YWG Newsletter: September 2010

Dear All,

The 2011 conference is now scheduled for the weekend of 18^th to 20^th February. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Cradle of Life Travel Port in Badplaas, Mpumalanga we are able to keep the cost down to R550 per person which is virtually half price. This will include all meals and the hire of the conference hall from dinner on the Friday evening to breakfast on the Sunday morning. We also suggest that the specialists and consultants undertaking or planning research hold a workshop prior to the conference from 14h00 to 17h00 on that Friday afternoon in order to co-ordinate and discuss these studies. Also note that accommodation is limited to 45 persons.

Other News.

1. We had a very quick response from AngloCoal regarding the reports that they planned to decant 20 millions of water per day for 6 months into the Vaal from their Vereeniging colliery. Invitations were sent out to stakeholders to attend a one-day workshop on the 20 August. Although Gordon O'Brien was unable to attend on behalf of the OVRYCMA and the YWG he has been in direct contact with the AngloCoal Environmental Superintendent. Gordon reports that he expressed our concerns, but that as yet the licence to discharge waste water had not been issued and that if and when such a licence was granted the superintendent would contact him to discuss the matter further.
   
   
2. A meeting of the Orange-Vaal River Yellowfish Conservation Management Association (OVRYCMA) was held at Orkney on 13 August. Unfortunately the funding for this very important forum has completely dried up and the current chairman has had to pay his own travel and other related expenses. Hopefully we will be able to find a donor to support this project. In the meantime the next meeting is planned for the morning of 7^th October at the Elgro River Lodge, just prior to the start of the Bells Festival.
   
   
3. Note that the YWG archive section on the website (refer ‘FOSAF at work') is now being used as a reference library for all yellowfish research studies and related articles. All the conference proceedings from 2003 to 2010 which contain wealth of information are available here plus additional studies and articles. We have recently loaded another 6 papers which include the WRC sponsored studies on the economic value of Vaal River yellows and the L.polylepsis study, both completed last year.
   
   
4. Morne Viljoen has reported that there is an EIA for the raising of the wall of the wall of the Hazelmere Dam which is on the Mdloti River just north of Verulam. Those concerned about the impact this will have on the KZN yellows and other indigenous fishes should visit http://hazelmeredameia.co.za/
   
   
5. Two weeks ago we sent you a copy of a questionnaire which has been prepared to test the public's perceptions of the use of rotenone by CapeNature to eliminate alien/invasive species in three Cederberg and one East Cape stream. Although the project has been approved and will commence about March 2011 it is still important that CapeNature measure the response to this river rehabilitation programme. If you have not been able to do this you can still request a copy of the questionnaire from me.
   
   
6. The 2010 National Wetlands Indaba will be held in Kimberley from 26 to 29 October. This will be to discuss and exchange information and provide feedback on the various projects of the Wetlands Forum organisation. To access information on this conference go to http://wetlands.z2a.co.za
   
   
7. May I suggest that you visit http://cer.org.za/ and register as a subscriber for their regular updates which I find very informative. The Centre for Environmental Rights was established in October 2009 by eight prominent civil society organisations in SA's environmental and environmental justice sector to provide legal and related support to environmental CSOs and communities. Its mission is to advance environmental rights in SA, and its vision is to facilitate civil society participation in governance that is stronger, more streamlined, and better legally and scientifically equipped. I think you will agree that the arrival of this new NGO is very welcome.

Regards,Peter

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