More-and-more farmland is being turned over for conservation in the Eastern Cape in recognition of its “bio-conservation gem” status.
Lindy Sutherland, of the Kariega Game Reserve and CEO of the Kariega Foundation spoke to CapeTalk’s John Maytham.
Maytham said he noted on a recent road trip that much is being done to protect the region.
He said many years ago, the only game reserve in the Eastern Cape was Addo. “And then in I think it was 1989, Adrian Gardiner started Shamwari.”
Sutherland said things have changed a lot in the 37 years since then.
“The private reserves in the area between Port Elizabeth and Kenton-on-Sea, or just beyond, have put 150,000 hectares under protection.
“Addo Elephant Park has grown to about 150,000 hectares and boasts one of the most successful black rhino breeding programmes globally.
“And the Fish River Sun has grown to about 60,000 hectares, also boasting one of the most successful black rhino breeding programmes.”
Sutherland said that in addition to that, SANParks has highlighted this part of the Eastern Cape as one of the national priorities for a biodiversity economy node. “Which is basically planning a massive mega reserve to bring under protection, but alongside that ensuring that all the communities are incorporated into that biodiversity economy and there is, in fact, benefit for all.”
She said the results of global research highlighted the need for conserving the area.
“Research was done globally on biodiversity hotspots and global targets were set to protect 30% of terrestrial and marine land within these biodiversity hotspots by 2030 and in some cases 2040.”
“The Eastern Cape is being highlighted as a very important ecological landscape to protect because it’s in fact the convergence point of two out of only 36 global biodiversity hotspots, which is quite extraordinary.”
The two are the Cape Floristic Kingdom and the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Biosphere.
To listen to the full interview, click the media player above.
Vicky Stark
www.ewn.co.za