Wetlands are among our most threatened ecosystems. Threats include habitat transformation and degradation through damming, draining, development, mining, pollution, inappropriate burning and grazing, and climate change.

Water birds are at the greatest risk from mining. Huge quantities of coal lie below ecologically sensitive wetlands, particularly in Mpumalanga. Thankfully this mind-set is changing and many people are working to rehabilitate and protect our wetlands.

Sasol and BirdLife South Africa ran a competition where participants were encouraged to do their bit for avian conservation. Participants were encouraged to spot one of five threatened wetland species in Mpumalanga or Limpopo to win. Five winners have been announced for their spectacular photographs who will each receive state of the art Nikon Sporter EX 8x42 binoculars worth R2000 each. The competition ran from January to October.

Peter Zietsman, Chairperson for the SANParks Honorary Rangers: West Rand region said, “The SANParks Honorary Rangers of the West Rand Region are delighted with the kind of information that has been supplied.  Five winners were chosen not only for the photographs but for the useful information supplied with the photographs. Entries included photographs of the Pel’s Fishing Owl, White-backed Night Heron, African Finfoot, Pygmy Goose and Black Stork.”

According to Dr Hanneline Smit-Robinson, BirdLife South Africa’s Conservation Manager, many water resources are polluted by industrial effluents, domestic and commercial sewage, acid mine drainage, agricultural runoff and litter, which has a direct effect on the well-being of birds.

The information and photographs supplied of the five rarely seen and threatened wetland bird species in Mpumalanga and Limpopo will assist BirdLife South Africa and SANParks Honorary Rangers: West Rand Region to conserve wetland birds.

“Such information will contribute to our understanding of the distribution and numbers of these species. The sightings will be included in the Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2 (SABAP2), one of the largest citizen science projects worldwide,” added Smit-Robinson.

Sasol is one of the role players in the conservation of indigenous wildlife, and has partnered with BirdLife South Africa and SANParks Honorary Rangers: West Rand Region to support bird conservation through the SANParks Honorary Ranger birding weekends, which allow birders to contribute to ‘citizen science’ by recording the threatened birds they sight on their game drives.

Sasol also sponsors the annual Sasol Bird Fair, supports the training of BirdLife South Africa’s bird guides, the Sasol Vaal Dam Big Birding Day, the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Birds of Prey Vulture Monitoring Programme, and the Mabula Ground-Hornbill Project, amongst others.

Richard Hughes, Sasol’s Sponsorship Manager said, “Sasol is committed to sponsoring a variety of bird-related projects. At Sasol, we aim to foster enthusiasm for the preservation of our country’s birds while creating enthusiasm and preservation of our precious bird resource in South Africa.”

The winners of the competition were Alex Zaloumis from Blyde River for his photo of the African Finfoot, Adam Riley from Pietermaritzburg for the Black Stork, Francois du Plessis from Pretoria for the White-backed Night Heron, Chris and Tim Stockton from Alberton for the White-backed Night Heron and Catherine Rodel from Benoni for the African Pygmy Goose.

Winners announced for Sasol and Nikon Wetlands Competition
Adam Rile Black Stork 2 Batch 3
Alex Zaloumis Finfoot 2 Batch 2
Catherine Rodel 4
Chris Stockton white backed night heron Batch 8
Francois du Plessis white-backed night heron Batch 1

Ends

Issued by:

Alex Anderson, Group Media Manager

Direct telephone +27 (11) 441 3295; Mobile +27 (0) 71 600 9605;

alex.anderson@sasol.com

Jacqui O’Sullivan, GM: Group Communication

Direct telephone +27 (11) 441 3252; Mobile +27 (0) 82 883 9697;

jacqui.osullivan@sasol.com