Read our latest posts and news.
Climate Change and Farming in the Southern Cape: What Matters Most?
By Halcyone Muller The Southern Cape has always been shaped by climate. Farmers, land managers and rural communities depend on reliable rainfall, healthy soils, secure water supplies and functioning ecosystems. However, changing weather patterns are placing...
Biodiversity Stewardship: An Opportunity for Southern Cape Landowners
By Halcyone Muller In the Southern Cape, Biodiversity Stewardship is not a threat to landowners. It is an opportunity to be part of something bigger: protecting South Africa's natural heritage while strengthening the future of the land they know and love. The...
Silky Hakea Biocontrol: Nature’s Allies in the Fight Against an Invasive Invader
By Halcyone Muller Silky hakea (Hakea sericea) is one of the most problematic invasive alien plants affecting the fynbos ecosystems of the Western Cape. Introduced from Australia, this hardy shrub rapidly forms dense stands that outcompete indigenous vegetation,...
Celebrating World Water Week – Learning Why Every Drop Matters
Water is something we use every day without giving much thought to where it comes from or what it takes to make it safe for us to use. During World Water Week, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR), in collaboration with Hessequa Municipality, gave learners...
Strengthening Conservancies Across the Gouritz Biosphere
Across South Africa, conservancies bring landowners, residents and other local stakeholders together voluntarily to care for the natural environment within a defined area. Their activities vary according to local needs and capacity but may include protecting...
Bringing Indigenous Life Back to Pikkewouter Daycare
By Erin Martins – GCBR Intern Greening our early childhood spaces is about more than just making them pretty. It’s about creating safe, living classrooms where kids can connect with nature from day one. Transforming the Grounds GCBR’s Environmental Awareness team...
Mandela Day – Coming Together for a Cleaner Albertinia
A Community That Showed Up On 18 July, in honour of Mandela Day, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve joined hands with the St. Luke’s Green Anglicans Movement, Hessequa Municipality, and the Traffic Department for a community clean-up in Albertinia. The...
From Waste to Wonderful with GCBR and Magpie Art Collective
From 7 to 9 July, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve collaborated with Magpie Art Collective from Barrydale to host a 3-day upcycling workshop aimed at inspiring creativity and environmental awareness among local youth. Creativity Meets...
Backyard Garden Farmers: Learning and Growing Through Challenges
By Nelisiwe Khusi and Simthandile Ponti We recently visited several backyard garden farmers in Slangrivier and Riversdale who have benefited from our Smallholder Farmers Programme. Through this programme, backyard vegetable garden farmers have received support with...
World Oceans Day at Langenhoven High School with GCBR MAB Youth
By Patricia Peters - GCBR MAB Youth Member A group of GCBR MAB Youth members (Faith, Patricia and Sinelethu) visited Grade 10 learners at Langenhoven High School to raise awareness about World Oceans Day, celebrated annually on the 8th of June. The session focused...