Botsoc Bankenveld Roodepoort Branch

Since its inception in 1913, has been a key contributor in achieving many of ’s biggest conservation milestones.

Together with provincial conservation organisations and other committed partners, 152 288 hectares of private land has been secured for conservation in KwaZulu-Natal alone through our Biodiversity Stewardship Programmes. As BotSoc, we provide botanical input, advice and capacity to make it all happen.

With the support of our loyal members, we hope to do even more to protect our natural heritage across the country in the years to come!

A lot may have changed since BotSoc was established 110 years ago today.

But one thing has remained the same: our members are at the heart of BotSoc.

Whether you’ve joined us on our journey for a year, or for 60 years, you are BotSoc. Thank you for playing such an important role for nature!

As a small way of saying ‘thank you’, we’re giving away five of our recent BotSoc-endorsed publications to randomly selected members. We’ll be in touch with our five winners soon.

To everyone who has taken the time to respond and get in touch with us regarding the changes to our South African National Biodiversity Institute collaboration agreement – thank you!

Here’s a reminder of what’s happened to date:
We engaged with SANBI since March 2022 regarding amendments to the collaboration agreement between our two separate organisations. Following lengthy negotiations and developments along the way, the final outcomes were announced that affected members’ free access to SANBI National Botanical Gardens.

Here’s more detail and a list of frequently asked questions and answers to respond to some of the questions you may have: https://botanicalsociety.org.za/botsoc-sanbi-discussions/

BotSoc remains a civil society membership-based organisation working to our threatened plants and ecosystems. And this at a time when most needs us.

Botanical Society of SA- Free State Branch Botanical Society of SA - Algoa Branch Botsoc Bankenveld Roodepoort Branch BotSoc FreeState Botanical Society of South Africa - Garden Route Branch BotSoc Kirstenbosch Kogelberg Branch of the Botanical Society of SA Botanical Society KZN Coastal Branch Kzn Inland Branch BotSoc Botanical Society of South Africa: Pretoria Branch Kzn Inland Branch BotSoc Botsoc Lowveld BotSoc Southern Overberg

I

If we're to succeed in protecting our indigenous plants, we need to work together.

That's why we've partnered with incredible donors and partners. So to all of you who have partnered with us - thank you for another year of cooperation. We look forward to working with you in 2023 - to continue to know, grow, PROTECT and enjoy our plant world:
www.botanicalsociety.org.za/partners-and-donors/

South African National Biodiversity Institute IUCN Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) The Conservation Symposium FynbosForum IUCN Species Survival Commission Routes to Resilience Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust INaturalist - southern Africa Millennium Seed Bank Partnership - MSBP South Africa Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife BirdLife South Africa Conservation Outcomes Endangered Wildlife Trust WWF South Africa The WWF Nedbank Green Trust

📸 𝘐𝘹𝘪𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢 by Rupert Koopman

9 December 2022 Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens, Witpoortjie Waterfall after heavy rains

We’re taking action against South Africa’s succulent-poaching crisis – and we need your help.

Over the past three years, confiscated plant material at our country’s airports and borders has increased by 250% per year.

There are more than 200 000 confiscated succulents currently in need of potting and maintenance at various national botanical gardens, and we need resources to keep these plants alive.

This , donate to and help us secure the material, equipment, infrastructure and additional skilled capacity needed to undertake these ecological restoration efforts:
https://botanicalsociety.org.za/donate/