1. Biodiversity Hotspots Cape floristic region

2. Background information The cape floristic region is situated on the tip of South Africa, it is one of the worlds 5 Mediterranean hotspots on the conservation international hotspot lists. It is one of only two hotspots that encompass an entire floral kingdom. It covers 78,555 km2. It holds five of South Africa’s 12 endemic plant families and 160 endemic genera (a group of related species sharing many characteristics). The geometric tortoise, the Cape sugar-bird, and a number of antelope species are characteristic of the Cape Floristic hotspot.

3. Pretty pictures!

4. Plants The vegetation on the Cape is dominated by fynbos, a shrubland comprising hard- leafed, evergreen, and fire-prone shrubs that thrives on the region's rocky or sandy nutrient-poor soils. The Cape Floristic Region is home to the greatest non-tropical concentration of higher plant species in the world, with 9,000 species. More than 6,200 (69 percent) of these species are found nowhere else in the world. Species richness and local endemism is greatest in the southwest; the Cape Peninsula alone supports 2,256 species (including 90 endemics). Among the best-recognized plant species in the hotspot are the proteas, particularly the king protea, which is South Africa's national flower, and the red disa. Many of the plants depend on small forest fires for seeds to germinate, they are addapted by having fire resistant roots so they can grow back fairly quickly. King protea The red disa The Clanwilliam cedar tree, found in the north west part of the region.

6. Birds The avifauna of the Cape Floristic Region has a low diversity, most likely as a result of structural uniformity in the vegetation and a shortage of food. Of the 320 or so regularly occurring species of land birds here, six are endemic, the area is considered an Endemic Bird Area by BirdLife International, and is home to a number of true fynbos species such as the Cape sugarbird (Promerops cafer), the orange-breasted sunbird (Nectarinia violacea), the Protea canary (Serinus leucopterus) and the Cape siskin (Serinus totta). Cape sugar bird Orange breasted sun bird Cape siskin

7. Mammals The Cape Floristic region once have significant populations of many well- known large mammals, including common eland, African buffalo, lions, black rhinoceros, African elephant, Mountain zebra, and hippopotamus. Today, however, nearly all of these populations have disappeared or have been reduced to tiny remnant groups. Today, there are about 90 species of mammals in the hotspot, four of which are endemic, including two species of golden moles: the Fynbos golden mole and Van Zyl’s golden mole. Of the region's remaining large mammals, is the bontebok, an antelope that, though nearly extinct in the mid-1800s, was saved by the dedication of a small group of conservationists. Today, the bontebok numbers about 2,000, and the prospects for the species’ survival are quite good. Fynbos golden mole Van Zyl’s golden mole Bontebok (antelope)

8. Reptiles Reptile diversity in the Cape Floristic Region is relatively high, with about 100 species, nearly a quarter of which are endemic. The Cape boasts an impressive level of tortoise diversity. South Africa itself has the highest tortoise diversity on Earth, and five species are found almost exclusively within the Cape Floristic Region. These include the angulate tortoise, parrot-beaked tortoise, geometric tortoise, geometricus, and leopard tortoise. The geometric tortoise is one of the rarest tortoise species in world. It has lost 97 percent of its habitat, and only 2,000-3,000 individuals survive in approximately 30 localities in a small patch of about 50 km2. Leopard tortoise Geometric tortoiseAngulate tortoise

9. Human Impact Human in the Cape floristic region ae destroying the unique vegetation. Agricultural expansion has reduced lowland habitats such as the Sandplain fynbos and Coast renosterveld by 83 percent and 48 percent of their original size, respectively. Much of what remains exists in isolated fragments between areas of chemically treated agriculture. Agricultural development is even happening in the mountains, where infertile soils previously limited agriculture; farming of rooibos tea, honeybush tea, cut flowers, and vineyards pose a significant threat to the remaining vegetation. In addition, urban development, particularly near the city of Cape Town, is a threat to natural habitats. Although urban and industrial areas currently occupy less than 1% of the land area in the hotspot, population is growing rapidly; Cape Town's population is expected to double by the year 2025. However, the greatest threat to this hotspot is the effect of invasive alien plant species. For decades, trees and shrubs from other Mediterranean-type climates such as southern Australia, the Mediterranean Basin, and California have been introduced into the region to supplement the few tree species native to the Cape. These species have invaded about 70 percent of mountain and lowland fynbos, altering natural fire frequencies, diminishing mountain-derived water production, and ultimately eliminating native species. Overall, some 33 percent of the Cape Floristic Region has been transformed by agriculture, urbanization and dense stands of alien invasive plants. However, only about 15,700 km2, or 20 percent, is in pristine condition, being free of invasive alien plants and subject to appropriate fire regimes.

10. This map shows the % of transformed land in the cape floristic region. Transformed land means it has been cultivated or degraded.

11. Conservation According to the World Database on Protected Areas, about 10,859 km2, representing about 14% of the total land area, in the Cape Floristic Region is in protected areas, nearly all of it in International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). However, this land is far from representative of the hotspot's full diversity; 50% of the mountain areas are conserved, but only 9% of the lowlands, which are the most vulnerable, are under protection. Although the high costs of land purchase and park management activities have posed challenges to conservation in the region, a number of recent successes point to a more optimistic future for the hotspot's biodiversity. Among many promising projects is an initiative called the Working for Water Programme, which focuses on the removal of alien plants to encourage the regeneration of native vegetation. The program has created 3,600 jobs in the region and led to the clearing of nearly 500 km2 of alien growth, one of the most impressive efforts of its kind in the world. It is hoped that the biodiversity listing will help to encourage the 'biodiversity economy' in the region, and will promote eco-tourism and better planning and management of the region's incredibly rich natural resources, protected areas, and scenic landscapes for the benefit of all South Africans.