De Berg Nature Reserve, another one of South Africa’s wonderful wetland hotspots, now has the world’s caring eyes on it after being named a site of International Importance:
De Berg Nature Reserve (05 February 2024)—On 2 February last week, World Wetlands Day was celebrated as an ode to the world’s wetlands and their unsung importance in the health of habitats and humans.
Wetlands can sometimes get overlooked in comparison to other areas of environmental focus, like our oceans and marine ecosystems. But, as United Nations Environment Programme Director Inger Andersen indicates regarding the importance of wetlands, “our wellbeing depends on these amazing, vital and absolutely phenomenal systems.”
Wetlands mean water. Life. Reflections of the health of the ecosystems that depend on them. And if we are to take care of our planet as best as possible, wetland conservation needs to be a bigger part of the conversation.
On World Wetlands Day, South Africa announced some good news for the wetlands of our country. Additionally, one of our nature reserves was declared as a Wetland of International Importance, making it South Africa’s 30th Ramsar site.
Ramsar sites reflect areas of focus in line with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty striving to conserve the world’s wetlands. Being recognised as a Wetland of International Importance is a big deal, both for what this means when it comes to opportunities for more international support, and as a signal of our country’s natural treasures being highly regarded for their environmental significance.
De Berg Nature Reserve was added to the tally for its big role in biodiversity. Situated in Mpumalanga, it has an elevation of more than 2300 metres (above sea level) and has “the highest altitude wetlands” in the province as the Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment (DFFE) shares.
“The Ramsar site, which is a biodiversity hotspot, not only supports numerous pristine headwater wetlands but also supports numerous threatened, critically endangered, and vulnerable species of plants and animals,” shares the Department.
“This site also has 18 species of frogs, 71 reptile species, 432 bird species and a 120 mammal species, including Vandam’s girdled lizard (Smaug vandami), various crane species such as blue crane and grey-crowned crane and mountain reedbuck. Many of these species are also rare and vulnerable species and include flocks of up to 30 of the vulnerable Southern Bald Ibis which roosts on the cliffs above Ibis Falls, one of 10 iconic waterfalls which can be found at the site,” it adds.
Of positive news for wetland rehabilitation in South Africa, R1.4 billion has reportedly been invested into the work by the DFFE, through the Working for Wetlands Programme. This has also created over 43,600 jobs.
Considering South Africa has 30 wetlands of International Importance, what rings loud and clear is that we have a lot to be proud of, but also a lot to protect.
Sources: Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment
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