The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...
- WWF Global
- Adria
- Argentina
- Armenia
- AsiaPacific
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Borneo
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Caucasus
- Central African Republic
- Central America
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- European Policy Office
- Finland
Our News
Saving South Africa's most threatened freshwater fish species
Should you be exploring the mountains between Citrusdal and Ceres, you might chance on some snorkelers looking for two very special fish species in the streams of the Twee River...
This region, which includes the Skurweberg and the Groot Winterhoek and Koue Bokkeveld Mountains, is the only known location of these species, whose distribution has been rapidly shrinking as a result of various threats. These include alien vegetation invasion and intensive fruit farming activities, such as water abstraction, habitat degradation and agrochemical or pesticide pollution.
Another key threat is the presence of a range of translocated fish species, including the Cape kurper and Clanwilliam yellowfish, and exotics such as the bluegill sunfish and bass.
In April this year the WWF Nedbank Green Trust launched a three-year project in partnership with CapeNature in this region to clear the aliens, improve farm-level management, rehabilitate the Twee River system and conserve the redfin and the galaxias. Working for Wetlands has also agreed to collaborate with the project.
The two fish species are key indicators of the overall health of the Twee River system, which WWF-SA has identified as a critical biodiversity area. It is also part of a climate change adaption corridor where WWF-SA is monitoring the effects of climate change on the local plants and animals.
'I am highly encouraged by the enthusiastic response to this project from the farmers and local communities,' explains the manager of the WWF Nedbank Green Trust project, Zanné Brink. 'At the same time we are collaborating with various other projects and stakeholders, including the Endangered Wildlife Trust's Cape Critical Rivers project, WWF's Sustainable Fruit Initiative, the Koue Bokkeveld Water User Association and numerous landowners.
Two research studies are being planned through the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Stellenbosch University, which will look at toxicology and impacts on the habitats of the Twee River redfin within the project area.
'There is a lot of invaluable information sharing for freshwater conservation,' says Brink, who will be doing her master's on the metal contaminants from agrochemicals in the Twee River through the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Assisting her on the WWF Nedbank Green Trust project is Groen Sebenza intern Tumisho Ngubela. Groen Sebenza is a national job creation initiative in the conservation sector for young South Africans from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, spearheaded by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the Development Bank of South Africa.
Brink and Ngubela regularly snorkel the Twee River streams, looking for the two special fish species. They also place underwater cameras in the streams to photograph and monitor the fish.
In addition to this, they are coordinating the clearing of pine, black wattle and eucalyptus from the slopes of the Skurweberg, all the way down to the riverine areas within the project area. 'In October and November we cleared 75 hectares, working with two teams of 12 people each,' says Brink, adding that it is a valuable job creation project for the Citrusdal community.
'We are also working closely with the farmers on private land to help them with alien‑vegetation removal, which increases the clean-water yield. Together with the WWF Sustainable Fruit Initiative, we are assisting farmers with better farming practices to help conserve water and the natural vegetation on their farms as part of a healthy ecosystem.'
They are also advising farmers about agrochemicals and contaminants, and helping them to develop more environmentally compatible practices.
To address the exotic- and translocated-fish problem, which were brought in by fishermen or escaped from farmers' dams, the project is working with SANBI and CapeNature's Technical Advisory Group. A weir is to be built to prevent these alien fish from swimming upstream and accessing the redfin's and the galaxias' home streams. This will assist the Twee River redfin to expand its range.
'We're pursuing a thoroughly holistic approach and it is inspiring to undertake this project with a fantastic team of people,' says Brink.
© Riaan van der Walt
The Twee River Redfin