Our Mission

Swartland Renosterveld NPC is dedicated to the active hands-on protection and conservation of the natural flora of the greater Swartland region for the benefit of future generations.

Recognized as one of the world’s foremost biodiversity hotspots, the Swartland’s unique renosterveld vegetation is in need of dedicated care and attention. But the reality is that Swartland renosterveld is critically endangered due to encroachments from intensive agriculture, invasive alien plants and a host of other man-made threats. Of the approximately 84 plant species endemic to the region, at least 64 verge on extinction. Without urgent intervention and help, many unique Swartland Renosterveld endemics will be lost forever.

In addressing this reality, we are guided by the vision of strengthening and expanding the current network of protected areas within the Swartland region. We aim to champion the cause of the Swartland’s endangered flora, working with the region’s farmers, agribusinesses, municipal officials and other stakeholders to earmark and set aside high-priority Renosterveld fragments for long-term conservation.

Global Context

In the wake of the UN Biodiversity Conference held in Kunming, China (11-15 October 2021), there has been renewed interest in biodiversity conservation. After decades of being neglected and overshadowed by CO2 and climate change, biodiversity has at last emerged from the darkness into the light.

In the words of Dr M. Sanjayan of Conservation International: “The unprecedented global biodiversity crisis is finally being understood and appreciated as the twin counterpart to the climate crisis, which is increasingly affecting all life on Earth. We cannot solve one of these challenges without also solving the other.”

The Kunming Declaration on Biodiversity Conservation, which pledges to “mainstream” biodiversity protection in decision-making has been adopted by over 100 countries. And to support biodiversity conservation in developing countries, China has established the “Kunming Biodiversity Fund” with an initial contribution of R 3.5 billion.

At this stage, it is not clear whether non-profit organizations will be able to access these funds to further their conservation efforts.

Our NPC

Founded by a team of botany enthusiasts, the Swartland Renosterveld NPC is a young and energetic organization dedicated to saving the Swartland region’s endangered flora from extinction.

The idea to establish a Swartland Renosterveld conservation organization was conceived in spontaneous fashion on a road trip. The epiphany happened while travelling the N7 to Cape Town during spring flower season (following a short sojourn in Namaqualand). Once over the Piekenierskloof Pass, the colourful swathes of spring daisies, mesembs and bulbs of the Olifants River valley abruptly ceased. Instead our eyes were assaulted by vast monocultures of verdant wheat fields stretching as far as the eye could see, interrupted only by the occasional luminous yellows of canola. For the remainder of our journey, natural vegetation could only be seen on the highway verges.

The plight of the Swartland’s Renosterveld flora greatly distressed us. On a metaphysical level the endangered plants of the region seemed to be clinging to our very beings, crying out from the roadside: “help us, help us”.

Following our road trip, we extensively brainstormed the concept of establishing a Swartland Renosterveld conservation organization. Ultimately, we registered a non-profit company and “Swartland Renosterveld NPC” was born.

Our logo comprises a hand-painted watercolour of one of the Swartland’s many threatened endemics, namely Geissorhiza mathewsii, which is classified as “Critically Endangered” on SA’s Red List.

We are looking for cooperation partners in the greater Swartland region such as wine estates, wheat producers, oilseed mills, industrial facilities etcetera. Should you be based in the greater Swartland region and be interested in conditionally using our mark on your product, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Please note that our definition of the Swartland is based on the occurrence of the Swartland Renosterveld vegetation types, so will be slightly wider than the conventional geographical boundaries of the region.

Our Approach to Renosterveld Conservation

The extinction clock in the Swartland is ticking faster than elsewhere and is poised to strike midnight. By necessity, our current approach is highly focused with the threatened renosterveld endemics of the Swartland being our top-priority target.

The primary goal of our organization is the conservation and rescue of the Swartland’s endangered renosterveld flora from extinction, preferably in situ in its natural state and habitat. We aim to protect the region’s imperilled plants in an impartial and unbiased manner i.e. regardless of whether they are non-descript bossies (e.g. Marasmodes species) or pretty photogenic bulbs (e.g. Geissorhiza species).

We are cognizant of the merits of a holistic approach to nature conservation. However, the reality is that the Swartland Renosterveld is highly fragmented and there are few large tracts of natural vegetation still intact and available for conservation on a landscape level.

The dire situation faced by Swartland Renosterveld endemics means that we don’t discriminate as to the size of an area worthy of conservation. We unfortunately don’t have this luxury in the Swartland. Should we find a Renosterveld remnant to be harbouring endangered plants, we will endeavour to conserve it, whether it is the size of a parking space or the size of a rugby field. Of course, the larger a population, the more viable it becomes (bearing in mind a complex array of factors including edge effects, pollination and seed dispersal).

In saving the Swartland’s flagship plant species, the entire Renosterveld ecosystem is set to benefit through multiplier effects. For example, the clearing of invasive alien trees to aid the regeneration of a bulb population will ultimately benefit the local ecosystem in its entirety.