Latest news with #StateofConservationReport
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
Biodiversity under pressure — Western Cape ecosystems at a crossroads
The Western Cape's natural beauty is under growing threat. A new report from CapeNature paints a stark picture of declining ecosystem health across the province, from its mountain catchments to its embattled estuaries and river corridors. According to CapeNature's 2025 State of Conservation Report, more than half of the Western Cape's 350 ecosystem types are now classified as threatened. In a province celebrated globally for its biodiversity, the implications are serious — not just for nature, but for people and livelihoods. At the heart of the findings is a slow-burning emergency in freshwater and estuarine systems. Estuaries — biologically rich transition zones between rivers and the sea — are among the hardest hit. Forty-four of the Western Cape's 54 estuaries are listed as threatened, having been battered by altered flows, pollution, invasive species and urban sprawl. River and wetland systems fare no better, with 101 of 138 freshwater ecosystems facing ecological stress. Six of South Africa's 22 Strategic Water Source Areas fall entirely within the province. These mountainous zones are effectively the nation's water towers, feeding rivers that sustain agriculture, cities and rural communities alike. If these systems fail, the ripple effects will be felt in taps and irrigation systems across the country. The pressures on biodiversity are not limited to the province's rivers. Marine, shoreline, terrestrial and montane systems are also under siege. The drivers are familiar: habitat loss, changing land use, climate change, fire and the ever-expanding footprint of invasive alien plants. Each threat compounds the next, forming what conservationists increasingly describe as a 'polycrisis' for biodiversity. Silent decline Unlike the visible drama of a wildfire or a flood, biodiversity loss is often quiet and cumulative. Wetlands dry up, frogs vanish, pollinators retreat, and entire ecological relationships fray unnoticed. By the time the absence is noticed — an empty estuary, a degraded vlei — it may be too late. The report confirms that wetlands in particular are teetering. Nearly three-quarters of South Africa's most critically endangered wetland types occur in the Western Cape. More than a third of river types and 40% of wetland types in the province have no formal protection. This lack of legal and physical safeguarding undermines ecosystem resilience just when it's needed most. The health of these wetlands is not simply a question of conserving birds or frogs. The systems act as sponges, soaking up floodwaters, filtering pollutants and recharging groundwater. Their degradation threatens agriculture, drinking water supplies and even regional stability in the face of a changing climate. Biodiversity's broken shield CapeNature's mandate includes protecting the Western Cape's remarkable biodiversity, much of which is found nowhere else on Earth. The Cape Floristic Region — one of only six floral kingdoms globally — is renowned for its plant diversity and endemic species. Yet even here, the shield is cracking. The report catalogues a long list of species under pressure: freshwater fish hanging on in shrinking rivers; endemic frogs surviving in isolated mountain pools; critically endangered plants with just a few known individuals left in the wild. Species such as the Table Mountain ghost frog or the blue-tongue orchid live on the edge of extinction, dependent on specific microclimates or pollinators that are themselves disappearing. One high-profile casualty is the African penguin. Once a common sight along the coast, its breeding population has declined by more than 70% in recent decades, prompting its classification as critically endangered. While charismatic species like penguins attract attention, countless less visible organisms — spiders, amphibians, invertebrates — are disappearing in parallel. Hope in the highlands Yet the report has bright spots. Over the past year, CapeNature expanded the province's protected area network by more than 13,000 hectares, a notable achievement in an era where competing land-use pressures are intense. Much of this gain came through stewardship agreements — innovative partnerships with private landowners to conserve critical biodiversity outside formal reserves. These efforts are bolstered by new spatial planning tools, including the recently adopted Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan. This blueprint enables conservationists to prioritise high-value, high-threat landscapes and intervene strategically. By layering ecological data, threat assessments and land-use trends, planners can map out where conservation will have the greatest impact. Another encouraging development is the increased use of real-time monitoring and surveillance. CapeNature's collaboration with universities, research institutes and citizen scientists has produced detailed inventories of plant and animal populations, helping to guide everything from fire management to species recovery plans. Still, the gains are incremental and often precarious. As the report makes clear, many species and ecosystems remain one step from collapse. Monitoring can reveal the decline, but cannot halt it without political will, funding and broad societal support. A tool for action 'This report is more than a reflection of where we stand environmentally,' said Anton Bredell, the Western Cape provincial minister of local government, environmental affairs and development planning, at the report's launch. 'It is also a useful guide for decision-making in a way that strengthens both ecosystems and communities.' That emphasis on human wellbeing is echoed by CapeNature's CEO, Dr Ashley Naidoo. 'The resilience of our ecosystems and the services they provide is key to the wellbeing of the people of the Western Cape,' he said. The message is clear: conservation is not just about scenic beauty or species counts. It is about securing the natural infrastructure on which society depends — clean air, safe water, fertile soil and a stable climate. Crucially, the report aligns with the national State of Environment Outlook and international commitments under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. It is part of a broader attempt to not only track biodiversity loss but reverse it — one hectare, one river, one estuary at a time. Looking ahead, CapeNature and its partners face a difficult balancing act: to expand the conservation estate while simultaneously managing pressures from development, agriculture and climate volatility. The tools are there: adaptive management, targeted restoration, stewardship programmes, spatial planning. What's needed is urgency. The report offers not just a snapshot of what's wrong, but a foundation for action. It shows where life hangs in the balance and where interventions can still tip the scale. The Western Cape's ecosystems have long shaped its identity, economy and culture. Saving them is not a luxury but a necessity. DM
Time Out
5 days ago
- General
- Time Out
CapeNature's 2025 Snapshot: New Species, Big Threats
The Western Cape is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth! Just ask the Chelsea Flower Show judges who awarded SA's fynbos gold. It is home to more plant species than the entire British Isles and CapeNature is the team helping protect it. They've just released the latest State of Conservation Report, and it's a big one: over 13,000 hectares of wild and wonderful land were added to the Western Cape's conservation estate this past year – that's more space for fynbos, frogs and future generations to flourish. With just over a million hectares (1,095,428) now under protection, the province is making significant strides in preserving biodiversity. Guided by strategic planning tools like the newly adopted 2023 Biodiversity Spatial Plan, it's not just about locking down land – CapeNature is actively battling climate pressures, habitat loss, and invasive species by tracking ecosystem health and putting data-driven decisions into action. CapeNature's new Species Prioritisation Tool means even the tiniest tortoise gets the attention it deserves. This year's report also spotlights some recent remarkable field discoveries: scientists confirmed a brand-new endemic frog (Cacosternum cederbergense) in the Cederberg mountains, a once-extinct shrub (Psoralea cataracta) making a triumphant comeback and a never-before-described flower species, Ixia ebrahimii, blooming quietly in Wolseley. This reminds us that the Cape's biodiversity is as rare and rich as ever – and still full of secrets. Equally so, conservation isn't just about plants and pollinators – it's also about protecting nature from people who harm it - noting that of 350 ecosystem types in the province, a sobering 191 are considered threatened – especially our rivers, wetlands, and estuaries. In the past year, CapeNature issued fines totalling R70,750 for illegal activities within protected areas, signalling a strong stance against environmental crime. However, it's not all doom and gloom: the report reflects an ecosystem-wide call to action that involves government and landowners. Want to soak up more of the Cape's wild spaces? Start with a Wild Card - from R880 per person for all parks. This nifty loyalty programme offers a full year of unlimited access to CapeNature reserves, including SANParks and more – think picnic-perfect forests, swimming spots, waterfall hikes and birdwatching galore. Whether you're a weekend eco-warrior or a mountain biking fanatic, the Wild Card makes getting close to nature feel easy and accessible - while indirectly supporting conservation in the process.
