WESSA Eden - Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa

10/08/2025

29/07/2025

29/07/2025

Inclusive cities are urban areas planned, governed, and managed in ways that ensure all residents — regardless of income, gender, age, ethnicity, disability, migration status, or other factors — can equally access, participate in, and benefit from urban life and opportunities.

In practical terms, an inclusive city invests in:
- Affordable housing and secure tenure,
- Accessible public transport,
- Urban design that takes into account the needs of children, women, disabled people, etc,
- Economic opportunities for low-income communities,
- Integration of migrants and refugees,
- Planning that avoids displacement and gentrification of vulnerable populations.

Why does this matter?

Exclusion fuels poverty, inequality, and social tensions. Conversely, inclusive cities boost social cohesion, economic productivity, and climate resilience.

As noted in our World Cities Report 2024, inclusion is also critical for effective climate action, since vulnerable groups often face the worst climate risks but have the least capacity to cope.

29/07/2025

28/07/2025

Minister Dr. Dion George joined a marine patrol that intercepted suspected abalone poachers near Hout Bay. The operation seized equipment linked to poaching and reinforced South Africa’s stance against environmental crime. Read the full media statement.

24/07/2025

CIFOR-ICRAF is a center of research excellence delivering transformative science to create a future with healthy, biodiverse, and productive landscapes – for the benefit of people and the environment.

21/07/2025

08/07/2025

Let's re-learn the ABC in a way that will allow us to be more considerate towart nature.

Think urban biodiversity is just parks and pigeons? Think again. Here’s an A-Z of hidden nature thriving in the city.

Without urban biodiversity, cities get hotter, lonelier, and more fragile. Cities might look like concrete jungles, but hidden in plain sight are tiny ecosystems we can sustain and nurture to help nature (and people) thrive.

Ever heard of these?

✨ Habitat Patches → Even a small green corner or wildflower bed can be a safe haven for insects, birds, and urban wildlife. It’s not size that matters—it’s connection.

🍂 Leaf Litter → Those fallen leaves we often rake away? They shelter insects, enrich soil, and feed urban food webs. Nature’s blanket deserves a place in the city.

🌳 Miyawaki Micro Forest → Dense mini-forests grown in small urban plots using native species. They grow fast, boost biodiversity, and cool our cities.

🌧️ Rain Garden → A garden designed to capture rainwater, prevent flooding, and create habitat for pollinators. A win-win for cities and nature.

🌳 Tree Canopy → It’s more than shade. Urban tree canopies cool cities, clean the air, and house countless species. A healthy canopy = a healthier city.

🌱 Understory Plants → Low plants and shrubs growing under trees create a layered ecosystem where wildlife finds food and shelter. It’s a forest in miniature.

🏡 Yard as Habitat → Lawns are nice—but native plants, flowers, and shrubs turn yards into vital habitats for bees, birds, and butterflies. Every home can help.

Urban biodiversity is all around us, even in unexpected places. When we protect and expand these living systems, we make our cities healthier, cooler, and more resilient.

Which hidden piece of urban nature fascinates you most?

08/07/2025

07/07/2025

GROUNDWATER TABLE AND PERCHED AQUIFERS

Introduction:
The water table marks the upper boundary of the saturated zone, where groundwater fills all pores in soil and rock. Its shape and depth are controlled by topography, subsurface geology, and local hydrologic conditions.

(a) Water Table & Pressure in Hilly Terrain:
In hilly areas, the water table typically follows the surface topography. Points beneath hills lie at higher elevations (e.g., Point A) than those in valleys (e.g., Point B). As a result, water pressure at depth under hills is greater compared to valleys, when measured from sea level.

(b) Perched Water Table:
A perched water table forms above a localized impermeable layer (aquitard), trapping water in an isolated saturated zone above the regional water table. Beneath this, the main unconfined aquifer lies above a deeper confined aquifer, separated by an impermeable layer.

Understanding groundwater behavior is key for well drilling, groundwater management, and avoiding contamination or subsidence.

Image Source: © W. H. Freeman and Company

07/07/2025

Ninety percent of the more than 10,700 known bird species rely on insects for food during at least part of their life cycle. Even the most dedicated seed-eating songbirds must eat insects and other arthropods to produce eggs, to grow new feathers and to feed their young. Without insects, in other words, they wouldn’t survive.

Unfortunately, insects are disappearing at a rate of about 1 to 2 percent a year. And the decline is not limited to just one species nor just one group of insects. The data suggests that the decline is widespread, even global. Continue reading to see what's being done to save both the insects and the birds: https://bit.ly/3GsEZwd

📸: Melissa Groo