species

The recent arrest of five individuals in Lesotho for the illegal trade of pelargonium has revealed significant flaws in the government's capacity to safeguard endangered plant species, as reported by Sechaba Mokhethi for GroundUp. Back in 2004, the government classified Pelargonium sidoides—often called African geranium—as a protected species. This plant has gained global recognition for its medicinal properties, being a key ingredient in various herbal remedies, including some cough syrups. Yet, despite these protective…

A trio of fascinating new marine species has recently been unearthed within the extraordinary waters of South Africa, influenced by the intricate dance of the Benguela and Agulhas currents. These discoveries include the charming "walking sponge" (Suberites ambulodomos), a minuscule clam (Brachiomya ducentiunus), and an elusive parasitic isopod (Pseudionella pumulaensis). Jannes Landschoff provided these insights in an article for The Conversation Africa. Though these organisms may be diminutive, their impact on marine…

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) is campaigning for the inter - ministerial decree specifically approving the capture and killing of certain protected species. Correspondence was sent to various authorities, including the Deputy Prime Minister and the Congolese Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development.…

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an inter-ministerial decree specifically allowing the capture and killing of certain protected species is controversial. The document re-emerged one year after it was signed. This text is also attacked by the National Institute for Conservation of Nature (ICCN), which considers this decree to be a setback for the country. Environmental associations and…

In Central Africa, all great apes are in dramatic decline. But on the spot, communities are mobilizing. The first forum for the civil protection of great apes from the forests of the Congo Basin, organized in Yaoundé, Cameroon, by the Alliance for the Conservation of Great Apes in Central Africa and the IUCN, aims to promote these field experiences. This meeting ends on Thursday.…