The Biodiversity of Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy
Conservation
Cape Floral Kingdom
A small area with tremendous plant diversity
The Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy lies at the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom, a globally renowned biodiversity hotspot and the smallest of the world’s six floral kingdoms, uniquely contained within a single country. This kingdom is celebrated for its exceptional plant diversity, boasting more types of indigenous plants per unit area than any comparable region on Earth.
Within this remarkable floral kingdom, which spans 91,000 km², the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy stands out for its extraordinary richness. Despite covering only a small fraction of the kingdom, the conservancy is home, at the latest count, to an impressive 1,250 plant species, including 131 that are of conservation concern. This extraordinary biodiversity is represented across a range of unique plant communities, including:
Agulhas limestone fynbos (Critically Endangered)
Agulhas sand fynbos (Critically Endangered)
Overberg sandstone fynbos (Endangered)
Elim ferricrete fynbos (Endangered)
Overberg dune strandveld (Endangered)
Western Cape shale band
Milkwood forests
Southern Afrotemperate forest
And wetlands
Recent botanical discoveries
Grootbos erica (Erica magnisylvae) ©knysna_wildflowers
Lutzeyer’s lachenalia (Lachenalia lutzeyeri) ©mikebrunke
Gansbaai caperose (Cliffortia anthospermoides) ©donchelu
Capnophyllum lutzeyeri ©rebeccadames
PLANTS
Remarkably, many of the plants in the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy are found nowhere else on Earth. The conservancy has also been the site of recent botanical discoveries, adding new species to the scientific record, including:
- Grootbos erica (Erica magnisylvae)
- Gansbaai caperose (Cliffortia anthospermoides)
- Lutzeyer’s lachenalia (Lachenalia lutzeyeri)
- Worm bonnet (Pterygodium vermiferum)
- Limestone sandcelery (Dasispermum grandicarpum)
- Koudeberg aloe (Aloiampelos juddi)
- Capnophyllum lutzeyeri
Dealing with the threats
Despite its rich diversity of plant life, the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy faces significant pressure from human activities. While the fynbos in mountainous areas are generally well protected, the lowland fynbos is under increasing threat. Intensive agriculture, invasive species and other threats have had a severe impact on this landscape. As a result, 25% of the lowland fynbos on the Agulhas Plain has already been lost to agriculture. Much of what remains is severely degraded and overrun by invasive plant species, such as Australian acacias, wattles and pines.
Currently, only 5% of fynbos is formally conserved. However, it is encouraging that more landowners are joining conservation initiatives like the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy. This expansion brings additional private land into the conservation estate, increasing the area under protection.
Beyond its botanical wonders, the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy supports a rich array of
wildlife that depends on intact habitats for survival.
The conservancy is home to:
276
BIRD SPECIES
27
MAMMAL SPECIES
46
REPTILE SPECIES
22
AMPHIBIAN SPECIES
22
INSECT SPECIES
icon of the fynbos
The leopards of Walker Bay
Among the diverse mammal species in the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy, the leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) stands out as a true icon of the fynbos. Leopard monitoring in the conservancy began in 2017, and through collaborations with partners such as the Grootbos Foundation and the Cape Leopard Trust, we have made fascinating discoveries about these elusive cats. Our camera traps have captured remarkable footage of leopards, and to date, we have recorded at least 10 individuals in the conservancy, including both resident and transient animals.
eNDEMIC AND ENDANGERED
Western Leopard Toad and Galaxias
In addition to leopards, the conservancy is home to the Western Leopard Toad (Sclerophrys pantherina), a species endemic to the Western Cape which is listed as Endangered. This toad is known from just 11 severely fragmented locations.
Hidden in our pools is another special find: a range-restricted Galaxias fish species, known only from the Uilenkraals River and its tributaries. This tiny, elusive fish is currently under revision, and we eagerly anticipate new insights into this fynbos inhabitant as research progresses.
Strategic biodiversity protection
The Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy operates under a dynamic conservation management plan that is regularly updated to address emerging threats. This plan is grounded in ongoing research, monitoring and ecological insight. In collaboration with our members and with valuable support from the Grootbos Foundation’s conservation team, we gather data through bioblitzes and surveys. Our data collection methods include camera traps, entomological sampling, botanical assessments and fire management strategies. This approach ensures that our conservation efforts are both informed and adaptable.
Monkey beetle (Lepithrix lineata) ©grootbos
Long tongued horsefly (Philoliche) ©grootbos
Our conservation partners
