Conservation blogs

Safeguarding Ecological Infrastructure Against Invasive Alien Plant Species
Invasive alien plant species are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss and threaten many indigenous species. To address this issue, government laws, specifically the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983 (Act NO. 43 of 1983) and the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act NO. 10 of 2004), legally obligate landowners to monitor, control, and eradicate alien invasive plants.
Collaboration for Conservation Allowed for the Release of a Cape Vulture to the Potberg Colony
A joint initiative between VulPro, Cango Wildlife Ranch, and CapeNature results in the triumphant rehabilitation and release of a Cape Vulture.VulPro, based on the outskirts of Hartebeespoort Dam in the Northwest Province, is a specialised vulture conservation organisation that also undertakes specialist rehabilitation of vultures. VulPro collects injured or grounded birds from every corner of South Africa in an effort to reduce losses - giving each bird a second chance of release and survival.

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.

Be Fire Safe with CapeNature this fire season
Due to the high number of fires that occur as a result of negligence, it is critical that everyone is aware of the significant role they can play in stopping veldfires before they start. Veldfires place all fire-fighters at risk as they put their lives in danger to protect life, property, and biodiversity.

Legal implications in terms of invasive alien plant species
The management of alien and invasive plant species can sometimes lead to confusion in terms of applicable legislation. There are two national laws that need to be considered, namely the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983 (CARA) and the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 (NEMBA). All landowners have a responsibility and legal liability in relation to the control of invasive vegetation.

Penguin Palooza 2021 – Celebrating Collaboration
CapeNature and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) will premiere a virtual celebration of the sixth annual Penguin Palooza on Saturday, 4 December 2021 at 10h00, across the organisations' social media platforms.

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.

UPDATE: Western Cape Avian Influenza outbreak and Seal deaths
The outbreak of Avian Influenza amongst wild seabirds in the Western Cape has seen an estimated 21172 dead birds with 13195 birds dying on Dyer Island off Gansbaai. The Cape Cormorant remains most affected with 20558 dead Cape Cormorants recorded to date.

CapeNature’s Stony Point now daily on WildEarth TV
“Penguin Beach” is an expert-hosted live and interactive experience with the colony of penguins. Viewers can follow regular characters within this colony in real time and ask the experts of CapeNature and WildEarth questions via Twitter and a chat option. This one of a kind LIVE experience on WildEarth allows viewers to watch it daily throughout the year, following specific characters as they grow from being newborns to fully fledged adults.

UPDATE: Western Cape Avian Influenza outbreak and Seal deaths
The outbreak of Avian Influenza amongst wild seabirds in the Western Cape continues, with Dyer island in the Overberg that continues to be the biggest problem area.

CapeNature and Dyer Island Conservation Trust – Strategic partnership yields multiple conservation benefits in the Overberg region
The African penguin is on the brink of possible extinction in the wild within the next decade. Partnerships are vital in the ongoing effort to stabilise the African penguin population numbers.