Cape Floral Region Protected Areas

Fire is a natural component of the Fynbos Biome although fire management is a major issue in all clusters across the site as a result of various factors, some being consistent across all components, while some areas have specific factors affecting fire risks. Fire risk has been amplified essentially by the general increase in human population density on the boundaries of some clusters and the significant increase in alien plant infestations. These two factors demonstrated the vulnerability of some components to fire impacts as highlighted in the April 2021 fire incident in the Table Mountain National Park cluster (State Party of South Africa, 2022).

Inadequate budgets of the three managing entities results in inadequate fire teams and their responses to fires or the implementation of proactive fire prevention measures (fire breaks, reducing biomass loads). This is further exacerbated by the down-scaling of the Working on Fire (WoF) programme - this programme is very active around Table Mountain National Park (due to the extensive urban edge) while it is very limited in the eastern part of the WH site (Baviaanskloof).
The frequency and intensity of fires has significantly increased, mainly due to the expanding alien plant infestations. This often results in too frequent fires, which are a major threat to fynbos, as this prevents some plants from reaching seeding age. The intensity of fires is also significant higher as a result of Pinus spp. infestations, resulting in difficulty in controlling unplanned fires. The Garden Route component faces severe risks due to the existence of large pine plantations within the buffer which complicates the fire management in the area. The fire frequency is also greatly increased within areas close to density human populations, particularly the Cape Peninsula (Table Mountain NP) and the Boland Complex due to the proximity to the larger urban centres. In some areas fire has been suppressed unnaturally due to the proximity to these urban interfaces.

Climate change is also playing a role in changing fire risks, resulting in changing weather patterns, with some areas experiencing increased rainfall, while other areas are experiencing severe drought conditions. Increasing rainfall (and temperatures) is stimulating the growth of invasive woody plants, affecting the fire risks. In the eastern regions (Baviaanskloof) significantly drier conditions are being experienced, increasing fire frequency, potentially leading to the degradation of the WH values.

While not every component of this complex serial World Heritage site is affected to the same extent by this threat, impacts on any part of a World Heritage site must be considered a threat to the values overall. All entities interviewed stated this as the most important threat, together with the directly related infestations of alien plants.

At the time of initial nomination on the World Heritage List in 2004, IUCN noted that invasive plant species posed the most severe threat to the continued existence of the fynbos ecosystems that characterize this site. This continues to be the case (together with fire management), especially due to infestations of Pinus spp., Acacia spp., Hakea spp. and Eucalyptus spp. Invasive plant species have invaded large areas of the site, altering the fire regime (increased frequency and intensity) and characteristics (State Party of South Africa, 2020). Species that depend on seed dispersal by ants are under threat, as indications are that the alien Argentine ant could displace the native seed-dispersing species (Mothapo and Wossler, 2011). Other components of biodiversity such as the fynbos endemic birds are also at risk from ecosystem modification by alien plants (Lee and Barnard, 2012).

In 2006, it was reported that a lack of funding was prohibiting effective management of this threat. Despite some fluctuations in funding allocations over the last decade, and the State Party reporting that the three management authorities of the property now receive and generate sufficient funds to ensure the sustainable operation and management of the site (State Party of South Africa, 2020), at least two of the management entities are now reporting significant budget cuts, which is hindering their ability to address alien plant infestations. ECPTA experienced a 30% budget cut in 2024 and is reporting reduced capacity in tackling alien plant infestations (IUCN Consultation, 2024). SANParks have well-managed Biodiversity Social Programmes, investing in capacity to address management of alien plants (and other aspects), and are therefore the most effective in controlling alien infestations.

All management entities are however still prioritising alien plant clearing as a core management activity, but feel they are inadequately funded to "get on top" of the threat, which is having increased indirect threats to fire management, grazing capacity and even impacts to specialist Fynbos species.

Many Fynbos species are sought-after as ornamental plants, while some (particularly in the slightly drier eastern parts of the site) are being commercialised for tea production (Honeybush). Many of the activities are closely regulated through relevant permitting (by the provincial or national conservation authorities), although in many instances harvesting is done illegally. Species abundance requires close monitoring and there is a need to be vigilant of their population trends in order to detect changes early on. Ecosystems are deeply connected and changes to one plant species could have a notable impact on others. Many guidelines and reports have looked at the sustainable harvesting of plants in the Cape Floristic Region and therefore the mechanisms to ensure sustainability appear to be present. However, resourcing challenges to regulate harvesting activities have also pointed to opportunities for over-harvesting and picking of illegal species (Blokker et al., 2015). Differentiating between some species are also often difficult with one study noting six species of Erica listed as 'no go' were all identified using the same common name 'Erica Pink' thereby emphasizing the need to accurately record all plants to the species level (Privett et al., 2019). The major issue remains the capacity of the management entities to regulate these activities, which then due to their lucrative financial value, often become illegal activities.

This is further exacerbated by the potential for illegal access to the WH site, which needs to be controlled by the management entities, and puts further pressure on the management teams. In recent time (3-5years), concerns have been raised regarding unlawful access to protected areas, especially localities near urban centres (IUCN consultation, 2025). In the Baviaanskloof section of the site, a single public district road traverses the site, making it extremely difficult for ECPTA to control and manage access. Other priority hotspots such as the Boland Mountains and Kogelberg complexes experienced significant increase in unlawful access, degradation of state land within the WH buffer zone, and illegal harvesting; often as a result of illegal occupation of state land and emerging land use activities including wood harvesting, grazing of livestock, use of fire to clear vacant stands for informal housing and other (IUCN consultation, 2025).

Even though harvesting of wild flowers may be very localised, given the spatial context of the CFRPA WH site, the frequency of illegal harvesting, the cumulative volumes of plants, and the additional harvesting of wood with resultant damages to infrastructure and the occasional impact of wildfires (ignition points as a result of unlawful access in hotspots) may amplify the unsustainability of this practice.

Predictions include a warmer climate (up to 3.7 degrees Celsius) and shifting rainfall (10-30% decrease in winter rainfall) by 2050. This will be associated with an increase in extreme climatic events. There is evidence that the increased growth rate and spread of invasive alien woody plants have increased the fuel load which in turn has contributed to larger, more frequent and certainly more intense wildfires that negatively affect all biota, which is exacerbated by climate change. Long-term model predictions of drying and increased temperatures for the region may also lead to a southerly shift for the Fynbos Biome, with replacement by the Karoo Biome in some areas, and thus an overall loss of area of the Cape Floristic Region.

Virtually all the 13 components have steep altitudinal gradients and are bordered by other conservation lands. This buffering is continuing constantly through the efforts of the Stewardship Programmes (of CapeNature, ECPTA and SANParks) to secure private land through Biodiversity Stewardship contracts for conservation. These areas will help moderate some effects of climate change.