Cape Town is the official winner of two categories in the 2019 City Nature Challenge.
Cape Town came out tops in the categories for making the most observations and recording the most species. This international competition saw over 150 cities from around the world compete to see who could make the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people.
Cape Town has won the most recorded observations and most recorded species categories of the 2019 City Nature Challenge.
Together, Cape Town participants were able to record an impressive 53 775 observations and 4 587 species across the city. Runners up in the recorded observations category were La Paz, Bolivia, with 46 931 observations’ and San Diego, USA, with 38 241. In the recorded species category runners up were Hong Kong with 3 596 species; and Houston, USA, with 3 367.
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Marian Nieuwoudt says Capetonians really went out and showed the world what incredible biodiversity our city has to offer.
“Cape Town certainly rose to the challenge, considering that we are entering autumn and there were over 150 cities competing, many of which are in the throes of spring. I want to thank each and every resident and visitor who took the time to explore our pristine natural environment and for capturing the beauty and life they encountered. We’re extremely proud to be hosting a globally recognised and important biodiversity.”
The competition took place between 26 April and 29 April 2019. Capetonians were encouraged to explore the City’s nature reserves and natural open spaces, and to record all of the local plant and animal species that they spotted over the four days. Participants were required to download the iNaturalist.com app and then had to share their observations by uploading all of their findings on the app.
The City coordinated numerous activities during the course of the challenge, among which tours of the reserves with local experts. The reserves were open to those interested in recording their observations of plant and animal life over the four days.
The top 20 species recorded included:
• Osteospermum moniliferum, or Bietou
• Carpobrotus edulis, or Edible Sourfig
• Leonotis leonurus, or Wild Dagga
• Protea repens, or Common Sugarbush
• Tecomaria capensis, or Cape Honeysuckle
• Apis mellifera, or Western Honey Bee
• Protea cynaroides, or King Protea
• Leucadendron salignum, or Common Sunshine Conebush
• Pelargonium capitatum, or Rose-scented Geranium
• Cotyledon orbiculata, or Pig Ears
• Eriocephalus africanus, or Wild Rosemary
• Alopochen aegyptiaca, or Egyptian Goose
• Numida meleagris, or Helmeted Guineafowl
• Portulacaria afra, or Spekboom
• Erica plukenetii, orHangertjie
• Aloe arborescens, or Krantz Aloe
• Strelitzia reginae, or Bird of Paradise plant
• Pelargonium cucullatum, or Hooded Storksbill
• Acraea horta, or Garden Acraea
• Leucadendron laureolum, or Golden Sunshine Bush
