ABERDEEN NEWS — The botanical world is aflutter at the discovery of a possible new succulent species of the Nananthus genus on the Karoo flats around Aberdeen.
Local farmers Phillip and Joan McNaughton were assessing their sheep on their farm Kariegesfontein, 45kms West of Aberdeen and were walking across a flat, cracked silt pan when Joan noticed the tiny plant.
“It was pushing up through one of these cracks shielded by a bush. We knew right away we had never seen it before. I wanted to know what the experts thought so I posted my photographs on Ispot,” McNaughton said.
UK-based succulent expert Derek Tribble responded immediately, confirming McNaughton’s view that it was a succulent of the Nananthus genus and pointing out that its discovery in lowland habitat was in itself fascinating. Nananthus has only ever been found above the escarpment.
What is of concern to the McNaughtons and the broader community, is that the impending threat of uranium mining in the 35 000ha Kareepoort mining bloc, will threaten the habitat of this plant. Even though their farm is outside the proposed area, the plant was also discovered on a neighboring farmer, Chris Hayward’s farm, which is inside the bloc.
“We have big winds around here and, with the prevailing one being north-west, we are directly downwind of the proposed mine,” McNaughton said.
“We are concerned that uranium mining could generate radioactive dust which could threaten not only us and our workers, our livestock, our meat and our mohair but also the natural environment, including this possibly unique plant.”
What is of concern to the McNaughtons is the long term (1000yrs plus) impact of radioactive contamination of surface and ground water, that is then spread by dust on the wind. It is well known that uranium and its daughter products are toxic and will permanently affect, not only the flora but entire ecosystems in the Karoo. While the Kareepoort bloc has stated that the uranium mine will provide jobs for 42 people, these jobs require specialised skills that locals do not have.
A specimen of the Nananthus has been collected by Grahamstown’s Schonland Herbarium and will be checked to see if it is indeed a new species. If this is the case, the McNaughtons are hoping that the biodiversity of this fragile area will be taken more seriously and that authorities will consider the long-term effect of long-term uranium pollution in the area.
“If they make a mistake it will be a mistake for thousands of years,” he said.
“When you drive down our long straight roads the Karoo looks monochrome but when you walk into it, you see the diversity.
“We want the costs of uranium mining to be thoroughly studied before any decision is made.”
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