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Cape Floral Kingdom
Threats and conservation
Threats to Cape wildflowers
Fingers are being pointed at the usual culprits; agriculture (particularly the large wine and fruit production monocultures), and urbanisation (with the expansion of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth). However, agriculture does provide jobs and urbanisation is a feature of economic development the world over.
The biggest threat?
Comes in the guise of non-native invasive plants. These ‘aliens’ crowd out native species and transform natural communities in ways that make it more difficult for indigenous species to survive. For example, Australian acacias introduced to stabilise sand dunes, create large amounts of leaf litter and fix nitrogen in the poor soils. Native flora, not adapted to using these extra nutrients just can’t compete.
And to the future and beyond?
It’s not all doom and gloom. Capetonians have come to proudly claim fynbos and its associated plant diversity as part of the peninsulas cultural heritage. Dotted around the cape are a number of national parks and reserves that help protect unique flora. The South African government has also introduced legislation aimed at protecting native species, and targeting the alien invasive threat.
Gardening with indigenous flora is also in vogue in horticultural circles around the Cape. Some of the world’s most renowned botanical gardens, for example Kirstenbosch and the Harold Porter, are located in the area, helping to keep watch as guardians over the regions spectacular plant diversity.
And on a smaller, more individual scale, farmers, gardeners and conservationists aware of the threats to Cape are adopting cultivation practices or landscaping in ways that help conserve native species. The famous sheep farmer and conservationist Neil MacGregor has demonstrated how livestock grazing and floral conservation can go hand in hand. His farm ‘Glenlyon' has been visited by the likes of David Attenborough, who took his TV production team there to film part of the series ‘The Life of Plants’. And there are companies such as FairPlay Seed trying to do their small bit too - and of course - those of you who buy our seeds!
