Cape Town: The Bioregional Plan-2015 has been updated and renamed to the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Spatial Plan-2025. It is seeking input from residents on the critical draft policy that provides detail on the profile of Cape Town’s Biodiversity, the BioNet map, as well as the associated land use guidelines for these areas. Until March 13, 2025 the public have to provide comment.
Reportedly, the Cape Town was the first municipality in South Africa to develop and implement a spatial biodiversity plan, which is fitting since this beautiful city and legislative capital of SA claims title of the most biodiverse city in the world.
The City of Cape Town was in partnership with the various conservation organisations that can confirm the conserved land in the city that covers 55,703 ha, which is almost 22.72% of the municipal area.
The city manages a total of 20,045 hectares in its 22 nature reserves and 16 Biodiversity Agreement Conservation Areas in the conservation estate, as the majority of which are open to the public.
Cape Town now invites residents to provide input on the updates policy which will continue to guide sustainable forward planning in the ever-growing city. it’s conservation estate comprises of Table Mountain National Park, nature reserves and conservation areas, as well as some private biodiversity stewardship sites.
Deputy Mayor and Member of the Mayoral Committee for Spatial Planning and Environment – Alderman Eddie Andrews said that the Biodiversity Spatial Planning Plan is for the entire city and has been updated over the years to include the revised red list of threatened ecosystems within Cape Town.
Andrews added that the plan has been adapted to the sobering climate change realities they face and strategic water source areas as well as the groundwater protection zones that were added to the critical plan to promote water security.
According to the Deputy Mayor, the draft policy has currently incorporates the latest best practice national principles and methods for spatial biodiversity planning.
There are a range of sectors whose policies and decisions affect the biodiversity of the Cape Town. The City of Cape Town therefore urged the public to take note of the updated Biodiversity Spatial Plan in order to provide their valuable input as it will inform and guide spatial planning, environmental assessments and natural resources management across the city.
Eddie Andrews highlighted their intention to reduce conflict between the environmental and other sectors with the provision of up-to-date information on biodiversity priorities that will guide forward planning, protected area expansion and sustainable development in Cape Town, with the most biodiverse city in the world.
Cape Town Bio-Net map illustrates the biodiversity network and selects terrestrial and aquatic features that are critical for conserving native biodiversity, while maintaining the ecosystem function at the landscape level.
Andrews further added to his statement that the legislation, scientific data, best practice and expert input form the foundation of the BioNet map as it illustrates the least land-hungry option possible to meet national biodiversity targets and the best option to keep Cape Town sustainable.