| Looking after our natural heritage | <h2 class="sectHeading">Reasons to protect our natural world</h2><p>The natural world was here long before us and we can play a role in keeping it safe from harm.</p>
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<i class="info opportunity"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Did you know?</h4><p>
<b>An opportunity city:</b> Many of the City's biodiversity areas are managed with community partners.</p></div></div></span>
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<strong>Protecting our environment benefits us in the following ways:</strong></p><ul><li>Plants and soil filter water and air. </li><li>Healthy ecosystems help us adapt to climate change – they recover and adapt better to changes in weather and temperatures and help us withstand extreme storm and flood events.</li><li>Nature-based tourism provides valuable income and jobs.</li><li>Plants can have commercial value; e.g. flowers, buchu, thatching reed.</li><li>Fishing provides an income and is a popular sport.</li><li>Natural playgrounds have incredible health benefits.</li></ul><p>See our Biodiversity Fact Sheets in the document download section below for more tips on how you can help us
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/nature-and-outdoors/our-precious-biodiversity/preserving-our-biodiversity">preserve our precious biodiversity</a>.</p><h2 class="sectHeading">Become a spotter</h2><p>Are you a regular hiker, an interested gardener or a concerned member of the public? Our Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) Programme will be even more effective if you can help them with locating new invasive alien target species.</p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy light-blue bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border">
<i class="info fastfact"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Fast fact</h4><p>
<b>Target species</b> do not, as yet, occur widely in the Cape - this means we still have a chance to get these species under control. There are currently 25 species listed on the
<a href="https://www.capetowninvasives.org.za/plants/edrr">Cape Peninsula Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) programme's<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> target list for control.</p></div></div><p>As many target species can be found in gardens or areas often visited by hikers, friends, gardeners or nature lovers, you can play an active part in spotting, reporting or even removing the plants before they become established and start spreading. Start by signing up to become a
<a title="Cape Town spotter" href="https://www.capetowninvasives.co.za/" target="_blank">Cape Town spotter<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>. View the target list, read more about the plants, see the most recent spotter updates and track the progress of the removal of the plants on the ‘map’ link.</p><h2 class="sectHeading">Replace invasive plants</h2><p>There are thousands of eco-friendly, water-wise plants that are not invasive to the environment. In addition to the over 25 000 indigenous plants in the country, there are an estimated 8 000 foreign plants in South Africa, of which only 360 have been declared an invasive menace to society and the environment. Speak to your nursery about replacing any invasive plants in your garden with indigenous ones.</p>
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<i class="info citycard"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Activities-and-programmes/Nature-and-environment/invasive-species-programme">Get involved in the Invasive Species Programme</a></p></div></div></span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">Support our protected nature areas</h2><p>Cape Town is unique amongst world cities because of the many plant and animal species that are found within the city and nowhere else in the world. A visit to the City’s
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-City-facilities/Our-recreational-facilities/Nature%20reserves">nature reserves</a> and natural areas will reveal our network of incredible plants and animals. </p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy light-blue bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border">
<i class="info fastfact"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Fast fact</h4><p> A 'friends' group is a group of volunteers who work together with conservation authorities to protect a natural area they are passionate about.</p></div></div><p>Visit a City nature reserve today or help to look after one – volunteer or join a ‘Friends’ group so you can take part in patrols, maintenance, management and administrative duties. Find out how by following the City Connect link below:</p>
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<i class="info citycard"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Volunteer/friends-groups-and-community-organisations/Friends%27%20groups%20and%20community%20organisations">Volunteer with ‘Friends’ groups and community organisation</a></p></div></div></span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">Other ways to get involved</h2><p>
<strong>There are many ways for you to get involved in protecting our natural environment and its ecosystems. Here are some suggestions:</strong></p><ul><li>Join a ‘Friends Group’ at your local nature reserve to volunteer in restoring the veld.</li><li>Join
<a title="iSpot" href="https://www.ispotnature.org/" target="_blank">iSpot<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> to record the biodiversity around you.</li><li>Maintain biodiversity in your garden by
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/greener-living/green-gardening-and-eating/start-composting-at-home">composting</a>,
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/safety-in-the-home/environmental-health-in-the-home/hazardous-waste-in-the-home-and-community">avoiding pesticides</a>, planting indigenous plants, and using fencing that lets small animals move between gardens.</li><li>Combat urban sprawl by putting pressure on your
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/Meet-the-City/City-Council" target="_blank">local government</a> to support proper planning of urban areas.</li><li>Reduce, reuse and recycle your waste so we can have cleaner and greener natural areas. See our
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Greener-living/Recycling-at-home">recycing section</a> for tips.</li><li>Reduce your carbon footprint – use less of the earth's resources by
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/transport-and-vehicles/greener-travel/smart-driving">driving less</a> and
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/residential-utility-services/residential-water-and-sanitation-services/make-water-saving-a-way-of-life">conserving water</a>,
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/residential-utility-services/residential-electricity-services/saving-electricity-in-your-home">electricity</a> and
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/greener-business/cape-towns-green-future/renewable-energy-sources-in-cape-town">fossil fuels</a>. See our
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Greener-living">greener living section</a> for some more tips.</li><li>If you know your birds or plants, record and monitor threatened and rare species and help groups like
<a title="Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers" href="https://www.facebook.com/Custodians-of-Rare-and-Endangered-Wildflowers-CREW-167173663344071/" target="_blank">Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> to map areas that need conservation</li></ul>
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<i class="info citycard"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Volunteer/volunteer-at-a-city-nature-reserve-or-in-a-biodiversity-programme">Volunteer at a City nature reserve or in a biodiversity programme</a><br><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Volunteer/the-source-to-sea-project">Volunteer on the Source to Sea Project</a><br><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Volunteer/cape-town-environmental-education-trust">Volunteer with the Cape Town Environmental Education Trust</a></p></div></div></span>
<p> Which part of the natural world are you passionate about?</p><p>
<strong>For more tips on how you can get involved in protecting our natural world, see the following:</strong></p><ul><li>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/nature-and-outdoors/Forests-and-plantations/cape-towns-forests-and-plantations">Cape Town's forests and plantations</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Activities-and-programmes/Nature-and-environment/cape-town-green-map">Cape Town Green Map</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/Nature-and-outdoors/Rivers-and-wetlands/Conserve-our-rivers-and-wetlands">Conserve our rivers and wetlands</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/nature-and-outdoors/our-precious-biodiversity/focus-on-baboons">Focus on baboons</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/nature-and-outdoors/our-precious-biodiversity/focus-on-fynbos">Focus on Fynbos</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/nature-and-outdoors/our-precious-biodiversity/focus-on-sharks">Focus on sharks</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/Nature-and-outdoors/Our-precious-biodiversity/Our-floral-kingdom">Our floral kingdom</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/Nature-and-outdoors/Our-beaches-and-coast/Our-unique-coastline">Our unique coastline</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/Nature-and-the-community/Conserving-our-natural-heritage/Preserving-our-biodiversity">Preserving our biodiversity</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/Nature-and-outdoors/Our-precious-biodiversity/The-capes-animal-kingdom">The Cape's animal kingdom</a></li></ul> | | GP0|#e1295218-7425-4d1c-95c3-811b13a92784;L0|#0e1295218-7425-4d1c-95c3-811b13a92784|Looking after our natural heritage;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#18da33b4-b150-4fb2-9409-e82d667ad4dd;GPP|#553ce1f7-0fea-434b-bbc1-744edbd62039;GPP|#c529c1ac-1f8d-48ae-8079-d34f4dae9c57;GP0|#33c1fc78-ab34-4554-99b1-cf120031b671;L0|#033c1fc78-ab34-4554-99b1-cf120031b671|Looking after our natural heritage;GPP|#eb5e9c59-7ec6-4e70-b544-badd024d5a4e;GPP|#184712e4-2ee9-4f2d-9e3a-71f917b536fa;GPP|#af370586-9ba3-404a-9d6e-02066ca42752;GP0|#baa8f7b0-94a3-43cb-8a87-8806d3a7b0a9;L0|#0baa8f7b0-94a3-43cb-8a87-8806d3a7b0a9|Looking after our natural heritage;GPP|#42749173-32d0-419b-8f64-0657a266b4a1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Why it is so important to protect the natural environment and how you can make a difference. | |
