AIMS OF THE SOCIETY     <<Back
The aims of the Society shall be to promote the conservation, protection and restoration of all natural systems and resources of the Pearly Beach area with particular attention to the indigenous plant and animal life.

ALGEMENE JAARVERGADERING     <<Back
Datum: Woensdag 21 Desember 2005
Tyd: 10:00
Waar: NG Kerksaal
Gassprekers: Sean Privett & Rob Fryer

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING     <<Back
Date: Wednesday 21 December 2005
Time: 10:00
Where: Dutch Reformed Church Hall
Guest Speakers: Sean Privett & Rob Fryer

NEWS FLASH!!!
For online information on Pearly Beach:
Website: www.PearlyBeachOnline.co.za
Email: nina@pearlybeachonline.co.za
Phone: 076 522 4627

HERBARIUM     <<Back
Aan al die dames wat so getrou deur die jaar gehelp het om die Herbarium netjies te hou en gereeld vars plantmonsters te versamel, baie, baie dankie! Almal wat belangstel om by die Herbarium betrokke te raak, kan gerus vir HEILIE MOSTERT by tel 028 381 9888 of 082 392 1178 kontak - hulp is altyd welkom en baie nodig!

MURDER!     <<Back
Motor vehicles, quads included, driven on the beaches are to a large extent responsible for the endangered African Black Oystercatcher being nearly extinct. Even though there is now a law in place forbidding the driving on beaches, this law, like many others, is blatantly disregarded. But next time when you think of taking your 4x4 onto the beach, remember that by doing so, you are making yourself an accessory to MURDER!

BESKERMDE BOME     <<Back
Die nasionale lys van beskermde bome is pas op datum gebring en die volgende bome verskyn daarop: Kameeldoring (Acacia erioloba); Melkhoutboom (Sideroxylon inerme); Clanwilliam-seder (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis); Outeniqua-geelhout (Podocarpus falcatus) en Stinkhout (Ocotea bullata). Die Melkhoutboom is veral onder druk weens kusontwikkelings. Dit kom veral voor in die Oostelike dele van die land. Die bome help beheer waaisand en word soms benut vir medisinale doeleindes. Alhoewel die Witmelkhout redelik volop is, word dit weens sy ekologiese en landskapsrol beskerm.

SEXUAL FREEDOM FOR YOUR CAT = DEATH TO OUR BIRDS     <<Back
The increasing number of wild cats in Pearly Beach is alarming. Please take control of your cat's sex life or accept responsibility for a birdless Pearly Beach one day.

TREKDUIKERS EN SWART-TOBIES OP DYEREILAND     <<Back
Die Wes-Kaap is die enigste provinsie in Suid-Afrika waar al vyf duikers (familie Phalacroco-racidae) voorkom: die kuifkop-, bank-, trek-, witbors- en rietduiker. Die trekduiker is byna endemies aan die Wes-Kaapse kuslyn. Tans is daar groot kommer oor die voortbestaan van die trekduiker, aangesien die spesie se getalle die afgelope jaar met tot 70% afgeneem het. Die trekduiker word nou as "byna bedreig" op die rooidatalys aangedui. Voëlcholera, of pasteurellises, wat die afgelope vier broeiseisoene op Dyereiland uitgebreek het, is een van die vernaamste oorsake vir die skerp afname in die aantal trekduikers. Die trekduikers word net in kuswaters gesien, gewoonlik nie meer as 10km van die kuslyn af nie. Hulle broei hoofsaaklik op eilande langs die kuslyn, veral op Dyereiland en Dasseneiland aan die Weskus. Volgens Prof Les Underhill van die eenheid vir voëldemografie (EVD) aan die Universiteit van Kaapstad kan die afname in visvoorraad in die see en versteurings wat deur stropers se onwettige aktiwiteite naby die eiland veroorsaak word, ook 'n invloed op die afname in die trekduiker-bevolking hê.
Die Swarttobies op Dyereiland word sedert 1999 gemonitor en sedertdien is 'n gemiddelde van 72 voëls elke broeiseisoen aangeteken. Gedurende die 2002/03 broei-seisoen was daar 21 broeipare, wat 'n hoë sukseskoers behaal het, deurdat 18 kleintjies oorleef het. Dit verteenwoordig 'n toename in getalle van 33% en beteken dat die eiland meer as 1% van die globale bevolking van tussen 5 000 en 6 000 swarttobies huisves.
— Erina Botha

WHALES     <<Back
During May to December of each year, our coastline becomes the home of the Southern Right Whale. They come from the Antarctic to the warmer waters of our coast where the sheltered bays are perfect for mating, calving and nursing their young. Female calves are ready to mate at 8 years. The female whale has one calf every three years and gestation is about 12 months. Calves are born around August, they have an average length of 6,1 meters and weigh 1 ton at birth. They suckle for 4-8 months, drink up to 600 litres of milk per day and grow 3 cm per day. The mothers do not eat during this period but live on blubber that they have stored up during the summer season. This animal becomes 8 to 10 times the size of a bull elephant, a 16 meter giant of some 50 tons and has a life expectancy of 50 years. Although huge, it is incredibly graceful and observations have proven that they live and operate in harmony with the great white shark. These gentle giants leave you deeply aware of how great and magnificent the creation is that we have to share.
— Gansbaai Herald

INHEEMSE WINDBESTANDE BOME     <<Back
Twee soorte inheemse bome wat die wind effens kan breek, is die kusvaalbos (Brachyleana discolor) en die duinekraalbessie (Rhus undulate). Die melkhout (Sideroxylon inerme) is ook redelik windbestand, maar groei veel stadiger as die ander twee. Die bosrooimelkhout (Mimusops obovata) is nog 'n boom wat oorweeg kan word. Bietou (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) is 'n vinnig groeiende struik met geel blomme en ook windbeskut.

PLANT A TREE OF THE YEAR     <<Back
Every year the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) selects two trees (one rare and one common) for special focus, and this year sees the False Cabbage Tree (common) and the Boabab (rare) in the spotlight. While the Boabab prefers hot dry woodland at low altitudes, especially in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, the False Cabbage Tree is found on the edges of forests and in bush clumps on the coast and at higher altitudes, throughout the country. Named for their clusters of large leaves that look like cabbages, False Cabbage Trees make attractive garden plants, though they cannot tolerate severe frost. With it's light cream flowers and red fruit, it's a lovely decorative tree and does well in containers. The fruits are much favoured by birds and the bark and leaves are used to treat ailments such as rheumatism and malaria. False Cabbage Trees are available through most nurseries.

MELKHOUTLANING     <<Back
Die Gansbaai Administrasie van die Overstrand Munisipaliteit het onderneem om die Bewaringsvereniging se inisiatief om die bestaande Melkhoutlaning aan weerskante van die toegangspad uit te brei, ten volle te ondersteun en ook om 'n hoeveelheid melkhoutbome vir die doel beskikbaar te stel.

WHAT MAKES PEARLY BEACH SPECIAL??
• The sea and beaches; • The mountains;
• The people; and • Fynbos.

WHAT IS FYNBOS?     <<Back
Fynbos is the major vegetation type of the small botanical region known as the Cape Floral Kingdom. Only five other floral kingdoms are recognized, and these cover huge areas such as the whole of Australia and most of the northern hemisphere. The Cape Floral Kingdom is both the smallest and the richest floral kingdom, with the highest known concentration of plant species: 1 300 per 10 000 km². Fynbos plants include the King Protea, South Africa's national flower, the beautiful Red Disa, symbol of the Cape Province and the popular garden plants, pelargoniums, commonly known as geraniums. Over 7 700 plant species are found in fynbos, an astonishing number for such a small area. Many of these are threatened with extinction. Fynbos cannot support herds of large mammals since the nutrient poor soils on which it grows do not provide enough nitrogen for the protein requirements of large mammals. However, smaller mammals common to fynbos are baboons, klipspringers, grysbok, dassies, mongooses and the striped mouse. All six bird species endemic to the south-west Cape are fynbos species, e.g. the Cape sugarbird and the orangebreasted sunbird. Fynbos also supports large numbers of butterfly species, frogs and tortoises. The major threat to fynbos is the spread of alien plants such as hakea, the Australian wattles commontly known as Rooikrans and Port Jackson, pine trees and Manatoka. Other significant threats include too frequent fires and fires in the wrong season, commercial afforestation and the development of housing estates and farms. The Cape Flora is ecologically very delicately balanced. Alien species readily become established in fynbos and displace the native plants and animals. As a result of this, combined with the naturally limited range of many species, urbanization and the speed of agriculture, numerous fynbos plants are now seriously endangered or extinct.

WAT IS FYNBOS ?     <<Back
Fynbos is plantegroei wat op suur, mineraalarm grond in die winterreënvalstreek voorkom en vir droë somers aangepas is. Dit is een van sewe biome of plantegroeistreke wat in Suid-Afrika voorkom. Dit is nie alleen die wêreld se kleinste floraryk nie, maar die rykste aan verskeidenheid; dis daarom dat dit bewaar moet word en dele reeds as Wêrelderfenisgebied verklaar is. As 'n plant natuurlik in fynbos groei, is hy deel van fynbos.
Fynbos is, behalwe die kenmerkende fyner heide, bergriete (Restionaceae), boegoes (Rutaceae) en proteas (Proteaceae), ook ryk aan plakkies (Crassula), tjienkerientjees (Ornithogalum), veldkool (Trachyandra), swaardlelie (Gladiolus), seeroogblom (Boophane disticha), madeliefies (Dimorphotheca) en vygies (Lampranthus spp.)
Wat die gladiolus betref, is dit 'n groot geslag waarvan sommige tot fynbos beperk is, ander weer in die grasveld in die Drakensberge voorkom, ens. Dit geld ook vir plakkies en baie van die ander plante.
— Ernst van Jaarsveld

WHAT CAN YOU DO?     <<Back
• Grow indigenous plants which require little water, thus reducing the need to dam pristine mountain areas where fynbos is found; • Join a hack group and help remove alien invasives; • Encourage land owners to care for their fynbos; • Campaign vigorously against ill-advised developments that compromise fynbos and its significant tourist appeal. • Most importantly, be aware that you can make a difference!

MAAK JOU EIE KOMPOS EN BEGIN SO...     <<Back
• Uit die oog; • Op 'n warm plek en naby 'n kraan; • Jy gaan 3 hope nodig hê, vir gebruiksklaar kompos, vir halfklaar kompos en vir onverwerkte materiale om by te voeg; • Moenie die hope hoër as 1m x 1m maak nie, anders neem die materiale te lank om af te breek; • Hou die hoop altyd klam; • Lugsirkulasie is baie belangrik:
Eerste lagie - 25 cm growwe tuinafval, soos snoeisels en fyn takkies.
Tweede lagie - 5 cm kraalmis, hoendermis en fyner tuinafval soos grassnysels, blare, dooie eenjariges en kombuisafval.
Derde lagie - strooi komposaktiveerder oor die hele oppervlakte.
Gebruik die volgende in jou komposhoop: Grassnysels, ou blare, knipsels van heinings en roostakkies, dooie plantmateriaal, uitgeblomde eenjariges, vrugte- en groenteskille, dun lagies strooi, onbehandelde boombas, hout-saagsels, klein stukkies koerant-papier, afval uit voëlhokke, teesakkies en koffiemoer, eierdoppe fyngedruk, as in klein hoeveelhede en slegs van hout af.
Hou die volgende uit jou komposhoop: Plastiek, papier, blikke en glas, afvallappe, gaar oorskietkos, onkruid met saadkoppe, houtskool- en steenkoolas, asook honde- en katmis.

ONTHOU ASB!!!     <<Back
Om jou lidmaatskap te hernu - dis baie belangrik.

BAIE DANKIE!!!     <<Back
Aan al die Komiteelede, baie dankie vir 'n uiters suksesvolle jaar se harde werk en baie dankie vir julle bereidwilligheid om vergaderings op Saterdae by te woon - dit word opreg waardeer.