Possibly the most important factor in the conservation of
South African wetlands is South Africa’s participation as a founding member of
the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (it was the fifth contracting party as early
as 1975). To meet its Ramsar obligations and to promote the conservation of
wetlands throughout southern Africa, the country implemented the South African
Wetlands Conservation Programme.
There were 20 sites designated as Wetlands of
International Importance in South Africa during the year 2012, with a total
surface area of 553,178 hectares. The uMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve was designated
as a Ramsar site in March 2013, this increased the total number of Ramsar sites
in South Africa to 21 with a total surface area of 554, 136 hectares.
On 2 Feb 2015 the False Bay Nature Reserve was declared a
Wetland of International Importance and received Ramsar status, bringing the
number of Ramsar Wetlands in South Africa to 22.
The Bot-Kleinmond Estuarine System became South Africa's 23rd Wetland of International Importance on 30 March 2017. It is located in the Western Cape province near the town of Hermanus.
The Bot-Kleinmond Estuarine System became South Africa's 23rd Wetland of International Importance on 30 March 2017. It is located in the Western Cape province near the town of Hermanus.
Below is the complete list of Ramsar wetlands in South
Africa. Links are supplied to reports of the specific wetlands that we have
already visited:
Barberspan, North
West
De Hoop Vlei,
Western Cape
De Mond, Western
Cape
False Bay Nature Reserve,
Western Cape
Kosi Bay,
KwaZulu-Natal
Lake Sibaya,
KwaZulu-Natal
Langebaan, Western
Cape
Makuleke Wetlands,
Limpopo
Natal Drakensberg Park, KwaZulu-Natal
Ndumo Game Reserve,
KwaZulu-Natal
Ntsikeni Nature Reserve,
KwaZulu-Natal
Nylsvley Nature Reserve,
Limpopo
Orange River Mouth,
Northern Cape
Prince Edward Islands,
Western Cape
Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve, Free State
St Lucia System,
KwaZulu-Natal
Turtle Beaches/Coral Reefs of Tongoland, KwaZulu-Natal
uMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Verloren Valei Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga
Verlorenvlei,
Western Cape
Wilderness Lakes,
Western Cape