Greater Kabeljous Partnership

29/07/2025

A Hidden Treasure at Risk – Right Here in Jeffreys Bay

Tucked between the Kabeljous and Gamtoos Rivers is one of South Africa’s rarest and most threatened natural gems—Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld.

You may not have heard of it, but this special type of vegetation is found nowhere else on Earth and is home to rare plants and birds like the Black Harrier, our most endangered bird of prey. Sadly, over 95% of it has already been lost due to illegal clearing, development, and neglect.

The Greater Kabeljous Partnership is working hard to protect what’s left—fighting to have the land officially protected, restoring damaged areas, and raising awareness.

💚 Why it matters:
✔️ It supports biodiversity
✔️ It offers eco-tourism opportunities
✔️ It preserves a piece of our shared natural and cultural heritage

You can help by spreading the word, supporting our cause, or just learning more about this precious place.

Let’s not lose it forever. 🌍

Read our full article on the link below:
https://greaterkabeljous.org/newsroom/f/protecting-a-hidden-treasure?blogcategory=Blog

14/07/2025

Prickly Pear: Pretty but Problematic 🌵

Did you know the Prickly Pear cactus is an alien invasive species threatening our local ecosystems? 🌱 While it may look attractive, this invader outcompetes indigenous plants, reduces grazing land, and disrupts biodiversity.

Let’s keep our environment wild — not invaded!

https://greaterkabeljous.org/

12/07/2025

Join the journey to protect the beauty of the Greater Kabeljous area 🌿

Follow us for updates on the beauty of our region, conservation efforts and how you can get involved.

A community movement advocating for the protection of the Greater Kabeljous area on the basis of its' rich biodiversity and proud cultural heritage

11/07/2025

06/07/2025

Silent survivors - The plants of Kabeljous

Some of the most threatened life forms in our area don’t make a sound—but they matter.

At least 16 plant species in this area are of special conservation concern. Some grow only in this exact soil, under these exact skies.

Protecting them protects the balance of the whole system.

Small things matter.



📸 Paula Agostinho

01/07/2025

HUMANSDORP SHALE RENOSTERVELD - ON THE BRINK

Less than 4% of the original Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld remains today.

Found only here, it’s one of South Africa’s most threatened vegetation types.
It supports:

✔️ Endemic plant species
✔️ Rare pollinators
✔️ Ground-nesting birds

When it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

The Greater Kabeljous Partnership is working with partners and landowners to preserve what’s left and bring it back to life.

https://greaterkabeljous.org/

27/06/2025

Meet the Black Harrier—one of South Africa’s most endangered raptors.

Only a few hundred breeding pairs remain in the wild.

It nests and hunts in areas like ours—making the protection of the Greater Kabeljous area critical to its survival.

When we lose habitat, we risk losing species forever.

Let’s keep the skies wild.

24/06/2025

The Greater Kabeljous area is home to biodiversity you won’t find anywhere else on Earth.

🌿 16 plant species of special conservation concern
🪶 5 bird species under threat, including the elusive Black Harrier
🌍 And a globally endangered ecosystem: Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld

This landscape is not just rare—it's irreplaceable. Protecting it means protecting something truly unique.

To find out more about the role that the Greater Kabeljous Partnership is playing in protecting this biodiversity, go to https://greaterkabeljous.org/



📸 Paula Agostinho

17/06/2025

The Eastern Cape is home to a rich ecological and cultural heritage, yet much of it remains unprotected, leaving it at risk.

By campaigning for the protection of the Greater Kabeljous Conservation Area, we’re preserving culture, protecting biodiversity and laying the groundwork for this area to be an environmental, cultural and socio-economic asset to the Eastern Cape.

MORE INFO: https://greaterkabeljous.org
DONATE: https://greaterkabeljous.org/get-involved

📷 Paula Agostinho

14/06/2025

3 REASONS TO PROTECT THE GREATER KABELJOUS CONSERVATION AREA

The land between the Kabeljous and Gamtoos river mouths is more than just a pretty place, it’s a living heritage.

🌿 Habitat to threatened plant & bird species - the area is home to multiple endangered plant and bird species. Most notably, it is the last remaining ecologically viable portion of Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld that can still be conserved, on the planet. It is also an important habitat to the Black Harrier, a bird more endangered than the black rhino.

💦 Large & important Wetlands - wetlands and estuaries are amongst the most threatened and least protected ecosystem types in South Africa.

🪘 Cultural significance - the area has deep cultural significance for many people who trace their heritage back to the area, as the area had a variety of food sources nearby. To date, archeologists have documented at least 85 archeological sites on the land.

By conserving this land we’re protecting a legacy for Jeffreys Bay, for the Eastern Cape and… well… our planet 🌍.

📷 Kirsty Teichert

12/06/2025

When we protect wilderness areas:

✅ We’re preserving biodiversity - which strengthens the resilience of all of our ecosystems;
✅ We’re mitigating climate changes - intact natural landscapes absorb carbon and regulate weather patterns;
✅ We’re keeping the water and air clean - wilderness areas act as natural 'filters' for surrounding areas and future generations.

If we start clearing this natural vegetation - for example, to build illegal structures - we’re undermining the health and resilience of everyone and everything in the surrounding areas.

Find out more:
https://greaterkabeljous.org/


📷 Paula Agostinho

27/05/2025

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of our WHY… 🦅🌾

Why It Matters

This is a one-of-a-kind landscape, home to:
🌿 16 plant species of special conservation concern
🌍 The endangered Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld ecosystem
🦜 5 bird species of special conservation concern, including the highly endangered Black Harrier

Once lost, it cannot be replaced. We must protect it now.

🔗 https://greaterkabeljous.org/get-involved