Angola has designated Lisima Lya Mwono as its first Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention - an important step for protecting the Okavango Delta, Botswana’s most popular and internationally renowned tourism destination.
Listed as Ramsar Site No. 2584, Lisima Lya Mwono covers over 53,000 km² in Angola’s central and southeastern highlands within the Zambezi biogeographical region. The wetland forms a critical watershed, feeding river systems that sustain the Okavango Delta and the Zambezi Floodplain. Safeguarding this upstream source is essential to maintaining the Delta's seasonal floods, biodiversity, and tourism value.
The site’s deep sandy soils naturally filter rainfall into clear, low-mineral streams, supporting vast Miombo woodlands and peatlands across a wider area of more than 110,000 km². Lisima Lya Mwono hosts exceptional biodiversity, including the endangered Genlisea angolensis, as well as cheetah, lion, African wild dog, and the critically endangered giant sable antelope.
Its freshwater systems support over 18 endemic or near-endemic fish species and provide an important spawning area for African tigerfish—a species closely linked to the Okavango.
While Ramsar designation strengthens protection, water abstraction and poorly defined development remain potential threats. The announcement highlights a key reality: the long-term health of the Okavango Delta begins with protecting its Angolan source waters.
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