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About CapeNature

ByGuy Van Zyl

CapeNature is a government entity responsible for managing and maintaining 31 nature reserve complexes comprising 112 nature reserves, of which 106 are terrestrial and six are marine protected areas, totalling 828 506 ha in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. CapeNature offers a variety of eco-tourism products at 25 of its nature reserves.

As custodian of the province’s natural environment, CapeNature is tasked with nature conservation and awareness, preserving biodiversity, and providing facilities for education, research and training.

Through a variety of targeted programmes and projects, CapeNature staff strive to conserve the province’s natural heritage to ensure a sustainable future.

Besides nurturing nature, championing our unique ecosystems (such as the Cape Floristic Region), and educating visitors and local communities about how to protect our natural environment, CapeNature offers memorable, authentic eco-tourism experiences to local and international visitors. These vary from adrenaline-filled pursuits such as bouldering, kloofing and kayaking to more leisurely activities like hiking, fishing and whale watching.

Come and visit one of our pristine reserves or wilderness areas as a day visitor, or linger for longer in one of our campsites or eco-cabins. Join the #LoveNature movement!

Conserve. Explore. Experience.

Who we are

CapeNature is the chief custodian of the Western Cape’s natural environment, and is governed by the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board, known as CapeNature (constituted in terms of the Western Cape Biodiversity Act, No. 6 of 2021).

CapeNature is a Schedule 3C Public Entity and is governed by a Board as established in terms of section 9 of the Western Cape Biodiversity Act, No. 6 of 2021. The Board is appointed by the Provincial Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. The Board comprises of seven non-executive members and is supported by Board Committees to ensure that the mandated oversight role and responsibility is exercised.

The Board is mandated to:

  • maintain effective governance of CapeNature;
  • ensure that CapeNature properly performs its functions in terms of this Act;
  • approve and monitor compliance with the policies and strategies of CapeNature;
  • provide strategic direction to CapeNature;
  • develop a board charter to provide for a code of conduct for Board members and for meeting procedures, and to regulate matters further relating to corporate governance;
  • identify and regularly monitor risk areas and performance in respect of CapeNature; and
  • advocate for the sufficient resourcing of CapeNature to perform its functions.
  • Must perform its functions subject to any directives issued by the Provincial Minister.

In addition to this statutory oversight, CapeNature relies on the forging of strong partnerships with other role players and stakeholders in the public and private sectors, as well as the communities in the areas in which we operate, to drive a successful and sustainable conservation economy in the Western Cape.

Our ethos

At CapeNature, we take our job as guardians and protectors of nature very seriously. The manner in which we carry out our important public mandate and its work is underpinned by our vision, mission and values.

Our mission is to conserve, protect and restore our natural environment by inspiring and influencing positive change.

CapeNature’s vision is to conserve nature for resilience and sustainability.

We will achieve this by ensuring that our natural, knowledge and heritage assets are nurtured, accessed, well utilised and experienced.

The values that guide how we live and work – and live our work – are grounded in the Batho Pele (“people first”) principles of “we belong, we care, we serve”. We place a high premium on service delivery and excellence, and strive to create a work environment that nurtures people, puts their needs first and motivates a high level of performance.

https://www.capenature.co.za/about-us

https://www.capenature.co.za/permits/cites-permits

NATURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ORDINANCE NO. 19 OF 1974 (click on link for pdf)


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