The Kouga area provides 22% of Port Elizabeth's water supply. 98% is covered in natural vegetation but it loses almost 4% of its water to invasive alien trees.

The Kouga area is home to the high mountains of the Cape Fold belt formed by the Table Mountain sandstone, a huge aquifer system that extends from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. The Table Mountain Aquifer System, stores water underground and acts as one of nature's hidden dams.

• Land cover: 613km²
• 72% protected