A precious stretch of rich and incredibly rare biodiversity in the Eastern Cape’s Kouga region will now be kept safe, as Kabeljous Nature Reserve gets its official stamp of protection.
Jeffreys Bay, South Africa (30 October 2025) – In a wonderful step towards safeguarding the unique biodiversity in the Kouga region, Kabeljous Nature Reserve has officially been declared by SA’s Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, reports have shared.
It’s a victory in an effort that has stood for over 25 years.
In 1999, first attempts were made to protect the land but complex processes involving multiple parties have delayed the ordeal, up until now.
The newly-declared reserve encompasses a vital stretch of Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld, one of the most threatened vegetation types in SA.
Renosterveld is a rare kind of fynbos that occurs mostly in the Cape Floristic Region along the West Coast. What sets the Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld apart, is that it only grows on the clay-rich shale soils of this limited stretch of land in the Eastern Cape.
The now protected area is home to endemic plant species found nowhere else in the world. At least 16 of these plant species are considered of conservation concern. It also supports several threatened bird species, including the Black Harrier, SA’s most endangered bird of prey and the Bird of the Year for 2026.
The land has been under threat for decades, mostly due to human encroachment and poor waste management. According to the Greater Kabeljous Partnership, more than 95% of this unique renosterveld has sadly already been lost.
That’s why this is a win. It’s not all lost, yet. The power of yet.
Now with its protected status, the Kabeljous Nature Reserve will safeguard coastal dunes, estuaries, and precious renosterveld fragments near the Kabeljous River mouth, north of Jeffreys Bay.
This will hopefully protect against serious threats like urban expansion, invasive species, and habitat degradation, giving this special stretch of nature a chance to thrive again.
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