Dear Friends of the Environment,
who would have thought last month that so much tragedy would strike before sending out the July Newsletter …
We are all distraught by the havoc wreaked on people’s lives through the enormous force of fires along the Garden Route.
Mossel Bay had 10 separate fire sites on the same day that Knysna suffered so badly, and there, too, people were evacuated fearing the worst.
In the aftermath, the discussions pertaining to the causes of this disaster and the way ahead are starting up.
In addition to the Newsletter I have attached:-
WESSA_Eden_Newsletter_July_2017
a text from EWT with comments by Dr. Tony Rebelo of SANBI
Comments on Endangered Wildlife Trust statement on the Knysna fires 15 June 2017
an article on the Brenton Blue Butterfly Reserve which was also burnt out
Article Rare butterfly loses home too
WESSA Eden Layman’s guide to local IAPs per 21 June 17
and the prophetic article by Cowling et al published in Veld & Flora in September 2009.
Cowling_2009 How no man’s land is every man’s problem
Steve Gettliffe no longer has his computer and database, so I have loaded all WESSA Knysna & Plett members onto my database to send this Newsletter out to you directly.
PLEASE would Knysna/ Plett members send a brief e-mail to Steve so that he can start his database and address book again.
And if Lakes Bird Club members would do the same that may make his life a little easier.
To assist the botanical layman, we have compiled a leaflet giving information on the 15 most prevalent Invasive Alien Plants in the George area. We hope many of our readers will find this useful. And DO attend our next event on 29 July when Gabriel Scholtz, SAN Parks will share his knowledge and expertise on this very topic. Details in the Newsletter.
With best wishes particularly to all of you affected by the fires,
Christine
Christine Ridge-Schnaufer
Honorary Secretary
WESSA EDEN
Tel: 044 873 4203 Fax: 086 646 5458
e-mail: wessageorge@isat.co.za
www.wessa.org.za
www.facebook.com/wessa.eden
