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

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING/ALGEMENE JAARVERGADERING
Date/Datum: Woensdag 20 Desember 2006 Wednesday 20 December 2006
Time/Tyd: 10:00
Where/Waar: Dutch Reformed Church Hall/NG Kerksaal
Guest Speaker/Gasspreker: Anne Bean - famous botanist and writer     <<Back

BELANGRIKE PLANTFEITE:
• Die Kaapse Skiereiland alleen het 2 285 plantspesies. Dit is meer as die Britse Eilande (wat 1492 spesies het) en Nieu-Seeland (wat 1996 spesies het);
• Natuurgegronde toerisme in die Kaapse blommeryk dra na raming jaarliks tot R7,4 miljard by tot die Wes-Kaapse ekonomie;
• Die Kaapse blommeryk het nagenoeg 9 600 spesies in slegs 90 000 km² waarvan 70% nêrens anders ter wêreld voorkom nie;
• Hoewel die Kaapse blommeryk minder as 4% van die grondoppervlakte in Afrika suid van die Sahara beslaan, huisves dit bykans 44% van die spesies wat op die deel van die vasteland voorkom.     <<Back

BRANDE BEDREIG FYNBOS
Veldbrande wat te gereeld voorkom, hou al hoe meer 'n bedreiging in vir die biodiversiteit in die Kaapse fynbosryk. Naas indringerplante wat gedy en die frekwensie van veldbrande wat toeneem (weens menslike nalatigheid), word klimaatskommelings toenemend 'n bedeiging vir biodiversiteit in die Kaapse fynbosryk. Uit navorsing blyk dit dat veldbrande 'n sleutelelement van die fynbosekologie is - sonder brande kan fynbos nie bestaan nie. Hoewel dit van tyd tot tyd moet brand vir ontkieming, het die toename in die aantal bergbrande die laaste paar dekades die brandsiklus sodanig verkort dat verskeie spesies reeds daardeur bedreig word. Die meeste fynbosspesies is aangepas by 'n brandsiklus van minstens 12 tot 20 jaar. Menslike nalatigheid het die brandsiklus egter reeds tot ongeveer agt jaar verkort. Dit beteken eenvoudig dat talle spesies afbrand voordat hulle geslagsrypheid bereik en saad lewer. 'n Ketting van uitsterwings van interafhanklike plante en diere kan so ontstaan. Die samestelling van groot dele natuurlike habitat kan ingrypend gewysig word weens veldbrande wat te gereeld woed. Groot bedrae geld word sonder twyfel benodig vir doeltreffende veldbrandbestuur in die Kaapse blommeryk.
    — Dr Schutte-Vlok, CapeNature     <<Back

KNOW YOUR SEAFOOD!
Do you know that not all fish are equal and that if you knew more, you might want to make different choices? The South African coastline and adjacent oceans host a large diversity of seafood species. Coral reefs, home to thousands of marine species, are highly susceptible to damage by trawling. When more fish are caught than can be replaced by the breeding activities of the adult fish population, overfishing occurs. It is estimated that 75% of global fish stocks are either exploited at maximum levels or overexploited. A species list has been compiled to help you make choices that are better for the environment when buying seafood or dining out. Fish species, or similar species have been placed into different categories. Each colour has a different meaning.
GREEN - These are species that are relatively healthy and well-managed populations that can sustain current fishing pressure. These species are recommended as the most sustainable choices available, for example anchovy, angelfish, blue hottentot, butterfish, makriel, gurnard, hake, harder, maasbanker, hottentot, mussels, octopus, oysters, sardine, snoek, squid, tuna, white stumpnose and yellowtail.
ORANGE - These species may be legally sold by registered fishers and retailers. However, an increased demand for these could compromise a sustainable supply, for example silverfish, dageraad, elf, geelbek, kingklip, kob, marlins, prawns, red steenbras, red stumpnose, roman, sole, swordfish.
RED - These species are illegal to buy or sell in South Africa. Some of these species are very important recreational species that cannot handle commercial fishing pressure, and may therefore only be caught for your own enjoyment and use, subject to the possession of a valid recreational fishing permit and other restrictions that may apply. These are applicable to species such as Baardman, banded galjoen, blacktail, cape stumpnose, galjoen, garrick, kingfishes, springer, white musselcracker, white steenbras and zebra.
     — www.wwf.org.za/sassi     <<Back

HERBARIUM
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!     <<Back

Heard of the big five?
What about the little five?

PLANTS Elephant grass Leopard orchid Rhino thistle Lion's ear Buffalo thorn

SMALLER CREATURES Elephant shrew Leopard tortoise Rhino beetle Ant lion Buffalo weaver

HACKING PARTY: SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER 2006
We want to call on all members of the Society, as well as friends, family and residents to come and join the planned hacking party on Saturday 16 December 2006. The idea is to get a group of volunteers together and to make an active and aggressive effort to clear the public open spaces and frontal dune area of aliens. Come and join us for a day of hard labour and fun, all to the benefit of the environment! We will meet at 09:00 at the Parking Area in Rotunda Road, please bring equipment like pruning shears and saws with, as well as a hat and sun screen lotion - hope to see you all there!     <<Back

SWARTTOBIE-GETALLE HET GOED HERSTEL
'n Aanbeveling gaan moontllik vanjaar nog gedoen word dat die Swarttobie, 'n spesie wat tans kwesbare bewaringsstatus geniet, van die rooidatalys verwyder word, aangesien die spesie (Haematopus moquini) se getalle so mooi herstel het. Die gitswart steltloper wat van November tot Maart broei, word maklik uitgeken aan sy kenmerkende rooierige snawel en kring om die oë. Die voëls broei lewenslank met dieselfde maat. Die grootste enkele bedreiging vir Swarttobies is nie kosskaarste nie, maar dat jong voëls deur roofdiere, veral honde, opgevreet word. Ongeveer 'n derde van al die Swarttobies wat vrek, vrek op die ouderdom van 20 dae of jonger. Dit alleen is al genoeg bewys dat die bepaling dat honde op strande aan leibande moet loop, 'n regverdige bepaling is.
- Die Burger     <<Back

TORN REFUSE BAGS AND RUBBISH
While it is a stipulation of the Overstrand Municipality that black refuse bags must be placed on sidewalks to be collected in Pearly Beach on Mondays, numerous complaints are received weekly regarding torn refuse bags and rubbish that is blown by the wind into nearby vacant plots. An urgent appeal is hereby made to all property owners not to put refuse bags on the sidewalks days in advance, but rather ask a neighbour to put it out on Mondays, or even better, put all refuse bags in a cradle outside the reach of cats and other wild creatures. And please, we want our town to live up to its nomination as cleanest town, pick up the rubbish around your house and in your street and thereby make an effort to improve the quality of life of all residents and visitors.     <<Back

ARGONAUTA ARGO COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE PAPER NAUTILUS
During the months of May and June many of these fascinating and much prized fragile shells have been washed up on our beaches, some of them still containing the octopus-like creature that spends its entire life in the shell. These shells can grow up to as much as 250mm in size but are rarely found on our coast much above 150 mm. Seagulls have learnt that the beached shells often still contain the creature and its eggs, so they peck holes in the shells hoping to find a tasty meal inside. Collectors in search of the best specimens must walk the beaches very early in the morning before the seagulls arrive. Not a great deal is known about the Paper Nautilus. It is a member of the Cephalopod family which includes octopus, squid and cuttlefish, all of which are molluscs. Only the female paper nautilus produces a shell, which is fairly narrow and boat like with a flat knobbly edged keel around the base. The shell is formed by a secretion from two of the female's tentacles and the same process is used to repair any damage. Paper Nautilus tend to drift around in the ocean currents near the surface, feeding on plankton and other slow-moving animals. The male is tiny and is free-swimming, but is often found hitching a ride with a female in her shell. The eggs are deposited into the shell, which acts as a primary brood chamber, but it is suspected that the female dies sometime after spawning. It is the combination of strong wind, sea currents and spawning that brings the Paper Nautilus to our beaches.
-Ian Cushny, Kleinmond Nature Conservation Society, Shell Group     <<Back

PEARLY BEACH CONSERVANCY / BEWARIA
The Pearly Beach Conservation Society is busy with the process of having Pearly Beach declared and registered as a conservation village with Cape Nature and for this process, we need your support. A conservancy is established by a voluntary agreement between landowners to co-operatively manage their properties in a responsible, environmentally friendly way in order to keep the environment in as pristine a condition as possible. Conservation objectives are achieved by co-operation and commitment to the conservation of the environment on private property.

Voordele van 'n Bewaria sluit in:
• Die gemeenskap se bewustheid en kennis van hulle omgewing neem toe;
• Die gemeenskap neem deel aan die bestuur van die omgewing;
• Natuurlike plant- en dierelewe word onderhou;
• Estetiese en ekonomiese waarde neem toe;
• Gemeenskapsaktiwiteite vermeerder;
• Veiligheid verbeter.

Lidmaatskap is vrywillig en elke lid kan besluit tot watter mate hy/sy betrokke wil wees. Vir die vorming van 'n Bewaria vereis Cape Nature dat 'n algemene vergadering gehou word en dat alle betrokke partye uitgenooi word. Hierdie vergadering sal saamval met die Bewaringsvereniging se Algemene Jaarvergadering op Woensdag 20 Desember 2006 om 10:00 in die NG Kerksaal, Pearly Beach. Die vergadering moet bepaal of die meerderheid ten gunste van 'n Bewaria is, en indien wel, moet 'n voorsitter en loodskomitee gekies word. To form a Conservancy, Cape Nature requires that a general meeting be called to which all interested parties are invited. This meeting will be held together with the Annual General Meeting of the Conservation Society on Wednesday 20 December 2006 at 10:00 in the NG Church Hall, Pearly Beach. The meeting must then establish whether the majority is in favour of a conservancy and if so, elect a chairperson and steering committee.

Please indicate whether you are in favour of the establishment of a Conservancy by completing the following tear-off slip and returning it before 30 November 2006 to the above address or placing it in a box kept in the Pearly Beach Herbarium. Comments are also welcome. For further information you could phone Elrina Versfeld on 021 - 8504107; Fax 021 - 850 4004; or send an e-mail to: elrina.versfeld@capetown.gov.za.

Name...........................................................................................
Erf no...........................................................................................
Tel no...........................................................................................
Are you in favour of a Pearly Beach Conservancy: Yes ‚   No ‚ Comments:..................................................................................
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ONTHOU ASB!!!
Om jou lidmaatskap te hernu - dis baie belangrik.

BAIE DANKIE!!!
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.     <<Back