Fynbos must burn. But there’s one notable loser when fynbos burns too often in the Kogelberg Biosphere: it’s a pretty protea that only occurs in our corner of the earth.  

Protea stokoei, also known as pink sugarbush, is a range-restricted fynbos species. It’s known from just five locations and 16 subpopulations from the Hottentots-Holland Mountains to Betty’s Bay – all in our biosphere.  

Some of these populations have a few hundred plants, but others only have a handful of individuals left.  

Images: Users of iNaturalist.com

The biggest threat to this Endangered species is too-frequent fires.  

That’s because pink sugarbush grows very slowly. In fact, it takes them at least 17 years to reach maturity. Just eight percent of plants have flowered three times by year 11; and only 17% have flowered twice by then, studies have shown.  

That’s why, where Protea stokoei occur, it’s recommended that fires don’t burn more often than every 17 years.  

Unfortunately, this recommendation hasn’t stopped wildfires from burning out of control more often than the recommended interval in the biosphere. And the results have been devastating for this Protea species. According to botanist Dr Anna Lise Schutte-Vlok, at least four populations of Protea stokoei have become locally extinct – three in the Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve and one in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. One population in the Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve has fallen from around 100 plants, to only a few remaining individuals.  

The situation is so concerning that the experts now believe the population on the Groenland Mountain could also become locally extinct – leaving very few populations elsewhere in the biosphere.  

That’s why Dr Schutte-Vlok has compiled a number of urgent interventions for the species. These interventions have not only been adopted by the Kogelberg Biosphere, but should also be driven by all stakeholders who can help – from our landowners and municipalities, to our Fire Protection Associations and politicians.   

Six interventions to save Protea stokoei:  

1. Fires mustn’t burn more often than every 17 years in these areas in the biosphere; 
2. Where wildfires ignite, the teams need to prioritise pink sugarbush populations to extinguish fires as quickly as possible.  
3. But it doesn’t help that only conservationists know about this: These threats need to be communicated to the landowners where Protea stokoei grow, as well as fire-fighting teams run by municipalities, the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association, neighbouring communities, schools and also politicians.  
4. Young veld must be protected – not only from wildfires, but also from invasive alien plant growth.  
5. The causes of fires must be investigated – and where necessary, prosecution should be considered.  
6. And where possible, populations can be rehabilitated that have been negatively impacted by fires.  

Kogelberg Biosphere residents are already helping to protect pink sugarbush. Citizen scientists log the populations they find on iNaturalist (an app which helps the experts find and monitor populations and individuals that need to be protected). 

Images: Users of iNaturalist.com

How to identify Protea stokoei 

The plants grow up to 2m tall, with the oval leaves thick and leathery, with a pointed tip. The flowers are most notable, flowering in May and June, and some even up to October. Look out for the brown-bearded tip, with soft pink bracts. They are pollinated by Cape sugarbirds, which enjoy the nectar of the flowers.  

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