Rare Erica species rediscovered after nearly four decades

After an unsuccessful search in 2012, the rare Erica cunoniensis was feared extinct, but in September 2025, a team of conservationists made a rediscovery of this Endangered plant species, found for the first time in nearly four decades.

CapeNature staff, in partnership with members of the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW), embarked on a challenging expedition to conduct threatened flora monitoring on the Buffelstalberg in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, which has the only known population of Erica cunoniensis, with about 200 individuals in historic records.

Kogelberg is known to contain around 1 800 plant species, of which 150 are only found within the reserve.

The team's persistence was rewarded with the rediscovery of eight Erica cunoniensis plants, confirming that even endangered species can survive with sustained conservation focus.

Sylvia Wolita, a Pupil Field Ranger at Kogelberg, made the pivotal first sighting of the elusive plant.

The sighting was met with great excitement and is a reminder of the value of ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts. It also demonstrates the impact of collaborative fieldwork between CapeNature and citizen scientists through the CREW network.

The rediscovery of Erica cunoniensis underscores the ecological significance of the Cape Floristic Region, which is recognised as one of the most biologically diverse regions on the planet. This region, located almost entirely within the Western Cape, is a biodiversity hotspot containing 13 489 recorded plant species, of which 6 776 (50.2%) are endemic to the province.

To ensure the hotspot and thus the exceptional biodiversity located within it remain conserved, CapeNature is involved in various management activities, including preventing fires, managing invasive species, and ensuring responsible tourism and appropriate urban development.