While the filling of Namibia's newest and largest dam was met with jubilation after many years of drought, this event almost spelled extinction for a plant species that was unknown to science before the dam was built. The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) rescued as many plants as possible before they were inundated by the rising waters, and is determined to ensure the survival of this species. As humanity forges ahead with developments to accommodate our burgeoning global population, many species of plants and animals pay the ultimate price - extinction. Sadly, this seems to be an accelerating tragedy despite all the rhetoric about green development and saving the planet. Some species disappear before they are even described by scientists, and many newly discovered species vanish almost as soon as we find them. This cautionary tale of Neckartal Dam and a newly discovered plant species shows just how vulnerable our biodiversity can be to the impact of development.