1. The Biodiversity and Wine Initiative: farming in harmony with nature:
The BWI is a pioneering partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector. Approximately 90% of South Africa’s wine production occurs within the Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK), the smallest yet richest plant kingdom on earth. Since 80% of the CFK is privately owned, landowner participation in conservation efforts is essential.
Due of mounting concern that some of the region's most vulnerable natural habitat might be targeted for vineyard expansion, the wine industry and the conservation sector have undertaken to conserve the rich biodiversity of the CFK. The total area conserved by the members and champions (50 278 ha) - the equivalent of 50% of the total vineyard footprint in the Cape winelands.
The BWI aims to:
- Prevent further loss of threatened habitat in critical sites
- Increase the total area set aside as natural habitat in contractual protected areas, by identifying and enlisting interested producers as members or champions of the initiative
- Promote changes in farming practices that enhance the suitability of vineyards as habitat for biodiversity, and reduce farming practices that have negative impacts on biodiversity, both in the vineyards and in surrounding natural habitat, through the adoption of biodiversity guidelines by the South African wine industry
- Create marketing opportunities for the wine industry by positioning the unique biodiversity of the CFK, and the industry's proactive stance on biodiversity, as a unique selling point to differentiate Brand South Africa.
2. Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW):
BotSoc works in conjunction with SANBI’s CREW volunteers to record endangered flower species which helps BotSoc with identifying priority areas for conservation projects.
Further information can be found on the CREW website.
3. CEPF Application for CREW and Stewardship Programme in
Kwa-Zulu Natal
The CEPF is a joint intitiative of I’Agence Française de Dèveloppement, Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank.
This project is a two year project and will be undertaken in collaboration with the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the SANBI CREW programme. The strategic direction under the Ecosystem profile is: To expand conservation areas and improve land use in 22 key biodiversity areas through innovative approaches that sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services, to develop and implement conservation agreements to expand private and communal protected areas, particularly habitats underrepresented in the current protected area network.
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