Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2015, in South Africa. The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve is in the southern part of South Africa. It is divided into four connected sectors that extend from sea level to 2,240 metres. This is the only place in the world where three recognised biodiversity hotspots converge, namely Fynbos, Succulent Karoo and Maputaland–Pondoland–Albany. The site is characterised by a high level of plant endemism, with 1,325 species, including 182 Succulent Karoo endemics and 92 Red List species, and by threatened invertebrates, including seven endemic species of the enigmatic beetle genus Colophon and 14 butterfly species. It provides a migratory route for large mammals such as the leopard (Panthera pardus) and serves as a nursery for marine species. Despite its rich biodiversity, the area faces deep-rooted socio-economic challenges, including high unemployment, widespread poverty, sprawling informal settlements with inadequate services, rising HIV rates and growing crime.