Conservation
latest news & developments
M&G Greening the Future Awards open for 2026 nominations
Nominations have opened for the 2026 Greening the Future Awards, honouring the individuals, communities, and organisations safeguarding South Africa's environment.
A new kind of national park
The declaration of South Africa's new Grasslands National Park marks a milestone in conservation, using a pioneering biodiversity stewardship model that protects vital watersheds…
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…
Kruger goes green without giving up ground
A pioneering partnership between SANParks, Discovery Green, and Sasol delivers renewable energy to Kruger National Park via the national grid, reducing emissions without taking…
Kruger rainfall: 2026 was exceptionally wet but not a record
Despite severe flooding across parts of the Kruger National Park earlier this year, SANParks scientists report that overall rainfall remained slightly below the historic…
Trophy hunting study finds positive outcomes — but governance matters
A landmark review of over 1,000 studies led by Stellenbosch University reveals that 65% of documented trophy hunting outcomes in Africa are positive for conservation and local…
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…
Conservation Cannot Succeed If Communities Are Left Behind
Conservation success cannot be measured solely in hectares and wildlife counts. At Babanango Game Reserve, ecological restoration goes hand-in-hand with community empowerment,…
SA’s leopard population remains uncertain as new strategy weighs conservation and hunting
South Africa’s new draft leopard conservation strategy aims to balance preservation with cultural use and hunting, despite lacking reliable data on how many leopards actually…
Kruger National Park hero Mpho Mudau relives the day the floods came
When catastrophic floods hit Letaba Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park, hospital services manager Mpho Mudau bravely led life-saving evacuations. Here is how disaster…
Sardine fishery faces possible restrictions as PHV mortality spreads
South Africa’s sardine fishery may face precautionary catch limits as the government investigates widespread sardine deaths linked to pilchard herpesvirus across 2,600km of…
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.
A sea of uncertainty
A spreading sardine mortality event linked to pilchard herpesvirus has hit South Africa and Namibia, raising alarms over total biomass loss, fishery limits, and the survival of…
The first people of the forest still hunted
Despite landmark legal rulings and protections, the indigenous Batwa of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remain besieged by rebel violence, militia exploitation, and…
Where women lead, doors open
The inaugural Diplomatic Women's Forum in Pretoria brought together female ambassadors, business leaders, and policymakers to celebrate leadership, explore conservation…