Peat bogs, mangroves, seagrass beds and frozen soils quietly hold the keys to Earth’s carbon balance – but when these ancient systems falter, the climate debt comes due – and fast.
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.
A quiet but highly significant policy rift is opening among southern African states as the world turns its attention to CITES CoP20, scheduled for 24 November 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
In January 1990, four visionaries — Clive Walker, Marilyn Dougall, Laurie Wright, and Frances Gamble — gathered with a shared purpose: to bring structure, credibility, and professional standards to a field that had, until then, relied purely on passion and bush intuition. With a modest fund of R1,000, the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) was born.
Malaria remains one of the world’s most devastating infectious diseases, claiming more than half a million lives each year. In Africa, the illness is mostly caused by a parasite carried by mosquitoes – Plasmodium falciparum.
In Mpumalanga, where farmland, forests, mining, and communities meet the Kruger National Park, Professor Dan Parker leads groundbreaking research on how humans and nature can coexist. Backed by a major research chair funded by Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation, he is exploring how science can guide sustainable solutions amid competing development and conservation needs in a climate-challenged world.
A couple of things come to mind from this state of affairs. The first is that some provincial governments did not do their jobs. The second is that there are concerns about past overestimates.
South Africa’s avitourism industry is a vital pillar of ecotourism and a significant contributor to the national economy. Recognised globally as a premier birding destination, the country attracts visitors eager to witness species like the vibrant Narina Trogon, endemic Rockjumpers, and Sugarbirds. These visitors bring essential income to local communities, support small businesses, and create jobs where opportunities are limited – all for the love of birds.
On the 7th of September, the world bore witness to a moment of celestial theatre as the Sun, Earth, and Moon took to the cosmic stage.
