Description: 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 WCBSP is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), various Biodiversity Priority Area categories 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. November 2025 – Updated coverage by adding in the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Network (recently signed off), adding recently signed/proclaimed protected areas, removing cancel/abolished protected areas, and removing modified areas.CapeNature (2024). 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan and Guidelines. Biodiversity Capabilities, CapeNature. https://www.capenature.co.za/western-cape-biodiversity-spatial-plan
Service Item Id: d48b465aaa684a62bafdac2d2e31fec7
Copyright Text: CapeNature (2024). 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan and Guidelines. Biodiversity Capabilities, CapeNature. https://www.capenature.co.za/western-cape-biodiversity-spatial-plan
Name: Marine Protected Areas (MPA) (as of September 2025)
Display Field: Quick_Ref
Type: Feature Layer
Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon
Description: This layer forms part of the 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP). The WCBSP is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), various Biodiversity Priority Area categories 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.November 2025 – Updated coverage by adding in the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Network (recently signed off), adding recently signed/proclaimed protected areas, removing cancel/abolished protected areas, and removing modified areas.
Service Item Id: d48b465aaa684a62bafdac2d2e31fec7
Copyright Text: CapeNature (2024). 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan and Guidelines. Biodiversity Capabilities, CapeNature. https://www.capenature.co.za/western-cape-biodiversity-spatial-plan
Description: This layer forms part of the 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP). The WCBSP is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), various Biodiversity Priority Area categories 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 - This coverage represents an improved version after removing additional modified areas. Various CBA areas previously classified as degraded have now been reclassified as natural.November 2025 – Updated coverage by adding in the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Network (recently signed off), adding recently signed/proclaimed protected areas, removing cancel/abolished protected areas, and removing modified areas.
Service Item Id: d48b465aaa684a62bafdac2d2e31fec7
Copyright Text: CapeNature (2024). 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan and Guidelines. Biodiversity Capabilities, CapeNature. https://www.capenature.co.za/western-cape-biodiversity-spatial-plan
Name: Critical Biodiversity Areas 2 CBA2 (degraded)
Display Field: Name
Type: Feature Layer
Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon
Description: This layer forms part of the 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP). The WCBSP is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), various Biodiversity Priority Area categories 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 - This coverage represents an improved version after removing additional modified areas. Various CBA areas previously classified as degraded have now been reclassified as natural.November 2025 – Updated coverage by adding in the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Network (recently signed off), adding recently signed/proclaimed protected areas, removing cancel/abolished protected areas, and removing modified areas.
Service Item Id: d48b465aaa684a62bafdac2d2e31fec7
Copyright Text: CapeNature (2024). 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan and Guidelines. Biodiversity Capabilities, CapeNature. https://www.capenature.co.za/western-cape-biodiversity-spatial-plan
Description: This layer forms part of the 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP). The WCBSP is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), various Biodiversity Priority Area categories 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.November 2025 – Updated coverage by adding in the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Network (recently signed off), adding recently signed/proclaimed protected areas, removing cancel/abolished protected areas, and removing modified areas.
Service Item Id: d48b465aaa684a62bafdac2d2e31fec7
Copyright Text: CapeNature (2024). 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan and Guidelines. Biodiversity Capabilities, CapeNature. https://www.capenature.co.za/western-cape-biodiversity-spatial-plan
Description: This layer forms part of the 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP). The WCBSP is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), various Biodiversity Priority Area categories 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.November 2025 – Updated coverage by adding in the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Network (recently signed off), adding recently signed/proclaimed protected areas, removing cancel/abolished protected areas, and removing modified areas.
Service Item Id: d48b465aaa684a62bafdac2d2e31fec7
Copyright Text: CapeNature (2024). 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan and Guidelines. Biodiversity Capabilities, CapeNature. https://www.capenature.co.za/western-cape-biodiversity-spatial-plan
Description: This layer forms part of the 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP). The WCBSP is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), various Biodiversity Priority Area categories 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.November 2025 – Updated coverage by adding in the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Network (recently signed off), adding recently signed/proclaimed protected areas, removing cancel/abolished protected areas, and removing modified areas.
Service Item Id: d48b465aaa684a62bafdac2d2e31fec7
Copyright Text: CapeNature (2024). 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan and Guidelines. Biodiversity Capabilities, CapeNature. https://www.capenature.co.za/western-cape-biodiversity-spatial-plan