Preparing for Climate Change Across Francophone Africa
Intense rain and devastating floods in Ghana, Togo and Benin in early June proved yet again the importance of preparing for extreme weather events and climate change. The Red Cross Red Crescent is committed to responding to such disasters and better preparing communities for their increasing frequency in the future. Over 200 people died during […]
749 Rhino Poached So Far This Year
Environmental Affairs Minister Ednah Molewa says 749 rhino were lost to poachers so far this year. The Minister said this when briefing the media on interventions that the department, as well as the rest of the security cluster, have implemented to fight rhino poaching. “… by Thursday 27 August 2015, the number of rhino we […]
Trophy Hunting Is Unacceptable – Conservationist
In July Zimbabwean lion Cecil, a star attraction among tourists, was killed by an American trophy hunter Walter Palmer causing worldwide outrage, while later that month Zimbabwe exported 24 elephants and 10 lions to China, further infuriating conservationists who saw this as plunder of the country’s wildlife resources. The developments, which attracted emotive international media […]
Use the Power in Tourism to Drive the Integration Agenda
If there is one common thing that Cecil the Lion has demonstrated clearly, it is the power of tourism to be a catalyst for economic growth. Although largely ignored in Zimbabwe, killing Cecil shone a powerful light on hunting, and on tourism’s almost unlimited potential to drive the envisaged integration of the Southern African Development […]
Elephants Moving to Tanzania Risk Poaching
The Kenyan elephants are at great risk due to massive poaching in the neighbouring Tanzania, experts have warned. Last year, Kenya lost 167 elephants to poachers while Tanzania lost more than 10,000 jumbos. WildlifeDirect CEO Paula Kahumbu said though the elephant population at the park had stabilised between 1,500 to 1,600, the animals are at […]
Rangers in Eastern Zimbabwe Kill 25 ‘Marauding’ Hyenas
Rangers in eastern Zimbabwe have poisoned and shot at least 25 hyenas in the last two weeks, according to a newspaper report on Friday. The state-run Manica Post newspaper said the “marauding and vicious” animals had killed cattle and attacked several people in Buhera South district, around 220km from Harare, over the last two years. […]
Over 70 Dead in Egypt Due to Heat This Week – Health Ministry
Fifteen citizens died on Wednesday due to elevated temperatures, the Health Ministry said on Thursday, raising the death toll of the latest heat wave to hit Egypt to 76 this week. The ministry said in a statement that 447 citizens were hospitalised on Wednesday after suffering from heat-related stress; 220 of them were later dismissed […]
Why Lake Chad Matters – Tackling Climate Change, Development, and Security
In recent years, we have witnessed the dramatic rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria and its expansion into neighboring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. In addition to sharing borders, these four countries have another valuable asset in common: Lake Chad. The resource remains the primary source of freshwater for irrigation projects in the region, and the […]
SADC Faces Cereal Deficit
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is facing a cereal deficit of over six million tonnes emanating from the poor rainfall and floods that befell the region in the 2014/2015 season. Briefing the media ahead of the 35th Ordinary Summit of Heads of States and Government in Gaborone, the director of food, agriculture and natural […]
Lack of Climate Deal Could Derail Fight Against Poverty in Rwanda
Initiatives geared at reducing global poverty could be undermined if an agreement is not reached at the forthcoming December climate meeting in Paris, France, a new report indicates. The study, which examined possible impact of climate change on post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was conducted by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in Uganda, […]
