South African’s have yet to become better informed about it....”fracking”. It burst onto the scene this year when the South African government halted plans for drilling for gas in the Karoo by oil company Shell. A moratorium was imposed on fracking allowing the government to better understand the environmental consequences it will have. In the meantime prospecting taking place in other parts of the country, including the Drakensberg has had less media coverage. Should we be surprised?

Long term negotiations have finally culminated in an application to have the Mnweni ("Upper uThukela Location") declared a Wildnerness Area! This is with a long-term view to have this area included in the Drakensberg World Heritage Site.

This year marks the first ever International Vulture Awareness Day to be held on the 5th of September 2009. Vulture numbers are decreasing dramatically all over the world, and it is not only specific to one or two species, rather it is across the board. This event has been arranged and co-ordinated by EWT's Birds of Prey Working Group and The Hawk Conservancy Trust.