Read our latest posts and news.
Aliens in South Africa – Learning About IAPs.
Author: Boudine Kruger What do you think of when you hear the term “alien”? The first thing on your mind would probably be little green men with big heads. Now, while the aliens we will be learning about today are certainly green, they are nothing like the aliens...
Invasive Plants in the GCBR – Know What You’re Looking At.
Author: Boudine Kruger It can be challenging to tell them apart from our indigenous species when looking for invaders, especially if you aren’t sure what you’re looking at. These invasive species won’t necessarily look out of place, ugly or dangerous. In fact, you...
POSITION FOR NATURE CONSERVATION EXPERIENTIAL YEAR STUDENT – 2023
Fransmanshoek Conservancy is seeking out an enthusiastic Nature Conservation 3rd year student to complete their experiential training year with us during 2023. This coastal conservancy has previously employed twenty-nine students over the last eighteen years who...
Learn About Extension Work At The GCBR.
Author: Boudine Kruger Many things can contribute to the success of projects at GCBR. One thing, however, that we aim to prioritise is farmer education and awareness. Without proper resources and awareness building, we cannot expect farmers to understand the...
Featured Farm: Romanskraal
Author: Boudine Kruger Romanskraal, situated in the Langeberg mountains near Albertinia, is a beautiful farm with a wide variety of fauna and flora. Unfortunately, as with many other farms in the area, the indigenous flora on this farm seems to be battling to stay...
Win R3000! Wanted for bounty reward: find the Honey Mesquite tree
Can you identify the Honey Mesquite tree? Take a photo of this invasive alien plant and share it with our hashtag #badmesquite on social media platforms. Tag @gouritzbiosphere and tell us how you identified this IAP to stand a chance to win a R3000 bounty reward!...
Stopping the Honey Mesquite Tree (Prosopis) Invasion
Author: Boudine Kruger | Article adapted from Ken Coetzee’s "Prosopis, a Deadly Green Cancer” The invasion caused by the Prosopis tree damages the ecosystem by affecting resources like water supply and grazing. The diversity and biology of smaller animals like...
How to Identify Prosopis Glandulosa var. Torreyana
Author: Boudine Kruger | Article adapted from Ken Coetzee’s "Prosopis, a Deadly Green Cancer” The Honey Mesquite Tree (or Prosopis Glandulosa var. Torreyana) is an invasive species that is fast becoming one of the more threatening, invasive plant species in South...
Why You Need To Know About The Honey Mesquite Tree.
Author: Boudine Kruger | Article adapted from Ken Coetzee’s "Prosopis, a Deadly Green Cancer” The Honey Mesquite tree (or Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana) is an invasive alien plant (IAP) species that is taking over large tracts of overgrazed rangelands in...
Why are Invasive Alien Plants (IAPs) bad?
Invasive alien plants are defined as such when they are resistant to local diseases and have no natural enemies.