SA Biodiversity
@SANBI_ZA
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South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) champions biodiversity for the benefit and enjoyment of all South African people. 🇿🇦 Tel: 012 843 5000
Joined October 2011
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We are very pleased and thankful that for the first time since 2014, the Brunsvigia bosmaniae, also known as March lilies (or shall we call them ‘April lilies’ this year?) are going to flower in their masses at Hantam NBG.
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His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, visited the Pretoria National Botanical Garden this afternoon. He was received by Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, and SANBI CEO, Mr Shonisani Munzhedzi and National…
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Our
#PlantOfTheWeek
is Holothrix randii. This orchid is easier to spot among the grasses in the morning, because the flowers look shiny and silver from a distance. A closer look at the front of a flower, reveals its maroon anther inside the fringed white petals.
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Did you know approximately 62% of the world's cycad species are at risk of extinction? South Africa is regarded as a cycad hotspot as it has the highest cycad diversity worldwide
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National botanical gardens are set to open to the public on 3 August 2020. However, the gardens will be open solely for the purpose of exercise, subject to health protocols. Certain activities will be prohibited and these include picnicking, braaiing & gathering in social groups
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South Africa is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. It is surrounded by 2 oceans, is about 2 percent of the world's land area and home to nearly 10 percent of the world's plants, 7 percent of the reptiles, birds and mammals
Pic: Conservation Action
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The Cape Floral Kingdom is South Africa's botanical pride and joy. It is the smallest, yet richest plant kingdom in the world.🌷🌍🇿🇦
📸:
@CapeNature1
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South Africa is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, after Indonesia and Brazil. It's surrounded by 2 oceans, is about 2 percent of the world's land area and home to nearly 10 percent of the world's plants, 7 percent of the reptiles, birds and mammals
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Great news! Our exhibit has received another GOLD medal at the
#ChelseaFlowerShow
. This brings us to a total of 36 gold medals over 43 years of exhibiting at this prestigious show.
What better day to receive the award than on the
#InternationalDayforBiologicalDiversity
🌻🐞🐟🦎
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📢And there it is folks..we won gold!!!!🥇🌟🇿🇦⛰️🌸🌷🌼🥀💚🌍
#MountainsOfAbundance
#ChelseaFlowerShow2019
#BiodiversityForLife
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Tsitsikamma is the oldest Marine Protected Area in Africa and a treasure trove of marine life. This wild stretch of coastline is characterised by dramatic cliffs and rugged rocks, backed by forests home to ancient yellowwood trees and fynbos grasslands
📸Peter Chadwick
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We are a rich storehouse of valuable information on plant life, climate, ecosystems and the biodiversity of South Africa
#BiodiversityForLife
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Wetlands play a vital role of removing toxic substances and sediment from water, while also improving downstream water quality and the overall health of communities. Happy
#WorldWetlandsDay
!!
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Cycads are some of the world’s oldest plants. They have existed for 340 million years and are also some of the most endangered plants. South Africa is home to 38 indigenous cycad species, and is therefore an important place for cycad diversity.
#BiodiversityForLife
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Are you looking for a place to enjoy the Easter weekend? Our botanical and zoological gardens are open 7 days a week. Please follow the link to view the entrance fees, opening and closing time at your nearest garden 🌳
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SANBI has identified and mapped 440 vegetation types for SA, Lesotho and Swaziland, and the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands
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Rain falls on the Bokkeveld Plateau in winter and spring, producing exquisite displays of annuals and geophytes which cover the ground in a rich carpet of colour.
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The long-proboscid fly species (Prosoeca marinusi) from Nieuwoudtville has been named after Hantam National Botanical Gardens curator, Eugene Marinus. SANBI would like to congratulate him, as we know him to be very passionate about the long-proboscid flies.
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The last 3 years have seen a rise in illegal harvesting of South African succulents for the horticultural trade, especially from the Succulent Karoo area. This has placed extreme pressure on natural populations of succulents in the region, threatening rare restricted endemics.
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Our PlantZAfrica website () celebrates all the plants of southern Africa. Each week we bring you two new Plants of the Week, and the Information Library contains hundreds of articles about southern Africa plants and related topics
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We manage Thohoyandou National Botanical Garden. It is scheduled to become SA’s 11th national botanical garden. The 89ha garden, comprised mainly of Soutpansberg Mountain Bushveld vegetation, will be the first national botanical garden to be established in the Limpopo Province
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We rely on our mountain catchments for the
#water
we use and the quality and quantity of water we get is in turn heavily dependent on the health of the catchment
#ecosystems
.
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Nelson Mandela Bay has the highest percentage of endemic marine invertebrates and seaweeds along South Africa's coastline, making it a great place to conserve biodiversity. Habitats include dunes, sandy beaches, rocky shores, reefs, an estuary and islands.
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KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden is a garden with grandeur and charm, offering an experience of nature's authenticity with the Plane Tree Avenue, Natural Forest, Insect Hotel, Clivia Dam and theme gardens like the Zulu Demonstration Garden, Cycad and Permaculture Garden
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Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden was established in 1913, and was the first botanical garden in the world to be devoted to the indigenous flora of a single country
#BiodiversityForLife
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Our
#AnimaOfTheWeek
is the Table Mountain Ghost Frog. It is a rare frog species that is endemic to Table Mountain in the Western Cape. It has a very small natural range of 7–8 km2 that is restricted to perennial mountain streams on the eastern and southern slopes of the mountain
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Kirstenbosch's
#Protea
Garden displays plants from the remarkable protea family. This area is at its best during winter and spring months (May - October) when the proteas, leucadendrons and serrurias are in bloom
#BiodiversityForLife
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Did you know the
#SucculentKaroo
is the world's only arid global
#biodiversity
hotspot? The hallmark of the Succulent Karoo is its exceptionally diverse and endemic-rich flora
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Our solutions are in nature. Today we commemorate International Day for Biological Diversity. Despite all our technological advances we are entirely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for our water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter and energy
#BiodiversityDay2020
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Good morning. SANBI showcases the spectacular floral wealth of our country at the
#ChelseaFlowerShow2017
today. 🇿🇦
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Our animal of the week is the Cape Elephant Shrew.It is an insectivorous mammal, native to South Africa. It is usually found in rocky areas
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Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA) are areas required to meet biodiversity targets for ecosystems, species and ecological processes, as identified in a systematic biodiversity plan.
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Kirstenbosch Protea Garden displays plants from the remarkable protea family. This area is at its best during winter and spring months (May - October) when the proteas, leucadendrons and serrurias are in bloom
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The Sekhukhune Bushman’s Tea, also known as mohlolodi, is a medium sized tree, endemic to South Africa and distributed along the south-eastern parts of Limpopo and northern Mpumalanga
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The Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden is home to a large succulent collection that can be viewed with prearranged guided tours, various self-guided trails in the cultivated sections and three hiking trails on the estate
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South Africa is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, after Indonesia and Brazil. It is surrounded by 2 oceans, occupies about 2% of the world's land area, is home to nearly 10% of the world's plants, 7% of the reptiles, birds and mammals
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Cycads are the world’s oldest plants. They have existed for 340 million years-but they are also the most endangered. SA is home to 38 indigenous cycad species, and is therefore an important centre for cycad diversity
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Apart from their spiky leaves, cycads have developed very potent poisons to make sure that they are left alone. These poisons are neurotoxins that attack the nervous system and protect the plant from herbivores and insects that can cause damage to the seed cones.
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Blyde River Canyon is rich with plant life that’s influenced by extreme climates, differing altitudes and soil settings
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SANBI is currently managing what is scheduled to become South Africa’s 11th national botanical garden, currently known as the Thohoyandou Botanical Garden
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This Sunday, Kirstenbosch will host two of SA’s most exciting acts,
@ShoMadjozi
&
@PrinceKaybee_SA
. The concerts held in association with
@OldMutualSA
proudly showcases the best in local musical talent and is excited by this double debut. Tickets still available at webtickets.
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SANBI notes the reports on the state of the National Zoological Garden (NZG). The NZG has been on a facilities improvement drive for the last two years. As you can imagine a property the size of the NZG must be tackled in stages. SANBI has already completed a significant amount…
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The uniquely attractive flowers of our
#PlantOfTheWeek
, Microloma sagittatum, draw attention to this otherwise insignificant, plain looking, slender climber that grows in between other shrubs.
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Our
#PlantOfTheWeek
is Encephalartos msinganus. A medium-sized, glossy green cycad, it occurs in the Msinga area in KZN; it grows in short grassland on steep north-facing slopes, suckering from the base to form clumps. It's a rare cycad on the brink of extinction in the wild.
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Our
#PlantOfTheWeek
is Boophone haemanthoides. It is a summer-flowering geophyte growing up to 500 mm tall. It looks very much like a primitive plant with most of its massive scaly bulb visible above ground. Some of the largest bulbs can be more than a hundred years old.
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Did you know the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Mountain Range is the highest in southern Africa? It exceeds an average altitude of 3000 metres, forming the highest mountain range south of the Kilimanjaro. It offers splendid natural beauty and awesome hiking trails
#SouthAfrica
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The Bokkeveld Plateau, outside the town of Nieuwoudtville, is a place of hidden treasures in the Northern Cape.
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On this day, we encourage each and every person to play a part in protecting our natural splendour. Happy World Environment Day everyone💚🌍🌿
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Good morning. We are at the Travel Indaba in Durban this week. Our stand is looking fantastic!💚
#Indaba19
#BiodiversityForLife
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Pollinators are a key component of global biodiversity, providing vital ecosystem services to crops and wild plants
Pic: Jason Leung
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South Africa is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. It is surrounded by 2 oceans, is about 2 percent of the world's land area and home to nearly 10 percent of the world's plants, 7 percent of the reptiles, birds and mammals
Pic: Conservation Action
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Did you know the underlying rock formations of the Hex River mountains are Table Mountain Sandstone? It produces sandy soil that is acidic and lacks mineral needed to support most plants. However, fynbos plants have adapted to survive under these conditions.
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Crested barbets are one of the bird species that have the ability to sing for very long periods of time without taking a breath. This is made possible by expelling air from each side of the syrinx in regular succession without gaps
📸Jacques De Speville
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Acacia sweet thorn is one of SA's most beautiful and useful trees. It's part of our country's history, having been used for everything from raft-making to sewing and fencing. A water indicator in arid areas, it has a pleasant tasting gum that it exudes from wounds on the bark
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Stewardship Sites and Conservancies, particularly in landscapes dominated by agriculture, are becoming increasingly important in the expansion of the conservation estate.
#BiodiversityForLife
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The majority of South Africa’s rain falls on the grassland catchment areas of Drakensberg and Mpumalanga escarpment. These areas are South Africa’s water factories and several of the country’s biggest rivers flow from them
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Our
#AnimalOfTheWeek
is the Caracal. An exceptional climber and jumper, the caracal can snatch a bird out of the air. Mainly a night hunter, it is found in savanna, rugged terrain, scrubland and woodland. They hide and sleep in crevices among rocks and fallen trees.
Pic: Leo za1
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SA is fortunate to have heterogeneous coasts that comprises of dunes, cliffs, beaches, rocky and mixed shores, estuaries, mangroves, kelp and reefs, bays, river-influenced shelf regions and a wide range of coastal vegetation types (from forests to arid shrublands).
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The African Biodiversity & Conservation journal is a SANBI expanded scope publication that has also been made available as an open access and online format. It serves the needs of African biodiversity scientists, practitioners and decision-makers.
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The Dwesa-Cwebe MPA protects the habitats found in the transition zone between the Natal and the Agulhas Ecoregions. It's an important spawning ground for the endangered white steenbras, with the Mbashe Estuary, protected within the MPA, an important nursery area for dusky kob.
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The highly talented acapella group,
@TheSoilMusic
, will be performing at this Sunday’s Summer Sunset Concert at
@KirstenboschNBG
(Pic: Hippo Communications)
#KBRocks
🎤☀️
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At least 28 extinctions prevented globally by conservation action in recent decades and South Africa has had no mammal or bird extinctions in this same period. Read more:
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The Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden lies at the foot of the Hexriver Mountain range in the Western Cape. It conserves and displays plants from arid and semi-arid regions of southern Africa, with the main focus on succulents.
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Thank you everyone for this milestone, we are looking forward to more interaction with you
#BiodiversityForLife
#SANBI10000
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Christine Magu from Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) delivers presentation on Natural Capital Accounting global implementation and capacity building. She focuses on collaboration with business community and statistical capacity building
#NCAForum2022
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For the first time in South Africa, the status of our coastal biodiversity has been assessed. 60% of South African coastal ecosystem types are threatened, comprising more than half the extent of the coastal zone, according to the National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA).
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The Richtersveld area is desert landscape with changing scenery, from jagged mountain peaks, to sandy coastal plains and colourful indigenous flora.
📷SANParks
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The South African landscape offers a range of habitat types, from dry and semi-arid lands, to mountainous and subtropical regions. This makes the country ideal for thousands of species to thrive.
#BiodiversityForLife
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The Agulhas Plain in the Western Cape is an ecological haven when it comes to fynbos. The region is home to 1750 species of indigenous plants, many of which are rare endemics and vulnerable to extinction.
#BiodiversityForLife
Pic: gardeningatleisure
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President Cyril Ramaphosa was spotted taking in the scenery and enjoying a walk at Kirstenbosch NBG over the weekend. Our staff was teeming with excitement and requested to take photos with him. It's not everyday that the president of the country visits your workplace✨
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The Succulent Karoo is a magical arid place with exceptionally diverse and endemic-rich flora
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SANBI has 10 National Botanical Gardens and a National Zoological Garden in 8 of SA’s provinces. They showcase and protect our diverse landscapes and biodiversity. We also manage Thohoyandou Botanical Garden and Mokopane Biodiversity Conservation Centre in the Limpopo Province
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South Africa’s National Botanical Gardens focus on growing and conserving South Africa’s indigenous plants. Together they conserve over 7500 ha of natural vegetation and associated biodiversity within their boundaries.
#BiodiversityForLife
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Our
#AnimalofTheWeek
is the Caracal. They are impressive, powerfully built, medium-sized wild cats with pointed, tufted ears. Caracal play a role in population control of prey species such as rodents. They are opportunists in their diet, eating the best and minimising the energy…
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Our family keeps on growing! 9 baby Leopard tortoises hatched yesterday morning, after the good rain during the night.
#mokopanebcc
#sanbi
#leopardtortoise
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Did you know pangolins are the only mammals almost entirely covered in scales? They also have no teeth and have a tongue longer than its body and head combined. The sticky tongue is connected not in its mouth, but at the bottom of the ribcage.
#biodiversity
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Our
#PlantOfTheWeek
is Erica ericoides. This evergreen shrub produces masses of pink flowers, with a distinctive, honey-like scent, in late summer, from January to May, attracting lots of honey bees to the garden. It is quite happy with reduced water application once established
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Our
#PlantOfTheWeek
is Kleinia venteri. An unusual, cryptic, stoloniferous succulent. This is a very rare species, known only from the Polokwane District of the Limpopo Province, growing on flat to hilly open terrain in savanna vegetation.
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The beauty that is the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden
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Plentiful in the arid and semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan
#Africa
, the highest number and variety of aloes is found mainly in southern Africa.
#BiodiversityForLife
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We rely on our mountain catchments for the
#water
we use and the quality and quantity of water we get is in turn heavily dependent on the health of the catchment
#ecosystems
.
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40
Our
#PlantOfTheWeek
is Haemanthus sanguineus (Smooth blood lily). Its blood-red flowers stand out in the late summer flowering season, and its magnificent leaves are quite spectacular to see during the winter growing season, and they give texture to a landscaped area
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iSimangaliso Wetland Park is 328 000 hectares of unspoiled natural ecosystems, and the country’s third biggest protected land mass
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Mariepskop is situated in the northern Drakensberg mountain range in Mpumalanga, and is botanist’s delight. It is blessed with shrubby fynbos on the plateau and Afromontane forests on the slopes, a noticeable change from the Lowveld bushveld below
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Found in the mountainous regions of South Africa, our
#AnimalOfTheWeek
, the mountain reedbuck is a medium-sized, graceful and shy antelope. Its fur is predominantly grey, with a fluffy white tail and underparts. Forward curved horns are found on rams.
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Our main speaker for the night is the former Norway minister of environment and the current UN Executive Director of Environment Programme, Mr Erik Solheim. He speaks about water management and the importance of conserving nature
#EcologicalInfrastructure
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The revamped Karoo beds at the Karoo National Botanical Garden focus on four major collection regions including the Little Karoo, Great Karoo, Ceres Tanqua Karoo and the Worcester Robertson Karoo
#biodiversityforlife
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South Africa represents one percent of the earth’s land surface, yet it is one of the richest in flora
#BiodiversityForLife
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The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was formally declared Africa's first trans-border conservation area, lying on the border of SA and Botswana. Its land area is roughly 38,000 km², with no shortage of wildlife. The seasonal movement of large herbivores makes for a spectacular scene
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Our
#PlantOfTheWeek
is Ledebouria caesiomontana. This cryptic species remains very elusive in its natural habitat, because it hides amongst grasses and other vegetation, as a result it is seldom seen. The species was only named in 2014, and is known from very few records.
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A visit to our Pretoria NBG promises to be an exciting venture. Learn more about water-wise
#gardeningtips
to conserve water.
#BiodiversityForLife
🐛
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The
#LivingCatchmentsProject
is a partnership project between SANBI and the Water Research Commission through funding from the Department of Science and Innovation. The project responds to the Water Research, Development and Innovation Roadmap (Water RDI Roadmap), a national…
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There are over 100 000 known species of plants, animals and fungi in South Africa. Scientists believe that there are at least another 50 000 species in the country that have not yet been discovered and/or named.
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