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| Area Conserved: |
| 1885 ha |
| Wine District: |
| Robertson |
| Owner / Contact Person: |
| Mossie Basson |
| Phone: |
| (023) 626 4559 / 082-885 1670 |
| Website: |
| www.grahambeckwines.co.za |
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Biodiversity highlights: Area conserved – 1885ha.
Second producer to become a champion of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, awarded in March 2006. Only private organisation to conserve the endangered Breede Sand Fynbos. Have actively restored the veld condition in their game camp and fixed more than 50% of the erosion dongas created historically. Have a dedicated conservation manager and 2 full-time game guards to patrol the natural area. |
Graham Beck Wines in Robertson have a private nature reserve on their property, which is an area well worth conserving. The reserve covers the entire eastern slopes of the Rooiberg, which can be described as an Inselberg (island mountain). This mountain is surrounded by very deep alluvium soil deposits which have given rise to a unique mix of vegetation. The area includes four different vegetation types, namely; Breede Quartzite Fynbos, Breede Shale Renosterveld, Robertson Karoo and Breede Sand Fynbos. Graham Beck Wines is the only organisation that formally conserves a significant portion of Breede Sand Fynbos, which is considered an endangered vegetation type. Of the original 9 277.81 ha, today only 4 527.06 ha of this vegetation types remains.
Unfortunately, previous mismanagement before ownership by Graham Beck resulted in erosion on a large scale and much of the vegetation of the area consisted of unpalatable plants due to past overgrazing. Bare patch erosion, wind erosion and a lower carrying capacity was the result. However, this has changed drastically since 2001 when an ongoing programme was started and a dedicated conservation manager (Mossie Basson) employed to limit and restore soil erosion and restore the veld condition.
By the end of 2002, more than 50% of the concerning erosion dongas were restored and re-seeded. This programme grew every year by an average of 23% and today Graham Beck Wines are happy to report that the biomass cover of the entire reserve area has increased by 34% since 2001. The erosion problems have shrunk by 42% and they hope to have beaten the erosion trends by the year 2007. All roads on the property have been restored and today only two circular drives exist for game viewing trips which take place on a guided base. Due to the vulnerability of the Breede Sand Fynbos areas on the reserve, no roads exist in this area and management in this area is done with a minimal impact approach.
Over the last three years, two full-time game ranges have been trained to patrol the area every day and perform monitoring and rehabilitation functions. Negotiations have commenced with some of the neighbours and nearby Rooiberg Winery, to extend the conserved area by means of a formal conservancy.
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