UK company to dig coal in rich habitat in South Africa

14/12/2008 17:32:08 Wakkerstroom wetlands under threat
December 2008. A British-owned company wants to mine coal from the heart of one of South Africa' most vibrant and unusual wildlife oases. Conservationists believe the prospecting rights obtained by Delta Mining, which is majority owned by London Mining, were obtained without the necessary prior consultation with the affected landowners and interested parties and poses the most serious threat to the country's wildlife for decades.

Coal extraction from wetlands and grasslands.
The extraction of coal from almost 80-square miles of wetlands and grasslands spanning the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, would destroy habitats used by 300 bird species, including South Africa's national bird, the blue crane.

Rare bush blackcaps, yellow-breasted pipits and more than 85 per cent of the world's Rudd's larks live close to the region's two main towns, Wakkerstroom and Luneburg, and the area sources four major rivers. These rivers could be polluted and thousands of jobs lost if the development went ahead.

"Irreplaceable habitat"
Carolyn Ah Shene, of BirdLife South Africa, which is spearheading the campaign to stop the mining, said: "The Wakkerstroom region is classed as irreplaceable by the Mpumalanga Department of Conservation, Agriculture & Environment and a large part of it will be destroyed if mining goes ahead.

"The area is one of South Africa's most prized natural possessions, attracting huge numbers of tourists who visit to see its unique landscapes, its animals and plants. The government must show it values our wildlife and the livelihoods dependent on wildlife tourism by giving the area legal protection from mining and all other development threats."

Ignored environmental requirements
Delta Mining was awarded prospecting licences for the Wakkerstroom area late last year. The company had ignored legal requirements to consult landowners and environment groups prior to their application to the Department of Minerals & Energy for prospecting rights.

Judicial review
BirdLife South Africa and a consortium of conservation agencies and affected landowners have now applied to the South African High Court for a judicial review of Delta's prospecting rights. The South African Department of Minerals & Energy and Delta Mining are both opposing the applications.

80% of birdwatching in South Africa
More than 80 per cent of birdwatching trips in South Africa include the Wakkestroom region in their schedule. Tourists visit to see some of the region's 100 endemic plants, in addition to its array of birds.

Rudd's lark. Credit Warwick Tarboton.

Pongola Forest Reserve - 13 Endemic species
Among sites threatened by the mining is the Pongola Forest Reserve, which is already legally protected. Delta Mining claims there are no threatened species in the area yet the Pongola Forest Reserve hosts 13 birds found only in South Africa. The Pongola Reserve and areas around it were made an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International in 2001, for the rare birds they host.

Carolyn Ah Shene said: "We have absolutely no confidence in the company's promises of environmental safeguards. It has blatantly ignored legal requirements for environmental impact studies, suggesting it has no regard for the effect of its plans on the region's natural environment. Thousands of people who depend on farming and tourism will lose their jobs if mining goes ahead."

Paul Buckley, of the RSPB, said: "This is one of the biggest threats to South Africa's wildlife to emerge for decades. Wakkerstroom is known worldwide as a wildlife paradise and has long been one of South Africa's most stunning environmental assets. British companies are improving their environmental records and we expect Delta Mining to be equally responsible. The company must go back to the drawing board, recognise the global importance of these grasslands and abide by the laws governing development. Those earning a living from showcasing Wakkerstroom's rich natural environment expect nothing less."