On November 6, budding conservationists, armed with pencils, clipping boards, data sheets and loads of enthusiasm, scouted the Olifants and Blyde Rivers for all things alive. They had joined scientists and other volunteers on the second bi-annual biodiversity day held in the Kruger2Canyon biosphere.
Teams of 12 to 18 were assigned to the eight sites along the rivers. Each team included a water scientist as well as terrestrial expert.
Although the day's activities are based on scientific principles, the main aim of the day is education and awareness of the environment and its importance to man.
The children, who are from neighbouring communities in the Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit areas, will be producing a poster about their experience.
The data will be used scientifically to examine the health of the rivers at different sites. The event was sponsored by the Palabora Mining Company and the South African Environmental Observation Network.
