Zevenwacht Wine Estate in Kuils River, an environmental stronghold on the outskirts of Cape Town, was recently awarded Conservation Champion status by the World Wildlife Fund South Africa (WWF), in recognition of the establishment’s ongoing efforts to conserve renosterveld across approximately 15% of its farmland.
The first-generation wine farm acquired by Denise Johnson and her late husband Harold in 1992, is committed to environmental management and conservation, which are integrated into both its daily operations and long-term strategy. Environmental-management efforts include the removal of invasive alien vegetation, restoration and protection of valuable indigenous flora and fauna, and maintenance of sensitive water ecosystems.
Ticking the boxes
During a media tour held at the wine estate last Thursday (29 May), to celebrate its conservation achievements, Dwayne Brecht, a conservation champions extension officer, outlined the criteria for wine producers required to attain Conservation Champion status from the WWF. According to Brecht, the requirements are:
• an independent audit score of 70% or higher through the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW), the environmental sustainability scheme established by the South African wine industry in 1998;
• measurement of carbon footprint using the Confronting Climate Change (CCC) carbon calculator, along with the setting of reduction targets. The CCC initiative is a project developed to support the South African fruit and wine sectors in identifying and responding to the risks and opportunities associated with carbon emissions;
• demonstrated environmental commitment and leadership across three key focus areas namely nature and water conservation as well as energy and/ or waste management. Zevenwacht currently excels in all three, through initiatives such as the renosterveld restoration project, proactive water conservation measures and energy efficiency achieved via the installation of 884 solar panels on the cellar roof, in addition to a recycling programme; and
• a WWF-approved environmental management plan, co-developed with the WWF South Africa team.
All about conservation
About 80 ha (around 15%) of Zevenwacht’s land have been designated a protected conservation area. This area forms part of the Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy (BHRC) since 1992 and supports a rich biodiversity, with an estimated 150 to 200 species of flora, alongside a variety of small mammals and birdlife.
Renosterveld flourishes across this landscape with the support of Lynda Muller, owner of Discover Renosterveld.Based in Devon Valley, she operates a specialised nursery focused primarily on cultivating renosterveld species.
Muller contributes to the rewilding of degraded agricultural land, such as areas within Zevenwacht, and also designs natural gardens in urban environments using indigenous plants from the Cape Floral Kingdom.
As an active member of the BHRC, Zevenwacht is committed to the preservation of the Cape’s unique floral heritage, ensuring the conservation of renosterveld for the benefit of future generations.
A different kind of flora
Although not as widely recognised as fynbos, renosterveld is often mistaken for it. One of the key distinctions between the two lies in their soil preferences: renosterveld thrives on nutrient-rich soils, whereas fynbos typically grows on nutrient-poor soils found at higher elevations, according to Zevenwacht’s website.
What makes renosterveld particularly remarkable is the abundance of seasonal wildflowers and bulbs, many of which bloom only briefly, from August to October. These floral displays contribute to the Cape’s botanical richness.
Zevenwacht recognises the vital importance of its renosterveld-conservation area in the ongoing preservation and promotion of this unique and ecologically significant vegetation type, the website reported.
Notably, about 70% of the remaining renosterveld exists on privately owned land, underscoring the essential role that private stakeholders play in its protection.
The Bottelary Hills Conservancy, within which Zevenwacht is situated, has been designated a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) biodiversity hotspot and forms part of the Boland Biosphere Reserve, which is recognised as a World Heritage Site, according to Zevenwacht’s website.
In 2009, Zevenwacht further demonstrated its environmental commitment by joining the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI), which encourages wine estates to manage and conserve indigenous fauna and flora. The Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy (BHRC) was founded in 1992 and registered as an NPO in 2008, and currently has 56 members.
According to BHRC manager Christel Liebenberg, its mission is to “care for, expand and sustain the large tracts of renosterveld fynbos in its area and to launch projects to better the lives of the people living and working in the BHRC”.
“The conservancy is a vital buffer zone on the urban edge that strives to protect and maintain the area’s rich biodiversity,” a BHRC statement reads. “Game such as caracal, grysbok, grey duiker, porcupine, bat-eared foxes, Cape foxes and otters still roam naturally. Many bird species are also found in the Bottelary Hills.”
The conservancy’s anti-poaching action group, under the leadership of the Bottelary Rural Response Unit, is also active on the Bottelary road. Numerous suspects were apprehended and indigenous flora were confiscated due to active reporting. Local authorities are notified and the necessary action is taken by law enforcement and Cape Nature.
“Conservation efforts in the BHRC include alien-invasive clearing, fighting the illegal harvesting of critically endangered renosterveld fynbos, strategic firebreaks, recycling, youth development and regular snare patrols with the Cape Leopard Trust.”
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