News
Autumn Fynbos Beauties
The Western Cape Province is home to the Greater Cape Floristic Region, which is the world’s smallest, but in terms of biodiversity, the richest floral kingdom. Fynbos vegetation is part of this Floristic Region. Summer is slowly dwindling, the days become shorter, nights longer, colder weather is creeping in and autumn is with us.
CapeNature bounces back and up as part of tourism recovery
CapeNature’s strong focus on brand awareness and innovation led to eco-tourism earnings growing by a record 60.5% compared to the previous financial year. It has already surpassed its pre-COVID-19 revenue target of 2019/20.
Off-Road Vehicle Compliance: A Collaborated Success at the Walker Bay Complex
In February 2022 Walker Bay staff participated in a joint Operation Phakisa exercise. The operation focused on addressing the Off-Road Vehicle (ORVs) issues being experienced in the Walker Bay Complex and the Overberg region in general.
The Rough Moss frog: a story of conservation action for a Critically Endangered species.
The Rough Moss frog is a unique little frog, actually a minuscule frog, with a body length in adult males of only 15 mm and a couple of extra millimetres in females.
Freshwater Biodiversity: Dragonflies and damselflies
Odonata is the name of the order of predatory insects that comprises the dragonflies and damselflies. The name is derived from the Greek word meaning “toothed jaw”. A descriptive referral to the impressive jaws of the larval form of these flying insects.
Weekly Fire Report
Get a quick glimpse every week into CapeNature's firefighting efforts during fire season (October - March) with a self-explanatory infographic highlighting fire locations and hectares of veld affected over a 7 day period. Read all about fire prevention and management here.
Batting at Groenvlei
Eighteen of the ±62 species of bats in South Africa occur in the Western Cape. Four of these are fruit-eating species, while the rest are insectivorous. The largest bat roost in South Africa is on CapeNature’s De Hoop Nature Reserve and the 300 000 bats that live there are estimated to consume about 100 tons of insects per year, including mosquitoes and agricultural insect pests.
Hiking: Get the most out of your Forge App
In July 2021, CapeNature announced a partnership with Forge, the 100% Made in Mzansi mobile hiking maps app. The digital maps include super accurate trails and important points of interest, like camping sites, waterfalls and mountain peaks among others, as well as information on opening hours, facilities, contact details and more.
Picnic like a professional
Picnics are a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. Packing a good picnic basket can add to your experience in a positive way. Read our tips to help you impress your friends and family this summer when visiting one of your favourite CapeNature reserve spots.
CapeNature celebrates World Wetlands Day 2022 in anticipation of the official Berg River Estuary Ramsar site declaration
World Wetlands Day is recognised throughout the world on the 2nd of February each year. This special environmental calendar day marks the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty with the mission to conserve wetlands.
WARNING: Is Getting HOT in here!
Anton Bredell, the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, through the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre, today issued a warning on the expected heatwave throughout the Western Cape this weekend.
According to the South African Weather Service, temperatures in the Western Cape will rise above 40 degrees Celsius in some places both Saturday and Sunday.
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.