Unveiling the Critical Role of Biodiversity: Why We Need to Preserve It as an Essential Service for Our Survival
On the 22 May annually, we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity to raise awareness about biodiversity and the issues surrounding it. The day aims to highlight effective strategies that can help protect biodiversity. This year, CapeNature celebrates by highlighting the importance of biodiversity an essential service.
Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is essential to our well-being and the health of the planet. It gives us access to food, medication, clean water, and materials for clothes and housing. However, due to human activities such as deforestation, pollution and climate change, a sharp decline in biodiversity is being observed around the world. The ability to provide for people's fundamental needs is seriously threatened by biodiversity loss, which also reduces ecosystems' capacity to withstand climate change, natural catastrophes, and disease outbreaks.
Do you need water? Biodiversity plays a critical role in providing clean water for human use. Wetlands, forests, and grasslands act as natural water filters, removing pollutants and contaminants from water.
Want to Eat? Our ability to produce food depends on biodiversity. The reproduction of many crops, such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts, depends on pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds. Pollinators, a component of biodiversity, are necessary to ensure that these crops produce the edible fruits and seeds.
Need Air? Biodiversity is essential for providing the air that we breathe. The oxygen we need to breathe is produced by plants via a process called photosynthesis.
Like healthcare, education, and public safety, preserving biodiversity should be seen as a basic service. We should place a high priority on biodiversity protection as an integral part of our social and economic systems, just as we do with investments in these fundamental services.
The world's population and the environment stand to gain significantly from investments in biodiversity protection. As an illustration, maintaining natural ecosystems may enhance food security, preserve clean air and water, and assist to reduce the consequences of climate change by lowering carbon emissions and raising carbon sequestration.
Everyone can contribute to protecting and conserving our biodiversity.
- Purchase sustainably produced goods from your neighbourhood farmer.
- Plant local trees, flowers and vegetation
- Encourage community-based efforts to preserve, restore, and research nature, such as coastal clean-ups.
- Don'tBeTrashy- reduce, reuse, and recycle.
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The reserve is owned by WWF South Africa and managed by the Overberg Renosterveld Trust (ORT), a non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting and restoring the fragile renosterveld ecosystem that once covered large parts of the Overberg.
Damara Trail Wins Silver Award at International Tourism Film Festival Africa 2025
CapeNature is proud to announce that its Damara Trail video series has won the Silver Award in the Tourism – Products category at the prestigious International Tourism Film Festival Africa (ITFFA) 2025.
CapeNature’s videos stood out for their compelling storytelling, visual excellence, and ability to capture the essence of nature-based tourism in the Western Cape.
“We are incredibly proud that the Damara Trail videos have been recognised on an international platform. This award helps to underline our commitment to sustainable tourism offerings. Much like the Damara Trail itself, the video helps to tell the unique history and story of the Waenhuiskrans area to visitors both far and near,” said Sheraaz Ismail, Executive Director: Eco-Tourism and Access.
Climbing in Rocklands this Season? Here’s What You Need to Know After the Cederberg Fire
The Cederberg, a protected wilderness area managed by CapeNature and home to some of the most iconic climbing and bouldering routes in South Africa, was recently impacted by a wildfire that began on 7 March 2025. The fire ignited near Krakadouw Peak and burned for 13 days, before being fully contained on 20 March. In total, it scorched 20,834 hectares, spanning 97 kilometers of fire line, and included damage to the Rocklands “Bouldering Area” — a popular climbing zone. As a result of the fire, several popular climbing sectors and access routes have been damaged or are temporarily inaccessible.
The Big Biodiversity Challenge is back – Learners Tackle Biodiversity Crisis in Provincial Competition
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CapeNature's vision - Protecting biodiversity for a sustainable future
Biodiversity forms the bedrock of life on Earth. It is essential not only for sustaining healthy ecosystems but also for ensuring human wellbeing. Last week, on 22 May, we celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity, to raise awareness, educate, and build understanding around biodiversity issues, while inspiring collective effort to conserve it for future generations.
Task team briefs Cape Peninsula Baboon Advisory Group on progress and way forward
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) consisting of representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town, hosted its second meeting with the Cape Peninsula Baboon Advisory Group (CPBAG) on 27 May 2025. The Shark Spotters who are implementing selected operational tasks under the banner of the Cape Baboon Partnership, also provided feedback on progress and challenges with the implementation of the Cape Peninsula Baboon Strategic Management Plan.
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