Mimetes hottentoticus. Mimetes species form part of Fynbos, a fire-adapted flora.

IUCN, The International Union for Conservation of Nature, published a World Heritage Outlook 2 -report this week stating that invasive plant species cause increased intensity of wildfires and drying in Western Cape. The report assesses the threats climate change poses to Natural World Heritage sites.

Natural World Heritage sites affected by climate change have almost doubled in three years. The report was published at the UN climate conference in Bonn, Germany.

Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage site is amongst the list of assessed areas. The status of the region was assessed as “Good with some concerns”. Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve covers 322,030 ha of a total of 553,000 ha of the World Heritage site.  

According to the report, the main problems within the CFRPA are “aggressively invasive plant species and the resulting increased intensity of wildfires”. The alien plants, especially in Fynbos ecosystems, disrupt the catchment water retention and promote unnecessary wildfires. Wildfire is a naturally occurring phenomenon, but fire frequency and drying increase as climate change stimulates the growth of invasive, woody plants. This also plays a major role in Western Cape’s critical water shortages.

Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve has taken action towards climate change mitigation (removal and prevention of greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation (reduction of negative impacts in social and biological systems).

Mitigation

CWBR has several projects to reforest riparian zones along the river banks by propagating indigenous trees.

Adaptation

CWBR’s number one response to climate change adaptation is water conservation. The Biosphere Reserve is currently researching how Aquatron, an ecological wastewater purification system works, and how water can be circulated and recycled in the system. The goal is mainly to offer a solution for informal settlements, but also elsewhere.  

Education

IUCN report assessed education and interpretation programs to be “Effective” within CFRPA, and CWBR certainly believes in the importance of these programmes. Raising awareness is the key component for informed decision making, and education also increases climate change adaptation and mitigation capacities of communities.

Over the last two years, CWBR has been partnering with The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment to organise overnight hikes as part of the Adventurous Journey component of The President’s Award Programme (https://www.presidentsaward.co.za/).

Last weekend, CWBR hosted a two-day Bronze hike for 4 enthusiastic Cape Town youth currently on their Bronze Level of the Award.

The President’s Award is a youth empowerment organisation which mains “with the assistance of adult volunteer leaders,is to empower young people between the ages of 14 and 25, by providing a balanced, non-competitive framework for self-development that will increase their self-esteem and enhance their capacity to achieve in whatever context they find themselves: enabling them to become responsible active citizens within their communities.” 

The minimum age to enrol on the Bronze Level is 14 years old, with the minimum completion age being 14 ½years old. The Bronze Level can therefore take a minimum of 6 months to complete. It is however not compulsory for participants to do hiking as their Adventurous Journey and participants have the choice for the Bronze Level, of either doing a 24-km hike, 80 km cycle, 48 km of horse-ride, 4 hrs per day of canoe, or a 6 hrs per day of sail. The Adventurous Journey durations, distances and requirements then become increasingly more challenging as participants move on to the Silver and Gold levels of the Award.

Last weekend we completed the Adventurous Journey component of the Award with the 4 Capetonians. The aim of this Award is, “To encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery whilst undertaking a journey in a group.” To meet the minimum Adventurous Journey distance requirements for the Bronze level, the group took on the challenge of completing 24km over the 2 days/1night. The group had a very successful hike and especially enjoyed hiking through the beautiful, spring touched surroundings of Franschhoek. The hike included educational talks on the local plants and dams, picnics with a stunning mountain view, and refreshing swims in the Berg River dam.

After the great success of this Adventurous Journey, the CWBR is definitely looking forward to the next Adventure! 

Last Monday, two of our our volunteers took eFata children out to the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve farm!

6 weeks ago, the CWBR welcomed two young volunteers from Luxembourg, Ophélie and Jana. During their 6 months stay, Ophélie and Jana are assisting teachers at eFata School in Groendal, and organising educational activities for the eFata children. eFata School is a kindergarten for 5-40 Xhosa infants and children, ranging between 3 months to 7 year old children.

Last Monday, Ophélie and Jana, decided to treat the eFata children and take them out to the CWBR farm. During their outing to the farm, the children were given the opportunity to participate in growing the vegetables, which are then used for their school meals. CWBR have a special vegetable bed, just for eFata School. 

CWBR runs many youth educational programmes and finds it very important for children to have a chance to do gardening and understand the great joy and benefits of learning such a skill.

As eFata School does not have their own playground or a backyard at school, the eFata children will be visiting the CWBR farm once a week to see their vegetables grow and enjoy the vast space to run around and play. During their visits, the children will also have the chance to interact with the 16 rabbits, cats, dogs and horse which live on the CWBR farm. 

Volunteer with children

Last weekend, The Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve, together with Breede Centre, organised an educational camp in the beautiful surroundings of McGregor.

The weekend’s camp included hikes, games, stories, swimming and great meals cooked on a bonfire. The children and instructors had great fun and all are looking forward to more camps and activities to take place this summer! 

Both The Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve and the Breede Centre believe that every child should have the opportunity to engage with nature and broaden their minds through travel. The Breede Centre’s vision is to teach practical skills to the locals and inspire people of all ages to find their life’s passion and the direction they want to move in.

Below you can find an after-movie we made available for you to have a better look at our action-packed weekend!