Modderfontein Reserve: Nature on your doorstep

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by Emily Taylor, Endangered Wildlife Trust

Gauteng is South Africa’s smallest and most transformed province, situated in the threatened Grassland Biome. Gauteng maintains pockets of grassland forming crucial ecological corridors for wildlife, and Modderfontein Reserve is a stepping stone in this network. The vision for the reserve is to provide an urban open space that is socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable, accessible, and a place for people to connect with nature and embrace the importance of urban green spaces.

The reserve hosts school and scout groups, and its six walking trails, cycling routes, picnic area, and bird hides are very popular. The successful operation of the reserve is a result of strong partnerships that allow for all of these activities to run concurrently. The Endangered Wildlife Trust assists landowners to rehabilitate disturbed and transformed areas, and monitor progress as per an Environmental Management Plan, adapting management interventions as needed to restore the reserve’s ecological functioning.

Last update: 30 Oct 2020

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Context

Challenges addressed

Loss of Biodiversity

Shift of seasons

Wildfires

Conflicting uses / cumulative impacts

Erosion

Ecosystem loss

Invasive species

Poaching

Pollution (incl. eutrophication and litter)

Scale of implementation

Local

Ecosystems

Temperate grassland, savanna, shrubland

Green spaces (parks, gardens, urban forests)

Urban wetlands

Theme

Habitat fragmentation and degradation

Invasive alien species

Species management

Poaching and environmental crime

Adaptation

Connectivity / transboundary conservation

Ecosystem services

Erosion prevention

Restoration

Protected and conserved areas governance

Cities and infrastructure

Local actors

Land management

Protected and conserved areas management planning

Terrestrial spatial planning

Urban planning

Outreach & communications

Science and research

Location

Modderfontein, 1609, Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

East and South Africa

Impacts

Within the Modderfontein Reserve, there are several habitat types, including open water bodies, wetlands, rocky outcrops, stands of exotic trees, and a variety of different grasslands. The reserve is also relatively high in the catchment area of the Modderfontein Spruit, providing connectivity to other urban open spaces. The reserve’s long list of recorded bird species can be attributed both to the availability of diverse habitats within the boundaries of the reserve, and the connection to those outside of them.

The reserve provides a critical green pocket in Gauteng that delivers ecosystem services in the forms of carbon sequestration and provision of oxygen, flood attenuation and social services through activities like Parkrun, picnicking, walking trails and mountain biking. The reserve also has heritage significance and sentimental value to the local community and is useful as an environmental education hub.