By Simthandile Ponti Access to water is one of the biggest challenges for smallholder farmers, especially in dry areas like the Western Cape. Many of these farmers face ongoing difficulties due to drought, climate change, soil degradation, unpredictable markets, and...
A garden of nourishment: MAB Youth Learn to Grow a Garden for Good
By Leila Moosajee In the heart of Albertina, a group of passionate young people came together to get their hands dirty and learn how to start a vegetable garden from scratch. With ten MAB (Man and the Biosphere) Youth members from Albertina and four from Riversdale...
Fieldwork with the GCBR MAB Youth Members
By Nelisiwe Khusi This past month, our restoration team invited two MAB Youth members, Noluthando Zikishe and Jasmine Moses, to join us in the field for a follow-up plant biodiversity assessment along the Vals River. The two MAB Youth members were identified by our...
Climate Change Action Week with Curro Mossel Bay
Written by: Purnille Albertyn – GCBR Intern As part of Climate Change Awareness and Action Week, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) team visited Curro Mossel Bay to engage learners on one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change. The GCBR...
Inheems 2025 Tiener Kunskompetisie
Kom ons vier ’n werklik spesiale plek Het jy geweet dat as jy enige plek in die Hessequa-munisipale distrik woon of skoolgaan, jy binne ’n UNESCO Biosfeerreservaat is? Meer spesifiek is jy deel van die Gouritz Cluster Biosfeerreservaat (GCBR) – ’n plek van...
Inheems 2025 Teen Art Competition
Let’s Celebrate a Truly Special Place Did you know that if you live or go to school anywhere in the Hessequa municipal district, you are in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve? More specifically, you are part of the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) – a place of global...
Bridging Freshwater and Marine Conservation: Lessons from My First Visit to Zanzibar and the IOCAFRICA Training Workshop
By Nelisiwe Khusi | Photos by Johnson Jackob Ndaba, Zanzibar, Tanzania My journey with the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) began as an intern, where I was introduced to the diverse and dynamic world of nature conservation and restoration work. Throughout my...
Celebrate the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve Region’s Biodiversity: Join the City Nature Challenge 2025!
Nature enthusiasts and citizen scientists, mark your calendars! From 25 to 28 April 2025, the Garden Route and Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve Region will participate in the 10th annual City Nature Challenge (CNC), a global event uniting cities worldwide to document...
A Day of Community Spirit in Heidelberg
By Erin Martin On the 4th of March, a community clean-up event was organised in Eike Street in Heidelberg by the GCBR and Hessequa Municipality in collaboration with Cape Nature. The (Community Work Programme) CWP workers from Heidelberg and Riversdale gave a huge...
Celebrating International Action for Rivers!
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...









