Conservation News from the Overberg
CONSERVATION NEWS
A small fish, a big comeback: Creating sanctuaries for Heuningnes redfin
A rare little fish once swam confidently through the peat-stained waters of the Nuwejaars River and its tributaries – its red fins a sign of a healthy ecosystem.
Making a splash: Aquaponics for restoration in the Nuwejaars
South Africa’s wetlands are vanishing. Once widespread and thriving, it’s now estimated that only around 3% of the country’s original wetlands remain.
The silent storytellers of the skies
Each time a bird is carefully held in a ringer’s hand and fitted with a small, uniquely numbered metal band, a quiet story begins – one of understanding survival and adaptation. But what exactly do we learn from bird ringing and why does it matter?
Restoring our Overberg waterscapes – Your vote can be the difference
The Nuwejaars River Nature Reserve is on the brink of something extraordinary. But we need your help! Only projects with the most votes receive funding, and so your vote could be the key to securing this restoration support.
Island hopping for wildlife: Three patches protected
The Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area consists of vast stretches of wetlands, rivers and natural areas. In between, transformed lands are farmed – with our region serving as the breadbasket of the Western Cape.
A ‘char’-ming solution to a deep-rooted challenge
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. But what do you do when you’re given hectares of invasive alien plants? Well, you make biochar. Biochar itself has exceptional properties.
Final gasp for 20-million year old fynbos fish
Freshwater fish in the Overberg are catching the attention of international conservationists – in an urgent effort to prevent these often tiny and very special fish species from going extinct.
Happy Marsh Harriers flock to rewilded wetlands
In healthy wetlands you’ll find a healthy array of insects. These insects make great food for a healthy population of frogs. And flying over these wetlands, birds of prey such as the African Marsh Harrier feed on the frogs.
New walking trail opens up the Nuwejaars Wetlands to all
A new walking trail has been launched on the Agulhas Plain – the first of its kind through the Nuwejaars Wetlands.
A snapshot into leopard dispersal in the Overberg
The incredible distances that leopards are secretly travelling across the Overberg, including through the Nuwejaars Wetlands
A wetlands recovery: A story told by Sprites, Skimmers & Scarlets
Dragonflies and damselflies are frustratingly fussy. Different Odonata species (the insect order for dragonflies and damselflies)
How to get a wetland working again
Once upon a time, not that long ago, one of the biggest wetland systems in South Africa was covered in wall-to-wall invasive alien plants. These wetlands were degraded, and were unable to support the wildlife or the communities that live here.
From start to ‘fin’-ish: Unearthing the fynbos fish of the Nuwejaars River
A new mission has launched – to find out more about the secretive fynbos fish species that have survived for millions of years hidden in these waters.
A community comes together around wildfire
By Ross Kettles, Operations Manager: Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA The fires that have affected the Cape Agulhas region – especially those that burnt in the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area
For wetlands and wildlife – 15 years of conservation action
For wetlands and wildlife – 15 years of conservation action The Nuwejaars Wetlands are celebrating 15 years of formal protection through title deed restrictions. It was just
Let’s make our roads safer – for drivers AND wildlife
Our wildlife is threatened by many man-made activities. Cars driving along roads in the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA are chief among the culprits.
42 years later and thought to be extinct: A chance rediscovery
Eugéne had found a species that was believed to be extinct – known as Moraea minima. It was last officially seen in 1981, and
Wat om te doen as jy ’n luiperd in die Kaap sien
Selfoonfoto’s van ’n luiperd langs ’n plaaspad in die Agulhasplein een skemeraand in Augustus het opspraak gemaak in ons streek. Die foto’s wys ’n enkel luiperd wat anderkant ’n draad sit
The survival of the bontebok: A Bredasdorp success story
The bontebok is one of a handful of antelope species endemic to South Africa. It was once considered to be the rarest antelope in the world. But few people realise there is a local
Our changing Agulhas Plain: Life and extinction
The Palaeolithic Period covers the time from 2,5 million years ago to about 10 000 years BCE which was also the middle stone-age period. The graph below shows how during the last 300 000 years
We work with
We work with
We work with
