The Marico Biosphere Reserve, located in South Africa's North West Province, has been added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by the members of UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) Council. The official announcement for the inclusion of the area was made at the 30th International Coordinating Council sessions of Man and Biosphere Programme in Indonesia (23 - 28 July 2018). South Africa's 10th UNESCO Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 447 268.48 ha and comprises a unique freshwater ecosystem which includes the Molemane, Molopo and Marico river systems. It is home to 73 species of mammal such as African elephants, black rhinoceros and lions. The main economic activities are subsistence agriculture, livestock, game ranching and tourism.
Showing posts with label Biosphere Reserve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Biosphere Reserve. Show all posts
08 August 2018
12 June 2015
South Africa welcomes the designation of two new Biosphere Reserves!
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on 09 June 2015 approved the designation of the Magaliesberg and Gouritz Cluster ecosystems as Biosphere Reserves.
Biosphere Reserves are sites of terrestrial and marine ecosystems designated under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme, where people share a sustainable way of living with nature and innovative practices are tested in co-operation with local inhabitants with the aim of reconciling conservation of biodiversity with sustainable utilisation. The zone includes strictly protected areas at the core, which are typically surrounded by buffer zones where conservation is emphasised, but where people also live and work.
The Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve covers approximately 360 000 ha and is located between the Pretoria and Johannesburg in the east and Rustenburg in the west, with approximately 262 000 people living within the designated area. In addition, the area is endowed with scenic beauty, unique natural features, rich cultural heritage value. It is also of high archaeological interest as it includes the Cradle of Humankind, which is part of the Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa World Heritage Site with 4 million years of history. The area contains rich floral biodiversity, a number of faunal species, and over 45% of the total bird species of Southern Africa.
The second newly designated Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve area covers an area of more than three million hectares and straddles the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces. The area is globally unique as it is the only area in the world where three recognised biodiversity hotspots - the Fynbos, Succulent Karoo and Maputoland-Tongoland-Albany hotspots - converge.
The entire biosphere domain falls within the Cape Floristic Kingdom which is the smallest, but one of the richest of the six floral kingdoms in the world, and the only one found entirely within the boundaries of one country. This Reserve is home to high levels of endemic plant species, threatened invertebrates and butterfly species. It provides a migratory route for large mammals and serves as a nursery for marine species. Due to its immense historical significance, the biosphere reserve includes three components of the internationally renowned Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage Site. (via environment.gov.za)
Existing Biosphere Reserves in South Africa are:
Biosphere Reserves are sites of terrestrial and marine ecosystems designated under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme, where people share a sustainable way of living with nature and innovative practices are tested in co-operation with local inhabitants with the aim of reconciling conservation of biodiversity with sustainable utilisation. The zone includes strictly protected areas at the core, which are typically surrounded by buffer zones where conservation is emphasised, but where people also live and work.
The Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve covers approximately 360 000 ha and is located between the Pretoria and Johannesburg in the east and Rustenburg in the west, with approximately 262 000 people living within the designated area. In addition, the area is endowed with scenic beauty, unique natural features, rich cultural heritage value. It is also of high archaeological interest as it includes the Cradle of Humankind, which is part of the Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa World Heritage Site with 4 million years of history. The area contains rich floral biodiversity, a number of faunal species, and over 45% of the total bird species of Southern Africa.
The second newly designated Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve area covers an area of more than three million hectares and straddles the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces. The area is globally unique as it is the only area in the world where three recognised biodiversity hotspots - the Fynbos, Succulent Karoo and Maputoland-Tongoland-Albany hotspots - converge.
The entire biosphere domain falls within the Cape Floristic Kingdom which is the smallest, but one of the richest of the six floral kingdoms in the world, and the only one found entirely within the boundaries of one country. This Reserve is home to high levels of endemic plant species, threatened invertebrates and butterfly species. It provides a migratory route for large mammals and serves as a nursery for marine species. Due to its immense historical significance, the biosphere reserve includes three components of the internationally renowned Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage Site. (via environment.gov.za)
Existing Biosphere Reserves in South Africa are:
- Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve (Western Cape Province, designated 1998)
- Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve (Western Cape Province, designated 2000)
- Waterberg Biosphere Reserve (Limpopo Province, designated 2001)
- Kruger-to-Canyons Biosphere Reserve (Limpopo Province and Mpumalanga, designated 2001)
- Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (Western Cape Province, designated 2007)
- Vhembe Biosphere Reserve (Limpopo Province, designated May 2009)
28 May 2009
New Biosphere Reserve in South Africa - Vhembe
International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC) just added 22 new sites from 17 countries to the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) which now counts 553 sites in 107 countries. One of the new reserves is in South Africa.
Vhembe, South Afica is world renowned for its rich cultural and biological diversity. It includes northern part of the Kruger National Park, Makuleke Wetlands Ramsar Site, the Soutpansberg and Blouberg bio-diversity hot spots, as well as the Mapungube Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site and the Makgabeng Plateau with more than 1000 rock art sites. Human activities in the site are predominately agricultural, including production of subtropical fruits and vegetables, cattle and game farming and hunting. The Venda, Shangaan and Sepedi people, who are the main population group in the area, have a rich history of traditional indigenous knowledge ranging from wood carving and drum making to traditional healing. [src]
Vhembe, South Afica is world renowned for its rich cultural and biological diversity. It includes northern part of the Kruger National Park, Makuleke Wetlands Ramsar Site, the Soutpansberg and Blouberg bio-diversity hot spots, as well as the Mapungube Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site and the Makgabeng Plateau with more than 1000 rock art sites. Human activities in the site are predominately agricultural, including production of subtropical fruits and vegetables, cattle and game farming and hunting. The Venda, Shangaan and Sepedi people, who are the main population group in the area, have a rich history of traditional indigenous knowledge ranging from wood carving and drum making to traditional healing. [src]
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