4th BMP Workshop for the Tradouw redfin

This past week, the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy hosted the 4th Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) workshop focused on conserving the endemic, Critically Endangered Tradouw redfin (Pseudobarbus burchelli). The Tradouw redfin habitat is limited to just 40 km² within the Tradouw and Huis catchments. This species serves as a key indicator of the river system's ecological health and is highly vulnerable to environmental changes, including water scarcity, habitat degradation, and the presence of invasive species.

A Biodiversity Management Plan for a Species (BMP-S) is a formal conservation plan developed under South African law (specifically the Biodiversity Act, 2004) to help protect and recover endangered species and their habitats. It brings together all the important people and organisations involved—like government departments, local municipalities, scientists, landowners, and communities—to agree on clear goals and actions to help save a species.

Although this project was initially funded to develop a Species Action Plan for the Tradouw redfin, we are choosing to develop a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) because it offers stronger and more lasting benefits. A BMP follows a similar process to a Species Action Plan but goes further—it becomes a recognised document under South African law, supporting more formal commitment from all responsible parties.

Importantly, a BMP can unlock additional conservation benefits, such as tax incentives for landowners who help protect the species and its habitat. This can play a vital role in building long-term support for redfin conservation. The project is supported by the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN), the WWF Nedbank Green Fund, and the IUCN Save Our Species (SOS) programme.
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The main aim of this workshop was to define clear actions and responsibilities that form the focus of the BMP. These actions include managing habitats more effectively, increasing community awareness, controlling invasive species, and strengthening long-term water resource monitoring. All discussions focused on ensuring that our conservation strategies meet both the ecological needs of the species and the water security needs of the local Barrydale community 

We were joined by key stakeholders and specialists, that now form part of the Working Group for the Tradouw Redfin BMP, including:
·        Department of Agriculture
·        Swellendam Municipality
·        CapeNature
·        Western Cape Government Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP)
·        Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR)
·        WWF Freshwater Programme
·        Freshwater Research Centre
·        Breede-Olifants Catchment Management Agency

Working Group seeing the newly installed water flow measurements

To ground the discussions, we also spent time in the field, visiting key sites around Barrydale. These visits included site assessments and measurements to guide our future work and understand current conditions on the ground.
With mounting pressure on freshwater systems, partnerships like these are crucial. This 4th workshop was not just a reflection on progress, but it was also an opportunity to recommit to protecting the unique freshwater biodiversity of the Huis-Tradouw system.
In the coming months, we will be continuing our monitoring and engage further with stakeholders and the public on the challenges facing the species survival. We look forward to hearing from the public, learning together, and sharing more information about the Tradouw redfin and the strategies needed to protect it.

​To learn more about the Tradouw redfin kindly click on the following blogs:
Biodiversity Management Plan for the Tradouw redfin
Monitoring the TRADOUW redfin: A Concerning Decline