Protecting the habitat of our birds
Invader tree removal
Large established eucalyptus trees are being removed from various sites near waterways. In principle, this is a great thing as these trees suck up moisture, drying out the environment. There are however unintended consequences such as removing habitat for birds. The Grahamstown Heronry report below from Roy Lubke of the local Wessa branch highlights this problem. Another good reason for removal of invader timber is providing fuel for power generation. I report also on a proposal to rehabilitate the old power station to produce clean power.
Grahamstown under threat Heronry
Lynette Rudman, local bird photographer, reported to Wessa Grahamstown that workers are starting to chop down the eucalyptus trees near the skydiving club. This is the site of a heronry that has been in that place for at least three decades and which Lynette has been monitoring annually. Both black-headed and grey herons roost there at this time of year and the African sacred ibises take over the nests once the herons have finished in about December. The Cape weavers have heaps of nests in those trees as well. Wessa Grahamstown condemns this unilateral decision to destroy the primary habitat of four species of birds and pursued a solution by writing to Grocott’s Mail.
They pointed out the according to an EMP for the proposed development of housing on the old Golf Course, no clearing of vegetation should proceed prior to the development being undertaken. Unfortunately the over-zealous alien clearance contractor and the developer feel that they can proceed with the clear- ing since these are invasive alien trees, as evidenced in their replies to Grocott’s Mail. Wessa will be bringing about further action, possibly a court interdict, against the housing development which is unlikely to proceed as planned.
Clean Energy Updates
Blue Crane Green Energy is pitching the concept of using waste – including garden waste, refuse and invader plants – to produce clean energy, to the Makana Municipality and Rhodes University. They claim they can produce electricity at a competitive price compared with Eskom; and that their process is carbon negative, producing biochar as an output. Biochar is a form of carbon that has wide ranges of use including improving soil.
When added to soil it results in a net reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide, provided the feedstock used is from a source that is renewed. Heat from producing biochar is used to generate electricity.
More info: http://www.biochar-international.org
Pepper Grove mall, among other businesses in town, has installed solar power on a large scale. Solar electricity is a better fit for business than home use since peak solar power is in the afternoon – when most people are not at home. The cost of solar electricity has dropped low enough to make this a commercial proposition. The installation is designed to provide less electricity than the total that the mall needs; the balance is picked up from municipal supply. Our municipality may wish to consider a policy to recover some of the lost revenue so they have sufficient income from electricity sales to maintain infrastructure.
Wessa Field Guide
Early next year, Wessa Grahamstown will publish Grahamstown: a Field Guide to the Natural and Cultural History with details on the physical, biological and conservation environments and the cultural history of Grahamstown and surrounding districts.
Maps of the city and the region, and hiking and cycling trails are also provided with information on things to see and do and how to get to the places mentioned in the text. The 260-page book will be reasonably priced at R150 but you can get copies at the prepublication price for as little as R100 or R85. Contact: 082 576 2626. • Roy Lubke contributed the Grahamstown Heronry report and Wessa Field Guide item.
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