Improve Human Impacts

                                           

Site Name	Area	Geographic Co-ordinates
Cape Peninsula National Park	17,000 km2	33°57’25”S to 34°21’40”S x 18°28’30”E to18°26’10”E
Cederberg Wilderness Area	64,000 km2	32°36´20”S / 19°08´17”E to 32°07´10”S / 19°02´05”E
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area	26,000 km2	33°10´52"S / 19°05´50"E to 32°59´05”S / 19°09´15”E
Boland Mountain Complex	113,000 km2	34°20´25"S / 18°46´10"E to 33°25´00”S / 19°05´00”E
De Hoop Nature Reserve	32,000 km2	34°30´12"S / 20°27´07"E to 34°22´40"S / 20°36´13"E
Boosmansbos Wilderness Area	15,000 km2	33°58´56”S / 20°48´00”E to 33°52´46”S / 20°56´12”E
Swartberg Complex	112,000 km2	33°24´19”S / 20°35´30”E to 33°22´40”S / 23°11´50”E
Baviaanskloof Protected Area	174,000 km2	33°38´45”S / 23°25´00”E to 33°25´20”S / 24°50´55”E

(United Nations Environment Programme)

As shown by this table, there are currently 8 nationally protected areas of the Cape Floral Region. These sites protect 6% of the total region, covering 5,530 km (United Environment Programme). I believe that these sites are the first steps to improving human impacts on this extremely unique region. By creating a more Wilderness Areas and Nature Reserves, the South African government has allowed endemic vegetation to flourish without further threats from urbanization and the cultivation of agriculture. The creation and expansion of these protected areas has also allowed tourists and natives to visit this ecosystem without causing further harm. Visiting biodiversity hot-spots is the best way to aid preservation efforts and the creation of more protected areas has help combat apathy and indifference about conservation efforts. Without support of conservation efforts, the Cape Floral Region, one of the most diverse areas of the world, will be severely threatened. Conservationists should focus on combating apathy and gaining support for their efforts by educating the public on the diversity of the area. Once the public holds the government accountable for its environmental impacts, they will be pressured to find new methods of conservation, create more protected areas and work harder to curb urbanization and agricultural cultivation in the region. By creating more natural reserves and educating the public, we can slow negative human impacts in the Cape Floral Region.