Looking after our natural heritage
The
Cape Floristic Region is one of the world's richest yet most endangered regions, otherwise known as a global biodiversity 'hotspot'. Cape Town has a high risk of losing a significant part of its biodiversity and we all have to work together to conserve it.
Reasons to protect our natural world
The natural world was here long before us and we can play a role in keeping it safe from harm.
Did you know?
An opportunity city: Many of the City's biodiversity areas are managed with community partners.
Protecting our environment benefits us in the following ways:
- Plants and soil filter water and air.
- 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.
- Nature-based tourism provides valuable income and jobs.
- Plants can have commercial value; e.g. flowers, buchu, thatching reed.
- Fishing provides an income and is a popular sport.
- Natural playgrounds have incredible health benefits.
See our Biodiversity Fact Sheets in the document download section below for more tips on how you can help us
preserve our precious biodiversity.
Become a spotter
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.
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
Cape Town spotter. 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.
Replace invasive plants
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.
Support our protected nature areas
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
nature reserves and natural areas will reveal our network of incredible plants and animals.
Fast fact
A 'friends' group is a group of volunteers who work together with conservation authorities to protect a natural area they are passionate about.
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:
Other ways to get involved
There are many ways for you to get involved in protecting our natural environment and its ecosystems. Here are some suggestions:
Which part of the natural world are you passionate about?
For more tips on how you can get involved in protecting our natural world, see the following:
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