The Blaauwberg Conservation Area (BCA) is indeed a unique, valuable and special place. It is regarded as a global biodiversity hotspot, it harbours a unique treasure of cultural historical artefacts and has the potential to become an open-air classroom which is easily accessible to millions of people in its proximity. It also provides a strategic visual link between Table Mountain and Robben Island and provides opportunities for a multitude of recreation activities.
»	The BCA is located within the Cape Floral Kingdom – a global biodiversity hotspot.
»	It is a significant project of the City of Cape Town's Biodiversity Strategy.
»	The area represents one of the most intact and diverse lowland habitats near Cape Town, and marks the beginning of the West Coast flora.
»	It comprises 3 very threatened lowland vegetation types: Strandveld (or Dune Thicket), West Coast Renosterveld and Sand Plain Fynbos. Two transitional vegetation types also occur. The combination of these vegetation types is seldom found in one conservation area.
»	Renosterveld is one of the most highly threatened vegetation types in South Africa – only approximately 3% remains, of which less than 1 % of its original extent is formally conserved. Only half of the original Strandveld vegetation and a mere 1,2% of Sand Plain Fynbos has survived on the Cape Flats.
»	Over 500 plant species have been identified to date in an area of approximately 2 000 ha. (The entire British Isles has only approximately 1500 plant species).
»	The BCA is home to 45 Red Data plant species.
»	46 species of mammal, 34 species of reptiles, 9 amphibian species, and 30 species of butterfly are known or anticipated to occur here. Historically, many larger mammals existed and there are plans to re-introduce several of these species.
»	2 Red Data mammal species have been recorded in the BCA.
»	217 bird species have been recorded, including the threatened African Black Oystercatcher.
»	Birding in the Blaauwberg area, which offers a range of diverse habitats, is a rewarding experience. Six of the seven seabirds endemic to South Africa can be seen, namely the Bank, Cape and Crowned Cormorant, Cape Gannet, Hartlaub’s Gull and the African Penguin. Palaearctic waders abound during summer.
A species list for the BCA can be downloaded as an Excel spreadsheet - click here
The picture on the left is a Cape Dwarf Chameleon photographed in the BCA by Anton Pauw.