The Garden Route Biosphere Reserve (GRBR) was recognised by UNESCO as South Africa’s 9th Biosphere Reserve in June 2017. The GRBR was established as a Non-Profit Company in terms of the Companies Act to manage the Biosphere in terms of the requirements of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme.
This GRBR covers an area of approximately 700,000 hectares and extends from the coastline south of the George Airport, north along the eastern boundary of its neighbouring Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve, along the coastline into the Eastern Cape to include Jeffrey’s Bay and St Francis Bay. The GRBR is located within the Cape Floristic Region along the southern coast of the country, and includes the Tsitsikamma, Goukamma and Robberg Marine Protected Areas, Wilderness Lake RAMSAR site, Garden Route National Park, the Nelson Bay Cave and the Langkloof Valley. The Garden Route National Park, the primary core area of the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve, also forms part of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage Site, inscribed by UNESCO in 2004.
The GRBR is divided into areas of biodiversity significance for incorporation into development planning. The core areas cover 31% of the GRBR, with 26% being terrestrial and 5% marine. The buffer zone accounts for 41% and the transition area 28%. There are three Marine Protected Areas and a Ramsar Wetland site found within the reserve.
The GRBR is both socially and ecologically rich with approx. 500,000 inhabitants and a network of active social actors living and working within a biologically diverse natural habitat with great natural beauty that underpins a strong tourism economy in the region.
In this era of the Anthropocene, the region is threatened by climate change, increasing urbanisation and a multitude of land uses including associated waste, the spread of invasive alien species and unsustainable harvesting of natural resources. These threats are coupled with a burgeoning population, high levels of inequality and unemployment, low skills levels and limited social capital. These social and ecological drivers threaten the sustainability of the region and have informed the GRBR key focus areas.
VISION, MISSION & OBJECTIVES
OUR BOARD AND SUPPORTING TEAM
WHAT WE DO
WHAT REGIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE BIOSPHERE?
The Garden Route Biosphere Reserve encompasses the following areas:
MUNICIPALITIES INVOLVED WITH THE GRBR
Local Municipalities are vital stakeholders of any Biosphere Reserve. We always encourage our municipal representatives and councillors to attend Garden Route Biosphere Reserve meetings whenever possible. The following municipalities are found within the borders of the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve:
BECOME INVOLVED
Register your expression of interest to volunteer your time or services with the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve.
We are building a multi-disciplinary team of qualified professionals and committed volunteers to ensure that our regional efforts are collaborative and effective.
SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe to be notified about news, announcements and relevant stories.