What we do

To achieve our vision, BWI has two goals:

1.Conserving natural areas of outstanding conservation value.

This conservation goal is achieved by assisting wine producers to set aside highly threatened natural areas on their farms. These ‘set asides’ or conservation stewardship areas can include:

• Critically endangered or endangered veld types or species;  
• Natural corridors that re-connect threatened areas and link remaining natural fragments within farms and between farms. This way we can protect the last remaining ‘stepping stones’ of natural habitat in our Cape Winelands.

2. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices to maintain living and productive landscapes.

Our benchmark of sustainable agricultural production ensures the effective management of all the natural resources and systems that underpin the production of our wines. This includes sound management of our soil and water resources as vital components of a healthy and productive agricultural system.

Emphasis is placed on the control and eradication of alien invasive plant species as a key measure towards the rehabilitation and protection of our river and wetland systems. Another key measure is the development of comprehensive farm management plans, including the management of natural areas and systems beyond the vineyard and cellar.

The BWI team provides extension support to participating producers in understanding and implementing the Biodiversity Guidelines in each specific farm's context.

These guidelines emphasize the sound management of our water catchment areas. This is achieved by protecting our soil and water resources and by addressing key impacts on these resources, including:

• the management of alien invasive plants species;

• guarding against the too-frequent fires within these systems;

• halting the ongoing destruction and pollution of our wetland and river systems.

The BWI enlists interested wine producers as Members or Champions and assists them in identifying relevant conservation ‘set asides’ and in developing farm-specific management plans. These plans outline the necessary management activities required to implement the Biodiversity Guidelines, which now form part of the guidelines for sustainable wine production provided by the industry's Integrated Production of Wine Scheme (IPW).

Participating producers are encouraged to incorporate their biodiversity journey into their winery experience and marketing initiatives to generate further awareness and support for the conservation of our unique winelands.