On 8 November 2025, the community of Phalaubeni in Limpopo marked a milestone many thought impossible just a few years ago: the official launch of its community-led Eco-Tourism Office and newly established hiking trails. But the true story is not about buildings or trails – it is about a profound shift in identity and mindset.

Across South Africa a growing and often hidden threat is quietly stripping our landscapes of unique and irreplaceable plants. Driven by demand for rare succulents and locally sought-after ornamental species, the illegal harvesting of protected plants (often referred to as plant poaching) is pushing some species toward extinction and undermining efforts to conserve our natural heritage.