Conservation
Join CapeNature for a Clean-up and Contribute Towards a Zero-waste Future
CapeNature will join hands with local communities in hosting the #DontBeTrashy drive from 1 to 30 September 2023. In the face of an escalating waste crisis, the #DontBeTrashy drive is a shining beacon of hope, advocating for a greener, more sustainable world.
Fresh from the press - 2022 State of Conservation Report
CapeNature is proud to present the 2022 State of Conservation Report. This is the third State of Conservation Report to inform the periodic Western Cape State of Biodiversity Report, as mandated by the newly assented Western Cape Biodiversity Act, aimed at providing the status of indicators for assessing the global state of biodiversity.
Thought-provoking insights at annual CapeNature Conservation Review
The online event was presented to more than 200 registered delegates. The Review provides an opportunity for CapeNature and partners to showcase “a year in review”. The apt theme of “Resilience is in our Nature” opened the opportunity to reflect on resilience thinking.
Celebrating the launch of the Berg Estuary as a Ramsar site
On Friday, 3 June 2022 the Western Cape Government and CapeNature, celebrated the launch of the Berg Estuary as a Ramsar site with the unveiling of an official Ramsar signboard located at the start of the estuary, ahead of World Environment Day.
Firewood prohibited in all CapeNature reserves as a biodiversity precaution against Shot Hole Borer
After months of scientific research and in association with conservation stakeholders and expert engagement, CapeNature has taken the decision to prohibit firewood brought in by visitors in all their nature reserves. This precaution will be in effect from 01 April 2022 until further notice.
CapeNature celebrates World Wetlands Day 2022 in anticipation of the official Berg River Estuary Ramsar site declaration
World Wetlands Day is recognised throughout the world on the 2nd of February each year. This special environmental calendar day marks the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty with the mission to conserve wetlands.
Rare plant monitoring at Waterval Nature Reserve
Waterval Nature Reserve is home to an incredible variety of special plant species, one of which is the Critically Endangered Sorocephalus imbricatus. One of the populations is very heavily overgrown with Pinus pinaster.
Ghosted: First Scientific Record of Albino Honey Badger on De Hoop Nature Reserve
CapeNature granted BirdLife South Africa and Panthera a research permit to undertake a camera trap survey at De Hoop Nature Reserve. Among the images captured was an extremely rare albino honey badger (Mellivora capensis).
International Vulture Awareness Day, 4 September 2021
04 September marks International Vulture Awareness Day. Vultures have always had a bad rep – think Lion King? Meanwhile, vultures are nature’s essential workers. As scavengers, they are part of a clean-up crew that mop up carcasses and other organic waste, preventing the spread of diseases such as anthrax and botulism!
Interview a tree and win big!
Kids – got something to say?
In celebration of Arbour Day 2021, CapeNature is giving away an outdoor solar pack to lucky winners with its Interview with a Tree competition. Kids play the part of the interviewee and get your friends, sibling, parent, or teacher to play the part of the tree.
CapeNature joins the "Plant a million trees" movement
CapeNature has joined a global-urban and community greening movement called ‘Plant One Million Trees’. Typically, these are linked to days on the environmental calendar such as Arbour Day, Plant Appreciation Day, Biodiversity Day, Earth Day and World Environment Day. This initiative seeks to boost these successes and bring them under one banner known as the Plant a Million Trees Campaign.
Estuaries Between Drought and Flood
The Western Cape has just emerged from, in some areas, up to an eight-year drought cycle. This is linked to bigger global oceanic and climatic conditions. The poor rainfall resulted in low freshwater flows in the rivers and very little freshwater reaching the estuaries which are the receiving environment of the freshwater flows left in the rivers after abstraction and use in the catchment.