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
CALL FOR APPLICATION FOR EXTERNAL MEMBER OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Applications are hereby invited for candidates to serve on the Audit and Finance Committee of CapeNature.
The member shall be independent from CapeNature, be contracted for a maximum period of two terms of three years each and will be remunerated for attendance at meetings.
Closing date for applications: 3 July 2026
Impact of Inclement Weather across CapeNature Reserves in May 2026
The last bout of extreme weather began in early May, when a cut-off low-pressure system hit the Garden Route. A week later, two powerful cold fronts swept through the rest of the Province, unleashing torrential rains and gale-force winds. The result has been widespread damage, with 85% of all reserves reporting at least some form of damage. The Cederberg region has emerged as the hardest hit.
Huis River aquatic invertebrate survey strengthens partnerships for freshwater ecosystem conservation
In the upper reaches of the Huis River near Barrydale, a recent aquatic macroinvertebrate survey is helping to inform conservation decisions for the Critically Endangered Tradouw redfin (Pseudobarbus burchelli), including the potential expansion of its range into upstream habitats in the river. The survey was conducted in partnership with
Ongoing efforts to safeguard the Critically Endangered Tradouw redfin through monitoring
The Critically Endangered Tradouw redfin (Pseudobarbus burchelli) is one of South Africa’s most range-restricted freshwater fishes. It is endemic to the Huis–Tradouw River catchment near Barrydale in the Western Cape. The species is listed as Critically Endangered due to its small and fragmented distribution, threats from invasive fish species, pollution, water abstraction, and habitat degradation.
Western Cape Government Prepares for Midweek Storm
Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, today said that the Provincial Disaster Management Centre had been briefed by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) on a cut-off low-pressure system expected to affect the Central Karoo and eastern parts of the Garden Route on Wednesday and Thursday this week. According to SAWS, the cut-off low-pressure system is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds
Western Cape conservation efforts highlighted on World Biodiversity Day
Every year on 22 May, International Day for Biological Diversity (or World Biodiversity Day) is commemorated, and is meant to increase awareness about the many wonders of biodiversity, the numerous threats to it, and more importantly, what we can do to reduce or eliminate these threats. It marks 34 years since the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB) came into force and reinforces the pledge