Like 16% of South Africa’s plant species, thousands of languages worldwide are endangered. Some experts predict that up to 90% of the world’s languages will vanish within the next century.
According to some scientists, bushveld is considered a primarily vernacular term used in South Africa and Namibia for the vegetation that comprises South Africa’s Savanna Biome.
The publication of The Field Guide to the Renosterveld of the Overberg, is a manifestation of this kind of effort; another clear milestone for a committed group of people who care deeply
With 60% of humanity’s ecological footprint being carbon, there is no hiding from the climate crisis, which is already impacting on the ecosystems and biodiversity of southern Africa.
Today South Africa’s botanical gardens hold an extraordinary and diverse range of plant collections, representing South Africa’s megadiverse flora across all its ecosystems.
As the climate crisis has escalated, an increasing global focus has been placed on forests due to their potential for climate change mitigation through carbon storage.
With their often spectacular flowers, Proteas are some of South Africa’s most well-known plants. There are currently 112 known species that have been described following the Protea genus being described by Linnaeus in 1735.
South Africa is a country that is world famous for its extraordinary biodiversity. Recognised as one of the earth’s 17 megadiverse nations which combined contain two thirds of the world’s plant diversity, South Africa sits in the top ten nations for plant species richness worldwide.
From the tiniest moss to the tallest of trees, the world is home to an extraordinary diversity of plants. In fact, there are currently more than 391 000 plant species currently known to science, of which 369 000 are flowering plants.
Jenny Potgieter from the Outramps Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) group has chosen a selection of three Southern Cape long tubed Erica species to introduce you
The fynbos of South Africa’s Cape Floristic Region (CFR) is typified by three plant families: The Proteaceae, Restionaceae and Ericaceae.
South Africa is fortunate to have a multitude of excellent biodiversity resources which enable us to “love what we understand”. One of our key guides is the National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA)
South Africa’s grasslands covers one third of the country, and are home to an extraordinary range of biodiversity. With more than twenty years of involvement in various aspects of plant conservation
So what is a threatened species? How does a species become threatened with extinction? South Africa is currently home to around 20 000 known species of plants, constituting around 10% of all plant species found on Earth.
So what are Marasmodes? Marasmodes are a small genus of shrubs that belong to the Asteraceae or Daisy family. There are currently thirteen recognised species, all of which grow in lowland renosterveld and fynbos vegetation.
South Africa’s winter rainfall zone is home to one of the richest assemblages of bulbous plants on Earth
Tucked away 6km off the R44 between Bettys Bay and Kleinmond, the Kogelberg Nature Reserve is one of the hidden gems of Overberg region. Considered the heart of the Cape Floristic Region
The story of Erica verticillata is one of the most iconic tales from the world of plant conservation. Hailed as one of the most successful examples of a species brought back from the brink by botanic gardens’ conservation programmes
Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve is one of Durban’s hidden gems. The reserve is normally closed to the public except by appointment but opens on the third Saturday morning of each month for guided walks led by the Honorary Officers
South Africa’s fynbos is a fire prone and fire dependent vegetation, making it a tough neighbour to live alongside when the summer fires come.
Known for its bizarre paintbrush-like flowers, the genus Haemanthus is one of the most famous of the Amaryllidaceae family. When autumn comes to the veld and little else is in flower
The Overberg area is also home to several fantastic conservation organisations that work tirelessly to conserve threatened habitats in this area.
These are the Leucospermums, which are part of the Proteaceae, one of the three key families that typify South Africa’s famous fynbos vegetation.
It is not without reason that Nieuwoudtville is known as the ‘Bulb Capital of the World’. In spring the veld comes into bloom in a plethora of colour, drawing visitors from all over South Africa and beyond to see the spectacular displays.
