Protect the West Coast (PTWC) has appealed the Environmental Authorisation for a mining operation across a huge area south of the Orange River estuary on the Northern Cape coast. The mining right spans more than 84,000 hectares. PTWC scientists estimate that roughly 5,000 hectares could be mined should this application be successful – an extent equal to 5,000 international rugby fields. PTWC lawyers said that the application lacked meaningful public participation, and was beset by woefully inadequate environmental planning and rehabilitation that posed a significant threat to the environment and communities.

Protect the West Coast (PTWC) invites all those who love and support the West Coast to attend the Ripple Effect Gathering at the Langebaan Town Hall on Saturday 14 March for an inclusive celebration and forum to showcase the amazing resilience and potential of the West Coast. We call on like-minded people concerned about the damaging effects of illegal and unchecked mining to gather for a communal brainstorm to come up with strategies to promote alternative, sustainable industries that protect the West Coast environment and the economic future of her people beyond extractive industries.

Protect the West Coast (PTWC) has aligned with Save The Waves Coalition, an international nonprofit that works with organisations dedicated to protecting ‘surf ecosystems’ around the world. PTWC MD Mike Schlebach and Communications Manager Miles Masterson attended the recent Save the Waves Coalition Summit in Santa Cruz, California on a fact-finding mission to learn more about how PTWC can play a key role to protect key surf spots in South Africa and Africa, and the vulnerable ecosystems around them.

A 90 kilogram sculpture of a Cape Gannet that stands five metres high has been crafted from driftwood for Protect the West Coast. Kommetjie artist Chip Snaddon was commissioned to create the huge bird as an iconic symbol of the threatened and endangered fauna and flora of the West Coast that PTWC is trying to protect from heavy mineral and diamond sand mining.

The West Coast has been bombarded by a surge in mining prospecting applications this month near Critically Biodiversity areas. Protect the West Coast (PTWC) experts have raised grave concerns about the threat to endangered fauna and flora, and warn that proposed rehabilitation budgets are woefully inadequate. PTWC urges the public to unite as a single voice via its digital public participation platform www.ripl.co.za. Register or log onto Ripl by November 19 to object to these applications and raise your environmental and legal concerns to prevent lasting harm to some of the most biodiverse and unique habitats in the world.