From our editor
Dear reader , welcome to the first Issue of Grassroots for 2021 .
The Grassroots team wishes all our readers a prosperous 2021 . May we all make use of the opportunities that come our way and create new opportunities where possible .
Highlights of this issue We kick-off this issue with a new series , “ Tree of the month ”, by our sub-editor , Marnus Smit . Vachellia erioloba is the first tree under the spotlight . The grass and pasture of the month is Dactyloctenium australe and Avena sativa . In our feature article , Kelly Bernard focusses on birds as agents of restoration in the Albany Thicket Biome of the Eastern Cape province .
The reason for the death of 350 elephants in Botswana is once again a talking point after questions were raised as to why only elephants died from cyanobacterial poisoning . It is believed that fences played a major role in causing these deaths . On the other side of the world , the possibility of fenceless grazing for cows and wildlife is being explored with the use of GPS collars developed by a Norwegian company , Nofence .
Some good news is that South Africa achieved a crucial milestone for ecosystem research and that abundant rainfall in Namibia has turned this country green .
Make sure to check out a few of the interesting websites , webinars and podcasts on page 39 and some exciting upcoming events in 2021 . If you would like to become a member of the GSSA , please see the options on page 52 . Abstract submission is open for Congress 56 , please submit your abstract before 3 May 2021 .
Enjoy the read !
Best regards
Malissa
Editorial Committee
Editor Malissa Murphy
Sub-Editors Charné Viljoen Marnus Smit
Layout and Design J . C . Aucamp
Administration Erica Joubert
Contact us If you have any feedback , comments , or suggestions , feel free to contact us at : info @ grassland . org . za
@ GrasslandSocietyofSouthernAfrica
@ GrasslandSocSA
Grassland Society of Southern Africa
GrasslandSociety
Despite the care and attention that we devote to the structure of this newsletter and the information it contains , the Grassroots Editorial Team cannot guarantee the completeness and accuracy of the data . The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial team .
Grassroots Vol 21 No 1 March 2021 02