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229 documents from WWF South Africa
BYE, BLOEKOMS EN REGULASIES
The document explains the balance between removing invasive eucalyptus species to protect biodiversity and water resources and maintaining these trees as critical nectar sources for the honeybee industry. It details the specific categories of invasive species, the legal requirements for removal in sensitive areas, and the process for obtaining permits to retain certain trees for beekeeping purposes.
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Document type: Guide
Bees, gum trees and regulations
The document explains that while six eucalyptus species are classified as invasive in South Africa and must be removed from sensitive areas, gum trees are critical to the beekeeping industry, providing an estimated 50% of the national honey crop. It details the Alien and Invasive Species regulations under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004, specifying that all gum species must be removed from riparian areas due to high water usage, regardless of invasiveness. Landowners are guided on how to apply for Category 2 permits to retain listed gums for specific functions like bee forage, and are provided with best practices for safe tree removal and the establishment of indigenous pollinator-friendly habitats.
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Document type: Guide
INSIGHTS INTO THE SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC MANUFACTURING VALUE CHAIN IN SOUTH AFRICA
The document outlines the current state of South Africa's solar PV market, noting that while the Integrated Resource Plan targets 10% solar PV generation by 2030, local manufacturing remains limited. It identifies specific opportunities across the value chain—from mineral extraction of chromium and manganese to the assembly of modules and inverters—and recommends policy certainty, concessional finance, and skills development to foster a domestic industry.
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Document type: Fact sheet
TOWARDS AN EQUITABLE TRANSITION TO A LOW-CARBON CLIMATE-RESILIENT ECONOMY
The document outlines the potential for South Africa to expand its local wind energy industry, noting that while some components like towers and transformers are produced domestically, most turbine parts are imported. It highlights the need for targeted industrial support, such as concessional finance and the development of precast concrete facilities, to increase local content. The text also notes that South Africa's Integrated Resource Plan targets a wind energy share of 21% (17,742 MW) by 2030, which would require approximately 5,000 new large turbines.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Technical Learning Exchange on groundwater data in decision support tools
The document details technical improvements to the BWDSS, including the development of a PostgreSQL timeseries provider, the creation of maintenance scripts to optimize database size, and a guide for operationalizing FEFLOW groundwater models. It identifies performance bottlenecks in specific jobs and recommends the implementation of regular maintenance tasks and improved error handling in Python scripts to enhance system resilience.
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Document type: Report
Establishing a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network for Brackenfell, Western Cape
The report describes the creation of a groundwater monitoring network in Brackenfell, Western Cape, commissioned by WWF South Africa and implemented by GEOSS South Africa. Following a significant increase in borehole drilling during the 2015-2019 drought, the project conducted desktop assessments and a hydrocensus of 111 properties to identify groundwater use patterns. The study found that most boreholes were drilled between 2016 and 2020, targeting the Tygerberg Formation. Four Solinst Leveloggers were deployed in private and public boreholes to track water levels, with data integrated into the Table Mountain Water Source Area Groundwater Dashboard. Key stakeholder concerns identified include high iron content in the water and risks of over-abstraction.
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Document type: Report
Establishing a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network for Constantia & Bergvliet, Western Cape
The report describes the creation of a groundwater monitoring network in Constantia and Bergvliet, Western Cape, commissioned by WWF South Africa. Following a significant increase in borehole drilling during the 2015-2019 drought, GEOSS South Africa conducted a desktop study and hydrocensus of 309 properties. The project resulted in the installation of five Solinst Leveloggers in private boreholes, with data fed into a public Groundwater Dashboard for the Table Mountain Water Source Area. Findings indicate that most boreholes target the Springfontyn and Peninsula Formations, with water levels ranging from 7 to 16 mbgl and quality classified as "good" to "marginal".
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Document type: Report
Establishing a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network for Noordhoek, Western Cape
The report details the creation of a groundwater monitoring network in Noordhoek, Western Cape, commissioned by WWF South Africa and implemented by GEOSS South Africa. Following a drought from 2015 to 2019, the area saw a surge in private boreholes and wellpoints. The project involved a desktop study, a hydrocensus of 158 properties, and the deployment of four Solinst dataloggers in private boreholes. Key findings highlight stakeholder concerns regarding E-coli contamination from soakaway systems and the potential for seawater intrusion. Data from the network is integrated into the Table Mountain Water Source Area Groundwater Dashboard to provide public visibility of water level trends and seasonal fluctuations.
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Document type: Report
Establishing a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network for Scarborough & Kommetjie, Western Cape
The report details the creation of a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network in Scarborough and Kommetjie, Western Cape, commissioned by WWF South Africa. Following a significant increase in borehole drilling during the 2015-2019 drought, the study employed desktop searches and a hydrocensus of 105 properties to identify groundwater users and monitoring sites. Four Solinst Leveloggers were deployed to track water levels and temperature, with data integrated into the Table Mountain Water Source Area Groundwater Dashboard. Findings indicate that borehole depths range from 1 to 60 metres, with water levels between 2.5 and 4 mbgl and electrical conductivity values between 54.8 and 150.7 mS/m. The report recommends continued stakeholder engagement and quarterly data downloads to ensure sustainable groundwater management.
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Document type: Report
GROUNDWATER DASHBOARDS - TABLE MOUNTAIN WATER SOURCE AREA
The report details the creation of an open-source groundwater monitoring dashboard (groundwaterinfo.africa) for the Table Mountain Water Source Area. It outlines the transition to the Lizmap web client, the use of a PostgreSQL database to store regional groundwater and rainfall data, and the implementation of two user interfaces: a 'Quick view' for the general public and a 'Deep dive' for scientists. The document emphasizes the necessity of regular data updates from entities like the City of Cape Town and the Department of Water and Sanitation to ensure the dashboard's long-term sustainability.
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Document type: Report
Current status of groundwater policy and governance in South Africa with a focus on the role of local partners to support local groundwater resource management
The report identifies significant gaps in the governance of the Table Mountain Strategic Water Source Area (TMSWSA), noting that groundwater management is currently a national mandate that lacks local enforcement and clear delegation to Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs). It highlights the vulnerability of the Table Mountain Group and Cape Flats aquifers to over-extraction and pollution, exacerbated by unregulated borehole drilling during Cape Town's 2016-2018 drought. To address these failures, the document proposes a flexible, multi-stakeholder Partnership Framework based on adaptive management, recommending WWF South Africa as the host institution and secretariat to coordinate between the City of Cape Town, the Department of Water and Sanitation, and local communities.
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Document type: Report
Learners at Greenpoint Urban Park Video billboards: Feedback summary
The WWF Groundwater Awareness Project, funded by the Danish government via the Table Mountain Water Source Partnership, implemented an educational campaign in Cape Town primary schools to highlight the importance of groundwater. The project included multimedia lesson plans, a poster competition involving 15 schools, and a celebratory field trip for 38 top-performing students to the Greenpoint Urban Park on 28 February 2022. Additionally, a billboard campaign sponsored by Tractor Outdoor ran from 1 February to 31 March 2022 across the Western Cape, with two video billboards recording a combined total of 743,429 playouts.
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Document type: Report
MEL Mid-term Review report for the Table Mountain Water Source Area Partnership project
The mid-term review of the Table Mountain Water Source Area (TM-WSA) Partnership project highlights successful groundwater awareness raising in schools and faith communities, but identifies significant challenges regarding the project's governance structure, data accessibility, and the exclusion of business stakeholders. While the Partnership has been established with a Memorandum of Understanding signed by nine parties, its long-term sustainability and the role of community engagement in governance remain unresolved. The report recommends creating an independent secretariat, fundraising for financial sustainability, and addressing the complexities of working within an unequal city to ensure inclusive groundwater management.
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Document type: Report
CLIMATE CHANGE INVESTMENT AND FINANCE OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE
The report argues that South African agriculture faces urgent climate risks, including temperature rises of 2 to 4 °C by 2050, but suffers from a significant climate finance gap. It highlights opportunities in AgTech, regenerative agriculture, and renewable energy, while recommending the use of innovative instruments like blended finance and sustainability-linked loans to overcome barriers such as high transaction costs and a lack of bankable project pipelines.
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Document type: Report
EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR COAL TRUCKERS IN A BIOMASS SUPPLY CHAIN
The report finds that biomass supply chains, particularly those using lignocellulosic biomass, could offset a significant portion of the approximately 4,000 coal trucking jobs expected to decline during South Africa's energy transition. By modelling four SAF production pathways, the study estimates that nearly 75% of current coal trucking jobs could be directly transitioned to biomass transport using existing side tipper trucks. Additional opportunities exist for super link and tanker drivers, though these may require capital investment for truck conversion or specialized training. The analysis concludes that embracing a bio-based and circular economy is essential for an inclusive just transition for workers in the coal value chain.
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Document type: Report
Groundwater factsheet
The document combines a technical factsheet on groundwater in Cape Town with a 'Care for Creation' manual for youth. It explains the function of aquifers, the risks of over-extraction and pollution, and integrates these environmental concerns with Anglican theology. It advocates for sustainable water use, the protection of the Table Mountain, Cape Flats, and Atlantis aquifers, and provides practical guides for water and energy audits and waste reduction.
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Document type: Guide
ECONOMIC CASE FOR A CIRCULAR PLASTICS ECONOMY IN AFRICA
The report argues that transitioning to a circular plastics economy by 2050 will result in positive cumulative effects on GDP, employment, and consumer welfare in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and South Africa compared to a business-as-usual scenario. Using computational general equilibrium (CGE) modelling, the study finds that such a transition increases economic activity and reduces the costs of environmental externalities. For Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya, immediate implementation is recommended to maximize environmental gains and avoid sunk costs. For South Africa, an incremental shift is suggested to minimize short-term negative impacts on its more established plastics sector. The report emphasizes the need for national policy instruments—such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) and deposit return schemes—alongside regional coordination via the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and a legally binding global treaty to combat plastic pollution.
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Document type: Report
MEASURING FOR IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY
The study analysed 15 centre pivot irrigation systems on six dairy farms in South Africa's Southern Cape between March and December 2021. It found that average system efficiency was 72.2%, with significant water wastage driven by wind speed, sprinkler height, and droplet size. The research highlights a positive correlation between soil health—specifically higher carbon and fungi levels—and pasture water-use efficiency. Financial analysis indicates that inefficient irrigation leads to substantial opportunity costs in terms of wasted water, increased electricity bills, and lost potential for dry matter production. The document advocates for the use of water meters and precise scheduling to reduce costs and enhance agro-ecosystem services.
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Document type: Case study
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE IN THE GRASSLANDS OF THE EASTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA
The document describes the ecological importance of South Africa's grasslands as critical water sources and carbon sinks, and details a 2022-2025 WWF project in the north Eastern Cape. This project aims to support communal and commercial sheep farmers through mapping, training, and the implementation of regenerative land-use practices to improve biodiversity and carbon storage.
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Document type: Fact sheet
SOUTH AFRICA KEEPING NATURE IN FOCUS
The report details the outcomes of a five-year partnership between WWF South Africa and Woolworths, highlighting achievements in sustainable seafood sourcing, water stewardship in key catchments, regenerative agriculture, and the reduction of food waste and plastic pollution.
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Document type: Report