Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy

Situated in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy promotes the conservation of the natural and cultural diversity of the Walker Bay area through co-operative partnerships. It works with 56 landowners who are committed to conserving and protecting 27 302 ha of the region's exceptional biodiversity. Through responsible land management, invasive alien plant clearing, biodiversity monitoring and social upliftment, the Conservancy works to safeguard the unique fynbos ecosystem for future generations.

Fynbos is a fire-dependent ecosystem that relies on periodic fires for regeneration and renewal. The recent fires in the Overberg, while devastating, have created a rare window to tackle invasive alien plant regrowth, which fire also triggers. This landscape is part of one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots, home to many endangered and endemic species of flora and fauna. Invasive alien plants remain the greatest threat to this biodiversity, and without urgent intervention much of this life risks being choked out over the coming decade.

While fire removes mature invasive plants, it also stimulates mass germination of their seeds. Clearing these plants before they set seed again drastically reduces their future spread. This led to an invasive alien clearing campaign called The Rise of the Fynbos. Experienced teams, predominantly women from local communities, are highly skilled and equipped to remove invasive alien plants within the Conservancy, contributing both to the conservation of its unique biodiversity and to the upliftment of surrounding communities.

Environmental awareness is another key focus. By encouraging a greater understanding of the importance of fynbos, responsible land management and biodiversity protection, the Conservancy aims to foster a culture of environmental responsibility while creating meaningful opportunities for local communities.