Reflections of spring on the Highveld plateau As Earth’s axial tilt brings the southern hemisphere closer to the sun, days become longer and the cold grip of winter loosens its hold. The shift in temperature and day length triggers the arrival of spring flowering across South Africa. While the iconic floral displays of the west coast signal the end of the growing season, the species in Gauteng are breaking dormancy in anticipation of the summer rains and the start of the new growth cycle.

n the far northwestern corner of our beloved country lies the world’s most diverse mountain desert landscape – home to an astonishing assortment of plant and animal life. For most of us, the idea of a desert landscape would bring up images of desolate sand dunes, extreme heat, the absence of water and indeed a place that is inhospitable to life. But That is not what you will find in the Richtersveld. Despite the harshness of its climate, it teams with life and biological diversity – making this unique region one of South Africa’s priority conservation areas. Over the past several decades, the steady decline in biodiversity due to the impacts of mining, habitat loss, land use change, climate change and plant poaching has once again focused the lens on the fragility of the arid and semi-arid ecosystems, particularly in the Ai/Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park located on both sides of the Orange River (original name !Garib meaning River or Great River, also known as Groot Rivier or Gariep). In response to these mounting conservation pressures, on the South African side of the river the Richtersveld National Park, with its unique joint management arrangement between the community and South African National Parks (SANParks), has been quietly partnering with the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) Karoo Desert and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. During the week of the 19th of August 2024, a historical celebration took place to highlight the importance of this partnership and to acknowledge the key role of the Richtersveld communities. The event took place at the Sendelingsdrift rest camp and was co-hosted by SANParks, SANBI and the Richtersveld Community Management Committee (RCMC). The main objective of the event was to pause, reflect and celebrate the amazing achievements of collaborative work that has taken place particularly over the past four years between these two sister organisations.

Rooted in resilience at this year’s 45th Fynbos Forum conference The BotSoc Conservation team recently participated in the 45th Fynbos Forum held in Stellenbosch, South Africa, from 6-8 August 2024. We were joined by conservation managers, land use planners, landowners, conservation practitioners, and researchers under this year’s conference theme - Rooted Resilience: Navigating the Future of Fynbos Conservation.

Safeguarding Our Flora: The Role of the Great Southern Bioblitz in the Summer Rainfall Region In the heart of South Africa's Summer Rainfall Region, a concerted effort is underway to protect and document the region's rich plant diversity. The Great Southern Bioblitz (GSB) 2024 is at the forefront of this mission, bringing together conservationists, volunteers, and local communities in a collective endeavour to safeguard our botanical treasures. The Botanical Society of South Africa's theme, "Protect," resonates deeply with the need to conserve our indigenous plant species, many of which face extinction threats.

About an hour from Cape Town, South Africa, lies the award-winning San cultural heritage centre, !Khwa ttu. Situated on former farmland, this centre focuses on preserving San culture and uplifting the San community in southern Africa. Over the past 28 years, !Khwa ttu has evolved into a bustling cultural hub, nature reserve, and restaurant that supports the education and training of San people, many of whom are now part of the permanent staff. The organisation demonstrates how cultural preservation not only uplifts communities but can also be an effective form of biodiversity conservation. Efforts to restore the land for cultural purposes have revived local biodiversity, creating a flourishing ecosystem.

Veld Fluister is a celebration of the quiet, unspoken connections we have with the veld, where every plant and every experience tells a story. In this new series, we shine a light on the personal journeys of our members as they immerse themselves in nature. Their stories remind us of the powerful, often unexpected encounters with biodiversity that are waiting just beyond our everyday view. Whether it's a blooming flower or the arrival of migratory birds, the veld speaks to all of us in different ways.

The importance of cultivating healthier habits for both people and the planet

The Giving Garden - Rethinking the food-medicine continuum in the urban sprawl

Ecosystem Corridors - A web of plant connection with the focus on “No Mow” areas

Innovations in plant poaching to conserve SA’s plants

Showcasing and sharing some wonderful initiatives that reports on linking remnant plant habitats for plant and wildlife conservation in urban spaces. Whats in season for birds? https://botanicalsociety.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Whats-in-season-for-birds.pdf

Showcasing how to practically apply climate-smart gardening techniques using attractive indigenous plants and natural methods in your garden, balcony pots and indoor plants.

Showcasing how to practically apply climate-smart gardening techniques using attractive indigenous plants and natural methods in your garden, balcony pots and indoor plants.

“My favourite part was going to the lake at the Durban botanic gardens to learn all about it and the nature that is there,”

Showcasing our conservation priorities, and how you can get involved.

“The ecosystem here has dune, forest, wetlands and mountains all in delicate balance,” says Berenice.

Is the pepperbark doomed to die out in the Kruger National Park?

Discover the secrets behind those great photographs released by Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden – and taken by photographer and environmental interpretation officer Alice Notten

This all-in-one panorama of a section of the Ankaratra massif and its challenges, from about 2 200 metres, looks towards a small peak at 2 406 metres, with Tsiafajavona (2 463 metres) in the distance on the left.

Follow the twists and turns of a botanical detective story after local botanists were shocked by the Clanwilliam cedar losing its proudly SA botanical name more than a decade ago.

Martina Treurnicht calls herself a fynbosser – someone energised by all things fynbos – and brings a love of nature and the outdoors to her role as BotSoc’s conservation project manager.

The Great Southern BioBlitz was a wonderful opportunity for the passionate young Mpondoland team to come from nowhere.

Ever since I was a little girl I have found myself drawn to nature and conservation

“The question I get asked most often is how to make a small garden beautiful,”