Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI)

The BWI is a pioneering partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector.

The BWI is a pioneering partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector.

Nearly 95% of the country's wine-growing takes place in the Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK), the richest and also the smallest plant kingdom on the planet. Recognised both as a global biodiversity hotspot and a World Heritage site, it has come under increasing threat from agriculture, urban development and invasive alien species.

In 2004, faced with just 4% of the CFK's unique renosterveld remaining and much of its lowland fynbos ecosystems under threat, the wine industry developed a conservation partnership with the Botanical Society of South Africa, Conservation International and The Green Trust, which led to the establishment of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI). Widely praised as a pioneering partnership between the country's wine industry and conservation sector, its mandate is not only confined to protecting natural habitat. It also encourages wine producers to farm sustainably and express the advantages of the Cape's abundant diversity in their wines.

VISION

Our vision is to protect and conserve our unique natural heritage within the Cape Winelands - an outstanding place with iconic species whilst maintaining living, productive landscapes.

Notable successes
Over 126 000 hectares of natural area have been conserved by BWI producers in less than four years. This means that the South African wine industry's conservation footprint is well in excess of its current vineyard footprint of 102 000 hectares. For every hectare under vineyard, an additional hectare of natural vegetation is committed to conservation - and this figure continues to grow.

BWI has received global and national recognition for its leading business model that unites conservation and agricultural development in a complementary, mutually beneficial manner.

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