The Agulhas Plain is a well-known biodiversity ?hotspot?. It is home to the largest storehouse of
the lowland Elim fynbos and Rhenosterveld vegetation types, two of the biologically richest, yet
most threatened vegetation types. The area is also home to 112 Red Data Book plant species,
many on the verge of extinction, and it is therefore an important component of the Cape Floral
Kingdom.
Aside from the conservation challenges, the Agulhas Plain is also facing numerous social
challenges. The unemployment rate is very high - particularly in the small towns situated here.
Economists recently suggested the jobless rate could be as high as 80 percent in certain areas
across the Plain.
As a result, the Agulhas Plain Fynbos Monitoring Project aims to address these twin challenges
through one project. On the environmental side, fynbos in the region is threatened by the
unsustainable harvesting of fynbos species (over-harvesting), by poor agricultural practices, by
invasive alien plants and by uncontrolled fires, among other threats. The effect on the land in
many cases still needs to be quantified. This can only be achieved through effective monitoring,
data collection, evaluation and other essential research on fynbos lands. Through this project, a
research co ordinator will be appointed to coordinate research across the region, to assess how
best to address these threats.
At the same time, the opportunity exists to capacitate those living in the rural community on the
Agulhas Plain to become involved in conservation and the fynbos sector. As a result, trainee
participants will be sourced from the rural community on the Agulhas Plain (including through
the Elim Farmers Association, the Spanjaardskloof Co-operative and through other landowner
groups), to undergo ?para-ecologist? training, through a curriculum developed by the Southern
African Wildlife College. Potential trainees include farm workers, seasonal or temporary workers,
or spouses of farm workers who also live on farms, but are dependent on the income of their
spouses. As such, this will allow the project to involve a number of women from this rural
community. Trainees will undergo technical and methodological training.
Once trainees have completed the course, they will be able to take their newly-acquired skills
back to the land ? thereby adding to the essential research required in the fynbos sector. They
will link closely with the appointed research co ordinator by monitoring the land and collecting
vital data, and feeding this back to the researcher.
Through the Agulhas Plain Fynbos Monitoring Project, the broader rural community will also
enjoy representation on forums in a way that has not been possible before. Opportunities for
representation include the Sustainable Harvesting Steering Group, the ABI Alien Clearing
Working Group (and any newly-formed working groups under ABI), and the Fynbos Fire Project.
They will also play a vital role in the scientific fynbos research forum created through this project.