The Aghulas Biodiversity Initiative

The Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative (ABI), a joint partnership between South African National Parks and Fauna & Flora International is designed to address the main threats to the globally significant lowland fynbos biodiversity of the Agulhas Plain and to improve the livelihoods of the local communities living in the region through a multiplicity of inter-linked conservation, development and socio-economic activities. ABI is the first pilot project to be implemented under the CAPE (Cape Action for People and Environment).

ABI brings together UNDP/GEF, SANParks, Western Cape Nature Conservation Board, local authorities, Cape Action for People and Environment, Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy, Grootbos Private Reserve, local farmers, Flower Valley Conservation Trust and FFI in an unique partnership for sustainability in Cape Floral Kingdom.

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The four main components of ABI are:

Conservation management in the productive landscape of the Agulhas Plain
Sustainable harvesting of wild fynbos
Development and implementation of Nature based tourism activities
Building build local support for biodiversity conservation on the Agulhas Plain through a public awareness programme

One of the main components of ABI focuses on development and implementation of models for sustainable harvesting of wild fynbos flowers, using the magnificent Flower Valley Farm as a pilot area for implementation. The objective is to convince landowners, private businesses and local communities that biodiversity, if managed and harvested sustainably, will provide significantly better economic benefits in the long-run, compared with alternative agricultural land-uses.

PARTNERS IN ABI:

South African National Parks: www.parks-sa.co.za
Western Cape Nature Conservation Board: www.capenature.co.za
C.A.P.E: www.capeaction.org.za
Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy: www.fynbos.co.za
Grootbos Private Reserve and Lodge: www.grootbos.com
Botanical Society of South Africa
Overstrand Municipality
UNDP (United Nations Development Fund)
GEF (Global Environment Facility)

The Flower Valley Learning Centre is currently developing a partnership with the Western Cape Department of Education, in order to ensure quality education, training and support for educational development.

The Early Learning Resource Unit (ELRU) assesses the in-service training programme of the practitioners.

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