KNYSNA NEWS - SANParks Garden Route national park has a rich biodiversity right on our doorstep – with lots to celebrate on International Biodiversity Day, 22 May.
Communications manager Nandi Mgwadlamba shared some statistics from their scientists.
“SANParks boasts approximately 120,000 hectares of terrestrial vegetation is made up of forest (1/3) and fynbos (2/3)
“Approximately 80,000 hectares of the Garden Route National Park are covered by fynbos while 40,000 hectares fall under the Knysna-Tsitsikamma forest, representing 67% of the biggest continuous forest complex in South Africa
Three estuaries in the Garden Route where the Knysna seahorse can be found- the Knysna estuary, Swartvlei and Keurbooms.
Two endemic succulents -Gasteria polita (Critically Rare) found in Natures Valley and SouthEast of Keurbooms River and Gasteria barbae found at two sites in Harkerville (Red list status not determined yet due to recent taxonomic description).
Number one estuary in South Africa in terms of biodiversity significance- Knysna estuary.
The forest is a haven for 465 species occurring in the forest areas, over 22 species of amphibians, 24 reptile species, 305 species of birds and some 42% of South Africa’s 290 mammal species. At least 7.1% of the Park’s mammals are listed as Endangered (EN) and 14% as Vulnerable (VU).
80 is the number of camera traps set up in the Knysna forest to ‘gather baseline data on mammal species presence as well as human activities in and around the forests’ according to the SANParks Research Report (2016)
Number 7 in terms of biodiversity significance is the Swartvlei system. ‘It is of national importance not only in terms of the protection provided to estuarine and marine biota, including waterbirds, fish, invertebrates and plants.
“R127 million is the amount spent on clearing alien invasive species by implementing agencies (Working for Water and SANParks) since 2002 in and around the Garden Route National Park.”
50 is how old the Otter hiking trail is turning this year (2018).
Article: SANParks Research Report, 2016
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
