KNYSNA NEWS - In September 2022, the Western Heads-Goukamma Conservancy (WHGC) received funding from the Table Mountain Fund's (TMF) Fynbos Forever Programme to assist with the WHGC's efforts in the protection and restoration of the Knysna sand fynbos vegetation type and its flora and fauna.
The TMF's Fynbos Forever Programme aims to ensure that priority ecosystems are safeguarded through formal and informal legal protection mechanisms, and appropriate resource management interventions are applied to reduce threats and build resilience in the natural fynbos ecosystems.
The WHGC is a non-profit organisation that was registered in October 2004 with the CapeNature conservancy programme.
The conservancy's purpose is to promote the protection of important indigenous ecosystems, species, archaeological and paleontological sites, landscapes and geological features within its jurisdiction.
Critical conservation area
The WHGC region is an important conservation area as it contains Knysna sand fynbos, a critically endangered vegetation type of which only 17% (2 500ha) of its original 15 000ha is in an untransformed state.
Furthermore, 75% of the remaining Knysna sand fynbos occurs in the WHGC.
The WHGC is also well known as the home to several threatened and endangered fauna species; including three threatened butterfly species, of which the Brenton Blue Butterfly is best known; and to endangered mammals such as the caracal and honey badger.
The geographical area that the conservancy covers.
It contains important ecological corridors along the dune cordons (east to west) and between the ocean and the Knysna Estuary (north to south).
Threats
Despite its high conservation value and the area being a valuable local and international tourism asset, the area is under threat from development, habitat fragmentation, uncontrolled fires, and from alien plant species invasion.
The vegetation type was severely impacted by the Knysna fires of 2017 and is therefore at risk and more sensitive to any further disturbances.
Protection and restoration interventions are critical to ensure the future of this important conservation and tourism area.
Two-pronged rescue approach
The WHGC/TMF Project has two main aims - the first is to have landowners commit their properties to conservation by having them declared as contract national parks.
A contract national park is a property of which a portion will be managed by SANParks, but remains the property of the landowner.
Other conservation agencies such as CapeNature can also become custodians of these areas through stewardship programmes.
The second aim is to eradicate invasive alien plants which threaten the natural flora of the Knysna sand fynbos.
Alien vegetation also contributes to a high fire risk in the area as it burns easier and hotter than indigenous vegetation.
Once the landowner has committed to declaring a contract nature reserve, the TMF will cover half of the cost of the eradication of the invasive alien vegetation.
Some landowners have already started clearing their properties of alien vegetation of their own accord, for which they are to be commended.
Collaborative project
The WHGC-TMF project is a three-year project that runs from 1 September 2022 to 1 September 2025.
In the year that the project has been running, a few objectives have already been achieved, ranging from progress in the declaration of contract nature reserves to biodiversity surveys, and from alien plant eradication to raising public awareness.
Public awareness has also played a big role in the conservancy's recent efforts.
This is a collaborative project, which will involve participation from multiple stakeholders including among others: local communities, landowners, SANParks, CapeNature, the Knysna Municipality, the Southern Cape Fire Protection Agency (SCFPA), SANBI's Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (Crew), and the Lepidopterists' Society of Africa.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
