Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative

The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) in South Africa - which includes the Agulhas Plain - is the smallest and richest of the six floral kingdoms in the world, and it is the only one to be found entirely within one country. The CFR has been identified as one of the world's "hottest" hotspots of biodiversity and was in 2004 was declared a World Heritage Site - the sixth site in South Africa.

In an area of just 90 000 km 2 there are an estimated 9000 species of plants. Of these an amazing 69% are found nowhere else on earth. To put this into perspective, the British Isles, three and a half times larger, have only 1500 plants, fewer than 20 of which are endemic. More than 1400 species are listed as being critically rare, endangered or vulnerable, and at least 29 species have already become extinct.

The rich biodiversity of the CFR is under serious threat for a variety of reasons including conversion of natural habitat to permanent agriculture and rangelands for cattle, sheep and ostriches, inappropriate fire management, rapid and insensitive development, overexploitation of water resources, marine resources and wild flowers, and infestation by alien species.

The Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative (ABI) is designed to address the main threats to the globally significant lowland fynbos biodiversity of the Agulhas Plain and to improve the livelihoods of local communities through inter-linked conservation, development and socio-economic activities. ABI, a joint partnership between South African National Parks and Fauna & Flora International is the first pilot project to be implemented under CAPE (Cape Action for People and Environment).

The four main components of ABI are: * Conservation management in the productive landscape of the Agulhas Plain including controlling alien invasion; fire management and wetlands rehabilitation * Development and implementation of models for sustainable harvesting of wild fynbos. (Afrikaans for "fine bush") including certification, marketing programmes and monitoring. * Development and implementation of nature-based tourism activities, including building local support though heritage centres and education programmes. * Building build local support for biodiversity conservation on the Agulhas Plain through public awareness activities

The objective is to convince landowners, private businesses and local communities that biodiversity, if managed and harvested sustainably, will provide significantly better economic benefits in the long-run, compared with alternative agricultural land-uses.

The Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative (ABI) is one of three complementary GEF initiatives in support of CAPE which are aimed at strengthening systemic, institutional and individual capacities and establishing the know-how needed for conservation in different ecological and socio-economic conditions. The model will be replicated in other areas where decentralised conservation approaches are urgently needed.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• UNDP
• UN
• Augulus
• South Africa