Biodiversity
latest news & developments
SA pushes for biodiversity funding before COP17
Ahead of COP17 in Armenia, South Africa is demanding accessible, non-debt biodiversity finance and technology transfer to turn global conservation commitments into practical…
SA’s rhinos population rises by nearly 5% in 2025 but 230 rhinos killed by poachers this year
South Africa's rhino population grew by nearly 5% in 2025 amid expanding conservation and translocation efforts, though 230 rhinos were killed by poachers in the first eight…
The long journey is getting harder for the world’s migratory birds
A major new report reveals that nearly half of the world's migratory bird species are declining due to habitat loss, climate change, and human threats along critical flyways.
The missing piece in climate change? Scientists say it could be wind
University of Pretoria researchers on Marion Island have found that shifting wind patterns, often overlooked in climate models, play a crucial role in shaping sub-Antarctic…
Quiet plunder of the Succulent Karoo
South Africa's Succulent Karoo, a global biodiversity hotspot, is under severe threat from a sophisticated international plant trafficking operation. What was once dismissed as…
One elephant, 400km and 20 years of reconnecting a broken landscape
Deep in the Knysna forest, a lone elephant named Strangefoot, thought to be the last of her kind in the area, highlights the critical need for connected landscapes. This article…
The heart of the fynbos
Explore the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, a unique landscape between Rooiels and Pringle Bay, where an ambitious conservation effort is underway to protect critically endangered…
A century of Kruger
Kruger National Park’s 100-year milestone reflects both South Africa’s conservation history and SANParks’ efforts to shift from exclusionary “fortress conservation” to community…
Tiny birds, vast journeys: Inside SA’s first shorebird tracking project
BirdLife South Africa launches its first tracking project for migratory shorebirds, revealing complex journeys and new conservation priorities across the Africa–Eurasian flyway
University of Pretoria study challenges ‘70% wildlife decline’ narrative
A new study co-authored by a University of Pretoria conservation scientist argues that widely cited claims of catastrophic global wildlife decline may overstate biodiversity loss…
Every business depends on nature and most are helping destroy it, landmark report warns
Biodiversity loss has become a systemic risk to the global economy, as businesses continue to profit from nature while failing to pay for the damage
Endangered grasshopper rediscovered in KZN after 45 years
Scientists have rediscovered an endangered grasshopper species in KwaZulu-Natal, underscoring the importance of small protected areas — and the often-overlooked invertebrates…
African faith leaders demand reparations from Gates Foundation over industrial farming harm
More than 600 faith leaders across the continent say the Gates Foundation’s Green Revolution model has deepened poverty, degraded soils and undermined food sovereignty
Hidden hitchhikers: Ticks on trafficked pangolins pose health threats
Scientists warn that ticks carried by trafficked pangolins may spread pathogens across continents, affecting people and animals
UN names four new World Restoration Flagships to heal degraded ecosystems
The World Restoration Flagships, spanning 18 countries, showcase large-scale efforts to revive forests, grasslands, farms and coastlines, restore biodiversity and secure…