Cape Flats Nature Reserve, University of the Western Cape, Bellville

The Cape Flats has the world’s highest rate of plant extinction, is highly fragmented and isolated by urbanization. The Cape Flats Nature Reserve, situated on the campus of UWC, is one of the most important sites in the Cape Lowlands with extremely small areas formally conserved.  The vegetation of this 30 hectare reserve consists of Cape Flats Dune Strandveld which is endangered with only 7% in proclaimed reserves and Cape Flats Sand Fynbos which is critically endangered with a national target of 30% but only 15% remains.

 

The Cape Flats Nature Reserve is a private reserve and falls under the administration of the University of the Western Cape. Although the reserve was first created as a refuge for Strandveld and Coastal Fynbos, it now also functions as a base for ecological teaching, environmental education, research and a natural space for the public to enjoy.

 

The Cape Flats Nature Reserve is a private reserve and falls under the administration of the University of the Western Cape. Although the reserve was first created as a refuge for Strandveld and Coastal Fynbos, it now also functions as a base for ecological teaching, environmental education, research and a natural space for the public to enjoy.

 

The reserve consists of 3 major regions: Vlei, Flats and Dunes with around 220 indigenous plants mushroom_t.jpgspecies. The Flats are characterized by small to medium sized reeds, grass and few shrubs, the Dunes densely covered by the tall, broad leaved shrubs and the Vlei has water from mid-autumn to late spring with abundance of reeds, sedges and rushes.

 

The reserve hosts a variety of animals, with a low density of mammals, as with the Western Cape in general. Other fauna include Cape Angulate tortoise, mongoose, various other reptiles, 86 recorded bird species and a wealth of insect life.