SUBJECT: Soil: The dehydrated-eroded climate fossil resource.

Soil has been a major source of resource in produce-accounting pivotal role contribution, to date.

The Mpumalanga province considerably possess vast scale of such resource kind, concomitant to the  major contribution provided in strategic sectors having emerged par by-products made and received: agriculture, quarrying, construction… it is notion to considerably heed such beneficial importance.

However, over the past few years throughout hazardous and unfavourable, peril- influencing climate change years, the soil within Mpumalanga has attested non-being resilient as far from global warming repercussions and ramifications of climate change phenomena dominated toll locally.

Such incident adopted a cause trace far from the environmental drought and humid wind conditions experienced and exposed during the summer seasons- which heavily “gushed” way throughout resulting for an erosion effect in outcome.

Barberton town- the global geological and gold mining town, renowned of its historic geological formed feature world heritage site: Mkahonjwa mountain, withheld to none immunity as within the scourge of deteriorating and rife damaging drought posed a hard-knock-on-effect unto ground soil. Thus persistent damage of the natural texture, content and formation existence and relevance of ground soil become negatively affected so.

It disseminated to a larger extent whereby the precious sediments nutrients of sand have defaulted from own self metaphoric strength and biological resistance due to prolonged dryness and non-environmental conducive weakness caused by excessive heat.

Another challenge observed of related to fresh and productive soil forms and types both under and above-ground soil piles decreasing at uncontrollable accelerated alarming rate. Soil phases deteriorated in an unbalanced and depletion state. More so further were the soil levels state sent-off dilapidating across biological habitats, field, areas, water mashes, wetlands, springs, catchments and streams attributive to mountain lands, farms, recreational & residential areas.

Amid known that Mpumalanga climate suggests positions as adaptable hot province, dry and heat circumstances accelerated the conditions to it came to light to enhance in order to advance panacea mechanisms addressing the impact poised from it.

Such environmental discomfort owned cause of attempt which resulted authorities to enforce action; consider and influence the plight through innovative and consultative interventions with administrative modes. Department of Environment Affairs (DoEA) at national government sphere concomitant the Mpumalanga Provincial Governments Department of Agriculture, Rural and Environmental Affairs (Dardlea) embarked upon a governmental vertical integration partnership comprising of a governmental open-dialogue consultative channel communication channel/ network in order to outline, share and exchange pivotal environmental analysis, information, fast-tracked ideas and frameworks underpinned by the soil challenge. In the realisation to attain such was the established of an inter-departmental task team consisting of the following stakeholders:

·         Munipalities;

·         Communities;

·         Private sector and

·         Research institutions.

It being outlined that the main mandate of such was: To undertake investigation methodologies also to conduct research and analysis.

Hereby, post such the following resolution hypothesis consensus was reached and promulgated: soil non-neutrality and infertility.

Atmospheric and water pollution encapsulating toxic contaminants released from:

·         Mining;

·         Mineral refinery and power stations/plants;

·         Municipality waste dump sites;

·         Residential(illegal) waste dump sites;

·         Heavy wind conditions;

·         Heavy flood-rains;

·         Agricultural farms;

·         Construction areas.

…were of main cause of occurrence in result. 

It enlightened that social, environmental and economic factors underpinned as contributory factors whereby mining and energy productions activities (Witbank, Barberton, Middelburg) such as coal emissions and gold Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) spills emitted and polluted top ground soil to persists eminently deteriorating its formation and neutrality.

 Municipalities and household possessing both legal and illegal waste dump sites burn plastic, aluminium, metal, paper and copper waste which fused into the air and caused acidic rain chemical content to burn soil- resulting soil infertility.

Also agricultural farms: produce production, livestock ranching, horticulture practiced common and overgrazing practices and approaches without transformation for many year periods (aprx. 6yrs).

Furthermore, local farmers, due to climate change, over population diverted to growth and genetically modification chemicals use upon produce plantation and protection. The soil levels and layers have resorted infertile and infertile in terms of production.

Heavy rains attributive to climate change and global warming ramifications damaged water sequences and environment adaptability from catchments and drainage systems- faltering soil insect species habitats and ecosystems, life cycle.

In terms to annihilate and avert the catastrophic damage caused, the concerned stakeholders noted upon a resolution to adopt a risk prevention and elimination strategy as how to address such.

Governments (provincial and local) adopted a legal-binding framework encapsulating a financial reward (tax deduction) and sanction offering base unto polluting citizens and corporates concerned.

Environmental protection bills in sense set as for aversion motive were too introduced.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to specifically stimulate and strengthen the  “Climate Changers in Action” environmental conservation campaign policy and charter in decreasing pollution, accounting action and enhance innovation growth, was tabled and authorised.

More so, Dardlea brought-forward advice to encourage private sector establish environmental-friendly policies, campaigns and initiatives sought to advance public participation upon climate change and environmental concerns through forums and initiatives.