Cederberg, South Africa (CNN) The rugged and beautiful Cederberg Mountains in South Africa's Western Cape are named after one of the rarest trees on the planet. The Clanwilliam cedar lives nowhere else in the world.

This iconic species originated up to 225 million years ago and survived the last ice age. But today it is critically endangered and its future hangs in the balance.

For the past 17 years, conservation manager Rika du Plessis has been committed to saving the Clanwilliam cedar. Historically, these trees were harvested for their wood but now they are facing another threat.

"Due to climate change ... the whole world is experiencing higher temperatures, lower rainfall," says du Plessis, who works for governmental conservation organization CapeNature.

Rika du Plessis, CapeNature.

Less rainfall prevents seeds from germinating naturally, she explains, and when they do germinate, the young trees struggle to survive without water. And she says increased temperatures are causing more fires. "Once a tree is touched by fire, it dies," says du Plessis.

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