A new data paper, supported by B-Cubed, provides a detailed look at plant diversity in the Cape Floristic Region, one of the world’s most biodiverse areas. Focusing on a one-hectare site of pristine fynbos, the dataset records plant species, vegetation structure, and habitat conditions using a systematic grid approach.

Fynbos ecosystems are known for their rich plant diversity and adaptability to nutrient-poor soils and fire cycles. Still, they face growing threats from habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species. By offering a fine-scale view of community composition, this dataset serves as a benchmark for future surveys and supports research on biodiversity, habitat change, and ecosystem management. It provides valuable reference data for monitoring the long-term impacts of climate change and land use in the fynbos biome.

Researchers highlight the potential for long-term monitoring, allowing future comparisons to track environmental changes and ecosystem health to better understand biodiversity patterns and more informed and effective conservation efforts.