New nature reserve secures rare Cape Vernal Pools habitat

The Franco Three Fountains Nature Reserve is declared a protected area, marking a significant conservation turning point as the first and only reserve dedicated to safeguarding the rare and ecologically important Cape Vernal Pools (a rare and endangered type of seasonal wetland ecosystem found within the Greater Cape Floristic Region). This unique vegetation type, previously unrepresented across our conservation areas, now finds its largest protected expanse within the boundaries of this reserve.

CapeNature facilitates the legal administrative process to declare these sites as protected areas in terms of the National Environmental Protected Areas Act (NEMPAA). The reserve was declared on 11 April 2025. Situated within the Three Fountains Estate in the Klein Dassenberg smallholdings area, the land is privately owned and spans over 20 hectares. The Franco Property Trust owns and manages the reserve through trustees, Tony and Jodie Franco, whose vision and commitment made this conservation milestone possible.

The reserve is home to a mosaic of Endangered and Critically Endangered habitats and species, including Atlantis Sand Fynbos and Swartland Shale Renosterveld. It also protects seasonal wetlands, vernal pools and ephemeral streams that feed into the Donkergat River system and ultimately drain through Blaauwberg Nature Reserve into the Atlantic Ocean at Melkbosstrand.

A botanical survey of the site has recorded 156 plant species, including 22 species of conservation concern. A few of these are recognised as being Critically Endangered, while several more are listed as Endangered.

Successfully declaring the reserve comes after decades of environmental pressure. In 2022, a significant clearing operation began, after more than 60 years of invasive alien plant infestation, mainly from Rooikrans and Port Jackson. Although a major wildfire that same year destroyed infrastructure and impacted recovering plant populations, rehabilitation efforts were quickly restarted. By 2024, the site had entered a maintenance phase, with reinstalled fencing and signage and an ambitious replanting programme.

To date, more than 3 000 Cape thatching reed (Elegia tectorum) seedlings and nearly 1 000 translocated wetland and fynbos plants, rescued from nearby developments, have been introduced to restore ecological balance and habitat resilience.

The addition of the Franco Three Fountains Nature Reserve to the province’s protected area network demonstrates the impact of private land stewardship in addressing conservation gaps. CapeNature encourages other landowners to explore similar pathways to formally protect ecologically significant sites and contribute to broader environmental goals.

Landowners who are considering having their land formally protected can contact CapeNature’s Antia Wheeler on awheeler@capenature.co.za and Kaylin Reid on kreid@capenature.co.za.