#PROTECT

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.

Photos by: Suvarna Parbhoo Mohan

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 document and protect the region’s rich plant diversity. The collection of botanical data enables mapping and prioritisation of crucial conservation action in targeted areas. 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 aim to “Protect” resonates deeply with the need to conserve our indigenous plant species, many of which face extinction threats.

PARTICIPATING CITIES AND REGIONS

The GSB 2024 covers ten areas within the summer rainfall region, spanning six provinces. Here’s what BotSoc members can expect in each area:

KWAZULU-NATAL

KwaZulu-Natal participates with a mix of stewardship and protected areas, such as Meycol Nature Reserve and the KwaCele Stewardship site. These areas are crucial for plant conservation and demonstrate a successful community engagement model. For example, the KwaCele Stewardship site is home to kanferfoelie (Turraea pulchella), a vulnerable species with delicate white flowers. Protecting habitats like these ensures the survival of such exquisite plants.

Municipally managed stewardship sites, like Assagay and Ingwehumbe, are fascinating because they are under-sampled, with very few records of flowering plants for September. This presents an opportunity for new discoveries during the bioblitz. Notable threatened species you might encounter in the eThekwini and Midlands regions include wild squill (Merwilla plumbea), beautiful brachystelma (Brachystelma pulchellum), and Phymaspermum pinnatifidum. For those along the south coast, the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve is a highlight, with the possibility of spotting the Pondoland endemics umtamvuna watsonia (Watsonia mtamvunae) and umtamvuna eriosema (Eriosema umtamvunense) in bloom.

GAUTENG

In Gauteng, urbanisation and mining pressures, especially in the Cullinan area, pose significant challenges to plant conservation. However, places like Windy Brow Game Reserve and the Sekhoeng Protected Area offer crucial refuges for native plants. Cullinan is home to the threatened wild squill (Merwilla plumbea) and cliff adromischus (Adromischus umbraticola), which are increasingly at risk due to mine expansion and urbanisation amongst other threats. The GSB plays a critical role in documenting and protecting these species.

MPUMALANGA

In Mpumalanga, the focus is on the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, mainly the under-sampled Mariepskop site. This area is rich in spring-flowering plants, including the threatened blyde sugarbush (Protea laetans) and Pearsonia hirsuta. The bioblitz offers a unique opportunity to discover more botanical treasures in this spectacular reserve.

NORTH WEST AND FREE STATE

The North West and Free State provinces have selected urban-adjacent sites urgently requiring biodiversity documentation. Potchefstroom focuses on Eleazer Street, while in Bloemfontein, Naval Hill Nature Reserve takes centre stage. These sites have minimal observations on iNaturalist, highlighting the need for rapid documentation of species biodiversity in urban areas. The GSB is invaluable in these efforts, helping to protect natural green spaces, even within our cities.

BotSoc-CREW Limpopo.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE AND PROTECT

Participation in the GSB is open to everyone, not just experts. You can contribute to protecting our plant species by documenting observations using the iNaturalist app. Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Download the iNaturalist App: Set up your profile, and you’re ready to start making observations.
2. Join your city’s project: Search for your city’s project within the app, join it, and any observations you make over the annual GSB weekend, will automatically be added to the project.
3. Add your observations: Whether photographing a rare plant or recording a bird’s sound, each observation contributes to a more considerable conservation effort. Remember to keep your location services on for accurate data recording.

The opportunity to contribute to citizen science isn’t limited to the annual GSB weekend – the iNaturalist app can be used to collect important plant data by making observations year-round.

THE ROAD AHEAD: A CALL TO PROTECT

The Great Southern Bioblitz 2024 is a powerful reminder that the fight to protect our plant species is ongoing. Every rediscovered orchid, every safeguarded protea, and every stewardship site demonstrates the impact we can make when we unite with a shared purpose as a plant-loving community. However, these successes also highlight the fragility of our ecosystems and the constant threats they face.

As we move forward, we must continue to engage with and support initiatives like the GSB. Protecting our plant species is not just about preserving the past; it’s about ensuring a future where biodiversity can thrive. Let BotSoc’s “Protect” theme in our mantra inspire all of us to take action – whether by participating in bioblitzes, supporting grassroots conservation action programmes, or spreading the word about the importance of our Indigenous plants.

-By Eunezia Sitoe, BotSoc-CREW SSR Conservation Project Coordinator