Atitlan Grebe (Podilymbus gigas), Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. No. 97557. Conservation status: extinct.

The Atitlan grebe, also known as the poc, was a large, flightless water b...

Atitlan Grebe (Podilymbus gigas), Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. No. 97557. Conservation status: extinct.

The Atitlan grebe, also known as the poc, was a large, flightless water b...

Carlos Sumano, a worker from the Laboratory of Ecological Restoration at the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico, photographs a bucket of water from a canal to record its quality and the micro-organisms it...

Dr. Mike Burns, an environmental scientist and member of the Kogelberg Wednesday Hack, near the Buffels River Dam on the edge of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Comprised of volunteers who live in the a...

A public bench beneath a heritage-listed Australian ghost gum in Simon's Town. Non-indigenous trees are a contentious issue in the region. They often outcompete and consume far more water than the nat...

A sign on an Australian ghost gum tree in Simon's Town indicating that the tree is heritage listed. Non-indigenous trees are a contentious issue in the region. They often outcompete and consume far mo...

Zikhona Gcakamani and her husband Abongile Mfene at their home in Khayelitsha. Both lead high-angle tree clearing teams that operate at height in dangerous and remote locations, using ropes and climbi...

Zikhona Gcakamani (centre) with her husband Abongile Mfene (left), sister Olwethu Gcakamani (second left), friend Zanele Njilana (second right) and cousin Johannes Mkuseli near her home in Khayelitsha...

Cape everlasting (Phaenocoma prolifera), part of the fynbos plant kingdom, in the hills near Betty's Bay. Fynbos is a unique type of vegetation found in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South...

Professor Brian van Wilgen, an applied ecologist and expert on the management of invasive plant species, amidst fynbos vegetation in the hills near Betty's Bay. Fynbos is a unique type of vegetation f...

Professor Brian van Wilgen, an applied ecologist and expert on the management of invasive plant species, amidst fynbos vegetation in the hills near Betty's Bay. Fynbos is a unique type of vegetation f...

Professor Brian van Wilgen, an applied ecologist and expert on the management of invasive plant species, examining protea plants on a slope opposite him in the hills near Betty's Bay. Proteas are part...

Christiaan Geldenhuis (centre), current convenor of the Kogelberg Wednesday Hack, during a morning of 'hacking' near the Buffels River Dam on the edge of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Comprised of vol...

Zikhona Gcakamani, leader of a high-angle tree clearing team, preparing for a pre-dinner team meeting at her team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The...

Members of a high-angle tree clearing relax before the evening meal at their campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The teams are deployed on two-week rotation...

As the end of the day approaches members of a high-angle tree clearing team do 'body checks' and carefully ensure their equipment is in good order in readiness for the following day's work at their ca...

A member of a high-angle tree clearing team leans over a rock to cut a pine tree seedling at the top of a steep slope in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The teams a...

Rope Technician Khanyisa Mzayifani, a member of a high-angle tree clearing team, ascending to her anchor point at the top of a cliff face in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskl...

Rope Technician Olwethu Gcakamani, a member of a high-angle tree clearing team, on a cliff face in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The teams are deployed on two-wee...

Rope Technician Olwethu Gcakamani, a member of a high-angle tree clearing team, on a cliff face in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The teams are deployed on two-wee...

A chainsaw operator felling a pine tree in a catchment above the Theewaterskloof Dam. The dam is one of four main water reservoirs for the Greater Cape Town area. According to environmental NGO The Na...

Members of a high-angle tree clearing team enjoy the view and take photos as other members of the team scout out the exact locations they will focus on in a remote montane catchment area that feeds th...

Alungile Mayekiso, a Rope Technician on a high-angle tree clearing team, making a radio call as the team works out the exact boundaries of the area they are responsible for clearing in a remote montan...

Khanya Bovungana (centre rear), a Rope Technician and one of two Health & Safety Officers on a high-angle tree clearing team, leading a safety meeting before the team gets to work in a remote montane...

Khanya Bovungana, a Rope Technician and one of two Health & Safety Officers on a high-angle tree clearing team, leading a safety meeting before the team gets to work in a remote montane catchment area...

Carrying climbing ropes and a chainsaw, members of a high-angle tree clearing team hike from their campsite up to their worksite as the sun rises above a ridge in a remote montane catchment area that...

Wearing her heavy climbing gear and carrying a first aid kit, Khanyisa Mzayifani, a Rope Technician on a high-angle tree clearing team, jokes with her colleagues as she waits for them to catch up as t...

Team Leader Zikhona Gcakamani (left) and Khanyisa Mzayifani, a Rope Technician, heading the column as their high-angle tree clearing team hikes from their campsite up to their worksite in a remote mon...

Chef Bohlale Taole dishing up a breakfast of oat porridge for members of a high-angle tree clearing team in the mess tent at the team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theew...

Richard Ngcupe, a member of a high-angle tree clearing team, getting ready for the day just after dawn at his team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The...

Daybreak over a high-angle tree clearing team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The teams are deployed on two-week rotations and operate at height in da...

Alungile Mayekiso, a member of a high-angle tree clearing team, beside her tent as night falls over the team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The teams...

Sunset over a high-angle tree clearing team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The teams are deployed on two-week rotations and operate at height in dang...

Blankets and sleeping bags air in the sunshine at a high-angle tree clearing team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The teams are deployed on two-week r...

Members of a high-angle tree clearing team chat as they check their equipment in preparation for the following day's work, at their campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewater...

Team Leader Zikhona Gcakamani as she and the high-angle tree clearing team she leads check their equipment in preparation for the following day's work, at their campsite in a remote montane catchment...

Sibongile Dyantyi, a members of a high-angle tree clearing team, checking his chainsaw in preparation for the following day's work, at his team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds...

A frog floats in a pool that is the drinking water source for a high-angle tree clearing team deployed to a remote montane watershed that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The teams are deployed on two-w...

Thuliswa Sigxonono, a member of a high-angle tree clearing team, carrying drinking water from a stream back to camp after having been deployed to a remote montane watershed that feeds the Theewaterskl...

Members of the Kogelberg Wednesday Hack near the Buffels River Dam on the edge of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Comprised of volunteers who live in the area, the group meets to 'hack' invasive non-ind...

Members of a high-angle tree clearing team watch as a helicopter returns with another load of their equipment and camp gear as they are deployed to a remote montane watershed that feeds the Theewaters...

A probe rests on the stream bed as Richard Bugan, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at The Nature Conservancy South Africa, measures water flow in a remote catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloo...

A member of the Kogelberg Wednesday Hack near the Buffels River Dam on the edge of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Comprised of volunteers who live in the area, the group meets to 'hack' invasive non-in...

Richard Bugan, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at The Nature Conservancy South Africa, with Mange Sokudela, a Quality Control Officer, as they measure water flow in a stream in a remote catchment ar...

Richard Bugan, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at The Nature Conservancy South Africa, downloading data from a remote probe that monitors water flow in a stream in a remote catchment area that feeds...

Near the Buffels River Dam on the edge of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve.

Richard Bugan, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at The Nature Conservancy South Africa, with Mange Sokudela, a Quality Control officer, as he downloads data from a remote probe that monitors water fl...

Richard Bugan, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at The Nature Conservancy South Africa, checking equipment that monitors water flow in a stream in a remote catchment area that feeds the Theewatersklo...

An oleanderleaf protea (Protea neriifolia), part of the fynbos plant kingdom, on a slope above Kogel Bay south of the city of Cape Town. Fynbos is a unique type of vegetation found in the Eastern and...

Fynbos vegetation on a slope above Kogel Bay south of the city of Cape Town. Fynbos is a unique type of vegetation found in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa, and the vast majorit...

Richard Bugan, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at The Nature Conservancy South Africa, being dropped off by a helicopter in a remote catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. He is monitori...

A hillside blanketed by felled trees as a team clears a dense growth of invasive pine trees in a catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. After being cut the trees will be stacked to allow t...

Lion's Head mountain rising above the clouds.

A view along the 12 Apostles mountain range from the top of Table Mountain.

People watching from above the clouds as the sun descends towards the horizon and sunset approaches on Table Mountain.

Fynbos vegetation fringes a cliff edge on Table Mountain overlooking the Cape Town. Fynbos is a unique type of vegetation found in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa, and the vast...

A Table Mountain watsonia (Watsonia tabularis), an endemic fynbos species, atop Table Mountain. Fynbos is a unique plant kingdom found in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa, and th...

Louise Stafford, Director of The Nature Conservancy South Africa. According to environmental NGO The Nature Conservancy, invasive non-indigenous trees outcompete endemic shrubs (fynbos vegetation), el...

Thandeka Mayiji-Rafu, owner of Likhona Lethu Services, a contractor who has invasive tree clearing teams who operate in remote and dangerous locations such as cliff faces and other difficult-to-access...

Fynbos vegetation on Scarborough Beach near the Cape of Good Hope. Fynbos is a unique type of vegetation found in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa, and the vast majority of its p...

People looking at the Delville Wood Memorial in the Company's Garden with the iconic Table Mountain in the background. According to environmental NGO The Nature Conservancy, invasive non-indigenous tr...

Fynbos teas for sale in Cape Town. Fynbos is a unique type of vegetation found in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa, and the vast majority of its plant species are found nowhere e...

Protea and other fynbos flowers for sale at a market in Cape Town. Fynbos is a unique type of vegetation found in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa, and the vast majority of its p...

Olive oil infused with fynbos plants for sale at a market in Cape Town. Fynbos is a unique type of vegetation found in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa, and the vast majority of...

The Wemmershoek Dam, an important water source for the Greater Cape Town region. The dam has an approximate volume of 59 billion litres. Environmental NGO The Nature Conservancy estimates that 55 bill...

Helicopter pilot Roedolf de Lange briefing members of high-angle tree clearing teams on how to safely exit the helicopter before deploying them to montane watersheds that feed the Greater Cape Town ar...

Mannequins used in rescue drills as potential invasive tree clearing team recruits attend a rope work operations, safety and rescue course at High Angle Training. To successfully complete the course a...

Nkosikhona Xashi descends a rope as a mannequin, used in safety drills, lies prone during a rope work technique, safety and rescue course for potential invasive tree clearing team recruits at High Ang...

Potential invasive tree clearing team recruits attending a rope work operations, safety and rescue course at High Angle Training. To successfully complete the course and secure a job on a clearing cre...

Noxolo Rangana carefully spraying a herbicide onto the stump of a wattle sapling she had felled in a catchment of the Wemmershoek Dam. The tree is an invasive non-indigenous species, and each and ever...

Potential invasive tree clearing team recruits attending a rope work operations, safety and rescue course at High Angle Training. To successfully complete the course and secure a job on a clearing cre...

Galls on a wattle tree in a catchment of the Berg River dam. One of a number of problematic imported Australian trees, the tree is an invasive species in South Africa. An Australian wasp, one of it's...

New growth from a stump of a non-indigenous invasive plant on a hillside in a catchment of the Berg River dam, illustrating both the need for each stump of some species to be treated with a herbicide...

A mannequin, used in rescue drills, as potential invasive tree clearing team recruits attend a rope work operations, safety and rescue course at High Angle Training. To successfully complete the cours...

Felled pines, an invasive non-indigenous tree, blanket a hillside in a catchment of the Berg River dam. The dam is one of the major water sources for the city of Cape Town and the surrounding area. Ac...

Clouds roll over the mountains as the sun rises.

Clouds roll over the top of Table Mountain.

Richard Bugan, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at The Nature Conservancy South Africa, in his office.

With the start of the work day delayed by fog which makes it too dangerous to work, members of a high-angle tree clearing team horse around at their campsite in a remote montane catchment area that fe...

Nobuhle Jali, a member of a high-angle tree clearing team, enjoying an early morning cup of coffee before the start of the day at her team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the...

Zanele Njilana, a member of a high-angle tree clearing team, enjoying an early morning cup of coffee before the start of the day at her team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds th...

Alungile Mayekiso, a member of a high-angle tree clearing team, getting ready for the day at her team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The teams are de...

Zikhona Gcakamani, leader of a high-angle tree clearing team, polishing her work boots at dawn at her team's campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. The teams a...

Members of a high-angle tree clearing team relax before dinner at their campsite in a remote montane catchment area that feeds the Theewaterskloof dam. From left: Thuliswa Sigxonono, Khanyisa Mzayifan...

A wild elephant with one tusk in Kabini Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

A wild elephant with one tusk makes its way through vegetation in the wildlife sanctuary in Wayanad in Kerala.

Gray Langur monkeys sit on a tree branch in Kabini Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

Spotted deer in a mist at the Kabini Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

The glacial steppes of Olkhon Island which has an unique ecosystem.

The glacial steppes of Olkhon Island which has an unique ecosystem.