A short trip to the south of Cape Town in South Africa, you’ll find yourself surrounded by nature that is globally so valuable, that it has been declared a biosphere. The Kogelberg Biosphere aims to protect this vast natural wonder.
"We do this in a way that brings people closer to our planet, so that people of the Kogelberg thrive, while living in harmony with our rich biodiversity."
HECTARES
The Kogelberg Biosphere, designated by UNESCO, is South Africa’s oldest biosphere.
The Kogelberg Biosphere starts on the mountains above Gordon’s Bay, and includes land, sea and towns along the coast to just above Hermanus. It stretches inland past the town of Botriver and encompasses the growing economic hub of Grabouw. The Kogelberg Biosphere covers around 100 000 hectares – an area larger than Singapore. MORE
The heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom
PLANT SPECIES
ENDEMIC PLANT SPECIES
MARINE SPECIES
What makes the Kogelberg Biosphere so valuable?
There are many reasons to visit our area.
The Kogelberg Biosphere is considered to be the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom – one of just six plant kingdoms in the world.
It has the richest, most complex biodiversity on earth, home to more than 1 880 plant species. Of these, 77 are found just here, and nowhere else. The seascapes here are also significant: more than 3 500 marine species occur only here. MORE
What do we do?
The Kogelberg Biosphere finds local solutions to global problems – by bringing our members together. Across the world, humankind has been using natural resources unsustainably, to our own detriment. The result is a loss of biodiversity and cultural heritage, risks to water and food security, increased poverty and a changing climate.
In the Kogelberg we seek to address this, reconciling conservation with sustainable development – to benefit all. Through our own activities and the actions of our members, we build towards sustainable and just economies here, while allowing nature to provide the services she offers us sustainably.
To achieve this, the Kogelberg Biosphere plays a central coordinating role: by working together across the biosphere, we can break down the silos in which we traditionally work, empower each other through knowledge and achieve our biosphere goals through collective action.
We work according to 5 project themes
SECURING WATER
PROTECTING NATURE
NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS
GROWING THE ECONOMY
Awareness & Citizen Science
HELPING ANIMALS IN DESPERATE NEED OF CARE
The Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue & Training Centre works to help injured and vulnerable animals in need of critical care, in order to release these animals back into the wild. The centre is particularly important as a rescue centre for Blue Cranes, our national bird. The Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue Centre is situated just outside Betty’s Bay in the biosphere, and is the Western Cape’s first permitted wildlife rehabilitation centre.
Become a Kogelberg Biosphere member
Sign up as a member, and you can access resources, networking opportunities, connections and capacity to help you and/or your business. As a member, you also enjoy the power of the collective voice to bring about positive change. MORE HERE
LATEST NEWS
Seven mini-stories about our Kogelberg heritage
Heritage is all around us in the Kogelberg Biosphere. Sometimes it’s easy to see: the old wagon tracks captured in stone, or a path that has been walked for generations.
Grabouw comes together to tackle river pollution
Citizen science findings are helping build a clearer picture of waste and water quality challenges in Grabouw – and bringing the community together to find solutions.
It’s Friday the 13th – a good time to get to know Drosera esterhuyseniae, also known as doublom. Pretty, delicate – and deadly (if you’re an insect)!
This unusual little plant is a carnivorous sundew. Those sparkling droplets on its leaves may look like morning dew, but they’re actually sticky traps that catch unsuspecting insects.
Endemic to the Western Cape, Drosera esterhuyseniae grows on sandstone slopes, including here in the Kogelberg Biosphere. And with its flowering season running from December to January, we have something to look forward to!
A tiny horror story playing out in our fynbos – and a rather fitting #FloralFriday feature for Friday the 13th. 🪰
📸 © Daniel Correia on iNaturalist
Biosphere Living
Become a Kogelberg Biosphere member – and enjoy benefits specially designed to assist you and/or your business.
You can take the next step, to become even more involved in the Kogelberg Biosphere.
And remember to include us in your social media posts, by using the hashtag: #BiosphereLiving.