A serial site in cape province, south africa made up of eight protected areas, covering 553,000ha. The cape floral kingdom is situated at the southern tip of south africa and is one of the richest areas in the world for plant biodiversity. Histories of fire in south africas cape floral region. Let southbound take you to the astonishing floral riches of the cape what carl linnaeus described as this heaven on eartha vast area of mountainous shrubland, dominated by fynbos, and rich in faunal, floral and cultural diversity. It is the only floristic region of the cape floristic kingdom, and includes only one floristic province, known as the cape floristic province. Like heritage and identity, culture is a term that causes much confusion and suffers from its misuse. The world heritage property comprises thirteen protected area clusters over an area about 900 km long by an average of 110 km wide between approximately 32 36s to 34 30s and 1818e to 25 50e. We focused on catalyzing action by nongovernmental organizations, community groups and other civil society partners on the most urgent priorities identified by cape action for people and the environment c. The cape floral region cfr is located in southwest and southern south africa between the coast and the cederberg and swartberg mountain ranges, mostly in western cape province.
Agricultural land use has already consumed 26 percent of the hotspot and has devastated lowland areas. The story of south africas wild flowers, and the people who found. This region was the sixth south african site to be declared a world heritage site. The cape floristic region is a floristic region located near the southern tip of south africa. Each reserve within the cape floral region has had a long history of. Robben island, in table bay, near cape town, was used for centuries as a prison and is now an essential stop for visitors to the region. Pdf the greater cape floristic region researchgate. Plants of the greater cape floristic region, volume 1. The northern cape is the largest province in south africa. Of the nearly 35 native freshwater fish species in the cape floristic region hotspot, more than a dozen are endemic. Biotic diversity in the southern african winterrainfall. Some of the more distinctive fishes in the clear mountain streams of this region include the cape galaxias galaxias zebratus, an elongated, scaleless fish, as well as several species of endemic redfin minnows pseudobarbus spp.
The historical distribution ranges of red data book species of plants, butterflies. History and development of the groot winterhoek wilderness area. The flora of the southwestern tip of africa is one of the richest in the world. It was on this island, that nelson mandela spent the bulk of his 27 years in prison. Even in mountain areas, where agriculture is limited by poor soils, rooibos tea. Integrating the social and environmental in history. This first complete account of all the bulbous plants of the cape floral region is an essential aid to the identification of all species presently in cultivation as well as the many others that are potentially valuable horticultural subjects. The cape floristic region in south africas western cape is home to the worlds smallest floristic kingdom there are six in total, which includes the unique fynbos biome, and supports nearly 9,000 species of plants, of which around 69% are. The cape floral kingdom is one of the oldest plant kingdoms in the world with some species dating back. Pdf the cape floristic region in south africas western cape is home to the.
The cape floral region stretches from the cape peninsular to the easter cape with a total of eight protected areas. The southern and southwestern tip of africa has an exceptionally high biodiversity, which has been recognized as one of the six floral kingdoms, as two of the 25 hotspots of diversity on the planet, and as two of the 200 ecoregions of the world. Cape floral region protected areas south africa the cape floral region is of. Plants of the greater cape floristic region, volume 2. Discover the secrets of the cape floral region greyhound. Cape floral region protected areas world heritage datasheet. Its many valleys and streams make it an idyllic getaway from cape town. The cape floral region, one of south africas eight world heritage sites, comprises eight protected areas stretching from the cape peninsula to the eastern cape, cutting across spectacular mountain and ocean scenery and containing some of the richest plant biodiversity in the world. The cape floristic region, the smallest of the six recognised floral kingdoms of the world, is an area of extraordinarily high diversity and endemism, and is home to over 9,000 vascular plant species, of which 69 percent are endemic. The greater cape floristic region of southern africa, with an estimated 11,423 native vascular plant species, has one of the richest temperate. The cape floral region of the national park is one of the richest floral regions in the world. The human origins story palaeoanthropology is often set in the african palaeotropics, yet the greater cape floristic region gcfr plays an internationally. Recognised historically as the cape floristic kingdom or region.
Nomination of the cape floral region, south africa, as a world heritage site 2003. After classifying a batch of flowers from africa, 18thcentury botanist carolus linnaeus described their place of origin as that paradise on earth, the cape of good hope, which the beneficent creator has enriched with his choicest wonders. It is one of six world floristic regions and stretches over an area of some 90 000 square kilometers containing about 3% of the earths plant species. The greatest threat to biodiversity in the cape floristic region hotspot is agricultural and urban expansion. The color encyclopedia of cape bulbs workman publishing. Cape floral region protected areas unesco world heritage. The location of the cape floristic region showing the distribution of fynbos. Pdf aim the cape floristic region cfr cape floristic kingdom is currently narrowly delimited to include only the relatively mesic. Defining culture, heritage and identity south african. The cape floral region is one of the richest areas for plants in the world. The national parks most unique feature is its fynbos vegetation that is displayed here better than anywhere in the world. Pdf histories of fire in south africas cape floral region. The region was the sixth south african site to be inscribed on the world heritage list of the united nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation unesco.