According to News24, Researchers from Stellenbosch University have discovered the world's oldest and most active termite mounds in Namaqualand in the Northern Cape. Per the Science of the Total Environment journal, these structures, dating back 34,000 years, predate even European cave paintings and have been shaping the environment since ancient Earth. According to Michele Francis, senior lecturer in the department, the discovery in the Northern Cape demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of life on Earth, these mounds act as natural carbon sinks, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil, a process that is vital for mitigating the effects of climate change. The discovery underscores the importance of preserving the region's natural heritage and the responsibility to safeguard these ancient delicate ecosystems.  

Journalist: Tasha-Ree Kella
Email: tashakella13@gmail.com