Protected area | Bizcommunity

Protected area | Bizcommunity

News

The entrance to the illegally constructed Goats Window Luxury Safari Lodge in the foothills of the Riviersonderend mountains near Bonnievale. Photos: John Yeld / GroundUp

Environmental Law

Luxury lodge fined R15m for flouting environmental laws

John Yeld 5 hours

Harvesting pine trees in the Dennedal compartment of Lower Tokai on 30 August 2016. Work was halted later that day by an urgent High Court interdict. Photos: John Yeld

Environment & Natural Resources

New battle looms over future of Tokai and Cecilia pine plantations

John Yeld 28 Jul 2026

Image supplied.

Environment & Natural Resources

New reserves boost conservation efforts in the Western Cape

8 Dec 2025

Source: SanParks - Bontebok National Park

Tourism

SanParks names 2025 Kudu Award winners

2 Dec 2025

Tswalu launches first wildlife-based carbon credit project in Southern Africa

Tourism

Tswalu launches first wildlife-based carbon credit project in Southern Africa

1 Sep 2025

City of Cape Town adopts Biodiversity Spatial Plan, maps priority areas

Environment & Natural Resources

City of Cape Town adopts Biodiversity Spatial Plan, maps priority areas

7 Aug 2025

Image supplied.

Environment & Natural Resources

CapeNature looks at WC's state of conservation in new report

1 Jul 2025

Source: Holland & Associates (fair use). The Namaquasfontein Skool Dam was illegally enlarged in 2017.

Construction & Engineering

Illegal enlargement of West Coast farm dam condoned

John Yeld 27 Jun 2025

#WorldGiraffeDay: Why the giraffe needs more conservation

Environment & Natural Resources

#WorldGiraffeDay: Why the giraffe needs more conservation

20 Jun 2025

Image supplied.

Environment & Natural Resources

WC declares Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve a protected area

19 Jun 2025

Newmark expands African safari luxury with 2 new lodges

Hospitality

Newmark expands African safari luxury with 2 new lodges

5 Jun 2025

ESG & Sustainability

SanParks launches Biodiversity Offset Bank

27 May 2025

Image source: suwatpo –

Environment & Natural Resources

Current legal frameworks can’t protect the oceans from deep-sea mining and the negative impacts on humankind

Susan Reid 20 May 2025

Conservationists argued that current no-fishing zones are inadequate to prevent the African Penguin’s extinction. Archive photo: John Yeld / GroundUp

Environment & Natural Resources

Settlement reached in African Penguin case

John Yeld 13 Mar 2025

Image source: Jean van der Meulen from

Environment & Natural Resources

W Cape unveils key strategies to boost environmental resilience

18 Feb 2025

Image source: The Endangered Wildlife Trust

Environment & Natural Resources

New nature reserve established in the Soutpansberg

27 Jan 2025

Image source: jasoncarr0589 –

Environmental Law

Court ruling a warning shot against illegal fishing

10 Dec 2024

The City of Cape Town has been releasing more sewage into the ocean from its Hout Bay marine outfall than its discharge permit allows. But following appeals over the granting of the permit, and a criminal case being laid against the City, environmental minister Dion George has lifted restrictions on the quantity of sewage it is allowed to discharge. Archive photo: Steve Kretzmann / GroundUp

Circular Economy & Waste Management

Cape Town may pump as much sewage into the sea as it likes

Steve Kretzmann 19 Nov 2024

A government proposal to drop some statutory safeguards for the Kruger National Park has raised the alarm among some experts. Photos: John Yeld

Environment & Natural Resources

New proposal puts Kruger National Park’s environmental safeguards 'at risk'

John Yeld 31 May 2024

Mabola Protected Area in the Mpumalanga grasslands is under threat of coal mining. Archive photo: supplied

Environment & Natural Resources

Proposed coal mine in Mpumalanga grasslands back in court

John Yeld 2 May 2024

Marine protected areas safeguard more than ecology – they bring economic benefits to fisheries and tourism

Fishing

Marine protected areas safeguard more than ecology – they bring economic benefits to fisheries and tourism

Mark John Costello 2 Apr 2024

SanParks: Public consultation opens for Robben Island Marine Protected Area

Tourism

SanParks: Public consultation opens for Robben Island Marine Protected Area

8 Feb 2024

The Green Point marine outfall is one of three in Cape Town through which millions of litres of sewage are pumped out to sea daily. The City has been ordered to embark on a public participation process over the permits required for the operation of these outfalls. Archive photo: Steve Kretzmann | GroundUp

Circular Economy & Waste Management

Cape Town ordered to hold public hearings on sewage being pumped into the sea

Steve Kretzmann 21 Sep 2023

De Hoop Reserve - a must-visit destination for nature lovers

Travel

De Hoop Reserve - a must-visit destination for nature lovers

Robin Fredericks 5 Oct 2023

Plans to stop raw sewage being pumped into the sea off Cape Town

Infrastructure & Utilities

Plans to stop raw sewage being pumped into the sea off Cape Town

Steve Kretzmann 24 Feb 2023

SanParks executive joins Wildlife Conservation Society

Tourism

SanParks executive joins Wildlife Conservation Society

16 Feb 2023

UP-US study maps roaming habits of elephants in Southern Africa to boost conservation efforts

Higher Education

UP-US study maps roaming habits of elephants in Southern Africa to boost conservation efforts

Issued by University of Pretoria 29 Nov 2022

SA making notable effort towards achieving 10% marine protected areas

Environment & Natural Resources

SA making notable effort towards achieving 10% marine protected areas

5 Aug 2022

National Geographic Photo Competition 2022 now open for entries

Production

National Geographic Photo Competition 2022 now open for entries

Issued by The Walt Disney Company Africa 2 Aug 2022

The information age is starting to transform fishing worldwide

Fishing

The information age is starting to transform fishing worldwide

Nicholas P. Sullivan 19 Apr 2022

Creating an investment-ready platform for infrastructure projects in the emerging aquaculture sector

Agriculture

Creating an investment-ready platform for infrastructure projects in the emerging aquaculture sector

Dr Keith Du Plessis 9 Feb 2022

Protected marine areas should serve nature and people: A review of South Africa's efforts

Environment & Natural Resources

Protected marine areas should serve nature and people: A review of South Africa's efforts

Judy Mann-Lang, Bruce Quintin Mann and George Branch 20 Jan 2022

Over 80% of Africa's savannah conservation land is failing or deteriorating, new study finds

Environment & Natural Resources

Over 80% of Africa's savannah conservation land is failing or deteriorating, new study finds

21 Dec 2021

Botswana beckons - In Review: Ker & Downey Botswana and Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge

Travel

Botswana beckons - In Review: Ker & Downey Botswana and Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge

Debbie Hathway 6 May 2021

The Pretoria High Court has stopped Uthaka Energy from starting to mine coal this week in the critical water source area of Mabola, Mpumalanga. Archive photo: supplied

Mining

Court stops Mpumalanga coal mine

John Yeld 26 Mar 2021

Cabinet approves measures to address threatened biodiversity

Environment & Natural Resources

Cabinet approves measures to address threatened biodiversity

25 Nov 2020

7 outdoor adventure activities in Plett and Knysna

Travel

7 outdoor adventure activities in Plett and Knysna

Ruth Cooper 17 Nov 2020

Women making waves in water conservation with Rain

Environment & Natural Resources

Women making waves in water conservation with Rain

25 Aug 2020

Academics raise alarm over by-law restricting water testing

Environment & Natural Resources

Academics raise alarm over by-law restricting water testing

Steve Kretzmann 31 Mar 2020

Why marine protected areas are often not where they should be

Sustainable Farming

Why marine protected areas are often not where they should be

25 Mar 2020

Sustainable Farming

South Africa's biodiversity tax incentive is taken to scale

Candice Stevens 7 Feb 2020

#BizTrends2020: Technologies and tactics in curbing wildlife poaching

Trends

#BizTrends2020: Technologies and tactics in curbing wildlife poaching

Nicholus Funda 10 Jan 2020

New partnership offers conservation technology training

Higher Education

New partnership offers conservation technology training

12 Dec 2019

Agreement reached on new nature reserve for West Coast

Environment & Natural Resources

Agreement reached on new nature reserve for West Coast

John Yeld 10 Dec 2019

Mining for heavy minerals on the West Coast beaches north of the Olifants River. Photo: John Yeld

Mining

Bid to protect West Coast jewel from mining

John Yeld 3 Dec 2019

The Constitutional Court has denied Athi-Africa Ventures leave to appeal against a judgment blocking its plan to mine coal in a protected area in Mpumalanga. Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks

Mining

Constitutional Court rejects coal mining company's attempt to appeal

John Yeld 20 Nov 2019

Tourism & Travel

Addo appoints first female head of conservation

25 Oct 2019