GI UNIQUE AND DIVERSE
Gamkaberg Conservation area
The Gamkaberg Conservation Area is one of the most unique and diverse areas on earth. Not only biologically (the plants and animals), but the geological and fossil history is also fascinating. Some of the rocks here are more than 750 million years old and the marine invertebrate fossils date back to about 360 million years ago when this entire area was covered by the ocean. Add to this, the highest peaks in the Western Cape, and the picture begins to unfold.
Rock art
The record of early man, with artefacts dating back to the early stone age when stone tools were still the order of the day, and the more recent Khoisan rock art which is abundant in the rock shelters in the mountains, also adds to this richness.
Five biomes
It is for this reason that the Gouritz Catchment has been identified by conservation planners as one of the areas in the Western Cape for the development of a special Initiative the Gl (Gouritz initiative). (The other area is the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity corridor). The Gl domain stretches from the Great Karoo to the sea, using the Gouritz River and its tributaries as the backbone. Five of the seven Biomes in South Africa are also included in this Gouritz area; Forest, Succulent Karoo, Valley Bushveld (thicket), Fynbos, Nama- Karoo. This is unequalled in any Conservation Area in the country.
Partnerships
This Gouritz Initiative is not a massive State owned reserve, but one made up of partnerships between private landowners and existing nature reserves. Landowners are not expected to down tools but rather to adopt conservation conscious farming methods and where possible, to set aside portions of conservation worthy land to be carefully protected. Tourism is also high on the agenda, once again looking at establishing partnerships with the local communities to provide the services, so that everyone benefits from the initiative.
Migratory routes
The whole idea of the Gouritz initiative is to allow plants and animals to migrate North-South and East-West through long term as well as seasonal climate change.
More about the plants
The Fynbos and Succulent Karoo which are the dominant vegetation types in the area, are receiving international attention due to their high numbers of plant species and the fact that most of these are uniquetothearea.
Funding benefits
Another benefit to the community is that Conservation Organisations are providing funding for conservation projects in the Gouritz Initiative area. For example, we have recently employed more than 50 previously unemployed persons on maintenance and alien plant eradication projects.
Cape Mountan Zebra
The Gamkaberg Conservation Area is one of the core areas of this Gouritz Initiative. It was established in 1974 to conserve a naturally occurring population of the endangered Cape Mountain Zebra. Unfortunately before any protection could be put in place, the herd was reduced to 5 animals. Today, almost 30 years later, the numbers have only reached 35. We need additional habitat for theses animals as the present reserve confines them to a small section of the mountain and they need to move onto the flats, as well as East-West along the mountain, according to the seasonal changes in the vegetation. The Gouritz Initiative will help address problems like this. Another animal, which will be positively affected, is the leopard, which is hanging on in the remote mountain areas although they are still regularly trapped illegally by stock farmers.
Western Cape Nature Conservation Board (WCNCB)
WCNCB is prepared to enter into contractual agreements with landowners in key areas. This would entail management of the area by WCNCB while the landowner would retain access and certain development rights. A number of stewardship options exist which can be tailored to suit the needs of the landowner.
Endless opportunities
For anyone interested in contributing towards a worthy biodiversity conservation project, the opportunities in the Gamkaberg Conservation Area are endless. Time is however running out so lets stand together and make a success of this while we still can.
Source: Tom Barry