Western Cape expands protected area network with Lettas Kraal Nature Reserve

CapeNature has welcomed another addition to the Western Cape’s growing Protected Area Estate with the formal declaration of Lettas Kraal Nature Reserve.

Lettas Kraal is situated 30 km south-east of Touwsriver and encompasses 7 050 hectares of natural rangeland in the Little Karoo, within the Succulent Karoo biome, an internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot.

Western Cape Provincial MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell, welcomed the latest declaration.

“Lettas Kraal’s inclusion in our protected area network is another positive stride towards achieving the province’s conservation goals. Each new reserve declared not only protects species and habitats but also strengthens the ecological networks that sustain local communities and the provincial economy. Every hectare protected ensures that our children will inherit a healthier and more resilient environment.”

CapeNature facilitates the legal administrative process to declare these sites as Protected Areas in terms of the National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act whilst the Endangered Wildlife Trust collaborated with CapeNature and the landowners, Johan and Tessa Roodt, to take the property through the declaration process. 

The Nature Reserve was declared on November 7.

According to CapeNature, the declaration of this new Nature Reserve is strongly supported by various scientific assessments. 

The initial desktop survey was conducted in early 2019 and led to the property’s declaration as a Contract Nature Reserve by CapeNature. 

“A more comprehensive biodiversity survey was undertaken in 2020, combining extensive camera trapping with a week-long specialist-led field survey to catalogue the property’s ecological richness,” said CapeNature.

“The camera trap survey was conducted by deploying 78 single camera trap stations randomly across the property within a grid setting for 57 days. The intention was to capture a broad spectrum of species, including shy and nocturnal species not usually observed.

“Altogether 3 008 images were captured at all stations for a total of 43 species, including brown hyena, leopard, honey badger and the Critically Endangered riverine rabbit.

Additionally, 814 plant species have been recorded on the property, including several possibly new species, confirming the botanical value of the property in terms of plant species diversity.

CapeNature CEO, Dr Ashley Naidoo, applauded every landowner who takes the bold step to have their property declared a protected area.

“While the path to declaration can be complex, CapeNature has committed to supporting landowners who want to play a role in expanding the Western Cape’s Protected Area Network.”

Landowners who are considering having their land formally protected can contact CapeNature’s Stewardship Team at [email protected].

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Cape Argus