Coming together for fynbos
KNYSNA – The Western HeadsGoukamma Conservancy (WHGC) recently announced that it has received support and funding from the Table Mountain Fund's (TMF) Fynbos Forever Programme to assist with the WHGC's efforts to protect and restore the Knysna Sand Fynbos vegetation type and its flora and fauna.
The TMF has to date invested about R95m into over 340 conservation projects that protect and restore the Cape Floral Region.
The TMF's Fynbos Forever Programme aims to ensure that priority ecosystems are safeguarded through formal and informal legal protection mechanisms, and that 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. The WHGC's 3 750ha area of influence extends from the western bank of the Knysna Estuary to the eastern bank of the Goukamma Estuary, and from the beach (high water mark) inland to the N2 national highway. The development nodes of Brenton-on-Sea, Brenton-on-Lake, Belvidere, Buffalo Bay, and portions of Knysna and Sedgefield are also included.
The WHGC region is an important conservation area as it contains Knysna Sand Fynbos (FFd10), a critically endangered vegetation type of which only 17% (2 500ha) of its original 15 000ha is in an untransformed state. Furthermore, 75% (± 1 750ha) of the remaining FFd10 occurs in the WHGC. The WHGC is known to be 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.
It contains important ecological corridors along the dune cordons (east-west) and between the ocean and the Knysna estuary (north-south). Despite its high conservation value and being a valuable local and international tourism asset, the area is under threat from inappropriate development, habitat fragmentation, uncontrolled fires, and 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. This WHCG/TMF-funded project will greatly assist with achieving this objective and will serve as a further catalyst for future conservation, protection and restoration initiatives in the area.