FAUNA & FLORA

The easiest way to describe the country's natural heritage is on the basis of a systematic classification of regions, or biomes. A biome can be defined as a broad ecological unit, representing a major life zone extending over a large area, which contains relatively uniform plant and animal life that is closely connected to environmental conditions, especially climate.

The US based Conservation International identifies biodiversity 'hotspots' as those areas where more than 1500 endemic plants occur. The Succulent Karoo hotspot have less than 2% protected in conservation areas with the balance heavily overgrazed.

While the animal diversity does not compare to the spectacular plant diversity, a wide variety of animals, insects, birds and reptiles can be found among the plants, including some whose range is limited to the ecoregion.