Life at Grootbos Nature Reserve and in the Walker Bay region – A Field Guide

When the founder of Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Michael Lutzeyer, bought a piece of farmland in a coastal corner of the Western Cape in 1991, little did he know that his ‘holiday home’ would one day become globally recognised for both its conservation practices and its sustainable tourism efforts.For close on 30 years, the 3,500-hectare reserve has welcomed international and local visitors to experience its treasure trove of botanical and wildlife wonders – now showcased in this new comprehensive field guide, Life at Grootbos and in the Walker Bay region (which follows in the wake of the magnificent illustrated Grootbos Florilegium).Both a record of all that Grootbos has achieved, and a tool for identification of most of the organisms occurring there, the field guide covers primitive plant forms and flowering plants, fungi, and a wide variety of animal groups (insects, spiders, scorpions, reptiles, fish, amphibians, mammals and birds). Also highlighted are the fascinating history and geology of the region as well as insights into the early days of Grootbos, how it has grown, how it functions, and the important training and skills development it delivers through its ongoing community projects.

Grootbos Foundation Director Sean Privett has worked at the reserve since 1997 and is an advocate for the conservation of its unique biodiversity. He has published numerous scientific papers and was a key contributor to the Grootbos Florilegium.Research Manager Paula Strauss conducts research projects at the reserve, championing an interdisciplinary approach. She co-founded the Grootbos Entomology Programme.Conservation and Research Programme Manager Rebecca Dames is passionate about the region’s flora, with a focus on the protection of the Agulhas Plain's biodiversity and on the interrelationship between ecology, conservation and local communities.Reserve Manager Mike Fabricius is a zoologist, entomologist and nature conservationist. Active in conducting ecological research, he promotes biodiversity protection.