City celebrates International Day of Biodiversity in Philippi and Green Point
25 May 2023
On Tuesday, the City of Cape Town’s Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate visited the Edith Stephens Nature Reserve in Philippi as part of the United Nations sanctioned International Day of Biological Diversity celebrations which were held at the Green Point Urban Park on Monday. The nature reserve visit also sought to introduce the newly established Protected Areas Advisory Committee (PAAC) and highlight conservation and recreation opportunities for Philippi and surrounding areas.
'How many Cape Town visitors actually know that we have a nature reserve in the Cape Flats area? Edith Stephens Wetland Park is an important nature reserve for fynbos and wetlands. There is a lot going on here; from biodiversity, birds, wetlands, various plants, gardens and more. We encourage people to come visit and learn more about this place,' said the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
Alderman Andrews introduced the nature reserve to visitors before participating in a plant propagation workshop. There was also a visit to the on-site Environmental Education Centre which has proved very useful to local residents and schools that use it for workshops and holiday programmes.
The Edith Stephens Wetland Park features the above-mentioned environmental education centre, a wetland boardwalk trail, a picnic area, a medicinal garden and a bird hide. The vegetation type is a transition from Cape dune strand veld to Cape Flats sand fynbos, both of which are highly threatened. The site supports seven Red Data plant species, and some 95 bird species have been recorded.
Earlier in the week, on Monday, 22 May 2023, Alderman Andrews joined a group of 49 Grade 6 learners from Turfhall Primary School to celebrate the International Day of Biological Diversity in Green Point. The day's programme delved into Smart Living Themes on interlinkages between water, plants, animals and micro-organisms. The learners toured the Biodiversity Showcase Garden in Green Point Urban Park before proceeding to the SMART Living Education Centre where they discussed species they had identified on the tour and how each organism depends on the other to survive in an ecosystem.
'It was an honour to be surrounded by such young bright minds and to actively see them engaged on matters surrounding biodiversity and how we humans have negative and positive effects on the biodiversity around us. The theme for this year's International Day of Biodiversity was From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity and I think that instilling a sense of awareness among the youth will go a long way in strengthening our relationship with the natural world,' concluded Alderman Andrews.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
