The Succulent Karoo

         The Succulent Karoo is a region stretching from the west coast of South Africa to the south western region of Namibia. The area receives low winter rainfall and has a very arid summer. Fog is also common near the coast, helping provide moisture. The Succulent Karoo is a biodiversity hotspot because of its abundance of different succulents. The vegetation is mostly succulent shrubs and 40% of the succulents are endemic to the area, meaning that they are found nowhere else. These succulents are well adapted to the arid environment and store water in swollen leaves, stems, and roots. Succulents in the coastal region also use their shallow root network to collect moisture from the fog. This vast diversity of succulents supports a delicate and interdependent ecosystem with a large variety of insects, reptiles and mammals.

         Unfortunately, only about 2-3% of the Succulent Karoo is formally protected. This puts this delicate and unique habitat at risk. More than 90% of the land is used for grazing and 2/3 of the land is overgrazed. Overgrazing lets shrubs crowd out succulents and puts land at risk for topsoil loss and increased desertification. Though we will not have the opportunity to visit this unique area of biodiversity on this trip it is still an important and ecosystem that is in danger from human activity.

-Laura Spielman

                                        

http://pza.sanbi.org/vegetation/succulent-karoo-biome

https://enviroliteracy.org/ecosystems/hotspots-of-biodiversity/succulent-karoo/