Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area
Encyclopedia
Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area is small (42 hectare) nature reserve
, situated in the centre of Kenilworth Racecourse, in Cape Town
, South Africa
. Due to its location, it has been left undisturbed for more than 100 years, making it now the best preserved patch of “Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
” in the world.
The reserve contains indigenous fynbos
and wetlands
– both permanent and seasonal. Among the hundreds of plant species that can be found here, at least 20 are threatened with extinction. There are also endemic species, and two plants (Erica verticillata
and Erica turgida
) are listed as extinct in the wild, but have recently been re-introduced here. The reserve is home to the critically endangered Micro Frog (Microbatrachella capensis) along with other small but healthy populations of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds.
Invasive alien vegetation is a severe problem, especially Port Jackson (Acacia saligna
) and domestic garden escapees.
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
, situated in the centre of Kenilworth Racecourse, in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Due to its location, it has been left undisturbed for more than 100 years, making it now the best preserved patch of “Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
Cape Flats Sand Fynbos , previously known as Sand Plain Fynbos, is a critically endangered vegetation type that occurs only within the city of Cape Town, including the Cape Flats district. Less than 1% of this unique lowland Fynbos vegetation is conserved.-Description:This is the richest and most...
” in the world.
The reserve contains indigenous fynbos
Fynbos
Fynbos is the natural shrubland or heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa, mainly in winter rainfall coastal and mountainous areas with a Mediterranean climate...
and wetlands
Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland
Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland is a critically endangered vegetation type of the Western Cape, South Africa.-Environment:This type of riparian vegetation and its accompanying ecosystem is found in the Western Cape, South Africa, on freshwater floodplains, along the lower stretches of rivers and...
– both permanent and seasonal. Among the hundreds of plant species that can be found here, at least 20 are threatened with extinction. There are also endemic species, and two plants (Erica verticillata
Erica verticillata
Erica verticillata is a species of erica that was naturally restricted to the city of Cape Town but is now classified as Extinct in the Wild.-Distribution:It formerly grew only in certain areas of the Cape Flats on the Cape Peninsula of South Africa....
and Erica turgida
Erica turgida
Erica turgida is a species of erica that was naturally restricted to the city of Cape Town, South Africa, but is now classified as Extinct in the Wild....
) are listed as extinct in the wild, but have recently been re-introduced here. The reserve is home to the critically endangered Micro Frog (Microbatrachella capensis) along with other small but healthy populations of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds.
Invasive alien vegetation is a severe problem, especially Port Jackson (Acacia saligna
Acacia saligna
Acacia saligna, commonly known by various names including coojong, golden wreath wattle, orange wattle, blue-leafed wattle, Western Australian golden wattle, and, in Africa, Port Jackson willow, is a small tree in the family Fabaceae...
) and domestic garden escapees.
See also
- Biodiversity of Cape TownBiodiversity of Cape Town- Floristic region :The city of Cape Town lies within the Cape Floristic Kingdom . - Vegetation types :...
- List of nature reserves in Cape Town
- Cape Flats Sand FynbosCape Flats Sand FynbosCape Flats Sand Fynbos , previously known as Sand Plain Fynbos, is a critically endangered vegetation type that occurs only within the city of Cape Town, including the Cape Flats district. Less than 1% of this unique lowland Fynbos vegetation is conserved.-Description:This is the richest and most...
- Cape Lowland Freshwater WetlandCape Lowland Freshwater WetlandCape Lowland Freshwater Wetland is a critically endangered vegetation type of the Western Cape, South Africa.-Environment:This type of riparian vegetation and its accompanying ecosystem is found in the Western Cape, South Africa, on freshwater floodplains, along the lower stretches of rivers and...