Conservation
Conservation at Grootbos
Conservation of the fauna and flora on Grootbos Nature Reserve and the surrounding Walker Bay Plain is of vital importance. To date more than 750 species of Fynbos have been documented on the reserve.
The reserve falls under the Cape Floristic Kingdom, which is the smallest of the six floral kingdoms in the world, covering only 90000 square km (0.04% of the earth’s surface). It is however extremely rich and boasts approximately 9000 species (Compare this to the approximate 1500 species found in the British Isles - an area 3.5 times larger than that of the Cape Floristic Kingdom). 70% of these 9000 species are also completely endemic to the area and are thus found nowhere else on earth. Sadly, almost three quarters of these plants are on South Africa’s IUCN Red Data list, which means that hundreds of these species face extinction.
Grootbos (translated from Afrikaans literally means “big forest”) is named after the three large forests of primarily Milkwood trees (some of which are up to 800 years old) which grow on the reserve. The main forest covers over 23 hectares, making it one of the largest forests of its type in the world. These three forests are three of only eight of their type in the world which fall in a conservation area. This makes them highly vulnerable and extremely important to conserve.
With regard to fauna, the fynbos biome is typically not one of large variety. There are however 21 recorded mammals, 106 birds and 19 reptiles occurring on the reserve. The Cape Dune Molerat is a fynbos endemic species that is found in abundance on Grootbos, and 5 of the sighted birds are on the red data list.
The Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy was set up in 1999 and is the collective pooling of resources of neighbouring landowners to further the conservation of fauna and flora in the area. Read more about this inspiring co-operation which won the Iris Darnton Award for International Nature Conservation at the 2001 Whitley Awards in London.
Part and parcel with conservation comes the research that is essential to implement it. Please take a look at our Research page to find out more, and see some of the publications that have resulted over the past few years.
A large part of the Grootbos Foundations entire ethos rests on the conservation of biodiversity, and it is therefore integrally involved in the continued conservation and restoration of the flora and fauna of the area. Were passionate about showcasing this amazing part of the world and educating the locals and the rest of the world about the importance of this environmental gem.
