ADVERTORIAL
CELEBRATING YEARS OF NURTURING NATURE
20
2019 marks 20 years of CapeNature nurturing the Western Cape’s biodiversity. Dr Razeena Omar shares the organisation’s mandate and its role in tourism, public education and women empowerment. Q. THIS YEAR MARKS A SPECIAL COMMEMORATION IN THAT CAPENATURE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF EXISTENCE. TELL US ABOUT THE ORGANISATION’S MANDATE.
of plant diversity, as 70% of the plant species don’t grow anywhere else in the world. CapeNature is mandated with the important responsibility to manage, conserve and promote these natural and heritage assets.
also some challenges. We’ve built a credible brand to conserve the unique biodiversity of the Western Cape, which includes the Cape Floral Region that was declared a World Heritage Site (WHS) by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in 2004. WHS aims to protect areas of outstanding natural, historical and cultural value. The Cape Floral Region is one of the world’s most unique regions in terms 28
SILVER DIGEST // SPRING 2019
biodiversity; in providing the public with pristine nature escapes; and in significantly impacting positively on the socio-economic status of many families through job-creation opportunities. Although our mandate is to conserve, we recognise that the environment offers opportunity for sustainable livelihoods. One of the success stories is the good relationship CapeNature fosters with
The two decades were abounding with exceptional successes, but
the Western Cape’s unique
Q. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE CAPENATURE’S EFFECTIVENESS IN FULFILLING ITS ROLE OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS? The entity has maintained an astounding expansion of the protected estate through various means, especially through encouraging private land owners living on biodiversity-worthy land
communities adjacent to its protected areas, where local communities harvest plant material in a sustainable manner for their benefit.
Q. THE WESTERN CAPE IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL – IF NOT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL – COASTAL DESTINATION. HOW IMPORTANT IS BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, AND HOW DOES IT FEED INTO TOURISM IN THE PROVINCE? The Cape Floral Kingdom is one of
to conserve and manage their
six floral kingdoms in the world,
land in a sustainable manner. We
and is literally found nowhere else
have also excelled in guarding
on the planet. This magnifies our
