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South Africa

Floral surprises on Africa’s southern tip

South Africa is recognised as one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Although probably best known for Kruger National Park and its enviable populations of megafauna such as rhinos, elephants, giraffes and lions, South Africa has even more to offer thanks to its varied landscapes.

One of its most remarkable – and best-kept – secrets is the incredible diversity of plant species found in the Cape Floral Kingdom (or the Cape Floristic Region) on the country’s Western Cape.

One of only six floral kingdoms in the world and unique to this small area, the region supports over 9,000 plant species, 70% of which are found nowhere else on the planet. These include exquisite species such as the king protea (South Africa’s national flower) and exotic pincushions.

However, many of the critical habitats in the Cape Floral Kingdom (including the lowland fynbos and renosterveld habitats) are severely threatened by human development pressures on land, and by invasive, non-native plants. Ploughing of land for agriculture (arable, dairy farms) and conversion for viniculture and other industries endanger the region’s unique plants and the animals that rely on them.

20,000

The number of plant species found in South Africa – an astonishing 10% of all plants on Earth.

70% unique

Seven in every ten of the Cape Floral Kingdom’s 9,600 plant species are found nowhere else on Earth.

    20,000

    The number of plant species found in South Africa – an astonishing 10% of all plants on Earth.

    70% unique

    Seven in every ten of the Cape Floral Kingdom’s 9,600 plant species are found nowhere else on Earth.

Our work to protect South Africa’s biodiversity

Fauna & Flora has been working in South Africa since the very early days of our history and we were instrumental in the establishment of Kruger National Park, among many other successes.

More recently, however, we began working to help conserve South Africa’s extraordinary Cape Floral Kingdom in 1999 when a fynbos flower farm close to Africa’s southernmost tip was threatened with conversion to vineyards. With support from Halcyon Land & Sea, we purchased the farm and soon afterwards transferred this into local ownership, establishing a conservation trust to manage the area.

What started out as a small project to protect a 540-hectare property ultimately blossomed into a pioneering programme of work that extended across the Cape Floral Kingdom.

The NGO we helped to establish not only managed its estate carefully to preserve the diversity of the area but also supported local fynbos flower harvesters to ensure that people could earn a living, sustainably. The pre-school at Flower Valley farm, set up in 1999 to provide a safe learning environment for the children of harvesters, helped connect people to nature from a young age.

Today, we support the work of Grootbos Foundation, who are safeguarding the threatened fauna and flora of the Western Cape while helping to improve community livelihoods and well-being. We also provide ongoing support to another local partner –Overberg Lowlands Conservation Trust – to help it protect South Africa’s unique renosterveld habitat.

Flower Valley in South Africa. © Flower Valley Conservation Trust / Kobus Tollig Photography

Flower Valley in South Africa. © Flower Valley Conservation Trust / Kobus Tollig Photography

Proteas in bloom at the heart of South Africa's Cape Floral Kingdom.

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