CapeNature’s 2025 Snapshot: New Species, Big Threats

The Western Cape is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth! Just ask the Chelsea Flower Show judges who awarded SA’s fynbos gold.

It is home to more plant species than the entire British Isles and CapeNature is the team helping protect it. They've just released the latest State of Conservation Report, and it's a big one: over 13,000 hectares of wild and wonderful land were added to the Western Cape’s conservation estate this past year – that’s more space for fynbos, frogs and future generations to flourish.

With just over a million hectares (1,095,428) now under protection, the province is making significant strides in preserving biodiversity.

Guided by strategic planning tools like the newly adopted 2023 Biodiversity Spatial Plan, it's not just about locking down land – CapeNature is actively battling climate pressures, habitat loss, and invasive species by tracking ecosystem health and putting data-driven decisions into action.

CapeNature’s new Species Prioritisation Tool means even the tiniest tortoise gets the attention it deserves.

This year’s report also spotlights some recent remarkable field discoveries: scientists confirmed a brand-new endemic frog (Cacosternum cederbergense) in the Cederberg mountains, a once-extinct shrub (Psoralea cataracta) making a triumphant comeback and a never-before-described flower species, Ixia ebrahimii, blooming quietly in Wolseley.

This reminds us that the Cape’s biodiversity is as rare and rich as ever – and still full of secrets.

Equally so, conservation isn’t just about plants and pollinators – it’s also about protecting nature from people who harm it - noting that of 350 ecosystem types in the province, a concerning 191 are considered threatened – especially our rivers, wetlands, and estuaries.  

The region’s biodiversity faces mounting pressure from habitat loss, invasive species, climate change, pollution, and poorly managed fire regimes. 

The report also flags environmental crime as a growing concern. In the past year, CapeNature issued fines totalling R70,750 for illegal activities within protected areas.

But's not all doom and gloom: as the report makes a clear ecosystem-wide call to action that involves government and landowners - to work together to protect the region’s natural heritage. 

Using new plans that map out the most important areas to conserve, CapeNature is taking a clear and practical approach to deciding where protection efforts should go next.

Want to soak up more of the Cape's wild spaces?

Start with a Wild Card - from R880 per person for all parks. This nifty loyalty programme offers a full year of unlimited access to CapeNature reserves, including SANParks and more – think picnic-perfect forests, swimming spots, waterfall hikes and birdwatching galore. 

Whether you’re a weekend eco-warrior or a mountain biking fanatic, the Wild Card makes getting close to nature and all the wild things feel easy and accessible - while indirectly supporting conservation in the process.

Bottom line? The 2025 report shows that with the right tools, partnerships and passion, real progress can be made in protecting the Cape’s spectacular natural heritage. Explore the full CapeNature State of Conservation 2025 report.