Friends of the Rivers of Hout Bay
COMMUNITY RIVER GUARDIANS
Over the past decades the wetlands, estuaries, and rivers of Hout Bay, Cape Town, have faced mounting challenges from pollution, invasive species, and neglect. Friends of the Rivers of Hout Bay is a dedicated community organisation determined to restore and protect the rivers of the Hout Bay valley through a combination of conservation, rehabilitation, and combatting pollution.
They are currently rehabilitating the lower Kadot River by removing alien invasive species and providing erosion mitigation, and have also restored the Baviaanskloof Catchment to being close to invasive-free. Revitalising these important habitats is a boon in this Cape Floristic Region, the smallest, but also most diverse, plant kingdom in the world. In addition to documenting biodiversity, establishing no-mow zones, and propagating indigenous palmiet plants, they maintain wetland areas and a butterfly garden to support biodiversity in the heart of Hout Bay.
Through their bi-weekly litter clean-ups they have collected over 30,000 kg of waste from rivers, river corridors, wetland paths and beaches, and work closely with the municipality to advocate better sewage and sanitation management. Find out more on their website and follow them on Facebook.

