Conservation a priority

The Kammanassie Nature Reserve managed by Cape Nature is important to the safeguarding of fauna and flora of the area.

Part of the conservation challenge here, as in many other parts of South Africa, includes the scale of converting natural habitat to permanent agriculture. It would have been so nice if that was a simple and the only thing. Others that abound: poor veld fire management, rapid development due to population growth, per capita escalation of human lifestyle impact on nature, increasing demands upon water supplies and infestation by alien species.

The fertile valleys of the Little Karoo have been important agricultural land for a long time. The hills around could not be spared. Goats may be seen on the slopes in the veld and ostriches lower down and on the flats. The veld is, however, still full of diverse life and surprises. Some farmers are proud of how good their veld is.

The endangered Cape mountain zebra is gradually recovering population numbers through commendable efforts, but more land for safeguarding the species in the region is still required (Kammanassie Nature Reserve Management Plan 2013-2018; www.capenature.co.za).