14th of March − At the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve, we are committed to protecting and restoring our rivers and wetlands for future generations. In honour of International Action for Rivers, we recognise the dedication of our contracting and restoration teams in...
By Antonnet Botha Dr Steve Du Toit, Jolandie Buck, Niki Du Toit, Andrew Stroebel, and Antonnet Botha at the GCBR event in Mossel Bay On 10 March 2025, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) had the distinct honour of hosting an engaging event in Mossel Bay. Over...
By Purnille Albertyn Why Every Piece of Trash Matters: The Impact of Beach Clean-Ups. Join the Movement! The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) MAB-Youth and Hessequa Municipality collaborated on a beach clean-up in Still Bay at Preekstoel Beach. Six youth...
by Somila Liwani Each year, on February 2nd, we celebrate World Wetlands Day, a global event highlighting the critical role wetlands play in mitigating climate change, improving water quality, and preserving biodiversity. This year, GCBR took an active approach by...
By Nelisiwe Khusi On 2 February, we celebrate World Wetlands Day to highlight the importance of wetlands and their role in supporting life. These unique ecosystems provide clean water, store carbon, protect us from floods, and serve as vital habitats for diverse plant...
By Nelisiwe Khusi The restoration team kicked off the year by conducting follow-up plant biodiversity assessments at two sites in the Upper Goukou Catchment. Initial baseline assessments were conducted between June and July 2024 to document the pre-clearing conditions...
By Carien Meyer What are Biodiversity Hotspots? Have you heard the term biodiversity hotspot, and if so, do you know what does it means or why it’s important? And did you know that the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) is home to three biodiversity hotspots!...
Nelisiwe Khusi 1, Rita Liebenberg 1, Dr Donovan Kotze 2 1 Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR),2 Barry Street, Riversdale, 6670, Western Cape2 Centre for Water Resources Research, University of KwaZulu-Natal 1. Broomvlei Wetland Overview The Broomvlei wetland,...
By Nelisiwe Khusi September marked the celebration of two important environmental events: World Water Monitoring Day and World Rivers Day. These days highlight the importance of protecting our water resources and preserving the health of rivers. As global water...
The Rise of Ecobricks: A Sustainable Solution to Plastic Waste As the world confronts the growing challenge of plastic pollution, the need for creative solutions is increasingly critical. Amid the sustainability movement, ecobricks have surfaced as a viable option—a...