Ecological Research in South Africa

Since its inception in 1996 Grootbos Nature Reserve has been actively involved in fynbos and ecological research on its 1750 hectare reserve and on surrounding properties. It has always been the philosophy that effective and meaningful guiding and interpretation requires an in depth understanding of what one has to show visitors. Fauna and flora checklists of the Grootbos Reserve were initiated in 1997 and work on these lists has been ongoing ever since. These lists have formed the basis of a conservation management plan, first drawn up in 2000 and updated every two years since. This plan forms the basis from which conservation interventions are carried out in the reserve. Flora and fauna checklists are kept updated and annual plans of action to clear the reserve of aliens as well as fire management initiatives and road and footpath maintenance plans are implemented. All alien vegetation has been cleared from the reserve over the past decade (recently in collaboration with the WBDEAT project).

The latest conservation management plan can be downloaded from the publications page.

A number of scientific papers and essays are/have been published regarding Grootbos. The most detailed survey carried out in the reserve occurred in 1997 and was run by Sean Privett. The survey ran intesively over a 3 month periods and consisted of almost 50 ten metre squares in which the resident plant species were documented. 307 species were found, 32 of which were red data species and one was a species new to science (Erica Magnisylva). The continuation of this project was undertaken by Heiner Lutzeyer and Sean. 743 species have been recorder to date, five of which are species that are new to science.

A detailed publication about the vegetation relationships that was written for Bothalia Magazine by Sean and an associate of his, M. Mergili, is also available for download from the publications page.