Birdwatching

A British company wants to mine coal in the heart of one of South African' most ecologically sensitive natural environments.
Conservationists believe the prospecting rights obtained by Delta Mining, which is now majority owner by London Mining plc, is illegal and poses one of the most serious threats to the country's natural heritage for decades.

The extraction of coal from almost 200 km/2 of Wakkerstroon Luneburg, region, a vast area of wetlands and grasland east of Pretoria, would destroy habitats used by over 300 bird species including South Africa's national bird, Blue Crane.



More than 85% of the wold's Rudd's Lark live on the Wakkenstroom where Bush Blackcap and Yellow breasted Pipit also thrive.
Thousands of jobs could be lost if the development went ahead.
The sources of four major rivers are found in the region and all could be heavily polluted by mining operations.

Bird South Africa has applied to the South African High court for a Judicial review of DELTA'S PROSPECTING RIGHTS IN THE wAKKERSTROOM Luneburg region.
These prospecting rights were obtained without proper consultation with affected landowners and without adequately taking the severe conservation inpact of mining into consideration.

The application is bieng opposed, by both Delta Mining and the South African Government's Department of Minerals and Energy.
The Wakkerstroom/Luneburg region is irreplaceable and a significant aera of this important natural heritage will be destroyed if the mining goes ahead. The area is one of South Africa's prize natural possessions, attracting lage numbers of tourists who visit the region to see its unique landscapes, plants and animals.

The South African government must show it values our biodiversity and the livelihoods of people who benefit from ecotourism by immediately assisting in the formal protection of this aera.
Formal protection will ensure that this aera becomes a NO GO for any activity that will threaten this region and the environmentally sustainable activities lined to it.

Delta Mining was awarded prospecting rights for the Wakkerstroom/Lunebirg area in August and November 2007 flouting sections from the National Environmental Management and the Minerals & Pertoleum Resources Development.
Both acts demand consultation with interested and affected parties, which in this case inculudes landowners and environment groups, such ad BIRD South Africa.

Wakkenstroom is also a base for one of bird South Africa's Community Conservation projects, as well as the Wing over Wetlands Project.
This is one of the biggest threats to South Africa's wildlife to emerge for decades....