nature

The sensory garden at Athlone School for the Blind will promote education and exposure to biodiversity. The pupils will also be involved in maintaining it and nurturing the plants.

Grootbos Nature Reserve is one of five African destinations on National Geographic's Unique Lodges of the World list - three from South Africa and two from Tanzania. It has also been nominated for an international Tourism for Tomorrow Award for its conservation programmes.

Ian Player "worked tirelessly, fully committed to his life’s work of nature conservation and his quest to understand the human spirit and psyche", the Wilderness Foundation said of its 87-year-old founder, who passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday.

The recent earthquake in South Africa's North West province was most likely a natural earthquake triggered by decades of mining activity, and might require a rethink of building codes in mining areas, experts said during a recent panel discussion hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

Run by PhD candidate Kenalemang Kgoroeadira, Thojane Organic Farm combines traditional African knowledge with modern permaculture techniques to produce retail-worthy organic produce and a sustainable source of income.

Climate change need not spell disaster for Africa, a panel of experts agrees. But to mitigate its effects, strong enforcement of laws needs to be put in place, and urban planning needs to be modernised and include urban green planning. Trees must be planted and open spaces preserved.

The Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, South Africa's fourth internationally recognised Man and Biosphere Reserve, aims both to conserve nature and wildlife and to improve the lives of 1.5-million people living near conservation areas in the region stretching from the Blyde River Canyon to the Kruger National Park.