Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy

As the members of the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy (WBFC), we are working together to conserve over 20 000 hectares of threatened lowland Fynbos and Forest. This region of exceptional beauty lies within the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK) of South Africa.

The Cape Floral Kingdom (CPK) is a global biodiversity asset, and is the smallest of the world’s six floral kingdoms as well as the only one that can be found entirely within one country. It is home to more types of indigenous plants than any similar-sized area on Earth.

Of the 9 500 plants species found within the CFK, 70% of these plant species can be found nowhere else on Earth. Conserving the remaining areas of natural vegetation within the CFK is of utmost importance to international conservation. Our Flora is being threatened by agriculture, urban expansion, invasion of alien vegetation as well as fires and the incorrect timing of them. Many threatened habitats, especially those of lowland areas, fall within private landowners making conservation efforts often difficult.

Over the last two decades, we have invested in clearing alien vegetation and restoring our properties to their natural state. We have recorded over 1000 plant species, within distinct vegetation types of which two (Overberg sandstone Fynbos & Elim ferricrete Fynbos) are critically endangered and two (Agulhas limestone fynbos and Milkwood forests) are vulnerable. We have six species which are new to science and are endemic to our conservancy. The conservancy is also home to 106 bird species, 30 mammals, 46 reptiles, 22 amphibians and a wide diversity of insects.