City Partnership Builds Fence to Realise Dream of New Reserve

The City of Cape Town's dream to create a nature reserve with roaming herds of eland and other game species near Blaauwberg Hill is hedging closer to reality with the erection of the first game fence in the Blaauwberg Conservation Area (BCA).

The new 2.1 meter high game fence has been built along the West Coast Road between Parklands and Melkbosstrand, covering 3.7 kilometres.

"This fence is a reality due to a partnership between the City of Cape Town, CapeNature and the Friends of the BCA", says Cllr Marian Nieuwoudt, Mayoral Committee Member for Planning and Environment.

The City provided the labour and materials, CapeNature supplied a team of expert field rangers to install the fence and the Friends of the Reserve, led by Louis Raubenheimer, provided CapeNature staff with refreshments.

"This was a great incentive to the rangers and workers who had to drive nearly 160 km daily to get to and from the site."

"Unfortunately, it will still be some time before people will see game as the City is still busy with negotiations to secure more land. Only when this is secure and fenced, and the fauna management plan has been completed, can we look at bringing in the first new residents," she says.

The City of Cape Town started developing the reserve in the 1980's. The area has a vast array of ecological, cultural and historical features which make it ideal for conservation. In addition, the area's almost seven kilometres of coastline are of immense ecological and recreational importance.

"One of the reserve's most valuable characteristics is its size. It has the potential to cover a region of 2 000 hectares. Such a large conservation area will create a wilderness feel on the doorstep of the metropole. Visitors will be able to enjoy the environment without being aware of the urban pressures around them. It will also allow large numbers of visitors and user groups into the area without affecting each other," says Cllr Nieuwoudt.

"One of the biggest advantages of a large conservation area is that it becomes viable for game. The BCA is a nature reserve and will never be managed as a game park or zoo. Only appropriate species at the ecologically correct densities will be introduced in accordance with an approved fauna management plan."

"In addition to the relatively large area covered by the BCA, the Swartland Shale Renosterveld vegetation in the area is also suited to game species. This vegetation is critically endangered and the game species and densities must therefore be controlled to ensure they do not degrade these areas. It is also widely recognised that herbivory is one of the driving forces in Renosteveld and if managed correctly the game will enhance the integrity of the vegetation."

"The City of Cape Town would like to thank CapeNature and the Friends of the Reserve for their continued involvement and commitment to the vision of this conservation site," says Cllr Nieuwoudt.

Anyone who would like to get involved in this Conservation Area is urged to contact Adelé Pretorius at 021 554 0957.

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Issued by:
Jan Kruger
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: 021 400 1292
Directorate: Communication and Marketing
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201
Fax: 021 957 0023

Media queries:
Cliff Dorse
Tel: 021 511 2041
Email: clifford.dorse@capetown.gov.za