Blaauwberg Nature Reserve is once again flying the Green Coast flag, receiving the prestigious status for a seventh time in recognition of the City of Cape Town’s ongoing commitment to protecting and responsibly managing this unique coastline. The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), the national implementer of the Green Coast Programme, officially presented the status to the City’s Environmental Management Department at a special ceremony at Grotto Blue Flag Beach in Hermanus on Thursday, 8 October 2026. 

‘Blaauwberg Nature Reserve first received Green Coast Status in 2018, and we are thrilled to be receiving this recognition for the seventh time. It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the passion and hard work that goes into protecting this special coastline. We are proud that Blaauwberg continues to set the ‘Green’ standard for coastal conservation, while creating opportunities for environmental education, sustainable tourism and local communities. Our thanks go to our Environmental Management Department, the Friends of Blaauwberg Conservation Area and WESSA for recognising their commitment and hard work,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

Blaauwberg Nature Reserve spans about 2 000 hectares, including a seven-kilometre coastline, and protects critically endangered vegetation. More than 200 plant species have been identified along this section of the Green Coast through studies undertaken by Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) volunteers.

Green Coast sites aim to protect at least one of three main coastal themes, namely: sensitive habitats, sensitive species, and cultural heritage.

'Green Coast is about far more than a status or a flag. It reflects the daily work of municipalities, conservation partners and coastal communities to care for the places we all depend on and enjoy. WESSA has been the national operator of the Blue Flag programme in South Africa for 25 years, making South Africa the first country outside Europe to implement the programme. That experience has shown us that behind every award are people whose work is often quiet and done under pressure. Today, we recognise that commitment and the shared responsibility to protect our coastline for future generations,' said the CEO of WESSA, Cindy-Lee Cloete.

'Blaauwberg Nature Reserve’s seventh Green Coast Status is a wonderful reflection of that sustained care. We congratulate the City of Cape Town and look forward to continuing our partnership to strengthen coastal conservation, education and access to these special places.'

WESSA and its Blue Flag and Green Coast partners hosted Coastal Celebrations in the Overstrand from 6 to 8 October 2026. The celebrations culminated with the annual Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards, where Blaauwberg Nature Reserve proudly received Green Coast Status for the seventh time, recognising its continued commitment to coastal conservation. 
The reserve is also home to a pioneering example of ‘living signage’: South Africa’s first Braille coastal environmental education signage, unveiled in February 2026 by WESSA, in partnership with Nedbank, Blind SA, the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) and the City of Cape Town.

Blaauwberg is one of the nature reserves managed by the City of Cape Town and has consistently met WESSA’s Green Coast criteria.