What we do
PROJECT #1
Alien vegetation removal
One of the largest threats to the region’s unique biodiversity is the spread of alien invasive plants. Originally introduced to stabilise shifting sands along the coast or as a source of timber or firewood, they have rapidly spread surrounding natural landscapes, altering moisture, soil and fire conditions and resulting in the loss of indigenous species.
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The conservancy has been busy with a strategic alien vegetation eradication programme since 1999. Over this time approximately one third of the area of the conservancy has been cleared of alien vegetation and ongoing efforts are continually chipping away at these dreaded plants.
There are a number of alien clearing teams active in the conservancy, including two Biodiversity Stewardship teams that are funded and managed by the Grootbos Foundation. These teams are focusing on clearing invasive alien vegetation from the protected environment and nature reserve properties within the conservancy. Several landowners are also privately funding clearing of alien vegetation on their properties using local contractors.
PROJECT #2
Forest rehabilitation
The Walker Bay region is home to some unique and threatened forest patches that have been heavily impacted by past human activities. There are currently a number of fynbos and forest rehabilitation projects within the conservancy.
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These include, but are not limited to:
- The Platbos and Bodhi Khaya partnership, “Trees for Tomorrow”, which has planted more than 87,000 trees around the Platbos forest independently and in association with their reforestation partner, Greenpop.
- Farm 215, which is one of the reforestation sites of the Trees for Tourism programme of the South African Reforestation Trust. Since 2011, many thousands of trees have been planted on Farm 215.
- The Grootbos Foundation, which in collaboration with the Fynbos Trail are involved in the Stinkhoutsbos reforestation project. This project is focused on the rehabilitation of the Stinkhoutsbos Forest on Flower Valley.
- The Future Trees project, started on Grootbos Nature Reserve in 2008, which focusses on planting areas in the Grootbos forests that were impacted by the 2006 wildfire and earlier human activities.
PROJECT #3
Wildlife monitoring
Wildlife monitoring has been conducted across the conservancy in various ways that include tracking, camera trapping and night surveys. These methods have not only improved an understanding of the species present in our region but have also proven to be a wonderful tool to engage with landowners and the public.
Read more about our wildlife survey methods and results by downloading the PROJECT INGWE report.
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The animals of our region are largely nocturnal and shy, and so camera traps offer the most effective way to collect information on their behaviour and habitat use. We are also able to identify important corridors for wildlife dispersal, which is vital for the long-term genetic persistence of populations.
Using leopards as an indicator species has proven useful, as we are able to identify individuals, home range sizes and estimate dispersal routes and distances. Surveys have been conducted in various methods including general biodiversity surveys and collaborative leopard surveys. Together with the Cape Leopard Trust and other conservation organisations in the landscape, incredible insight into the population status and dispersal of leopards have been uncovered. Dispersal distances of up to 113 kms have been recorded in young male leopards, with a population estimate of less than one individual leopard per 100km2. The conservancy assists landowners and conservation authorities with human-wildlife conflict cases through carcass evaluations and making use of environmentally friendly methods of livestock protection.
PROJECT #4
Connecting landscapes
Conservation knows no boundaries, and the region’s unique biodiversity is not confined by property lines. To ensure the long-term survival of this biodiversity, it’s essential to work together to create a connected landscape.
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The animals of our region are largely nocturnal and shy, and so camera traps offer the most effective way to collect information on their behaviour and habitat use. We are also able to identify important corridors for wildlife dispersal, which is vital for the long-term genetic persistence of populations.
Using leopards as an indicator species has proven useful, as we are able to identify individuals, home range sizes and estimate dispersal routes and distances. Surveys have been conducted in various methods including general biodiversity surveys and collaborative leopard surveys. Together with the Cape Leopard Trust and other conservation organisations in the landscape, incredible insight into the population status and dispersal of leopards have been uncovered. Dispersal distances of up to 113 kms have been recorded in young male leopards, with a population estimate of less than one individual leopard per 100km2. The conservancy assists landowners and conservation authorities with human-wildlife conflict cases through carcass evaluations and making use of environmentally friendly methods of livestock protection.
PROJECT #5
Botanical surveys
The Cape Floral Kingdom is internationally renowned for its vast floral diversity, home to more than 9 500 plant species, of which more than 70% are found nowhere else. The Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy has been conducting formal and informal botanical surveys across the landscape since 1999 and has recorded an impressive 1,250 plant species, including 131 that are of conservation concern, and seven which are new to science. Some flagship species for the conservancy include Erica irregularis, the Gansbaai heath, which is restricted to a small geographical range between Stanford and Gansbaai, and almost entirely restricted to the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy.
PROJECT #6
Sustainable resource management
The region has a long history of natural resource use from the time of the earliest human occupants who flourished along this coastline. The conservancy members are committed to providing access for sustainable utilisation including fynbos flower harvesting, sour fig harvesting and fire wood removal as part of invasive alien clearing projects.