Biodiversity

As the world’s first biodiversity route, the Green Mountain Eco-Route (GMER) has colonised a niche, and stands in a league of its own in terms of the promotion of conservation. Situated in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the Green Mountain Eco-Route is a biodiversity hotspot: the ideal setting in which to cultivate eco-tourism.

The GMER was founded on the collective vision of its members: promoting respect for conservation, while not negating commercial and social objectives. The express purpose of this Route is to nurture the natural environment, while, at the same time, allowing for the sustainable development of the resident communities and businesses.

Geographically, this circular-route spans a distance of approximately 75 kilometres around the Groenland Mountain and envelops the regions of: Bot River, Elgin, Grabouw, Houw Hoek, Villiersdorp and Vyeboom.

Biodiversity and Eco-Tourism
Biodiversity relates to: the variety of life in an area, including the number of different species (and their genetic wealth), the interrelationships between these, and the natural areas in which they occur. The term ‘biodiversity’ is not restricted to nature, but also includes a human component in our contribution to, and interaction with, the cosmos. The GMER prides itself on being a conduit through which biodiversity and tourism can be integrated in a non-harmful, mutually beneficial and harmonious way.

The Groenlandberg Conservancy, a precursor to the Green Mountain Eco-Route
Before the creation of the Green Mountain Eco-Route, landowners formed an environmental club where they collectively pooled ideas, and combined efforts, to enhance conservation status and the sustainable utilisation of natural resources. The Conservancy not only implemented measures which, for instance, protected indigenous fauna and flora, particularly fynbos, and demonstrated expertise in alien-clearing and fire protection; but also, through government support, initiated lasting legislative change. This community-based, proactive Conservancy paved the way for the Green Mountain Eco–Route through enhancing awareness and educating the community, revolutionising thinking towards conservation.

The Kogelberg Biosphere
The Groenlandberg is part of the Kogelberg Biosphere, deemed the global epicentre of biodiversity. This spectacular area falls within the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest yet richest plant kingdom on earth, and is South Africa’s latest World Heritage Site. Biosphere Reserves are 'new concept' reserves where there are no fences delineating boundaries and enforcing parameters between people and nature.

The Kogelberg Biosphere is considered, albeit small, among the most complex biodiversity regions in the world and the pulse of the world’s smallest floral systems. Kogelberg boasts no less than 1 880 plant species of which an estimated 150 species are endemic to the area and characteristic of this fynbos biome.

Social Upliftment and Eco-Agri Practices
With tourism having become a reality in the area, employment opportunities have been created. Motivated by this now pressing need to develop and upgrade employee skills to fill these positions, GMER members were inspired to equip staff with the requisite tools for tourism.

The first and current example is that of the Cape Nature’s Kogelberg Small Grants having funded the training of GMER’s members’ employees. On this programme, trainees are educated on leading tourist fynbos-hikes, and all the safety, conservation knowledge and communication which accompany this core responsibility. This accredited training project commences in September 2008.

With respect to eco-agri practices, each farm is fully committed to environmentally-friendly farming practices. With landowners enforcing education, participation in conservation commitment is not limited to land-owners, but is a consciousness which permeates throughout the community.

The Green Mountain Eco-Route Members
The Green Mountain Eco-Route is comprised of 27 members to date*, all hailing from different niches and providing diverse services, from: restaurants and farm stalls to accommodation facilities to wine tasting and tour operators, and even an event management company, specialising in outdoor activities. There are several new arts and crafts members in the pipeline as well.

BWI Membership, Champion Status and Organic Farming
Wine farms on the Green Mountain Eco-Route with BWI membership are: Beaumont Wines, Elgin Vintners members’ farms, Nabot (La Motte), Oak Valley Estate, Paul Cluver Wines and Villiersdorp Kelder.

The Eco-Route already boasts one BWI Champion: Oak Valley Wines is the latest BWI Champion as the ninth farm to attain Champion status. Conferred by the Biodiversity Wine Initiative (BWI), a pioneering partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector, Oak Valley fulfilled a testing set of criteria and were recognized for their long-standing conservation record, particularly their preservation, and ongoing restoration, of large tracts of mountain fynbos, synonymous with the Cape Floral Kingdom.

The wine farm, Nabot, owned by BWI Champion La Motte, is another exemplary farm in terms of conservation in that it is successfully pioneering organic farming in the area. This farm is accredited as organic in being awarded full SGS Certification, an International Production Standard acknowledging sound agricultural practices. Nabot relies on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity. Tilth is used to supply plant nutrients and to control weeds, insects and other pests.

Activities
The route prides itself on the multifaceted array of activities on offer. Fine wine producers are prolific, but the prospects presented by the magnificent biodiversity of the 34,000ha Groenland Conservancy branch out to include additional highlights. Boasting luxury accommodation, country cuisine, fresh produce markets and farm stalls, tourists will find that they have stumbled across a treasure trove of wholesome treats. While, for those inclined towards adventure, there is a wealth of activities from which to choose: from hiking trails galore to mountain-biking excursions to guided flower- and birding tours to kayaking and canoeing and much more …. a tourist’s paradise and an environmentalist’s haven. With the GMER gearing up for the ‘Green Season’, there will be so much on the go in the imminent summer months….

Alison Green, owner of Wildekrans Guest House, and one of the founder members of the Green Mountain Eco-Route, commented on the importance of the creation of such a route as well as South Africa’s position on a global scale. “In terms of biodiversity throughout the world, South Africa’s floral kingdom is an invaluable contributor in that the Cape’s floral kingdom is the smallest (but paradoxically richest) plant kingdom in the world. With the human population ever on the rise, and the correlating demands on the environment, eco-routes and conservancies have become indispensable. With the Green Mountain Eco-Route pioneering this movement, we are confident that others will follow suit”.

Green Mountain Eco-Route Members
The 27 members comprising the Green Mountain Eco-Route are as follows: Appletiser, Beaumont Wines, Botrivier Hotel, Dale Elliot Art Gallery, Dirtopia, Elgin Vintners, Goedvertrouw, Houw Hoek Farmstall & Coffee Shop, Luddite, Melsetter Trust, Molteno Brothers, Nabot (La Motte), Nature Discovery Tours, Oak Valley Estate, Oude Molen Distillery (Pty) Ltd, Paul Cluver Wines, Peregrine Farmstall, Porcupine Hills, South Hill Vineyards, Thandi, Theewaterskloof Golf Club, Tri Active Events Management, Villa Exner, Villiersdorp Kelder / Kelkiewyn, Villiersdorp Tourism, Vredelust B&B, Wildekrans Country House, Wildekrans Cellars and Witklip.