27 May, 2006

Fynbos Fynmense ...

You may wonder about the word 'Fynmense' in the URL.

Cape Action for People and the Environment (C.A.P.E.) is a GEF funded Bioregional programme aiming to improve biodiversity management in the Cape Floristic Region (In the South Western Cape Province of South Africa - capital city Cape Town, symbol Table Mountain).


The CFR is a biodiversity hotspot of global significance. The dominant vegetation of the region is a dwarf shrubland known as Fynbos. Fynbos is an Afrikaans word that translates directly as 'fine bush'. This is a reference to the fine sclerophyllous leaves that reduce transpiration during the hot dry summers of the region.

Fynmense translates directly as 'Fine People'. The C.A.P.E. programme has adopted the phrase 'Fynbos Fynmense' as a symbol of the link between our special biodiversity hotspot and the fine people who live in the region and whose livelihoods and lifestyles are enhanced by their concern and involvement in caring for our unique natural environment.



Our two other bioregional programmes are SKEP the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Programme. Our Succulent Karoo has 4 times the biodiversity of any other arid zone worldwide



and STEP the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Project