About the Gouritz Cluster
Biosphere Reserve

Our Domain

The GCBR is located in the southern part of South Africa, across parts of the Western, Southern and Eastern Cape. It is an incredibly unique place in that it is the only area in the world where three global biodiversity hotspots converge: the Fynbos, Succulent Karoo and Maputoland-Tongoland-Albany hotspots.

On the 9th June 2015 UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) approved the designation of the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) as South Africa’s 7th, and largest biosphere reserve – at 3 187 893 hectares!

Furthermore, UNESCO approved the serial extension of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (CFRPA) World Heritage Site  within the domain, which added to formally protected areas as part of the CFRPA World Heritage Site.

The GCBR is characterised by high endemism of plant species, which means they occur nowhere else on earth. At least 670 of the approximately 5,000 plant species present are endemic to the Biosphere Reserve. Even the arid inland portion of the region is rich in endemic species, with at least 400 of the 3,200 plant species restricted to the Biosphere Reserve. They are, in other words, irreplaceable: if we lose them they are gone, forever. It is simply impossible to overestimate the importance of our region’s biodiversity – for us and for the rest of the world. It is one of the key reasons why UNESCO has declared this area as an international Biosphere Reserve.

Who we are

The GCBR is a non-profit company registered in terms of Section 21 of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973) as an association incorporated not for gain to manage the Biosphere Reserve in terms of the requirements of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme.

The GCBR is a membership organisation governed by an elected non-executive board of directors. A lean management team is responsible for direction, strategy implementation and day to day operations. Project leaders are appointed on a project-by-project basis, coupled with partnerships as a preferred way of delivering on the ground.

How we work

The GCBR’s organisational culture and methods of working are characterised by the principle of enabling and informing others:

  • Partnerships and networks with champions across the domain: inter alia local action and youth groups, innovative farmers and associations, non-governmental organisations, faiths such as church groups;
  • Active mobilisation, hosting and facilitating multiple stakeholders to work together for ecological sustainability: stakeholders include business, government, communities, educational establishments, foundations, farmers, para-statals, corporates, associations; and
  • Influencing public opinion, perceptions and behaviours with special attention to the youth and tomorrow’s leaders.

The GCBR is a membership organisation governed by an elected non-executive board of directors. A lean management team is responsible for direction, strategy implementation and day to day operations. Project leaders are appointed on a project-by-project basis, coupled with partnerships as a preferred way of delivering on the ground.

How we are funded

At present, the GCBR largely depends on donor financing for its operations. Much thought has gone into the organisation’s long-term sustainability, and a core principle of our strategy is to become financially self-reliant in terms of our core costs. Gouritz Enterprises Pty Ltd, a for-profit company, was registered in 2016 with the GCBR as its sole shareholder. The intention of this vehicle is to develop business opportunities from which surplus can be derived. Profits will be paid to the GCBR to build up an unrestricted fund to further support delivering on the GCBR’s mandate.

In this way, we envision the GCBR’s evolution as a social enterprise with two connected hubs. One, the GCBR non-profit, delivers on the ground, actively learning, sharing and functioning as a node in wider, multiple networks. The other – Gouritz Enterprises Pty Ltd – will operate on commercial lines generating profits to be reinvested and deployed towards meeting the GCBR’s core costs.

GCBR Domain Maps & Facts

GCBR Location in South Africa

GCBR Location in South Africa

Total terrestrial and marine surface area (ha)

GCBR Clusters

GCBR Clusters

Plant Species (Approximately)

of which

are endemic

GCBR Domain Details

GCBR Domain Details

Core Zone (ha)

Buffer Area (ha)

Transition Area (ha)

Meet Our Team

Directors

Arnel Huisamen

Arnel Huisamen
Director

Clement Cupido - Director - Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve

Clement Cupido
Vice-Chairman

Hendrik Visser - Director - Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve

Hendrik Visser
Chairman

Zenariah Poole

Zenariah Poole
Director

Ambassadors

Chris Henshilwood

Christopher Henshilwood
Ambassador for Archaeology

GCBR Team
Antonnet Botha Friends of the Biosphere Programme Coordinator

Antonnet Botha

Friends of the Biosphere Programme Coordinator

Alyson Horsley - Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve

Alyson Horsley

Reporting and Support Specialist
Andre Pretorius

André Pretorius

Financial Administrator

Claude Schippers

Claude Schippers

Extension Officer

Andre Pretorius

Erin Martin

Intern

Halcyone Muller

Halcyone Muller

Coastal and Langeberg Extension Officer

Jolanda Hendricks

Jolanda Hendricks

Fundraising Associate
Jolandie Buck

Jolandie Buck

Extension Officer

Groen Sebanza Intern Programme Lee-Ann

Lee-Ann Pretorius

Environmental Officer
Groen Sebanza Intern Programme Leila

Leila Moosajee

Youth Coordinator
Linda Fletcher

Linda Fletcher

Sustainability Manager 
Louis Jordaan - GCBR Extension Ofiicer

Louis Jordaan

Klein Karoo Extension Officer
Marinda van As

Marinda van As

Administration & Reporting Manager
mark jantjies

Mark Jantjies

Acting Project Manager
GCBR HR Melissa

Melissa Campodonico

HR Consultant

Nelisiwe Khusi

Nelisiwe Khusi

Hydrologist
Nikki du Toit

Nikki Du Toit

Social Media Marketing & Multimedia Design
Purnille Albertyn

Purnille Albertyn

Intern
Riette van der Walt - Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve

Riette Error

Web Development & Multimedia Design
Rita Botha

Rita Liebenberg

Gouritz Corridors and Restoration Programme Manager
simthandile ponti smallholder extension officer

Simthandile Ponti

Smallholder Farmer Extension Officer
Steve Du Toit

Steve Du Toit

Chief Executive
Nikki du Toit

Wilhelm de Beer

Coastal Extension Officer
Groen Sebanza Intern Programme Yaaseen

Yaaseen Bodhanya

Data Analyst

Implementing Partners

Andre Britz - Board - Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve

André Britz

Implementing Partner:
Jobs 4 Carbon
André Goliath

André Goliath

Implementing Partner
Jacobus Vaaltyn

Jacobus Vaaltyn

Implementing Partner
Louw Willemse

Louw Willemse

Implementing Partner
Pierre Kellies

Pierre Kellies

Implementing Partner
Rozanne Steyn

Rozanne Steyn

Implementing Partner
Advisors
Bruce Taplin

Bruce Taplin

Caroline Gelderblom

Caroline Gelderblom

Cosman Bolus

Cosman Bolus

Dr Donovan Kotze

Dr Donovan Kotze

Myles Mander - Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve

Myles Mander

Roland Vorwerk

Roland Vorwerk