National Wetlands Indaba at Ingula
The National Wetlands Indaba is an opportunity for a wide range of people involved in the conservation and sustainable use of South Africa’s wetlands to meet and exchange ideas. From 24 to 27 October, scientists, decision-makers, researchers, conservationists and educators gathered at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park for the annual event, which was hosted this year by the Free State Wetland Forum.
As the province’s second Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, the Ingula Nature Reserve’s wetland was a natural destination for one of the conference field trips. The delegates embarked on a guided 6km hike next to, and sometimes through, this beautiful wetland to reach a large rehabilitation structure that was constructed by Rand Water and the Free State Environmental Department about 20 years ago. The rehabilitation project was very successful and played a role in Wattled Cranes being able to breed nearby in recent years. Free State wetland ecologist Nacelle Collins explained the rationale for the rehab structure and how it was designed, and the visitors had an opportunity to enjoy the area and its birds, including African Marsh Harrier and Grey Crowned Crane.
After the enjoyable hike, the guests visited the Ingula Visitors’ Centre, where Nonhlanhla Shezi guided them through the underground Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme. Several delegates commented on how impressed they were that conservation and an electricity generating industry can work so well together.
BirdLife South Africa contributed a lucky draw prize of a full-day guided tour of the Ingula Nature Reserve for two with Ingula’s expert bird guide, Steven Segang, at the conference’s gala dinner. The fortunate winner was Adwoa Awuah, a freshwater scientist from the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).
BirdLife South Africa is privileged to have been part of the organising committee for the National Wetlands Indaba and to have shared the Ingula Nature Reserve with the delegates. Thank you to the Free State Wetland Forum, South African Wetlands Society and the Ingula Nature Reserve’s Environmental and Visitors’ Centre staff for making this field trip a huge success.
CARINA PIENAAR, INGULA AND GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION PROJECT MANAGER
Pan African Ornithological Congress 2022
The Pan African Ornithological Congress (PAOC) brings together ornithologists and conservationists from across the continent and is usually held every four years. The 14th congress was held in Dakar, Senegal, in 2016 and after a prolonged break due to the pandemic, students, collaborators and researchers appreciated the opportunity to network again face to face. The congress took place in Victoria Falls and was very well organised by BirdLife Zimbabwe, led by CEO Julia Pierini and her team.
Some 275 delegates from 55 nations attended. Of these, 33 African and 16 European countries were represented, while other delegates hailed from the USA, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Malaysia and India. The event began formally with a reception on the bank of the Zambezi River that led into an action-packed week featuring six plenary talks, 221 oral presentations and 13 round-table discussions on topics that were wide ranging and diverse.
An excursion day for the delegates included birding trips on the Zambezi River, game drives along its bank and in the Chamabonda Vlei, a walk along the Masue River and visits to marvel at the Victoria Falls. A boma dinner, complete with drummming show, was a memorable bonding experience.
Science and Innovation Programme
The entire Science and Innovation Programme met face to face for the first time at the congress. Ernst Retief presented two talks – one on SABAP2 and the other on remote sensing work to count Lesser Flamingos – and Dr Alan Lee delivered a synthesis of how BirdLasser and the African Bird Atlas Project data are being used for science and conservation. He also presented an Ostrich award to the PAOC chair, Imad Cherkaoui, participated in a ‘Meet the Editors’ session and attended a meeting to plan the next event. After giving one of the few talks on marine birds, Shamiso Banda won the prize for Best Student Oral Presentation.
Landscape Conservation Programme
Vulture Project
This year’s conference featured several symposia and round-table discussions that were relevant to vulture conservation. Linda van den Heever presented a summary of the Vulture Safe Zone project in South Africa at a round-table discussion co-hosted by BirdLife International and Dr Hanneline Smit-Robinson of BirdLife South Africa. She also presented the main findings of BirdLife South Africa’s lead research as part of a symposium focusing on poison response. Hanneline and Linda co-presented on vulture conservation in the context of a conceptual One Health Framework.
Secretarybird Project
Dr Melissa Whitecross and Dr Christiaan Brink hosted a round-table discussion on Secretarybird conservation in Africa. Participants from around the continent shared their insights into the biology and conservation of the species, awakening a clear appetite for further collaboration. The BirdLife South Africa team will work towards a standardised monitoring protocol and will begin new group efforts in southern and East Africa to formulate a consolidated action plan for Secretarybirds.
White-winged Flufftail Project
Dr Kyle Lloyd provided an overview of attempts over the past 30 years to save the Critically Endangered White-winged Flufftail. The main objectives of BirdLife South Africa’s White-winged Flufftail Conservation Project are to reduce uncertainty about White-winged Flufftail biology to better inform conservation efforts; to protect core White-winged Flufftail habitat from anthropogenic threats, manage key wetland sites and restore degraded habitat by engaging with landowners; and to raise awareness about water issues by using the White-winged Flufftail as an ambassador of wetland conservation. The PAOC provided the opportunity to showcase our work and encourage the adoption of better wetland management practices that promote biodiversity.
Regional Conservation Programme
The PAOC enabled the Regional Conservation Programme team to network with BirdLife partners in southern Africa, with which it collaborates closely, and with members of the RSPB, which funds the position of project manager of the East Atlantic Flyway Initiative, Bronwyn Maree. A round-table discussion outlined the Key Biodiversity Areas global standard, showcasing sites in which BirdLife is actively involved in preventing unsustainable development, and went on to consider priorities and challenges at these sites. Bronwyn presented a summary of the East Atlantic Flyway Initiative during the discussion. Several BirdLife South Africa staff members attended the pre-PAOC workshop, which showcased successes at the southern end of the flyway, as well as thought-provoking break-out discussion groups to guide priority actions for the coming years.
Members of the IUCN SSC Hornbill Specialist Group met to discuss how best to advance hornbill conservation in Africa. Dr Simeon Bezeng met with the co-chair of the IUCN SSC Hornbill Specialist Group and other stakeholders in Africa to discuss the trade in Yellow-casqued Hornbills in Cameroon, where hundreds of heads and live birds are harvested for trade and bushmeat. Important next steps, including funding and contact with the TRAFFIC office in Cameroon, were identified and progress is being made to understand the full extent of harvesting and reasons for trade in this threatened species.
Policy and Advocacy Programme
Given that BirdLife South Africa’s policy and advocacy work stretches well beyond South Africa, the PAOC was also an important opportunity to improve regional collaboration. Dr Melissa Lewis engaged with partners from around Africa on a number of matters, including opposition to the proposed Batoka Gorge Hydro-electric Scheme; coordination of advocacy efforts regarding the soon-to-be-adopted Global Biodiversity Framework; and regional coordination of Lesser Flamingo conservation efforts. She also delivered presentations on the history of conservation actions and challenges at Kamfers Dam in the Northern Cape and on the role of bird monitoring data in nature conservation treaties.
Birds and Renewable Energy Project Manager Sam Ralston-Paton convened a symposium on impacts of renewable energy and the rapid electrification of Africa on bird populations, which tackled the risks the energy revolution could pose to Africa’s birdlife, as well as potential solutions. The symposium included presentations from South Africa, Kenya and Egypt, and Sam delivered a presentation titled ‘Lessons from a decade of tackling wind power-wildlife impacts in South Africa’.
Empowering People Programme
Andrew de Blocq represented our community-focused projects at two round-table discussions. The theme of the first was making ornithology more inclusive, accessible and diverse, and he spoke about our work to give names in local languages to all South Africa’s birds. The second discussion, co-convened by Andrew and Bronwyn Maree, centred on the role of communities in ornithology, bird conservation and tourism and pinpointed our Environmental Education and Awareness Project; our partnership with the Ocean View Association for People with Disabilities to manufacture bird-scaring lines; our Community Bird Guide Project; and the South African Names for South African Birds Project. Both sessions were highly thought-provoking and well-received. Many of the conservation threats highlighted during the conference require direct community engagement to solve them, so these contributions were necessary and timely.
BirdLife South Africa thanks all the sponsors who helped its staff members to travel to the PAOC and contribute to its varied and successful programme.
A new career in nature
With the assistance of BirdLife South Africa, 12 candidates from communities adjacent to Cape Town International Airport have trained to become professional nature guides. The trainees were selected from Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain and stayed at Haarwegskloof Nature Reserve in the Overberg for the duration of their course, from 14 October to 21 November 2022. The Field Guides Association of Southern African (FGASA) National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 2 training was facilitated by Louis Willemse and Joslin Bauer, on behalf of BirdLife South Africa.
Avitourism Project Manager Andrew de Blocq coordinated the project as part of the activities of the BirdLife South Africa’s Empowering People Programme, headed by Nandi Thobela.
After an intense period of in situ training, the graduation ceremony was hosted by De Hoop Collection in De Hoop Nature Reserve, also in the Overberg region. The event was attended by Michelle du Plessis, Managing Director of FGASA, and other guests and guest lecturers.
The group did exceptionally well and all 12 guides completed the course, achieving the following results: Neliswa Gowa (88%), Dilshaad Janodien (85.6%), Zaid Janodien (90.6%), Nazeer January (97%), Khanyisa Koyo (91%), Siwaphiwe Lange (89%), Sindiswa Mbayeka (88.6%), Asiphe Mbobo (80%), Tembakazi Mbobo (84%), Nomfundo Mngadi (78%), Vincenzo Neethling (86%), Mzwandile Stishi (90%).
We wish all our new graduates the best in their new careers as nature guides. It has been a privilege for BirdLife South Africa to be involved in such a life-changing opportunity.
DR ISABEL HUMAN, HR MANAGER AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Last word on the Cape Gannet
For me as an artist, the Bird of the Year 2022 project has been a wonderful opportunity to learn about a fascinating bird. During the year, as I researched each new aspect of the world of the Cape Gannet, I found this striking seabird to be far more interesting and surprising than I ever would have imagined. Not only is it anatomically astonishing in its adaptations to living in a marine environment, but the sad and dramatic history of our interactions with it during the great guano rush of the 1840s was a real revelation to me.
Unfortunately, Cape Gannets face many threats. I hope that the range of educational materials produced for Bird of the Year 2022 will help highlight their value to both current and future generations and will inspire a passion and commitment to ensure the species’ long-term survival.
LEIGH WOLFAARDT, ARTIST AND RESEARCHER OF BIRD OF THE YEAR 2022
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Policy and Advocacy work in 2022
Individual conservation projects are vital to safeguarding specific bird species and their habitats, but so too are efforts to ensure that birds are taken into consideration in policy- and decision-making and that environmental laws are properly implemented. This is the focus of BirdLife South Africa’s Policy and Advocacy Programme. We reflect on the programme’s activities in 2022 and look at some of its priorities for 2023.
Responding to potentially threatening developments
With South Africa’s current focus on growing its economy and addressing the energy crisis, we received notification of an overwhelming number of development applications and decisions in 2022, many of which concerned ecologically sensitive areas. Because our capacity is limited, we need to choose our battles carefully and strategically. We must also strike a balance between our reaction to specific development projects and our proactive efforts to influence overarching laws and policies and improve their implementation.
In the past year we focused on sites and activities such as coal mining in proximity to Dullstroom and Wakkerstroom; a proposed housing development near Kamfers Dam; multiple pressures on the Olifants and Verlorenvlei estuaries; the proposed Musina–Makhado Special Economic Zone in Limpopo; the Cookhouse wind farm cluster; offshore seismic surveys; and ship-to-ship bunkering. In addition, we provided pre-application advice for numerous wind farm proposals, as well as South Africa’s first offshore wind energy proposal. By offering advice at an early stage, we help to ensure that the roll-out of renewable energy is nature-friendly.
Advocacy collaborations
Much of our advocacy work is pursued in tandem with other stakeholders, ranging from civil society organisations to public interest lawyers, research institutions, organs of state and private landowners. For example, our successful campaign for a continued moratorium on new ship-to-ship bunkering licences in Algoa Bay was a collaboration with SANCCOB, WESSA, Nelson Mandela University and the Zwartkops Conservancy. We are currently working with the newly established Biodiversity Law Centre to advocate for stronger legal regulations for this activity.
As a member of the BirdLife Partnership, BirdLife South Africa also collaborates closely with NGOs in other countries. This year its Policy and Advocacy Programme focused on strengthening its relationship with BirdLife Partners in Africa, with whom we have collectively advocated against developments that threaten Africa’s natural World Heritage Sites.
Building capacity
Since BirdLife South Africa is able to provide input on only a relatively small number of development applications, we consider it crucial to help others to be advocates for nature. In 2022 we developed a Public Participation Toolkit, which we encourage our members to use when commenting on environmental impact assessment processes. Information sessions on wind energy were also presented to ABSA’s sustainability team and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency so that they can better understand the risks associated with wind energy projects and opportunities to mitigate their impacts.
To strengthen the quality of environmental impact assessments, we are currently collaborating with the Endangered Wildlife Trust to develop training materials for implementing the mitigation hierarchy. We also continue to facilitate meetings of the Birds and Renewable Energy Specialist Group.
Influencing legal and policy developments
In the course of 2022, the South African government has made numerous law and policy proposals that are relevant to birds and their habitats. BirdLife South Africa has submitted detailed comments on many of these, including the draft Biodiversity Offset Guideline, draft fracking regulations and the proposed exclusion of certain solar energy developments from environmental impact assessment requirements.
Our efforts to influence legal and policy developments are not constrained to South Africa. This year we provided technical support to South Africa’s delegation in negotiations under the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement. The negotiations resulted in the adoption of numerous international resolutions regarding the conservation of migratory waterbirds. We also tracked the negotiation of the new Global Biodiversity Framework as a member of BirdLife International’s delegation and aligned with other South African NGOs to engage with the South African government regarding this framework.
Looking ahead to 2023
In 2023, our team will continue to work proactively and reactively to protect birds and their habitats. New initiatives will include training for bird monitors at wind farms and steps towards building a community of wind–wildlife practitioners across Africa. We also hope to secure sufficient funding to improve capacity-building for other stakeholders and to expand the small team comprising BirdLife South Africa’s Policy and Advocacy Programme so that we are better equipped to tackle the mounting threats that nature faces.
To learn more about BirdLife South Africa’s Policy and Advocacy Programme or to make a donation to support our work, please visit birdlife.org.za/what-we-do/policy-and-advocacy/
DR MELISSA LEWIS, POLICY AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMME MANAGER; SAM RALSTON-PATON, BIRDS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT MANAGER; AND DR KIRSTEN DAY, ADVOCACY OFFICER
Stunning artwork from the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund
You can brighten up your own festive season – or someone else’s – by purchasing a special artwork from the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. To browse the artworks available, visit www.robertsbirds.co.za/fieldguide-images
Many of the artworks were used in the Roberts Field Guides, but a number of illustrations by the late Graeme Arnott, whose work graces many celebrated southern African bird publications, are also for sale.
Remember that 25% of every purchase goes to BirdLife South Africa’s important work to conserve our country’s birds and their habitats.
INGRID WEIERSBYE, JOHN VOELCKER BIRD BOOK FUND
That’s a wrap: Conservation Conversations season 3
It has been another superb year for the Conservation Conversations team, who wrapped their third season on 6 December 2022 with a fantastic talk by Dr Doug Harebottle on birding in Kimberley as part of the year-long avitourism series linked to birding in South Africa’s big cities. This season saw an additional 43 episodes added to the Conservation Conversations line-up, with a wide range of fascinating and informative talks by experts across South Africa and the world. You can catch up on any episodes you may have missed on the BirdLife South Africa Conservation Conversations YouTube playlist.
We have taken your feedback on board during our end-of-year survey and from 24 January 2023, Conservation Conversations will be moving to a bi-weekly schedule with a new episode airing every second Tuesday at 19h00 SAST. Listeners who have already registered should have received the link to the updated schedule and will receive reminders ahead of each show. We recommend downloading the Outlook/Gmail calendar inserts to help you remember when the show will run.
Next year we can look forward to a range of new and exciting topics from the BirdLife South Africa team and the broader ornithological field. We will kick off with our customary Bird of the Year 2023 webinar on 24 January 2023 featuring the Cape Parrot. We extend an invitation to any speakers who would like their work featured on the webinar series in 2023 to please e-mail conversations@birdlife.org.za
A big thank you goes to you our audience for your continued support of the show and the feedback that continues to help us improve the series for all to learn and enjoy. A big thank you goes too to the webinar team both on-screen and behind the scenes; Andrew and Christina have been a crucial part of the series and we could not have kept up the pace of shows without their consistent support. We also thank Abigail Ramudzuli behind the scenes for keeping the e-mailers and website up to date.
We hope that you all enjoyed this season and we look forward to an exciting fourth season. Wishing you all a relaxing December full of happy birding moments; remember to keep your eyes on the skies, and keep enjoying those birds!
DR MELISSA WHITECROSS, LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION PROGRAMME MANAGER
Learn About Birds in 2023
The 6th Learn About Birds (LAB) Conference will take place on 25 and 26 May 2023 at the Wilderness Hotel and Spa, Western Cape, during the Flock to Wilderness event. LAB is co-hosted by BirdLife South Africa and the FitzPatrick Institute for African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, and aims to give ornithologists and bird enthusiasts a platform to engage, share and learn about birds and their conservation across southern Africa.
LAB has two parallel streams: Science LAB and Layman’s LAB. Science LAB is a typical academic conference made up of two plenary speakers, a host of 15-minute scientific presentations, a panel discussion on the future of African ornithology and a speed-talk session. Any delegates wishing to submit an abstract for the Science LAB are requested to do so via the online registration form before 31 January 2023. The Science LAB plenary speakers will be Dr Anton Wolfaardt, who will present on ‘The Mouse-Free Marion Project: making the transition from knowing to doing’, and Dr Anina Coetzee, who will present on ‘Feeding sunbirds in the Cape: prevalence and consequences’.
If you are not a scientist and hard-core research tends to fly over your head faster than a swooping Peregrine Falcon, fear not. In parallel to Science LAB, the organisers have put together a fantastic line-up of Layman’s LAB speakers to share their knowledge and expertise in a series of 20–45-minute talks that will be sure to teach you a thing or two without frying those neural circuits. Our line-up of Layman’s LAB speakers includes Dr Mark Brown (Discover Eden), Dr Odette Curtis-Scott (Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust), Christopher Patton, Dr Cloverley Lawrence and Dr Ian Russell (SANParks), Melanie de Morney (FitzPatrick Institute), Brittany Arendse (Nature’s Valley Trust), Kevin Shaw (Overberg Crane Group), Willem Matthee (Nelson Mandela University) and Justin Ponder (Lakes Bird Club). All will be sure to entertain and enthral you with their stories and insights into their respective areas of expertise.
If the above is not enough to entice you to sign up for LAB, perhaps the following additional workshops that will be on offer might just convince you. On Wednesday, 24 May at 14h00, Mike Bridgeford and I will host a workshop on forest birds, their ecology and conservation, and how to identify them. And on Sunday, 28 May Richard Flack will host a photography workshop sponsored by Canon South Africa. It will cover everything from the essentials needed for a good photograph to an in-depth discussion on Richard’s philosophy and approach to photography as a means to communicate the value and conservation of a species.
In addition to a jam-packed LAB schedule, there will be plenty of other exciting birding excursions, celebrations and activities as part of the broader Flock to Wilderness offerings. To find out more about the overall event, please visit https://www.birdlife.org.za/support-us/events/flock-to-wilderness-2023/
DR MELISSA WHITECROSS, LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION PROGRAMME MANAGER
An Ecological Guide to the Bush
BirdLife South Africa and Jacana Media have held several successful virtual book launches over the past three years, all of which can be viewed on BirdLife South Africa’s YouTube channel. On 26 January 2023 at 19h00 SAST we plan to bring you yet another fascinating discussion, this time on the latest natural history book from Jacana Media: Dr Bruce McKenzie’s An Ecological Guide to the Bush. Join Dr McKenzie and Melissa Whitecross, host of Conservation Conversations with BirdLife South Africa, as they discuss the links between birds and the ecology of the bushveld and you will learn how you can improve your birding skills by unlocking some of the ecological principles that drive the African bushveld.
Bruce McKenzie’s An Ecological Guide to the Bush captures the essence of what makes the bush tick. Here you’ll find the basic principles of how ecosystems work, with the emphasis on energy flow through the bushveld and the adaptations that plants and animals make to facilitate this flow.
This book will answer questions such as:
- Why do large predators have to rest for up to 20 hours a day?
- How much energy does a bird expend flying?
- How important are grasshoppers, dung beetles and other insects to ecosystem functioning?
- Why are termites so crucial for understanding energy flow in the bush?
- Why are small leaves necessary in the more arid bush areas? What are the nutritional differences between grass and tree leaves?
- Why do very small herbivorous mammals need to consume high-quality foods? Why do very large herbivores produce so much poorly digested dung?
The book is based on Bruce’s approach to interacting with students and citizen scientists over the past 40 years and will enrich the understanding of bushveld management and conservation.
To register for this live webinar, please visit https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8116704038100/WN_VAyGRX6FSF2uwG9bQRBULw
DR MELISSA WHITECROSS, LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION PROGRAMME MANAGER
Birding safaris at Zimanga Private Game Reserve
BirdLife South Africa is hosting two 5-night safaris at Zimanga Private Game Reserve in January and February 2023. Groups will enjoy exclusive use of the entire reserve and its state-of-the-art photographic hides.
Not only does this offer come at a highly discounted rate, but a portion of your booking fee will be donated to BirdLife South Africa and its important bird conservation work.
Book your exclusive birding safari by e-mailing reservations@zimanga.com
Bird of the Year 2023
With a new year about to begin, BirdLife South Africa has selected a new Bird of the Year: the Cape Parrot.
A South African endemic, the Cape Parrot (isiKhwenene, upholi, Hokwe, Dikgwapa, Woudpapegaai) inhabits isolated patches of forest in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo provinces. It is classified as Endangered and is estimated to have a population of fewer than 1800 individuals.
This beautiful bird is about 30cm high and has a striking green body and golden head and neck. Adults have small orange patches on the shoulders and leg feathers, and the females have a red patch above the beak. The birds may occur as singletons, pairs, family groups or larger flocks and are most often seen flying or at roosting and feeding sites, especially around dawn or dusk.
The Cape Parrot is typically found in inland Afromontane forest, much of which has been severely affected by the logging of large hardwood trees such as yellowwoods, causing a shortage of food and natural nesting sites for the species. Cape Parrots are also susceptible to the highly contagious and sometimes fatal Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease.
Several conservation organisations and individuals are working together to protect South Africa’s Endangered Cape Parrot population. BirdLife South Africa is pleased to partner with our BirdLife Species Guardians, the Cape Parrot Working Group and the Wild Bird Trust’s Cape Parrot Project, to raise awareness about this species through our Bird of the Year 2023 campaign. The work of these Species Guardians includes initiatives such as population monitoring, habitat restoration, the provision of nest boxes, species rehabilitation, education of the public and community outreach.
Cape Parrots are the bright green and gold jewels of the forest, attracting birders from around the world to South Africa and helping to support avitourism in rural areas that rely heavily on ecotourism for sustainability. They symbolise hope and resilience, since the species persists despite decades of exploitative logging.
Throughout 2023, BirdLife South Africa, together with our Bird of the Year partners, will create awareness about the Cape Parrot by producing educational material such as posters, infographics and learning resources for schools, all of which will be free to download on our Bird of the Year 2023 webpage. There will also be regular articles in African Birdlife magazine, social media posts and presentations to interested groups. Cape Parrot merchandise, such as T-shirts, pin badges and fluffy toys, will also be on sale through BirdLife South Africa’s Shop for the Birds! from January 2023.
We are extremely grateful to our Bird of the Year sponsor, the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, for once again making this initiative possible through the funds it generously donates to BirdLife South Africa and the conservation of birds and biodiversity.
2022: A year of ups and downs
It has not been the easiest of years. Covid-19, an ailing economy, growing unemployment, political uncertainties and the war in Ukraine have been just some of the challenges of 2022.
Unfortunately, the planet faces unprecedented crises. Biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and climate change are the most important issues that conservation organisations are dealing with. COP27 (the Climate Change Conference) did not deliver the results that environmentalists would have liked, although one of few positive outcomes was the ‘loss and damage’ funding for vulnerable countries affected by climate disasters. COP15, the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, takes place in December 2022 and hopefully there will be agreement on a new Global Biodiversity Framework that sets goals and targets that will benefit the planet’s biodiversity.
BirdLife South Africa and other conservation NGOs have their work cut out attending to the numerous environmental challenges that are affecting birds and other biodiversity. Importantly, we need to acquire the resources to do so. We work hard to raise funds, we employ top conservationists and we prioritise our activities to ensure that our time is invested where it is most needed.
It certainly has been somewhat of a rollercoaster year. For BirdLife South Africa it began with uncertainty about whether our Flock to Marion voyage would go ahead. It did! Despite Covid-19 regulations, international travel restrictions and strong winds in Cape Town on the day of departure, the voyage to the sub-Antarctic went ahead. And it was a great success! Our plan to undertake the next Flock to the Mozambique Channel in 2023 was unfortunately cancelled late in 2022, as we believe that the cruise ship that will be used by MSC Cruises in our waters in 2023/2024 is not suitable for our purpose. We hosted other successful events in 2022, including the African Bird Fair. Planning is well advanced for 2023 events, such as Flock to the Wilderness in May, which will incorporate the Learn About Birds (LAB) conference.
This past year we have also had to deal with African Birdlife distribution issues. As we can no longer rely on the South African Post Office and we were not happy with our service provider, we decided to appoint another magazine distributor. On the Dot, which is also responsible for the retail distribution of our magazine, will now be responsible for getting the magazine to our members and subscribers. We apologise to our members/subscribers who have not received their copies of African Birdlife and we encourage you to contact Shireen Gould (at membership@birdlife.org.za) if you are missing any issues of this superb magazine.
Despite these and other challenges, our team of conservationists has done exceptionally well. Their work is assisted by our admin staff, the people in the engine room who work hard to provide the administrative support that enables our organisation to function properly. Our staff’s work is exemplary. There has been much conservation success, with threats to birds being addressed and habitat being protected. For this work, we have received numerous accolades and a number of awards in 2022.
Our work would not be possible without the support of a growing number of donors and collaborators and, as we approach the end of this really tough year, I’d like to thank every single person, organisation and company that has worked with us to ensure that South Africa’s (and indeed the region’s) birds will have a future. There’s much to do and we will continue to work exceptionally hard to protect birds and their habitats. It is through our cumulative contributions that we will achieve success.
I wish you and your families a relaxing, enjoyable and safe holiday season.
MARK D. ANDERSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
You can access previous entries from 2022 using the buttons below
If you’d like to read our archive (2016-2021), you can visit our e-newsletter archive.