Succulent Karoo Programme

What we do

The success of the Succulent Karoo Programme is due to a committed partnership in supporting conservation and sustainable development activities in the Succulent Karoo Hotspot.

The Succulent Karoo Programme is involved in the following activities:

• Securing land in priority areas
• Expanding partnerships
• Linking livelihoods and biodiversity
• Building local government capacity
• Strengthening linkages between natural and social science and management in the Succulent Karoo
• Capitalizing on climate change and renewable energy
• Involving the mining sector
• Raising awareness 

Where we work 

• Greater Richtersveld
• Bushmanland Inselbergs
• Central Namaqualand Coast
• Namaqualand (Kamiesberg) Uplands
• Knersvlakte
• Hantam/Tanqua Roggeveld
• Central Little Karoo
• Central Breede Valley

Reason for our programme

The Succulent Karoo has breathtaking scenery, interesting endemic animals, a geological paradise and a coastal strip, and some of the oldest communities whom still follow a traditional lifestyle.

The Succulent Karoo has about 6 300 plant species of which 38% are endemic. In addition to its annual flower displays, it boasts a large number of geophytes and dwarf succulents.

Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Programme (SKEP)

The Succulent Karoo is a biodiversity hotspot. In response to the challenges facing the Succulent Karoo, an innovative program called the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Programme (SKEP) emerged.

SANBI houses the coordination unit SKEP. SKEP is a long term, multi-stakeholder, bioregional conservation and development partnership programme with government and non-government partners.

The vision of the SKEP programme is that the people of the Succulent Karoo take ownership of and enjoy their unique living landscape in a way that maintains biodiversity and improves livelihoods now and into perpetuity.

While the first five years of implementation from 2003 was funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and focused on catalyzing and programme start-up, the next five years will focus on programme consolidation i.e. integrating SKEP objectives into national and regional government and non-government programmes and ensuring programme sustainability.

SKEP also supports national priorities and embraces the principles of the National Environmental Act of 1998 and the Biodiversity Act of 2004.

What we have achieved

• Protected areas doubled
• Half a million hectares better managed
• New discoveries made
• Conservation jobs created
• Social capital strengthened
• State support secured
• More support mobilized
• Industry brought on board

Who we are

Lubabalo Ntsholo - Programme Developer
021 799 8817

Abe Koopman - Namakwa Coordinator
027 712 8000

Shahieda Davids - Learning Network and Communications Officer
021 799 8864

How to contact us

On the SKEP website: www.skep.org.za

How  you can contribute

• Send us your news and events in and around the Succulent Karoo.
• Register to receive our monthly SKEP e-newsletter.