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Assessing the Proposed Building Site Impact on Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Ecosystem

This document evaluates the impact of a proposed building site on the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, part of the world's smallest floral kingdom. Rich in biodiversity, this area is a critical conservation site within a global biodiversity hotspot. Despite significant human activity and habitat transformation, the Cape Flats Nature Reserve remains vital for numerous species. The assessment highlights the ecological significance of the site, restoration needs, and the proposals for sustainable development while preserving natural vegetation and ecosystem integrity.

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Assessing the Proposed Building Site Impact on Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Ecosystem

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  1. Frontpiece Response to the Proposed Site of the new Building Northern site: Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Prepared by Richard Knight BCB Department Photos: Tessa Oliver

  2. Cape Flats: Part of World’s smallest Floral Kingdom Cape Flats: Part of World’s smallest Floral Kingdom • Cape Flats and Lowlands are part of the Cape Floral Kingdom and is smaller and more threatened than any of the other Kingdoms. • Cape Floral Region – one of 34 Global Biodiversity Hotspots and first non-tropical one to be recognised

  3. Cape Flats NR: Centre of the Cape Lowlands Sand Fynbos Dune Strandveld Ecotone Cape Flats NR: Centre of the Cape Lowlands • Cape Flats: human impacted, little remaining natural vegetation • Map shows Ecotone between two vegetation • The Cape Flats Nature Reserve, eighth most important site: due to size & floristics

  4. Cape Flats Dune Strandveld Related to Sub-tropical Thicket of the east coast Cape Flats Dune Strandveld • Broad-leafed shrubs • Calcareous sand substrate • 50% transformed in Cape Town • Much disturbed (sand-mining) • False Bay/Blaauwberg • Meets the 10% IUCN conservation target

  5. Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Cape Flats world highest species extinction rates! Cape Flats Sand Fynbos • Protea, fine-leafed and restio plants • High species richness • Deep, leached acid sands • > 75% transformed in Cape Town • Highly disturbed (invasives, mining) • One percent conserved • One percent conserved

  6. 3 ha Sand Fynbos 7 ha Dune Strandveld 23 ha 3 ha 6 ha Natural Vegetation: Area/Condition Natural Vegetation: Area/Condition 42 ha Natural vegetation Cape Flats Nature Reserve 1998

  7. More Bare Ground Annual Plants Dune Strandveld – Heavily Disturbed/Restoring Dune Strandveld – Heavily Disturbed/Restoring Indicators of Disturbance Cape Flats Nature Reserve 2002

  8. Dune Strandveld –Slightly Disturbed/Original Site Original Reserve Least disturbed Dune Strandveld –Slightly Disturbed/Original Site Cape Flats Nature Reserve 2002 Reserve Extension Some restoration

  9. Sand Fynbos: Light and moderate disturbance Sand Fynbos: Light and moderate disturbance Area excavated for building fill Cape Flats Nature Reserve 2002 Gum Trees draw of surface moisture Fairly disturbance Invasives & Ploughing

  10. Cape Flats Dune Strandveld : Light disturbance Cape Flats Dune Strandveld : Light disturbance Low Disturbance Species Rich High turnovers Cape Flats Nature Reserve 2002 Hot Fire: slowish recovery

  11. Cape Flats Dune Strandveld : Light disturbance Area Highly human modified Cape Flats Dune Strandveld : Light disturbance Fence/Main Road Cape Flats Nature Reserve 2002 Invasives Buildings

  12. Cape Flats Sand Fynbos: Light disturbance Proposed Site Alternative Site Cape Flats Sand Fynbos: Light disturbance Cape Flats Nature Reserve 2002

  13. Concerned over congested entrance Keep Existing Road System New Ring road Upgrade road Proposed New Development & Infrastructure Proposed New Development & Infrastructure New Entrance Proposed Site Alternative Site

  14. Landscaping around the development

  15. Natural Vegetation around the development

  16. X ? ? ? 9km Closest sites with Sandplain Fynbos all threatened 8km Closest 2 sites lost or under threat and are Dune Thicket X ? 8 km radius and only two other reasonable habitats 8 km radius and only two other reasonable habitats Cape Town Few and distant heighbours

  17. Botanical Society: Assessment of core sites 1997 Botanical Society: Assessment of core sites 1997 • Cape Flats NR: rated 8th most important • Had the 8th most number of species • Most isolated and last viable site in the central Cape Flats area • Only one of two sites to have a transition between veg. types Other Consideration…

  18. Events since Botanical Society site ratings Events since Botanical Society site ratings • #1 Milnerton RC been developed – small part reserved • #3 Macassar – sand mining/human pressure • #4 Kenilworth RC under threat of still more housing development • #7 N1-N7 brushcut by Eskom due to fire risks • #8 Cape Flats NR: development ? ? Only Rondebosch Com. & Rondevlei safe

  19. UWC 150 ha Estate • Custodian of 42 ha of natural habitat heritage • 34 ha vacant disturbed space to develop The BCB request: Our new building is shifted 80 m The BCB request: Our new building is shifted 80 m A small step to the left… Visit: http://mapserver.uwc.ac.za/imf-aims50/imf.jsp?session=18868

  20. Postscript Extinction is for Keeps!

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