Illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss and climate stress driving rapid biodiversity decline in SA

Most of the continent’s wildlife survives outside of protected areas

New study finds that some SA populations are estimated to have fallen 95% in only eight years

The region’s push to ease wildlife trade rules was firmly rejected at Cites CoP20, with countries voting down proposals affecting giraffes, elephants and rhinos. The summit also ushered in historic protections for imperilled shark and ray species

New 3 100m weather station promises vital insights into rainfall, temperature and extreme weather patterns in a changing climate

In Africa’s prized national parks, sustainable tourism depends on ecosystem resilience, not just the visibility of charismatic species like elephants and lions. It’s about seeing national parks as living systems within larger social and ecological networks

Every night, the skyline turns grey as illegal waste fires sweep through mountains of discarded household waste, building debris, electronic, medical waste and toxic materials

A new IUCN report shows African forest elephants are more numerous than previously believed, not due to recovery, but thanks to groundbreaking DNA-based surveys that have transformed how the elusive species is counted

Countries are ‘still in the climate fight’, the United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell said

Fewer than 340 Botha’s Larks remain in the wild

The return underscores the importance of wildlife corridors, habitat protection and coexistence with local communities

South Africa’s presidency of the bloc placed the development needs of the continent, small island states and other vulnerable regions firmly at the centre of the G20 declaration

In a landmark ruling, the Emalahleni local municipality was ordered to fund major repairs after pleading guilty to persistent sewage pollution that contaminated rivers feeding the Olifants system