Sour fig harvesting provides income for communities
CapeNature celebrates International Plant Appreciation Day this year by highlighting the important role that indigenous plants play in the livelihood of communities. The special calendar day falls on 13 April every year and is aimed at highlighting the importance of plants in our daily lives.
Much of human nutrition depends on land plants, either directly or indirectly. Human nutrition depends to a large extent on maize, wheat, rice and other staples such as potato. Food can also be harvested from our natural surroundings and many edible species occur in the Western Cape, such as the waterblommetjie from which the well-known bredie is made. Not only do plants such as these provide much needed nutrition, they are also an important part of the economy.
Plants such as the sour fig, which is found in the coastal sands from Saldanha to Mossel Bay, not only provide food and medicine to coastal communities, but also aid in the generation of income. Thousands of kilograms of sour fig is harvested each year by hundreds of people, providing much needed income for the communities in the Overstrand area. While some harvesters sell products made from the fig, others use it to sustain themselves through winter.
Sustainable harvesting techniques protect vulnerable coastal vegetation while authorised harvesters help control poaching all while earning much needed income from this project. To communities such as these, which may have an unemployment rate of up to 85%, the income derived from harvesting sour figs is therefore very important for the local economy.
Sour fig are harvested between November and March. Historically the communities along the West Coast harvested these to store for the winter season when they could not go out to sea. Sour figs would sustain these coastal communities through the tough winter months. The fruit were stored in the roofs of houses to dry out and then jams were cooked from this to provide a meal of sour fig jam and bread. The sour figs also have medicinal value and aid in the healing of mouth sores.
Related News
How Waste Affects Biodiversity and What We Can Do About It
Waste is more than an eyesore. Littered streets, polluted rivers and overflowing landfills are visible signs of a much wider environmental problem. Every year, people generate large volumes of waste, yet much of it is not managed effectively. In South Africa, more than 60% of waste has been reported as ending up in landfills. With service-delivery challenges and many major landfill sites approaching capacity, the pressure on communities and natural ecosystems continues to grow. Both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity carry much of the impact.
Roll-out of baboon-proof bins to start as northern fence gets under way
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team is pleased to announce key developments related to the practical implementation of the approved Cape Peninsula Baboon Strategic Management Plan (CPBSMP). The Action Plan that guides the practical implementation of the CPBSMP was approved by SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town in November 2025.
Explore the Western Cape for free this Access Week – Nature is for Everyone
A week of free access to some of the Western Cape’s most spectacular natural spaces is on offer this September, as CapeNature opens the gates to selected nature reserves for its 12th annual Access Week. Taking place from 19–25 September 2026 under the theme “Nature is for Everyone”, Access Week invites individuals, families and communities to explore participating reserves without paying a conservation entry fee.
CapeNature extends cashless payments to more nature reserves
Building on the success of its initial rollout, CapeNature will extend its cashless payment system to a further five nature reserves in September 2026, in line with its ongoing commitment to service excellence, sustainability and safety. Following the successful transition to cashless payments at Robberg, Keurbooms, Stony Point, Bird Island and Walker Bay nature reserves earlier this year, CapeNature will expand the cashless payment system to reach more visitors across the Western Cape.
CapeNature updates fees for commercial filming across its reserves
From fynbos-covered mountains and indigenous forests to rugged coastlines and Marine Protected Areas, CapeNature’s reserves have long provided a diverse backdrop for local and international film and television productions. From 1 October 2026, CapeNature is updating its commercial filming tariff structure to better align fees with the scale of productions and the demands they place on protected area management.
Western Cape communities called to join the 2026 #DontBeTrashy Drive
CapeNature in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning is calling on communities, schools, businesses and visitors across the Western Cape to take part in the annual #DontBeTrashy Drive, running from 1—30 September 2026. The month-long campaign aims to reduce waste, protect biodiversity and raise public awareness about the growing impact of pollution on the Province’s land, rivers