wetlands

Padel has exploded and is now encroaching on a wetland

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Residents in Thornhill Estate, Modderfontein are voicing their dismay over plans to construct new padel courts in the area. In particular, they have raised concerns about the potential environmental repercussions on a nearby wetland. The construction company behind the development – Nevada Group – have been singled out for disregarding by-law policies and community input. … Read more

All eyes are on the future of freshwater after a winter of record heat

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Quirks and Quarks19:36Water, water, everywhere. But will we have enough to drink? After a winter that smashed heat records, researchers around the world are taking a close look at how human disturbances and the rapidly changing climate are affecting the world’s freshwater supply. “We’re reducing both water quantity and water quality,” says Katrina Moser, an associate professor … Read more

How artificial intelligence can help beavers fight floods, droughts and wildfires

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A few years ago, a couple of Google employees reached out to a Minnesota scientist with an unusual proposal: What if they could teach computers to spot beaver habitats from space?  “They wanted to know if I thought it was possible to find beaver wetlands from aerial imagery myself, and then if that could be … Read more