S A S A Q S
n e w s

Spring 1997

GAUTENG, NORTHERN PROVINCE AND MPUMALANGA REGIONAL REPORT-BACK

-- Dirk Roux

Since the 1996 Vic Fall Conference, which was organised by Gauteng members, this northern region has had a relatively dry year in terms of society activities. In a recent letter to regional members, I asked for input regarding a few specific issues. Although the response rate was too low to regard the outcome as representative, I summarise some of the feedback below.

Members seem to agree that a representative for each of the three provinces, rather than one regional representative, would improve communication among members as well as organisation of, and participation in, local activities. Such an arrangement would, however, be subject to the availability of a representative in each of the provinces.

At the end of my second term as regional representative I believe that it is time to have new energy and enthusiasm for this position, and I will not be available for reelection. Regional members were asked to put forward nominations for a representative to serve on the Council for the next three-year term. These nominations were to be directed to the Society Secretary.

Two interesting snippets from the activities of local members:

• Tony Turton (you may remember him from Vic Falls) has completed a Master's thesis on the Hydropolitics of Southern Africa. His study focussed on the Zambezi Basin States and South Africa. Tony's study included the development of a model to explain the likely patterns of hydropolitical interaction within the southern African region. The model also provides a tentative explanation of behaviour within international river basin authorities.

• René Glen has been compiling a list of aquatic plants that occur in southern Africa, recording their habitats, growth form, conservation status and origin. The idea is to create a database with the mentioned information as well as salinity, ecological importance, economic attributes, control methods and current literature related to these taxa. Perhaps some of you have done similar work on aquatic fauna, or have supporting data on the aquatic plants. René would appreciate any input or suggestions and can be contacted at the National Botanical Institute in Pretoria.