This year the theme of the day is ‘Wetlands take care of water’ and the aim of the day is to draw attention to wetland habitats and the vital role they play in the environment and the human economy.

A team of environmentalists under the leadership of Dr Carin van Ginkel of Cripsis Environment has developed a field guide for identifying our wetland plants. The study, titled ‘Easy identification of some South African wetland plants,’ offers a plethora of plants that people can find in the country.

Over the past 22 years, the Mondi Wetlands Programme (MWP) has moved wetland conservation from being a side issue to centre stage. This has irreversibly changed the way government, communities, public, as well as the forestry and sugar industries understand and manage their wetlands.

John West, one of Australia’s leading canned fish manufacturers, has pledged to stop using destructive fishing methods. They have committed to phasing out the use of wasteful Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) by 2015.

North West Premier Thandi Modise is confident that police are closing the net around the syndicate responsible for rhino poaching and are getting closer to the kingpins. This follows the arrest of 8 suspects in connection with poaching of eight rhinos in Klipkopspruit farm last month.

The monitoring of tuna fisheries must be strengthened and transfers of fish at sea banned to end the overfishing crisis in the Indian Ocean, Greenpeace International said earlier this month after it again found illegal fishing operations in the region.

As the World Bank strongly warns of the devastating effects of temperature rises and hopes for a ground-breaking COP18 outcome are low, the World Future Council concluded its 6th Annual General Meeting with a renewed commitment to preserving a healthy planet for future generations.

Frogs are the most threatened group of species on Earth. These creatures of popular folklore are teetering on the brink of extinction and unless we act NOW to save them, South Africa too will start losing species.

Imagine opening a newspaper and reading that across the world fish stocks are recovering, forests are growing back, droughts and extreme weather events are declining and carbon dioxide levels are dropping. That’s what John Elkington describes when asked to imagine what real progress on sustainability would look like.

Small-scale fishermen from across Europe are joining forces to put sustainable, artisanal and low-impact fishing at the heart of the on-going reform of European Union (EU) Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

A new report finds that more than 85 percent of reefs in the Coral Triangle are directly threatened by local human activities, substantially more than the global average of 60 percent.

A new report has revealed that many of Africa’s Sacred Natural Sites and communities are under threat from mining, tourism and other developments.

I just love falling asleep to the hoo-hoo emanating from our forested front garden. They love the huge and untrimmed trees and probably the healthy supply of elephant shrew that reside amongst the shrubs and hide beneath the ivy.

Seabirds are the most threatened group of birds in the world - almost one third of all seabird species are threatened with some extinction risk.

Oceans make up 99% of the Earth's living space. Since South Africa is surrounded by two of the world’s five oceans, National Marine Week should be a significant celebration of these seascapes, and the economic, tourism, and biodiversity services provided by them.

As a recently discovered jewel of South Africa, development is occurring at an accelerated, and at times, out of control rate. Therefore the education and creation of awareness of sustainable principles and ethics within the region are of utmost importance.

Tshwane Metro Council plans to make 100 ha of Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve available to Supersport United for the development of a sport centre.

Rico has been hard at work foiling poachers trying to smuggle contraband through O.R. Tambo International Airport. Rico recently flagged a suspicious package and, once law enforcement officers were brought to the scene, ivory and elephant skin were discovered in the consignment.

Did you know that we have only 4000 Grey Crowned Cranes, less than 25 000 Blue Cranes and only 260 Critically Endangered Wattled Cranes left in SA?

"We are deeply concerned about our Earth because she is suffering from increasing destruction despite all the discussions, international meetings, facts and figures and warning signs from Earth."

This forms part of the intoduction to a statement issued by the Custodians of Sacred Sites from four African countries working together to revive tribal traditions and protect their sacred sites and territories. They have released a statement of Common African Customary Laws to protect these sacred places and bring their message to an increasingly detached modern world.