Spekboom (Portulacaria Afra) in flower in the Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa

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It is found predominantly in the Eastern Cape, and especially in the semi-arid Karoo region, where growing conditions are ideal for this resilient plant. It favours North-facing slopes where it is exposed to maximum sunlight. Thriving in poor soils, it tolerates both drought and frost. It is a favoured food of black rhinos, elephants and kudus. Hectare for hectare, Spekboom thicket is ten times more effective than the Amazon rainforest at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. One hectare of Spekboom can sequester between 4 and 10 tonnes of carbon per year. This makes it a powerful tool in the fight against climate change and the move towards a zero-carbon world.

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Size: 4912px × 7360px
Location: Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Photo credit: © Wendy Johnson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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