Consultants key to building climate-ready infrastructure

As Africa faces growing climate threats – from droughts and floods to rising temperatures – the continent’s infrastructure must become more resilient. Consulting engineering company Alpenglow Consulting says consulting firms are now critical actors in designing projects that not only withstand these challenges but also help communities adapt and thrive. Innovative design, data-driven climate modelling and collaboration with financiers and governments are the means through which consulting firms are embedding climate resilience at every stage of infrastructure development, says Alpenglow Consulting consultant Mbamwabi Chilembo.
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Reserve clears invasive species, aids biomass production

Black wattle trees, an invasive species, outcompete native plant species, thereby reducing biodiversity and significantly impacting on water resources, which is why Eastern-Cape-based wildlife reserve Lalibela approached the Coega Biomass Centre (CBC) for a mutually-beneficial solution. Black wattle, Acacia mearnsii, is an invasive species that arrived in South Africa from Australasia. A single adult tree can absorb up to 40 ℓ/d of underground water, and the plants spread rapidly. According to the National Environmental Management Biodiversity and the Alien and Invasive Species Regulations, landowners are legally required to manage these species.
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