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© Flower Valley Conservation Trust At and around the southern tip of Africa, we're surrounded by a magical and intricate natural world. The Cape Floral Kingdom, and in particular Fynbos, abounds here. But the threats to this environment are numerous, and complex. Flower Valley Conservation Trust, non-profit organisation that works to protect this Fynbos world, interview experts, researchers, conservationists and community members on their work in or lives lived in the Cape Floral Kingdom. You’ll learn interesting facts about Fynbos specifically, and on broader nature-based themes. And hear about fascinating journeys – all in the name of conservation linked to our wondrous Fynbos world.

Life as a Fynbos Flower Picker - Keisha Afrikaner Fynbos harvesters are creating ways to work in harmony with nature. Young harvester, Keisha Afrikaner, tells us more about their unique training, challenges and the legacy they're building for future generations. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

Esna Swart and Sharon Brink talk about the importance and application of Geographical Information Systems in conservation. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

Daniel Basubas joins Esna Swart in a dicussion around the Green Economy. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

In this podcast we talk to Christie Craig about Blue Cranes, specifically Blue Cranes in the Overberg. Christie works for the Endangered Wildlife Trust and is a PhD candidate and field officer, she is busy looking at how viable the Blue Crane population of the Western Cape is. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

Sebastian started his botanical journey with food, learning from Kobus van der Merwe in Paternoster while interning at his restuarant, Oep ve Koep. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

In this podcast we speak to Dr Jaco Nel, he is a groundwater expert with the Institute for Water Studies at the University of the Western Cape. They are currently busy with a multi-disciplinary research in the Agulhas region. Dr Nel is specifically focusing on the groundwater component of that research. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

The 2019 International Fire Prevention week is celebrated between the 6 - 12 October with 9 October being singled out as International Fire Prevention Day. The 2019/2020 fire season is on us and with this in mind, we speak to Louise Wessels, Manager of the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association, or as they refer to themselves .... the go-FPA, on fire prevention. The goFPA is a registered fire protection association for the whole of the Overberg. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

The Bionerds team, Keir and Alouise Lynch, are off to Brazil for two weeks. They share what they expect to see in the Brazilian forests and how that relates to fynbos and SA on a whole. #Bionerds #Brazil2019 #EcoExploration #Fynbos #LivingLandscapes #travel podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

For 15 years Keir and Alouise Lynch have been chasing South Africa's Biodiversity. Along with their youngster, Cian, they can usually be found on their bellies in the dirt photographing something rare, endemic and threatened. Bionerds was born out of a desire to share a wealth of photographs and knowledge for educational and research purposes. Keir & Alouise tell us more about what Bionerds is all about. #Bionerds #EcoExploration #LivingLandscapes podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

How does one fight fire in Fynbos? The Cape Floral Kingdom, and especially Fynbos in the Overberg, has experienced extreme wildfires in recent times. Blame it on climate change and a range of other factors, says Reinard Geldenhuys, Fire And Disaster Manager at the Overberg District Municipality. Here he gives Sharon Brink insight on fire and Fynbos from a firefighter's perspective. The interview was done live at the 41st Fynbos Forum in Baardskeerdersbos in the Overberg. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

So little is actually known about our #Fynbos fish - those tiny, indigenous fish species that live in our perennial and non-perennial rivers in the Fynbos landscapes. Here's what we're learning, says Keir Lynch of the Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust: The species have lived here for thousands of years, and their is more diversity than we had ever believed. So much so that Keir made a REMARKABLE discovery in the Hansies River recently. This launched an exciting journey into the waters of the Overberg. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

There’s nothing old-fashioned about THIS Botanical Society branch. Jo-Anne King, Chair of the Garden Route Botanical Society, chats to Sharon Brink in this episode of the Flower Valley Podcast. They chat about how to get youngsters involved in Fynbos conservation – using technology (and tattoos); about the beautiful landscapes they operate in, and about some of the threats facing the Garden Route’s natural landscapes. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

The Cape Floral Kingdom is abundant with edibles. But people are not using this resource anymore, as they used to in the past, as a food source. Loubie Rusch is an expert on cooking with #Fynbos ingredients, and their nutritional value. Here she chats to Esna Swart on how to make use of fast-growing plants from the CFR (but warns to leave the bulbs), promoting cultivating wild foods on local community and urban farms. Her aim is for traditionally foraged wild foods to become resilient contributors to the Western Cape local economy. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

Today's guest is the globally renowned vegetation ecologist and conservation scientist, Professor Richard Cowling. With a career spanning 35 years as a professional botanist, Prof Cowling has undertaken ground-breaking research in various Fynbos-related fields, including plant diversity and evolution, paleo-ecology and conservation science. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

There are few Fynbos conservationists with as much knowledge about our special floral kingdom as Ismail Ebrahim. Ismail, a well-known name in the Fynbos world, is Node Manager of the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) of the Cape Floristic Region. We speak to Ismail on all things Fynbos. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za

Rupert Koopman talks to Sharon Brink at the 41st Fynbos Forum in Baardskeerdersbos, Overberg, Western Cape, South Africa. Rupert discuss the importance of the Fynbos Forum and the role the forum plays in the Conservation environment. podcast@flowervalley.co.za www.flowervalley.co.za