Izak Smit, University of Pretoria; Dian Spear, University of Cape Town; Marina Joubert, Stellenbosch University, and Nicola van Wilgen-Bredenkamp, Stellenbosch University Fire can destroy infrastructure and livelihoods, and claim lives. Yet fire is inevitable and has helped to shape ecosystems … Read More
Recently published research shows that sustained and targeted efforts in conservation can reverse adverse trends – no doubt aided by nature’s astonishing power to regenerate itself, given half a chance. Cranes are a subject close to the heart of Friends … Read More
Work by Steve Johnson and his team at the School of Life Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal expands our knowledge of how this plant is pollinated. Streptocarpus dunnii is associated with mistbelt grasslands, and grows on Verloren Valei, so … Read More
BirdLife South Africa, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, and the Department of Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) in the Free State, together with support from the Ingula Partnership (a collaboration between Eskom Holdings (SOC) Ltd, Middelpunt Wetland Trust, … Read More
Take advantage of these opportunities to visit the beautiful Verloren Valei Nature Reserve near Dullstroom in the company of experts. Verloren Valei is a pristine wetland reserve northeast of Dullstroom, and is renowned as a biodiversity hotspot. Rare indigenous orchids … Read More
Hannes Marais, Wetland Scientist, MTPA, shared some of his knowledge on a recent field trip. By James van den Heever One of the most important reasons for conserving Verloren Valei is the significant contribution it makes to securing South Africa’s … Read More
We are slowly building up a picture of the contribution to the country’s scarce (and vital) water resources made by the reserve. By James van den Heever Following on from a previous article detailing the results of water measurement in … Read More
Following on from the recent biodiversity stewardship webinar, here’s heartening news of how to take this concept further using an innovative carbon-credit scheme in partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust and BirdLife Africa. A farmer in the Free State broke … Read More
Adrian Wood, University of Huddersfield Swamps, marshes, floodplains and mangrove forests, all known as wetlands, are a precious resource. In their natural state they provide a range of eco-system services. They regulate water flows, store eroded materials and nutrients and … Read More
The biodiversity threat won’t be tackled by alarmist biologist hype and dismantling capitalism. By Matt Ridley | @mattwridley Driven perhaps by envy at the attention that climate change is getting, and ambition to set up a great new intergovernmental body that can … Read More
