From the Editor: Fernkloof gets what it deserves

From the Editor: Fernkloof gets what it deserves

This is the good NEWS - Ed

While Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on tourism industries all over the world, it is good news indeed that one of our most precious tourist attractions is getting the recognition and protection it deserves.

The Fernkloof Nature Reserve is internationally renowned for its unique indigenous biodiversity and is visited daily by tourists and residents alike. For this reason, the protection of the FNR is of the utmost importance and the completion of the Protected Area Management Plan is an important milestone for conservation in our area.

The FNR is not only the mountain reserve behind Hermanus but also includes, amongst others, the Cliff Paths and Hoy’s Koppie. A total of 78% of the reserve consists of critically endangered Sandstone Fynbos and 7.4% of vulnerable Agulhas Limestone Fynbos. The reserve constitutes 0.02% of the Cape Floral Region (CFR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, yet it contains 18% of plant species found in the CFR. To enjoy this natural beauty it offers more than 60 km of hiking, walking, and cycling trails and a world-renowned herbarium.

While the municipality is the management

authority for the reserve, residents and interested parties have made it abundantly clear over the last few years that the ownership of this land lies with the people. In 2017 a public meeting to oppose the then proposed management plan was one of the largest public meetings held in Hermanus to date. It also led to the creation of the conservation advocacy group Hands Off Fernkloof, which has become a well-known voice locally and internationally.

Click on the newspaper below to read more (see page 6).