The Biodiversity of the Western Cape
The annual CapeNature Conservation Review provides an opportunity to highlight some of the achievements over the last year related to our work in Biodiversity Conservation, Tourism, and Community Engagement. The theme for this year's review is 'Connect with Nature’, and we invite you to join us virtually and enjoy a selection of presentations prepared for the Conservation Review. Hear about how CapeNature and partners are working with NASA via the BioSCape project; learn more about CapeNature’s innovative tourism and community outreach work; get an insight into the value of working dogs in biodiversity monitoring; learn more about our protected area expansion and get an insight into adventurous alien clearing via helicopter. Our five new Groen Sebenza interns have also join in and prepared short presentations about youth in conservation.
The biodiversity of the Western Cape
The Western Cape has an astounding wealth of biodiversity across all taxonomic groups and ecosystems and many species are endemic to our province. The term biodiversity refers to the variety of species (plants, animals, and micro-organisms) and ecosystems as well as the ecological process that allow biodiversity to persist over time. Biodiversity also includes genetic diversity. At an ecosystem level, there are 171 terrestrial ecosystems in our province. Sadly 64 of these are listed as Threatened in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA 2004). Of the threatened ecosystems, 35 are listed as Critically Endangered and 27 as Endangered. In terms of plant diversity, the Western Cape has by far the richest plant diversity of the nine provinces, including 10 778 plant taxa, of which approximately 61% are considered endemic. The Western Cape comprises 52.3% of the flora of South Africa (SANBI 2020).
Annually CapeNature produces a Western Cape State of Conservation Report which provides updates on the conservation status of indigenous biodiversity species and ecosystems. An overview of environmental threats is also provided, noting that the main threats include habitat loss, alien invasive vegetation, inappropriate fire regimes, biodiversity crime and climate change. The status of indigenous species indicates that 16% of extant taxa in the Western Cape are threatened. As depicted in the graphic below, the status of freshwater fish is of concern as 24 of the 44 Freshwater fish taxa in the province are threatened. Many species of conservation concern are protected in CapeNature Nature Reserves across the province. For more detailed information access the latest Western Cape State of Conservation Report on our website: SOCR 2022
Status of Western Cape Indigenous Species, from the State of Conservation Report 2022.
Related News
Your Perfect Summer Getaway with CapeNature
Embark on an adventure and immerse yourself in the vast open spaces of our 25 nature reserves spread across the Western Cape. With a variety of self-catering accommodations and campgrounds to choose from, we cater to different preferences and budgets.
CapeNature Empowers Volunteers with Replacement Starter Kits
Following an incident where three volunteers from Search and Rescue South Africa (SARZA) were recently robbed in Table Mountain National Park, CapeNature joined forces with Hi-Tec to donate starter kits to the team.
Responsible Angling ensures a Sustainable Future for both the Environment and the Communities that rely on these Resources
The Western Cape is home to an array of freshwater habitats, from serene mountain streams to picturesque dams. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a novice looking to cast your first line, understanding the regulations, and acquiring the necessary permits is crucial for an enjoyable and sustainable fishing experience. Before embarking on your freshwater fishing adventure, it's essential to comprehend the significance of obtaining a permit.
Seeing Stripes: The Kammanassie Cape mountain zebra aerial survey
Spotting a zebra is something of a wonderous task for admirers of wildlife’s beauty, but monitoring of Cape mountain zebra populations provides vital information that is used to inform management decisions and actions and is one of the objectives of the gazetted Biodiversity Management Plan for this species.
Harnessing the Power of NASA’s Technology to Detect Alien Species
When NASA isn’t spending its time exploring the depths of outer space, its lending its technology for the ambitious BioSCape project, which seeks to detect patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem health in the fynbos biome.
Your Bucket List of Things to Do in the Overberg Region Sorted
Pack your outdoor attire when visiting the Overberg and prepare yourself for an adventurous journey while connecting with nature. With an assortment of activities to choose from, visitors are sure to tick off adventure-galore in nature on their bucket lists before heading into 2024.