Media Release: GREF: Western Cape Nature Reserves Offer a Safe Haven for Biodiversity and Holiday Visitors

For immediate release
12 November 2025

As the holiday season approaches, the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) highlights the importance of the Western Cape’s nature reserves, which continues to stand out as a beacon of conservation excellence and effective environmental management in South Africa.

A recent report by the EMS Foundation (NGO) on 53 provincial nature reserves across South Africa paints a grim national picture: widespread decay, biodiversity loss, and crumbling infrastructure threaten the future of many protected areas. The Western Cape, through CapeNature, remains a rare exception. Its network of reserves, spanning marine, coastal, and estuarine ecosystems is renowned for strong management, skilled personnel, and innovative conservation practices.

Partnerships with SANParks and private landowners and conservancies further extend the province’s conservation footprint, while collaboration with local authorities ensures a coordinated approach to protecting fragile ecosystems. In addition, private reserves and conservancies, driven by passionate environmental custodians, contribute invaluable expertise, resources, and on-the-ground stewardship to safeguard biodiversity and habitats that are increasingly rare.

“Our quality of life depends on how we manage what remains of the Western Cape’s biodiversity and unique ecosystems,” says Cobus Meiring, GREF Convener. “Through responsible stewardship, public–private partnerships, and community engagement, these reserves continue to thrive — providing safe havens for wildlife and natural beauty for all to enjoy.”

Holidaymakers visiting the Western Cape this season can look forward to exploring well-managed, secure, and scenic reserves, from coastal pathways to pristine fynbos landscapes and vibrant estuaries. GREF encourages visitors to respect these special places: leave no trace, avoid littering, and follow reserve guidelines to ensure that every footprint remains clean.

GREF applauds CapeNature, private reserve managers, and the province’s conservancy networks for their tireless efforts to protect biodiversity. These reserves are more than tourist attractions — they are essential to the ecological health of the Western Cape and the protection of its natural legacy for future generations.

By working together, authorities, landowners, and visitors can ensure that the Western Cape remains a model of conservation excellence in South Africa — protecting biodiversity while offering unforgettable holiday experiences.

The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a regional platform for environmental managers and conservation entities, serving as a climate change think tank.

For more information, visit: www.grefecsf.co.za

Issued by:
Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF)
Enquiries: cobus@naturalbridge.co.za

ENDS