If you have ever been lucky enough to visit the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens in Cape Town, you would undoubtedly have walked out of there with a magical feeling in your heart. Set against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, this conservation property is unlike any other, being highly unique in many different ways. I had the absolute privilege of visiting the gardens during a recent trip to Cape Town and was again blown away by the grandeur of Kirstenbosch.
Kirstenbosch becomes even more impressive when you start to delve deeper into the role of the gardens for conservation, especially that of Fynbos. Kirstenbosch plays a key role in the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of the six floral kingdoms of the world. Come along as we go deeper into these concepts and the invaluable role of Kirstenbosch as a conservation property.
The magic of Kirstenbosch
If you were to ask me what I think makes Kirstenbosch such a unique place, the first word that comes to mind will definitely be VARIETY. Through this I am referring to the variety of habitats, plants and animal life which are found within the gardens. The 500+ hectares of Kirstenbosch consist of a mix of natural habitats and cultivated gardens. The two main types of natural vegetation within the gardens are afromontane forests and fynbos. Three distinct fynbos vegetation types occur within the gardens, coinciding with the different rock and soil types of the layered Table Mountain. The special pocket of afromontane forest in the gardens is precious, as it contributes to the small percentage of fragmented afromontane forests in Africa, and remains protected due to the establishment of the gardens.
Moving on to the cultivated sections of the gardens, the variety continues. Ranging from the interactive fragrance garden to the cycad collections and the protea and erica gardens, the number of different plant collections and gardens is astonishing. Of course, one can then think how this variety of plant life attracts a host of different animal life such as the endemic Cape Sugarbirds and Cape Bulbuls. I truly believe that upon visiting the garden, every person will quickly identify their favourite piece of garden, animal or walking trail, and for me this is where the magic of Kirstenbosch lies. Each person will find their own piece of magic here.
The Cape Floral Kingdom
The wonders of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens do however extend far beyond its boundaries, and the impact of the property is highly important for the Western Cape province and the broader continent. Kirstenbosch is managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), and serves as a hub for research, science and innovation in relation to the Cape Floral Kingdom. A floral kingdom refers to any distinct region which is characterised by its distinctive plant life. Currently there are six floral kingdoms recognized worldwide, of which the Cape Floral Kingdom is one of these six. Other significant plant kingdoms include the Australian kingdom and the Neotropical Kingdom of Central and South America which includes the Amazon rainforest.
When we begin to have a closer look at the Cape Floral Kingdom, it does not take long to see why it is widely regarded as the most unique of the floral kingdoms. The first argument for this statement lies in the fact that it is by far the smallest floral kingdom. The other five kingdoms span multiple territories, countries or even continents. The Cape Floral Kingdom is however only found in South Africa and is thus the only floral kingdom to be completely confined to one country.
Further to this, its level of endemism is almost unbelievable. Around 70% of the plant species found within this plant kingdom occur nowhere else on earth and are thus endemic to this kingdom. When we see that there are more than 9000 plant species in the Cape Floral Kingdom, this level of endemism equates to around 6500 endemic plant species found here. A fun fact which puts a lot of this into perspective, is that Table Mountain has more plant species present than the entire United Kingdom. No wonder this area is often described as a biodiversity hotspot!
The invaluable role of Kirstenbosch
As a prime example of a botanical conservation property, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens contributes to modern conservation work in a wealth of different ways. Positive sustainable tourism and job creation are some of the first ones that come to mind, however there are many more. Earlier in this blog post I mentioned that Kirstenbosch serves as a ‘hub’ for the Cape Floral Kingdom. This is due to the scientific research and studies which are continuously being done within the gardens.
This ranges from studies on pollination and water use to broader ecological studies including urban ecology studies. The scientific results obtained through research are then used throughout the floristic kingdom to set up management and spatial policies and better understand the unique and rare vegetation types of the Fynbos and Afromontane forest regions. I think it is then fair to say that Kirstenbosch plays a central and prominent role in the successful and continued conservation of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
So how would I sum up Kirstenbosch? I think it is only fitting to use the word UNIQUE! Kirstenbosch is a highly unique place, set in a highly unique setting, filled with highly unique vegetation leading to a highly unique experience. Add to this the invaluable conservation work which sprouts from the gardens and the research done by SANBI within the gardens and its surrounds, one cannot help but stand in awe. If you are reading this, my hope is that you have the opportunity to visit this special garden and marvel at the natural beauty which awaits you.
Be filled with nature!
Willem🐛