Areas that are formally protected by law and recognised in terms of the Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003. This includes gazetted Contract Nature Reserves and Protected Environments. This layer forms part of the 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP). The Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) which require safeguarding to ensure the continued existence and functioning of species and ecosystems, including the delivery of ecosystem services, across terrestrial and freshwater realms. These spatial priorities are used to inform sustainable development in the Western Cape Province. This product replaces all previous systematic biodiversity planning products and sector plans with updated layers and features.

Marine Protected Areas are formally protected by law and recognised in terms of the Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003. This layer forms part of the 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP). The Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) which require safeguarding to ensure the continued existence and functioning of species and ecosystems, including the delivery of ecosystem services, across terrestrial and freshwater realms. These spatial priorities are used to inform sustainable development in the Western Cape Province. This product replaces all previous systematic biodiversity planning products and sector plans with updated layers and features.

The Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) which require safeguarding to ensure the continued existence and functioning of species and ecosystems, including the delivery of ecosystem services, across terrestrial and freshwater realms. These spatial priorities are used to inform sustainable development in the Western Cape Province. This product replaces all previous systematic biodiversity planning products and sector plans with updated layers and features. May 2025 - The CBA coverages represent an improved version after removing additional modified areas. Various CBA areas previously classified as degraded has now been reclassified as natural.

The Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) which require safeguarding to ensure the continued existence and functioning of species and ecosystems, including the delivery of ecosystem services, across terrestrial and freshwater realms. These spatial priorities are used to inform sustainable development in the Western Cape Province. This product replaces all previous systematic biodiversity planning products and sector plans with updated layers and features. May 2025 - The CBA coverages represent an improved version after removing additional modified areas. Various CBA areas previously classified as degraded has now been reclassified as natural.

The Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) which require safeguarding to ensure the continued existence and functioning of species and ecosystems, including the delivery of ecosystem services, across terrestrial and freshwater realms. These spatial priorities are used to inform sustainable development in the Western Cape Province. This product replaces all previous systematic biodiversity planning products and sector plans with updated layers and features. May 2025 - The CBA coverages represent an improved version after removing additional modified areas. Various CBA areas previously classified as degraded has now been reclassified as natural.

Coverage of all the conservation areas for which CapeNature is the managing authority, and private conservation areas (such as contract nature reserves and WWF-SA land) for which CapeNature has a management agreement with the private landowner.

The Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) which require safeguarding to ensure the continued existence and functioning of species and ecosystems, including the delivery of ecosystem services, across terrestrial and freshwater realms. These spatial priorities are used to inform sustainable development in the Western Cape Province. This product replaces all previous systematic biodiversity planning products and sector plans with updated layers and features. May 2025 - The CBA coverages represent an improved version after removing additional modified areas. Various CBA areas previously classified as degraded has now been reclassified as natural.

Ecological Support Areas 1: Areas in a natural, near natural or moderately degraded condition that are not essential for meeting biodiversity targets, but that play an important role in supporting the functioning of PAs or CBAs and are often vital for delivering ecosystem services. They support landscape connectivity, encompass the ecological infrastructure from which ecosystem goods and services flow, and strengthen resilience to the effects of climate change. They include features such as regional climate adaptation corridors, water source and recharge areas, riparian habitat surrounding rivers or wetlands, and threatened vegetation. This layer forms part of the 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP). The Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) which require safeguarding to ensure the continued existence and functioning of species and ecosystems, including the delivery of ecosystem services, across terrestrial and freshwater realms. These spatial priorities are used to inform sustainable development in the Western Cape Province. This product replaces all previous systematic biodiversity planning products and sector plans with updated layers and features.

The Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) which require safeguarding to ensure the continued existence and functioning of species and ecosystems, including the delivery of ecosystem services, across terrestrial and freshwater realms. These spatial priorities are used to inform sustainable development in the Western Cape Province. This product replaces all previous systematic biodiversity planning products and sector plans with updated layers and features. May 2025 - The CBA coverages represent an improved version after removing additional modified areas. Various CBA areas previously classified as degraded has now been reclassified as natural.

Ecological Support Areas 2: Areas in a natural, near natural or moderately degraded condition that are not essential for meeting biodiversity targets, but that play an important role in supporting the functioning of PAs or CBAs and are often vital for delivering ecosystem services. They support landscape connectivity, encompass the ecological infrastructure from which ecosystem goods and services flow, and strengthen resilience to the effects of climate change. They include features such as regional climate adaptation corridors, water source and recharge areas, riparian habitat surrounding rivers or wetlands, and threatened vegetation. This layer forms part of the 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP). The Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) which require safeguarding to ensure the continued existence and functioning of species and ecosystems, including the delivery of ecosystem services, across terrestrial and freshwater realms. These spatial priorities are used to inform sustainable development in the Western Cape Province. This product replaces all previous systematic biodiversity planning products and sector plans with updated layers and features.