more

C is Crit Rare, of status the top

D is our leader who’s busy non-stop

E is for Rusell and Gail’s sharp Eyes

F’s FMC – this expresses surprise

G’s Geissorhizas and Grass-with-no-name H for Haworthias that all look the same

I’s Ismail and i-Spot and Ixias too

J’s Jump for Joy for the Hippia new

K’s Kamferskloof, of surprises a source

L is for Loving the flowers of course

M’s Iridaceae – for Marge who’s quite young

N is plant Names on the tip of my tongue

O’s Ostriches and Outramps and kids Overseas

P’s Pelargoniums and Proteas and Peas

Q’s Questions for botanists who surely must know

R is for Reins, a long way to go

S is SH and be there at 7

T’s Top of the mountain and this is Di-heaven

U –liginosum – a long name to learn

V’s Veld and Flora, the Vlok book and Vern

W for Workshop and Wine and let’s Walk

X is eXcitement, discussion and talk

Y’s Yellow daisies (now tear out your hair)

Z is for Zebra – for yonks ain’t been there

Last week’s Reportback was dominated by Geophytes.  This week it’s the turn of the Proteaceae.

We finally made it up Waboomsberg.  The weather co-operated, the car didn’t overheat and the Swartberg didn’t disappoint.  This is one of my favourite places on earth.  Young and fit, Brian was sent to dump the car at the Ou Tol buildings and we started from the top of the Pass.  He very soon caught us up at the Breakfast Rock level, where we were lucky to see Protea montana (Vulnerable)in full bloom.  It was cool on the mountain, although the temperature in the valley was close to 30 degrees.  We have never been hot on Waboomsberg, at an altitude of a little below 2000m.

Some of the party explored the peak to the north of Wabomsberg while Brian and I clambered to the summit of Waboomsberg itself.  Leucadendron dregei (Endangered) was looking good at the top.  I saw a very small Cliffortia forming a mat against the rock, which looked exciting..  Nicky found one on the northern peak and we’re hoping that it is Cliffortia montana (Rare).  She also found a Phylica which might be Phylica nigromontana (Rare).  Berkheya francisci (Rare) was over and Protea venusta (Endangered) was not really flowering, although Ann managed to find a couple of blooms.  Aspalathus congesta (Rare) and Rafnia rostrata subsp. pluriflora (Rare) were not flowering.  Neither was Erica lignosa (Rare) and I couldn’t id it on the leaves. 

Walking down the northern side, we saw Protea punctata in full bloom and found Leucadendron tinctum (Near Threatened) in its usual spot on the edge of the old plantation, which has been cleared. Somehow or other, we missed Helichrysum saxicola (Rare) on the way down.  It grows out of the big sandstone boulders. There was a single plant of Protea canaliculata on the descent.  Brian ran ahead and fetched the car, as he wanted to see a show at the festival which was starting at 4pm.  That’s probably the quickest time I’ve done from the top of the Swartberg Pass to the middle of Oudtshoorn.  As always, it was the most wonderful day. 

Once again the weather is set fair for Friday.  This makes it possible for us to do our annual pilgrimage to  Mimetes chysanthus (Endangered) at the top of the western head of Perdepoort, in the northern foothills of the Outeniquas.  I’m hoping to recruit a few tough Mountain Club types to go to the summit.  The Outramps never make it much further than the top of the ridge.  We need to know what the alien invasion of Hakea sericea is doing at the top.  We will do a bit of clearing, but we may have to send up a proper expedition at a later date, if the plants at the summit are in trouble.  A busy week lies ahead.

Groete en dankie

Di Turner ,

Outramps CREW Group

Southern Cape

The Easter Egg week-end has become a well-known celebration in our continued efforts of extending community support and care for our Vanwyksdorp children. Enjoy the photos!

“Phoenix rising out of the ashes” was an apt description of the sight that met our eyes, as we reached the burn last Thursday.

Earlier in the week, an e-mail from Dr Anne Lise Vlok alerted us to the fact that Cyrtanthus debilis (Rare) was flowering.  It only flowers immediately after a burn.  This was likely to be the last chance to see it in my lifetime and it was not going to be missed.  An e-mail to Jan Makampies at the Outeniqua Reserve and we had it organised.  Our weekly field trip was quickly shifted from Good Friday to Thursday to accommodate the rangers. 

Koos and Bob from Ruitersbos were waiting for us with their new-looking Landcruiser bakkie.  The first treat was seeing Gladiolus roseovenosus (Critically Endangered) in flower.  We have only seen this beautiful Glad once before, about 9 years ago.   That time it was over and looking decidedly the worse for wear.  This time, there were a number of plants in full flower.  It was so exciting. 

Our next port of call was on the back slopes of Paardeberg, where Koos showed us Ziphotheca phylecoides.  It was only about 15cms high.  It was in a slashed firebreak between two plantations and looked alive and well.  It is Critically Endangered, so great care needs to be taken of its habitat.  The threats are alien invasion and expanding plantations. 

We then drove along the Haelkraal road heading west.  We turned off on to the Bonniedale road and dumped the Bus, as the going got tougher.  We then did a bit of mountain/rock-climbing in the Landcruiser, which was a bit nerve-shattering.  Koos finally stopped when he became aware of the general aura of doom coming from the back.  He assured me that they normally drove to the top, “Maar julle is te bang.”  With a great sense of relief, we piled out of the back and slogged to the edge of the burn. Unbelievably, the black and scorched land was covered with the exquisite pink flowers of Cyrtanthus elatus.  It was simply too beautiful for words.  The fire was only 3 weeks ago.  In this short time, this beautiful Amaryllid has flowered and some are even over.  What a sight and what a day for the Aunties and 1 young man!.   

Thank you Anne Lise, Jan Makampies, Koos and Bob and Othusitse for making this all possible.  The site sheets will reach you in the fullness of time.  We decided that  walking back to the Bus was the safer option.  On the way, we saw Cyclopia subternata (Declining) and the beautiful apple-green Protea coronata.which is Near Threatened by the presence of aliens.  Serruria fasciflora (Near Threatened) was all over the place and looking great. 

It has been a most frustrating weekend with our Telkom broadband line working very occasionally.  Brief sorties out into the pouring rain have saved me from getting cabin fever.  It is amazing how dependent we have become on the Internet.  Heaven knows when the Reportback will finally get sent.  It is in the lap of the Gods or should I say, “Telkom”. 

At last the forecast for Friday looks to be “Set Fair”.  So, with your permission KG, we will finally get a chance to climb Waboomsberg from the top of the Swartberg Pass.  We’ve been trying to do it for weeks.

 Groete en dankie

Di Turner

Outramps CREW Group

Southern Cape

To date, management of the coastal zone has been undertaken in a fragmented approach by-and-large as a result of the structure of the previous dispensation. Under the previous dispensation no less than six local government administrations were responsible for the management of the coast, and within each administration a multitude of departments and line functions. Little coordination and integration of efforts and approaches between these departments, line functions and administrations took place which has resulted in a fragmented and localised approach to coastal management. These approaches in turn lead to a situation where no clear authority or responsibility for coastal management existed.  The integration of line functions and the recognition that the coastal zone is a distinct management area with specific management needs is central to the effective protection, enhancement and optimisation of the coastal zone. The Eden District Municipal Coastal Management Programme aims to address this.

The Eden District Coastal Management programme offers a unique opportunity to introduce a paradigm shift including:

1.      A coordinated and integrated approach to coastal zone management from a citywide perspective

2.      Recognition of the coastal zone as a distinct and unique management area

3.      Recognition of the coastal asset in terms of economic and social development

4.      The establishment of a multi-disciplinary coordinating coastal management team

5.      Responsibility, accountability and action

6.      Centralised planning and budgeting around coastal issues

7.      Equitable access to our coast and its associated economic and social opportunities

8.      Participative, open and transparent approaches to coastal zone management

9.      Creative, dynamic and new approaches to coastal zone management

According to Eden Environmental Management Officer, Vernon Gibbs-Halls – “The coastal zone of Eden is a unique and valuable asset that if managed effectively and correctly will continue to offer a multitude of social, environmental and economic opportunities to local, national and international communities. The management approach presented here is based on the fundamental principle that the coastal zone is a unique and specific entity that requires specific and holistic management. A successful Programme will ensure that our unique coastal asset is managed in such a way that the economic and social opportunities it presents are optimised while its environmental integrity is maintained. For this strategy to be successful, it requires commitment of capacity and resources by Council and the relevant line functions to the management of the coastal zone. Further, a successful strategy will depend on the establishment of solid partnerships with organisations and communities throughout the Eden Municipal District.”

From Left – Shagon Carelse Hessequa Municipality, Carli Bunding-Venter George Municipality, Warren Manuel Mossel Bay Municipality, Vernon Gibbs-Halls Eden Municipality, Mayor of Hessequa Emor Nel, Jonathan Mabula Knysna Municipality, Councillor L Hart Knysna

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Description

Polistes dominula is aposematically coloured (black & yellow), unlike other native Polistes species, and look very similar to the infamous aggressive wasp Vespula germanica. One can easily distinguish them by the colour of their antennae. The lesser degree of predation experienced by Polistes dominula often attributed to this aposematic coloration

 Distribution

The native range of Polistes dominula comprises predominantly of Mediterranean climates, including Europe, Asia and northern Africa. It was first recorded in North America during the late 1970s from where it rapidly spread southwards replacing native species within a few years. It is considered a highly invasive species especially in South Africa as it is not confined to Mediterranean climatic zones.

The first published observation of its presence in South Africa was made in the Western Cape Province in 2008 in the suburb of Kuilsriver. Its presence has now also been confirmed in Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Jonkershoek and Paarl

 Behaviour & Life History

Polistes and Vespula species are however analogous in terms of their occurrence in temperate areas, formation of annual colonies and that future queens (foundresses) undergo diapause. Evidence do however suggest that Polistes dominula can be multi-seasonal and not undergo diapause.

Nest are established through the process of haplometrosis whereby a nest is founded by one or more fertilized, egg laying foundress (s). (Fig. 4)

Nests are constructed anew each year, but philopatry can occur. The foundress deposits one egg to a cell that hatch in several days. Larva are fed soft bodied insects until mature and emerge as worker females (ca. 40 days) taking over duties of food collection, nest construction and defence (Fig. 3).

Polistinae nests are aerial and commonly attached to manmade structures and in some cases plants, in contrast to other Vespidae nests mostly found below ground. Nest placement explaining why Polistes dominula is much more abundant in urban than natural areas.

Impact, Risks and Concerns

Invasive Polistes dominula compete directly with our native species (eg. Polistes fastidiousus and P. marginalis) for food and shelter to the extent of reducing the numbers of natives and disrupting natural processes and arthropod numbers.