Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust

Lowland Renosterveld is the relatively fertile, clay-based veld type that occurs in the low-lying areas of the Western Cape. Renosterveld is part of the Fynbos Biome, although it is very distinct from Fynbos - the main difference being that it generally lacks, with some exceptions, the three distinctly fynbos elements: the proteas, ericas (heather) and restios (reeds). It is one of the richest ecosystems in the world, due to its extraordinary bulb diversity. However, the renosterveld we see today is very different from what it was >300 years ago: before the advent of large-scale commercial agriculture in the Western Cape, renosterveld supported large numbers of big game (including Black Rhino, Eland and the now extinct Bluebuck) and was probably a far more grassy system (with some areas even having a very high Rooigras (Themeda triandra) component), with a much higher diversity of shrubs and bulbs. The combination of grazing (grass-eating) and browsing game animals of varying sizes maintained the diversity and structure of this system.

Sadly, the replacement of large game animals with small, selective feeders (cattle and sheep), combined with years of poorly-informed management (i.e. over-grazing and too little or too much burning), has allowed this special veld to become severely degraded and dominated by 'unwanted' shrubs, such as renosterbos (Elytropappus rhinocerotis). Thus, the grey, 'drab' veld that we see today is probably largely a result of the legacy of historic overgrazing and is NOT representative of true renosterveld. Today, those areas that are well-managed retain the characteristics of renosterveld and it is clear that this habitat supports a diversity of botanical gems, incomparable with any other system in the world.