"Western CAPE in the NEWS " a Province of the Western Cape Travel Page by kenHuocj

Cape Floristic Region wins the status of World Heritage Site
but it must be remembered that this is a Biodiversity Hotspot, where
' a range of human activity seriously threatens the unique vegetation of the Cape Floristic Region of agricultural land for vineyards is one of the biggest causes of habitat destruction in the Cape Floristic Region.
unfortunately the expansion of Wine Farms is one of them but gracefully, may of the environmentally aware wine producers are involved and sensitive to this conflict of interest



Published on the web by Cape Times on July 2, 2004. By Melanie Gosling

Having the Cape Floral Region declared a World Heritage Site was as good as winning the bid to host the soccer World Cup, MEC for Environment and Planning Tasneem Essop said yesterday.

"I'm extremely excited by this. It is not getting as much popular attention as winning (the right to host) the World Cup, but it's almost in that league and should be celebrated by all South Africans. The benefits will accrue to all, especially the communities around the protected areas," Essop said.

The Cape Floral Region was declared a World Heritage Site in China on Wednesday where the UN's World Heritage Committee is holding its annual meeting. The region was described as one of "outstanding universal significance to humanity", which, apart from its exceptional beauty, was one of the richest areas of plant species in the world.

Andre de Wet, MEC for environment and planning in the Eastern Cape, said yesterday the declaration would enable the province to consolidate Baviaanskloof.

There was still a lot of private land in Baviaanskloof that the province wanted to buy.

The heritage site is made up of eight protected areas, considered to be the most important examples of the Cape Floral Region. They are Table Mountain, De Hoop Nature Reserve, the Boland mountain complex, the Groot Winterhoek wilderness area, the Swartberg mountains, Boosmansbos wilderness area, the Cederberg wilderness area and Baviaanskloof, which straddles the Western and Eastern Cape boundary.

Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said in a statement: "This is another fantastic achievement for South Africa, with great significance for our role as global leaders in responsible tourism and sustainable environmental management. It underlines our responsibility to ensure the wise use of resources like the Cape Floral Regions. It also places us in an excellent position to expand responsible tourism and generate much-needed employment."

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on the slopes of Table Mountain is included in the site, the first time a botanical garden has been included in a natural heritage site.

Trevor Sandwith, co-ordinator of Cape Action Plan for People and the Environment, said the declaration marked a high point in the development of the Cape Floral Region.

"The Global Environment Facility has invested R20 million to assist South Africa in conserving the region. The priority in spending this would be to ensure the integrity of the protected areas and to enhance stewardship on private land," Sandwith said.

South Africa's other World Heritage Sites are Robben Island, the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, Sterkfontein Cradle of Mankind, the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape. "

Published on the web by Cape Times on July 2, 2004.

The Entry point is Cape Town,
but
...Travel OUTWARDS
there is much to see and do.

Aa > North to Lutzville, Vredendal and Klawer for the huge wine estates

Ab > Clanwilliam and Lamberts Bay where diamonds, wine and Rooibis tea are found

Ac > Citrusdal is of course citrus but between here and Clanwilliam towards the East, one finds the Cederberg National Park

Be it the elegant Mrs Evita B or the voice of Pieter Dirk Uys, this uniquee SouthAfrican
character has in Darlin, an hour north of Cape Town and 20 Kms north of Atlantis or 36 Kms west of Malmesbury,
Humour and politcal satire is the growth of the old Railway sattion into the "Evita se Perron" complex.
see: http://www.evita.co.za/perron/index.html