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Environmentalists have welcomed the official declaration last Friday of the Western Soutpansberg Nature Reserve, a “forgotten mountain” spanning 11 607 hectares of critical biodiversity in Limpopo. (Supplied)

The ‘Forgotten Mountain’ is the newest reserve in Limpopo

The biodiversity rich Western Soutpansberg Nature Reserve is made up of eight landowners who manage the land as a collective

COP29 took a step forward to elevate the voices of indigenous peoples and local communities in climate action, adopting the Baku Workplan and renewing the mandate of the Facilitative Working Group (FWG) of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform.  (Photo by Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

COP29: Useless talkfest or powerful driver of change?

Promises made at the climate conference need to be turned into effective action that can drive transformation

South Africa ranks among the top 10 countries globally for the adoption of GM crops. (File photo by Rajesh JANTILAL/AFP via Getty Images)

SCA rules against Monsanto on genetically modified maize

The African Centre for Biodiversity says it is ‘vindicated’ by the landmark ruling from the supreme court of appeal after a nearly decade-long battle

Cape Honey Bee Julie Anne Workman: https://animalia.bio/cape-honey-bee

Cape honey bees the guardians of South Africa’s food security

Honey bees are invaluable to the environment and the economy, and their protection is essential

Africa’s ecosystems now run on less than two-thirds of their historical energy, with the decline of elephants, lions, and rhinos reshaping landscapes and livelihoods

Wildlife populations plummet 73% in past 50 years

South Africa has ambitious plans to protect biodiversity This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

Overexploitation to supply the exotic pet trade has driven the extinction in the wild of some species, such as Spix’s macaw.

The parrot trade boom: Risks and consequences for endangered species

New research probes whether captive breeding is hurting or helping parrots

Gold prices have surged by more than 30% in 2024, repeatedly hitting record highs as global economic uncertainty drives demand for the precious metal.
 (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

South Africa risks missing out on gold price surge due to structural challenges in mining sector

Prices have increased by over 30%, favouring gold-producing countries like South Africa, but structural issues are dampening opportunities This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

A local holidaymaker uses an umbrella to protect himself against the rain and braves the inclement weather at South Beach, Durban, on Boxing Day, in 2023. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP via Getty Images)

South Africa braces for wet summer and heatwaves amid La Niña uncertainty

The country faces a rainy summer with the risk of flooding, high temperatures and uncertain La Niña impacts

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. (GCIS)

Ramokgopa: Nuclear is part of SA’s energy mix

The minister of electricity and energy says science must trump politics and emotions ‘exploited’ by environmental lobbyists This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

The number of plastic in petrels breeding at Inaccessible Island in the central South Atlantic Ocean has remained constant since the 1980s, a new study has revealed.  (Photo by: Martin Zwick/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Environmental efforts pay off: study shows plastic loads in petrels remain stable over decades

New research uncovers surprising stability in plastic ingestion among seabirds on Inaccessible Island

South Africa has 11.4 million prepaid meters in all, of which Eskom is responsible for updating 6.9 million.  Municipalities are responsible for 4.5 million. (File photo)

Race against time to update 3.9 million prepaid electricity meters

Any meter that is not upgraded by 8:15pm on 24 November will only continue to disperse electricity until the existing credit is depleted

Comfortable: Eskom chief executive Dan Marokane says stage-two load-shedding will be the worst case scenario for the summer. (Papi Morake/Gallo Images)

Eskom’s Dan Marokane: No load-shedding expected this summer

The chief executive was hopeful that by year end, the utility would get an additional 2 500 megawatts from several power stations.

Missing in action: The Maersk Campton switched off its automatic identification system. Photo: Alamy

The curious case of the missing Maersk shipping container

A ship, possibly carrying hazardous dust, failed to dock in Cape Town before switching off its location transmission

For South Africa, 85 000 to 275 000 new green jobs are forecast by 2030, mainly in energy and power production, and agriculture and nature. (File photo by Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images)

Africa’s green economy could produce 3.3 million jobs by 2030, with solar leading the way

The employment will be driven by renewable energy, agriculture and sustainable development, with significant job growth in key sectors

The first-of-its-kind balloon is predicted to bridge the gap in atmospheric data between the West and the continent

Weather balloons will soar over Africa to track hurricanes and improve agriculture

The first-of-its-kind balloon is predicted to bridge the gap in atmospheric data between the West and the continent

The Jagersfontein-Charlesville area in the Free State where a mudslide claimed life and destroyed homes nearly two years ago. Photo: Supplied

People of Jagersfontein still waiting for justice, say civil society groups, trade unions

Their call comes nearly two years after the disaster when the Free State tailings dam collapsed

Oil and gas companies should have started rethinking their priorities a long time ago, said The Green Connection’s advocacy officer, Lisa Makaula. (Photo by Ihsaan Haffejee/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Call to ‘regulate’ environmentalists as TotalEnergies mulls gas exit

NGOs have been blamed for the threat to the Brulpadda-Luiperd project as South Africa faces the prospect of running out of gas

When there is mine waste near residential areas, communities in the vicinity are always negatively affected. Photo supplied

The hazardous legacy of Krugersdorp’s abandoned mines

Experts say the government must fund acid mine drainage clean-ups to protect the right of citizens to a healthy environment and clean water

Operations: Water trucks supply residents (above) while maintenance is carried out in Johannesburg.  (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo

Joburg Water accused of nepotism

Questions bubble up over water utility’s board’s process of filling R2.6 million-a-year senior post

Photo by Julian Hahne

Meet the real rhino whisperers protecting black rhinos in KwaZulu-Natal

The WWF’s Black Rhino Range Expansion Project has established 17 new populations