The long journey from Karoo wool to finished cloth
A finished jacket offers few clues about the farm behind it. The garment's fibres have crossed oceans more than once while passing through several companies and countries.
The invisible worlds of Karoo koppies
Some of the vast Karoo's richest stories are found in its smallest spaces. A koppie looks bare from a distance, but up close it's a vibrant neighbourhood, crowded with lives that depend on the shelter of stone.
A potentially historic El Niño is developing. What should the Karoo prepare for?
An unusually powerful climate system is developing and will overlap with the Karoo’s hottest months. The appropriate response is to watch the regional forecasts closely and prepare for heat and water stress while there's still time to do so.
The ancient underground life of Karoo termites
Some of the Karoo’s most important environmental work is performed in darkness as, beneath the shrubs and stones, millions of termites rebuild the ground.
Wind farms are changing the work of bird conservationists
The work of conservationists now helps decide not only what should be protected, but where and how energy infrastructure should be built.
Could indigenous plants create new income for Karoo farms?
There may be opportunities in medicinal plants, essential oils, indigenous seed and waterwise nursery stock. The most promising businesses will be those that grow plants responsibly while protecting the wild populations already under pressure.
Why good grazing does not always mean an easy year for Karoo farmers
These gains strengthen Karoo livestock farming, but they come after a prolonged period in which many producers sold animals or spent heavily to keep core herds alive.