Building resilience in the GCBR
The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) is located in the southern part of South Africa, across parts of the Western, Southern and Eastern Cape.
The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) is located in the southern part of South Africa, across parts of the Western, Southern and Eastern Cape.
It is an incredibly unique place in that it is the only area in the world where three global biodiversity hotspots converge: the Fynbos, Succulent Karoo and Maputoland-Tongoland-Albany hotspots. Formal recognition of the Gouritz Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO was attained in 2015.
Threats in this region come from out-dated agricultural practices, invasive alien vegetation, and too frequent and catastrophic fires. Land is being cleared on a large scale for cultivation. Besides this there is a fight against poverty and exclusion.
Large parts of the biosphere reserve are severely water stressed. This is worsened by climate change which already results in less frequent and heavier rainfall leading to more run-off and erosion.
The overall goals is to increase the socio-ecological resilience and sustainability within the biosphere. The programme is structured around the following projects:
Building resilience in the GCBR will be led by The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve
| Landscape | West Cape, where three global biodiversity hotspots meet: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, Maputo-Albany Thicket | |
|---|---|---|
| Gouritz Biosphere Reserve: 3.2 million hectares | ||
| Goals for the next 4 years | 1050 ha cleared of invasive alien plants | |
| 40 people trained and employed in ecosystem restoration | ||
| 250 ha of degraded Spekboom thicket restored | ||
| 36 people trained and employed for Spekboom planting | ||
| reduced water use and leaks fixed in 1000 households | ||
| 2 artificial wetlands constructed for municipal wastewater treatment | ||
| an ecological corridor that promotes wildlife movement |