Haarwegskloof Declared Nature Reserve
In a major victory for biodiversity conservation, Haarwegskloof, which includes the largest remaining connected stretch of renosterveld left on Earth has officially been declared a provincial nature reserve.
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.
Located between Swellendam and Bredasdorp in the Overberg region, Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Nature Reserve spans 547 ha of Critically Endangered Eastern Rûens Shale Renosterveld. It’s home to a remarkable diversity of endemic and rare plant species. Threatened bird species such as Black Harrier and Cape Vulture have been recorded here, as well as secretive mammals, including Aardwolf and Aardvark.
CapeNature facilitates the legal administrative process to declare these sites as protected areas in terms of the National Environmental Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003). The declaration, made in April 2025 by Western Cape Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell, cements the site’s status as a vital stronghold for one of South Africa’s most threatened ecosystems.
Minister Bredell congratulated the different stakeholders for working together to make this conservation initiative a reality.
We have excellent environmental legislation in South Africa, but without passionate and dedicated stakeholders, it would mean very little. I am especially proud of the work CapeNature continues to do to expand the conservation estate in the province. We know that healthy biodiversity is key to protect and buffer us against extreme weather and climate change. But more than that, we owe it to future generations to protect our unique and precious natural environment.
CapeNature CEO Dr Ashley Naidoo said CapeNature, the ORT, and WWF South Africa have a long-standing relationship with each other.
This declaration is an acknowledgement of the ongoing and admirable conservation efforts that the ORT is carrying out in the Overberg. CapeNature supports these efforts through assessing and reviewing the biodiversity value of these important biodiversity areas. Through stewardship facilitation, legal support and on-the-ground collaboration, CapeNature continues to assist in securing the future of some of the Western Cape’s most vulnerable ecosystems.
For Dr Odette Curtis-Scott, CEO and Founder of the ORT, the declaration marks a milestone in the journey to protect this irreplaceable landscape.
Renosterveld is one of the most threatened vegetation types in South Africa, with an estimated 5% of its original extent intact. Much of it has been ploughed for agriculture, and what little remains is highly fragmented, making the formal protection of Haarwegskloof as a nature reserve really important
The declaration provides the highest level of legal protection under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act. It ensures that the Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Nature Reserve will remain dedicated to conservation efforts, while allowing for scientific research, habitat restoration and low-impact eco-tourism activities.
Renosterveld is part of the Cape Floristic Region, which is a global biodiversity hotspot and one of only six floral kingdoms in the world. Despite its ecological importance, renosterveld has received far less attention and protection than its fynbos counterpart, largely because it occurs on fertile soils that have been extensively converted to farmland.
The ORT has been working for more than a decade to protect the fragments that remain by engaging with landowners to voluntarily sign conservation easements. Following this, ORT works with committed landowners to restore degraded habitat and address other threats to renosterveld.
Curtis-Scott added the declaration of Haarwegskloof as a nature reserve is key to these efforts and not just a win for conservation but also science and the countless species that call this extraordinary landscape home.
The declaration also serves as inspiration for a globally unique vegetation type facing functional extinction.
We hope our ongoing work with incredible partners and landowners will inspire further protection of renosterveld remnants throughout the region. Haarwegskloof stands as an example of what is possible when government and private organisations work together in conservation of our South African and Western Cape biodiversity.
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