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PRIMARY BIOMES & ECOSYSTEMS
The West Coast Regions comprises biomes and ecosystems of immense conservation importance. These include, amongst others, the following:
 Cape Floral Kingdom
The West Coast region falls within the Cape Floral Kingdom, which is internationally recognised as one of the six Floral Kingdoms of the world. The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest, covering a mere 0,06% of the earth's surface, and is the only Floral Kingdom contained in its entirety within a single country.
The Cape Floral Kingdom is characterized by its exceptional richness in plant species and its high endemicity. More than 8700 species are known to occur, with more than 68% of these being endemic. The Cape Floral Kingdom, thus, compares with some of the richest floras worldwide, even surpassing many tropical forest regions in floral diversity.
About three-quarters of all plants in the South African Red Data Book are found in the Cape floral Kingdom. Of these species, about 1700 are threatened with extinction. Many Fynbos species are extremely localized in their distribution, with sets of such localized species organized into "centers of endemism".
Although the Cape Floral Kingdom comprises various biomes, namely Fynbos, forest, Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo, and Thicket, the contribution of Fynbos in terms of species richness, endemicity, and fame of the region, is so overwhelming, that the Cape Floral Kingdom is considered to be "essentially Fynbos".
 The West Coast region is located within various biomes, including the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo Biomes. The latter comprises the Knersvlakte, which, due to its uniqueness, is viewed by many ecologists as a separate biome.
The Fynbos Biome within the West Coast Region comprises, inter alia, remaining tracts of two of South Africa's rarest vegetation types, namely Sand Plain Fynbos and West Coast Renosterveld. Both these types are exceptionally high in species diversity, and have a high incidence of vulnerable and endangered Red Data plant species. Daines and Low (1993) describe these areas as "the most important unpreserved lowland sites in the Cape Floral Kingdom, and a top priority for the conservation of threatened endemic species". Less than 3% of the original area of West Coast Renosterveld remains, less than 1% of which is formally conserved. In this regard, the most important nature reserve is the Elandsberg Private Nature Reserve near Hermon.
Fynbos has unique intrinsic capabilities as a natural water conservation agent and, subsequently, plays a critical role in the maintenance of the natural water cycle. Maintenance of water yield entails ensuring the capacity of a catchment area to yield water at historical flow rates. This can only be achieved through the maintenance of a vigorous cover of indigenous vegetation, such as Fynbos.
Herbal plants, such as Buchu (Agathosma betulina) are being harvested in the Cederberg area, with Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis) being cultivated and harvested on a large scale in the Clanwilliam District.
The primary threats to Fynbos include infestation of alien plants and inappropriate use of fire. The high fertility of Renosterveld soils has meant that most of the area has been converted to agriculture.
The West Coast region also includes the Knersvlakte, which comprises an area of approximately 450 000ha and is typified by small rolling hills with isolated patches of white quartz pebbles and very salin soils.
T he Knersvlakte vegetation is dominated by dwarf succulent shrubs, of which the Vygies (Mesembryanthemaceae) are particularly prominent. Mass displays of flowering annuals (mainly Daisies - Asteraceae) occur in spring, often on degraded or fallow lands.
Due to its limited extent and uniqueness of its vegetation the Knersvlakte is considered to be of immense conservation importance, nationally and internationally, justifying the opinion of many ecologists that the Knersvlakte should be considered a separate biome.
The unique Knersvlakte flora represents one of six endemic centers of the Succulent Karoo vegetation type and is known as the "Vanrhynsdorp Center". The Knersvlakte basin encompasses a flora of some 600 to 800 species and is exceptionally rich in endemic plant species, with more than 140 endemic species and three endemic genera occurring.
Not only is the flora unique for its high incidence of endemic species, it is also unique for its exceptional growth forms and adaptations, which enable the plants to survive in the extremely harsh Knersvlakte environment. Ecologists refer to the "cryptic" behaviour of many of these plants, which includes mimicking, or assuming the characteristics of the immediate surroundings. This is typical of the Argyroderma species with their silver- white to gray-green leaves that make them hard to spot among the quartz pebbles. Many species of Conophytum become invisible by literally burying themselves under a translucent quartzite "ceiling"; The Conophytums survive the dry season by being entirely enveloped in a self-created sheath of old leaves.
Tourism presents a viable non-consumptive land-use in the Knersvlakte, with the primary attraction being the unique natural display of spring flowers that occurs in the area after good winter rains. During these times numerous ephemeral plants occur, miraculously transforming the landscape into a spectacular floral showcase featuring a large variety of spring flowers such as gousblom (Oimorphotheca), Osteospernum, tjienkerientjees (Ornithogalum spp.), Ursinia, and vygies (Lampramthus), and Ruschia spp.
 Statutory Wilderness Areas
The Cederberg and Winterhoek Wilderness Areas fall within the West Coast Region. These Wilderness Areas are internationally known for their exceptional scenic beauty and unique flora. Many rare endemic fynbos species occur in these areas. One of the most notable of which is the Clanwilliam Cedar (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis), which occurs exclusively in the Cederberg Wilderness Area.
More than 60 000 recreational visitors, 15 % of which were fro foreign countries, visited the Cederberg Wilderness Area and the adjoining private properties in 1997/ 98. Statistics for the periods of 1990-1998 indicate an average increase of 11% per annum in tourist numbers.
Ramsar Sites
The Langebaan Lagoon and the Verlorenvlei near Elands Bay are proclaimed RAMSAR sites of international conservation importance. Red Data Book marine bird species, such as the Black Oyster Catcher (International Red Data Species) and the White-Fronted Plover occur in these areas. In addition, the Langebaan lagoon also provides a sheltered food-rich (detritus) haven for many fish species, especially during their juvenile periods, as well as supporting a wealth of filter feeders, such as mussels and clams.
The Lower Berg River has been proposed as a RAMSAR site. This system is of exceptional importance as a fish nursery, being one of only two permanently open river mouths in the Namaqua Marione Bio-Geographical Province. The Berg River is, therefore, regarded as being most crucial to the fish life of the West Coast. It is also regarded as being the mosy important vlei area, in terms of water bird numbers, in South Africa. More than 240 bird species (which represents more than a quarter of all bird species found in Southern Africa) have been sited on the tidal flats of the Lower Berg River. BIOSPHERE RESERVES
What is a Biosphere Reserve?
Biosphere reserves are defined as "areas of terrestrial and coastal/ marine ecosystems, or a combination thereof, which are internationally recognised within the framework of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MaB Programme).
Biosphere reserves provide a useful model and starting point for bioregional planning and management.
Four Biosphere reserves are currently recognized in South Africa; the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve, Kobelberg Biosphere Reserve and the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserves.
The above information is an extract from West Coast District IDP Plan, which can be obtained from the IDP Section of the West Coast District Municipality at Tel: +27 (0)22-433 8400 or E-mail:
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Additional information available on the website of the West Coast District Municipality at www.westcoastdm.co.za
For more information on the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve visit their website: www.cwcbr.co.za
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