Hangklip-Kleinmond Business Directory

Hangklip-Kleinmond Directory | 2026 33 Projects in the Kogelberg Biosphere Biosphere reserves are ‘learning places for sustainable development’. They are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity. They also act as places which provide local solutions to global challenges. Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. Biosphere Reserves are designated under the intergovernmental MAB Programme by the Director-General of UNESCO. Biospheres integrate three main “functions”: • Conservation - of biodiversity and cultural diversity • Economic development - that is socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable • Logistic support - underpinning development through research, monitoring, education Water Security Invasive alien plants not only threaten our fynbos landscapes, they also threaten our water security. Huge invasive trees have spread all along rivers and catchments across the Western Cape, including in the Kogelberg Biosphere. These trees are thirsty and consume hundreds of litres of water each a day. The catchments in the Kogelberg Biosphere are exceptionally important, as they provide water to the City of Cape Town. The importance of healthy- functioning ecosystems made headlines during the height of the drought in Cape Town in 2018, where the entire city faced Day Zero – the day that water ran out for Cape Town residents.This highlighted the importance of removing thirsty alien plants from Kogelberg waterscapes. There are numerous invasive alien clearing projects underway in the region – and the Kogelberg Biosphere implements some of the projects or plays a role in coordinating these various efforts, and provides support and advice to stakeholders regarding their invasive alien clearing projects. The Biosphere have an invasive alien clearing team that are working along the R44 between Kleinmond and Arabella Hotel. The team have cleared 200 ha in 2025 of very dense invasive alien plant species. The work is done in partnership with Department of Agriculture Landcare and local landowners. Nature based solutions – Forest Monitors There are around 7 000 hectares of forestry land around Elgin and Grabouw in the Kogelberg Biosphere. However, since 2018, there has not been a commercial forestry company working in the area. While the land belongs to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the department has concluded that they are absent landlords. Accompanied by the huge population explosion in Grabouw over the past 10 Corlie Hugo, Biosphere CEO, Cell: 082 380 9071 Email: corlie@kogelbergbiosphere.org.za Web: www.kogelbergbiosphere.org.za