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What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to all the genes, species, ecosystems and processes that allow life to persist over time. When biodiversity is intact, species and ecosystems are resilient, enabling them to adapt to environmental changes. When biodiversity is lost, nature responds unpredictably, making it difficult for growers to plan production and protect natural resources.
Why a Biodiversity & Wine Initiative?
The Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK) is the smallest yet richest plant kingdom on earth, and has earned international recognition as a global biodiversity hotspot and as South Africa's newest World Heritage Site. However, the CFK is under increasing threat from agriculture, urban development and invasive alien species, with only 9% of the unique renosterveld and lowland fynbos ecosystems remaining, and much of the succulent karoo also under threat. Since 80% of the CFK is privately owned, landowner participation in conservation efforts is essential. The most effective method of reaching landowners is through the agricultural industries that they supply.
South Africa is the world's eighth largest producer of wine, contributing 3.5% of the global wine production. Because approximately 90% of wine production occurs within the CFK, concern is mounting that some of the region's most vulnerable natural habitat might be targeted for vineyard expansion. Following an initial study by the Botanical Society of South Africa and Conservation International, the wine industry and the conservation sector have embarked on a pioneering partnership to conserve the rich biodiversity of the CFK.
The BWI presents a great opportunity to both the wine and conservation sectors. The wine industry benefits from leveraging the biodiversity of the CFK as a competitive marketing advantage, and from using the BWI as a tool to achieve sustainable natural resource management, as prioritised in the Wine Industry Strategy Plan. The conservation sector benefits from pioneering biodiversity best practices in the wine industry, and from conserving the CFK's most threatened habitats for future generations.
The BWI aims to:
- Prevent further loss of habitat in critical sites
- Increase the total area set aside as natural habitat in contractual protected areas
- Promote changes in farming practices that enhance the suitability of vineyards as habitat for biodiversity, and reduce farming practices that have negative impacts on biodiversity, both in the vineyards and in surrounding natural habitat
- Create marketing opportunities for the wine industry by positioning the biodiversity of the CFK, and the industry's proactive stance on biodiversity, as a unique selling point to differentiate Brand South Africa.
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