CapeNature Expands Protected Areas as 2025 Conservation Report Charts Biodiversity Outlook

CapeNature has released its 2025 State of Conservation Report, charting notable conservation progress while highlighting urgent priorities in the Western Cape. Launched on 26 June at the annual Conservation Review, the report presents data-driven insights into ecosystem health, informed by extensive fieldwork, ecological monitoring, and spatial analysis across key habitats. Since the last update, an additional 13,117 hectares have been added to the province’s protected area network, increasing the total conservation estate to 1,095,428 hectares as of March 2025.

The report underscores the continued importance of partnerships with private landowners, communities, and research institutions in securing and managing biodiversity. Strategic stewardship agreements and collaborative monitoring have enhanced conservation outcomes outside formal reserves. It also aligns with national and international reporting frameworks, reflecting CapeNature’s commitment to biodiversity protection in the face of climate pressures, land-use expansion, and habitat loss. Officials emphasised that the resilience of these ecosystems is critical to both environmental sustainability and community well-being.