Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve

About Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve

Lying within the Western Cape's Cape Floral Kingdom, the 322 030 hectare Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR) lies roughly 40 km east of Cape Town. It was officially registered by UNESCO in September 2007.

Did you know? "The main aims of biosphere reserves internationally are to promote biological diversity, sustainable development and logistic support, the latter including research, education and training. Every biosphere reserve has a pristine core area where no urban development is allowed" Source: Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve.

The Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve is bordered in the south by the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, and extends northwards to the Cape Fold Belt Mountain Chain and the neighbouring valleys of the winelands.

As such it encompasses a broad range of ecosystems and physiographic environments, and embraces the different ways land is used and settled common to the Cape Winelands region. Consequently there are a number of historic towns, hamlets and farmsteads incorporated into the biosphere, as well as roughly 320 000 people.

The Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve

• has seven rivers running through it – all of them threatened
• is home to many Cape Dutch homesteads
• has viticulture as the main form of agriculture
• includes 4 nature reserves:
• • the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy
• • Limietberg
• • Mont Rochelle
• • Jonkershoek

The biosphere is unique to South Africa because it focuses on both conservation and human well-being. It also focuses on heritage conservation and management, history, nature and environmental conservation, education, social upliftment, poverty alleviation, landcare and reform, water conservation and management, and recreation.

The whole point of its being affiliated with UNESCO is not to isolate it from its surroundings. It shouldn't be likened to a proclaimed nature reserve and regarded in terms of its boundaries. Rather one can see it as an integral part of its surrounds that promote sustainable development. The biosphere needs the co-operation of landowners to succeed.