Biodiversity
The Big Picture
There are six floral kingdoms on earth
The Big Picture
• The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest, but
also has the highest density of plant species
• Cape Town situated in the heart of the
Cape Floral Kingdom and is a biodiversity
“hotspot”
• Many species around found only here and
nowhere else on earth – “endemic”
• High number of species are threatened with
extinction and on “red data list”
Biodiversity
Variety
• Species diversity – number, type and
distribution of species within an ecosystem
• Genetic diversity – variation in genes
enables organisms to evolve and adapt to
new conditions
• Ecosystem diversity – the variety of habitats
and communities of different species that
interact in a complex way
– Aquatic (ponds, wetlands, coral reef)
– Terrestrial (forests, deserts, mountains)
Biodiversity
Variation
Biodiversity may not appear to have a
direct impact on our lives, but we share the
planet with:
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–
–
–
–
–
–
4 600 mammals
4 700 birds
4 700 bacteria
5 000 viruses
21 700 fishes
40 000 algae
1 170 000 invertebrates
Biodiversity
Local is lekker
• The term biodiversity does not distinguish
between plants and animals that occur
naturally or other otherwise
• Indigenous plants and animals are naturally
occurring in a specific area
• Exotic or alien plants or animals have been
brought in by humans on purpose or
accidentally
• Invasive alien species grow vigorously and
replace indigenous species
Biodiversity
= Natural wealth
Biodiversity
Value
• Biodiversity is extremely valuable:
– It cleans our water and air
– It holds our soil in place, preventing floods
– The complex genetic pool provides us with food
and medicine
– In Cape Town it is a large contributor to tourism
– Experience nature and open space for
recreation, beauty and tranquility
– Valuable in and of itself, just like any person
Biodiversity in our City
Ingeniously indigenous
Biodiversity in our City
Natures Reserves
We have many
nature reserves in
our city
Biodiversity in our City
Environmental Education
Biodiversity in our Homes
Water wise
Gardening
Planting indigenous and water
efficient trees and shrubs
Biodiversity in our City
Food for Thought
SA has the second highest
number of plant extinctions in
the world
Food for Thought
70% of the Cape Floral
Kingdom’s 9600 plants species
are found nowhere else on
earth.
About 20% of these are Red
Data listed
Food for Thought
10 000 species becoming extinct per year
through human destruction of natural habitats.
Food for Thought
Cape Town is home to over
2500 indigenous plant species;
160 endemic and
over 292 considered
threatened.
Food for Thought
41 mammal species remain in
Cape Town, three Red Data
listed and six recently extinct
Biodiversity in our City
Come out of your shell
Intro picture needed here…
WASTE
WASTE
ENERGY
ENERGY
The challenge:
What are you going
to do differently?
WATER
WATER
BIODIVERSITY
BIODIVERSITY