Conservation Boost for Blaauwberg and Zandvlei

Two of the most significant conservation areas in the City of Cape Town have received formal conservation status, thus enhancing conservation, educational and recreational opportunities for all Capetonians.

The Blaauwberg Conservation Area (BCA) next to Big Bay, and the Greater Zandvlei Estuary Reserve next to Marina da Gama, have now been declared local nature reserves by Tasneem Essop, Provincial Minister of Environment, Planning and Economic Development, in terms of the Provincial Nature Conservation Ordinance.

"These proclamations demonstrate a joint commitment from provincial and local government to protect the biodiversity heritage of Cape Town," says Minister Essop.

"Conservation-worthy land is under great pressure due to the ever-increasing threat of development. The responsibility to reserve land for conservation is too big to be handled by any one sphere of government on its own. It is thus praiseworthy when local authorities, such as the City of Cape Town, have their properties declared local
nature reserves.

South Africa has set itself a target to have eight percent of the land and 20% of the coastline declared protected areas by 2010 under the Convention of Biological Diversity," said Minister Essop.

Covering an area of 2 000 ha, the BCA, lies along the coast between Big Bay and Melkbos, and includes Blaauwberg Hill. It is one of the City's largest conservation areas and acts as an important green lung within an urban context. In terms of the gazetted proclamation, 560 ha of City-owned land now has official status.

With over 500 recorded plant species, including 50 red data species, a wide range of faunal species, remnants of late stone age middens, the site of the 1806 Battle of Blaauwberg, and relics from both World Wars, the BCA is a paradise of biodiversity and heritage assets.

The area contains three vegetation types (West Coast Renosterveld, Sandplain Fynbos, Dune Thicket) and two transitional vegetation types (Dune Thicket-Sand Plain Fynbos and Sandplain Fynbos-West Coast Renosterveld).

A unique feature is the presence of all these vegetation types and transition zones within a single conservation area. From a scenic point of view, the BCA offers unparalleled views of Table Mountain and Robben Island.

The Zandvlei Reserve, consisting of 22 ha of land on the northern shore of Zandvlei, was proclaimed a bird sanctuary in the 1980s. The area conserves endangered Cape Flats thicket vegetation and valuable seasonal salt marsh. As a functioning estuary, Zandvlei receives inputs from both the sea and the catchment area. Twenty four indigenous fish species have been recorded there.

For years the City of Cape Town, the Zandvlei Trust and Marina Da Gama Home Owners' Association have lobbied to extend the boundaries of the Zandvlei Bird Sanctuary to include the valuable habitat in the Westlake Wetlands, Park Island and the water surface itself.

"Both reserves are of immense conservation and recreational importance," says Councillor Marian Nieuwoudt, Mayoral Committee Member for Planning and Environment at the City of Cape Town. "Sound ecological management of the resource is needed to ensure that these compatible uses continue in a healthy and thriving natural environment," she said.

"With this declaration we are moving closer to achieving our 2010 goal. We must ensure that the surrounding communities are empowered by the benefits of this declaration, and that all citizens of the Western Cape enjoy the space.

Being able to grant a declaration of conservation within an urban area is an amazing phenomenon - something which is not common practice throughout the world," Minister Essop said.

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Issued by:
Directorate: Communication and Marketing
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201
Fax: 021 957 0023

Media queries:
For Minister Essop
Lynnette Johns
Tel: 021 483 3915
City of Cape Town
Cllr Marian Nieuwoudt
Mayoral Committee Member for Planning and Environment
Tel: 021 400 1307

Technical enquiries:
Osman Asmal
Director: Environmental Resource Management
Tel: 021 487 2200