Story and Photos by the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Office of Ecology and Conservation and the Architectural Division of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations

To save water and labor and be environmentally friendly, U.S. posts worldwide are using treated wastewater or collected rainwater for irrigation, featuring native plants in their landscaping and limiting the use of plants that require extensive irrigation, especially grassy lawns.

An example is the U.S. Consulate General in Cape Town, South Africa, which is located on six hectares in a leafy suburb. The Westlake River, which flows through the compound, is home to endangered leopard frogs and numerous birds, and is in an area rich in plant species, a large percentage of which are found only in this region. The landscape architects specified the use of the indigenous plants on the consulate compound since they perform well under local condition. Read full article on p.10-11 here.

Visit the U.S. Consulate General Cape Town website for more information.