On the southwestern coast of south africa, the cape west coast biosphere reserve includes ecosystems such as coastal plains and marine areas and diverse, fynbosrich areas as well as wetlands. These programs fulfil for us a critical role essential to all biospheres around the world. Unesco members voted in favour of the inclusion of the garden route as a biosphere reserve at a. Status of biosphere reserves in south africa biodiversity advisor. To pass the challenge to implement biosphere reserves even in southern africa, this region has been prioritized on the afrimab bureau meeting in 2011 that bfn supported.
The biosphere reserve model is a global designation in accordance with unescos man and the biosphere programme. Island and coastal biosphere reserves hosted by the gouritz cluster biosphere reserve in south africa 2. The waterberg is a mountainous massif of approximately 654,033 hectare in north limpopo province, south africa. Explanation a biosphere reserve is an area that has been designated by the unesco united national educational, scientific and cultural organization to demonstrate innovative approaches to living and working in harmony with nature. Erasmus school of animal, plant and environmental sciences, university of the witwatersrand, wits, johannesburg, 2050, south africa abstract. The magaliesberg biosphere is 360 000 hectares, and extends approximately 120 km west to east across the boundary of the north west and gauteng provinces of south africa, spanning the magaliesberg mountains between the cities of rustenburg in the west and pretoria in the east. Biosphere expeditions faqs about our international.
South africas coal reserves have been significantly reduced since 2003 and a reassessment based on the complete statistical history of production from southern africa has indicated that the present. The ecosystem can be characterised as a dry deciduous forest or bushveld. The united nations cultural body unesco has added 20 new sites to its network of protected biosphere nature reserves, including two in canada and two in portugal. Developing sustainability indicators for the kogelberg and cape west coast biosphere reserves, south africa by colin michael tucker thesis presented for the partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of science in the faculty of agrisciences at stellenbosch university march 20 supervisor. Biosphere reserves regions sustainable development. The area consists of low mountain ranges and escarpments with poor soils and a relatively low level of economic activity. World network of biosphere reserves in africa wikipedia.
Although the terms wildlife sanctuary, national park and biosphere reserve are often used interchangeably, they are actually descending orders of conservation. Unescos man and biosphere programme is at gouritz cluster biosphere reserve. This south african strategy for the biosphere reserve programme 2016 2020 the strategy has been developed through an extensive consultative, participatory and collaborative process with key biosphere reserve programme roleplayers and stakeholders in south africa. Every biosphere reserve has a pristine core area where no urban development is allowed source. South african biosphere reserves kogelberg biosphere reserve. Rhino poaching in south africa family safari south africa. Millions of people in the surrounding regions are dependant on these ecosystem. All biosphere reserves form part of the world network of biosphere reserves wnbr vision for south africa. The unesco world network of biosphere reserves wnbr covers internationally designated protected areas, each known as biosphere reserves, that are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature e. Apr 20, 2020 the gouritz cluster biosphere reserve gcbr is a voluntary citizens initiative dedicated to the conservation of its regions biodiversity, tied to the socioeconomic development for the wellbeing of its peoples. The biosphere reserves as model regions for antipoaching in africa brapa project will pilot approaches to counter the twin threats of poaching for subsistence and the illegal trade of vertebrate species in all of subsaharan africas biosphere reserves. Developing sustainability indicators for the kogelberg and.
Maps produced using maps n facts, the learning company software this schematic map is presented with the sole aim of indicating the approximate location of the biosphere reserve. At present new biosphere reserves get selected in an ad hoc way by groups of people convinced about the added value of the mab programme. South africa has the most unesco biosphere reserves on the continent 2 weeks ago 1 min read just 40 kilometres from cape town, the kogelberg biosphere reserve is south africas oldest biosphere reserve, and was first designated in 1998. Its conservation function is to protect those genetic resources. Just 40 kilometres from cape town, the kogelberg biosphere reserve is south africas oldest biosphere reserve, and was first designated in 1998. Biosphere reserves are areas identified either on terrestrial or marine ecosystems or both that are internationally recognized under the framework of unescos man and biosphere mab programme. This manual focuses on how to engage communities and stakeholders into the management of biosphere reserves across the continent. Towards a governance model for a biosphere mega reserve in south africa international journal of research in tourism and hospitality ijrth page3 suggest that a biosphere is a better and more appropriate mechanism for encouraging cooperation within a conservation domain nordin, 2003. Pdf criteria for selection and evaluation of biosphere. Only individual biosphere reserves, including in ethiopia and south africa, have strong participatory structures for planning and management. It is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or other special interest. Wildlife sanctuaries catagory ia and ib a wildlife sanctuary is a place of refuge whe.
Waterberg united nations educational, scientific and. South africa has the most unesco biosphere reserves on the. Illustration of the application of ecosystem services as a management tool through the use of gis. Towards a governance model for a biosphere mega reserve in. South africa signed up to the international mab programme in 1998 and the first biosphere reserve, kogelberg was established in the same year. Located in the north of the country, this biosphere reserve comprises a unique freshwater ecosystem which includes the molemane, molopo and marico river systems. Listing application for sa government mab country representative through north west province.
Magaliesberg united nations educational, scientific and. Pages in category biosphere reserves of south africa the following 8 pages are in this category, out of 8 total. Vaalwater town is located just north of the mountain range. The extensive rock formation was shaped by hundreds of millions of years of riverine erosion to yield diverse bluff and butte landform. The core of the study site is the blue hill nature reserve, a 2,300 ha capenature stewardship nature reserve with mountains ranging from 1,000 to just under 2,000 m and under the care of the lee family trust. Biosphere reserves in south africa karen steenkamp department of economic development, environment and tourism, limpopo province south africa. Charles basson, a man from south africa, has got a great respect for nature and a burning desire to help his people. Promoting sustainable development through biosphere. A history of the unesco man and the biosphere programme in south africa. Pdf the scientific value of unesco biosphere reserves. South africa s highveld is an enormous central plateau consisting of free state and great tracts of the northern cape and mpumalanga.
This region of immense beauty from 20 m to 1 860 m elevation above sea level. The cape winelands biosphere reserve is bordered in the south by the kogelberg biosphere reserve, and extends northwards to the cape fold belt mountain chain and the neighbouring valleys of the winelands. So far, only malawi, south africa and zimbabwe established biosphere reserves got reached. All of them are open to everyone, there are no special skills or level of fitness required to join and there are no age limits whatsoever. Towards a governance model for a biosphere mega reserve. The university of venda based south african research chair in biodiversity and change in the vhembe biosphere reserve is a vibrant hub for biodiversity science, training and conservation application in the southern african development community a body of established and emerging researchers, postgraduate and postdoctoral candidates. Limpopo contains much of the waterberg biosphere, a massif of approximately 15,000 km 2 5,800 sq mi which is the first region in the northern part of south africa to be named a unesco biosphere reserve. An eduanimation produced by the south african mint outlining the unesco man and the biosphere concept in a south african context. Biosphere reserves as model regions for antipoaching in. Action approach to land and biodiversity management. Governed by members, it is a registered nonprofit company with the tax status of a public benefit organisation. Madrid action plan 7 reserves, carbon can be sequestered as in forest and wetland systems. A new map of the world network of biosphere reserves shows the current distribution of all biosphere reserves around the world, including the 23 new sites that were added to the world network of biosphere reserves in 2017.
Struggles over conservation space global unesco, 981 world heritage sites national 8 world heritage sites in sa local isimangaliso wetland park iwp, south africas 1st unesco world heritage site 1999 1. The department of environmental affairs became the responsible entity dealing with unesco and mab and provides the platform for biosphere reserves to plug into the programme and the world network of. The proposed suite of biosphere reserve criteria for south africa has the potential to be of valuable assistance in selection processes for future e. Magaliesberg biosphere reserve implements sustainable. The waterberg biosphere reserve is situated in the bushveld district in the limpopo province of south africa. Status of biosphere reserves in south africa by tendamudzimu munyai. There are four main river catchment areas which provide water to an area of over 40,000km2. This magical part of south africa offers discoveries as diverse as its visitors fascinating people and places are all within easy reach. It is incredibly biodiverse, with habitats ranging from forest to savannah, grassland, thicket, karoo, desert and fynbos. The magaliesberg biosphere reserve is located in south africa between the cities of pretoria and johannesburg to the east and rustenburg to the west. Waterberg biosphere reserve south africa accommodation. The vhembe biosphere reserved is a proclaimed biosphere reserve of unesco. The biosphere reserve fraternity in south africa has had a number of. Below is the list of biosphere reserves in africa, organized by countryterritory, along with the year these were designated as part of the world network of biosphere reserves.
This network was launched in 2009 by unesco mab programme to foster sustainable development in islands and coastal areas and to promote adaptation and mitigation strategies on climate change. Mab programme in 1971, with its biosphere reserve concept instituted 5 years thereafter. Management manual for unesco biosphere reserves in africa. Coal mining industry in south africa the coal mining industry in south africa is an important component of the economy of south africa and is a significant global supplier of coal. It is a perfect example of an island mountain, called the soutpansberg, with high natural resources, surrounded by regions of lower resources. South africa has 10 designated biosphere reserves kogelberg, cape.
South african biospheres kruger to canyons biosphere region. The value of biosphere reserves to the south african protected area system south africa has a fragmented system of protected areas which pose an enormous management challenge in terms of an effective institutional and legislative framework to ensure the allocation of both financial and human resources for law enforcement and compliance. New map of the world network of biosphere reserves. South africa to use western port growing connections project as a case study. The cape winelands biosphere reserve cwbr, a nonprofit company, was registered in 2007 with unesco as south africas 5th biosphere reserve and covers 322 032 ha in the western cape winelands. Biosphere reserves are required to fulfil three functions as prescribed by unesco, namely conservation, sustainable development and logistic support. In a nutshell, biosphere expeditions is about conservation volunteering abroad and citizen science travel we have citizen science and wildlife conservation expeditions all over the world, as well as experience days and events. Implementation of unescos man and the biosphere programme in south africa background the world network of biosphere reserves wnbr currently comprises 686 biosphere reserves in 122 countries, with south africa home to 10 of these. The marico region has also been identified as an important water.
The proposed suite of biosphere reserve criteria for south africa has the potential to be of valuable assistance in selection processes for future effective and efficient biosphere reserves that. The average height of the mountain range is 600 m with a few peaks rising up to 2000 m above sea level. South africa has significant reserves of coal and mining is set to continue for the foreseeable future. Africa are randomly nominated, resulting in biosphere reserves that are not always optimally located. As in the case in other unesco publications, this map does not imply any opinion concerning the legal status of any. Debby thomson kruger to canyons biosphere region article type. The garden route biosphere reserve is located within the cape floristic region along the southern coast of south africa. A history of the unesco man and the biosphere programme in. One day, he got an idea to start a project of conserving as much water as he can. Welcome to the cape west coast biosphere reserve from 2000, the west coast stretching from the milnerton diep river in the south to the berg river in the north became a biosphere reserve. World network of island and coastal biosphere reserves home. Workplan development and priority areas the joint secretariats of jeju and menorca will continue cooperating with unesco in order to operate the network and to carry out the main activities contained in the workplan 2018.
The south african national biosphere reserve committee sa br. Hosted by the gouritz cluster biosphere reserve in south africa. Stretching from marakele national park in the south west to wonderkop nature reserve in the north east of limpopo, the reserve houses an immense treasure of archaeological, cultural, and biological diversity. The marico river is considered to be the only inland freeflowing river in south africa which is still in a natural condition. The area includes the tsitsikamma, goukamma and robberg marine protected areas, wilderness lakes ramsar site, garden route national park, the nelson bay cave, the langkloof valley and st. The vhembe biosphere reserve is situated in the limpopo province, in the far north of south africa. South africa added a sixth biosphere reserve to its tally when the vhembe region of limpopo province became one of 22 newly proclaimed by the united nations educational, scientific and. Why biosphere reserve in south africa they integrate fragmented spatial and nonspatial information of the area present an opportunity to prioritize the use of existing information to influence decision. Conservation initiatives resulted in the designation of south africa s largest biosphere reserve, the vhembe biosphere reserve, in 2009 poolstanvliet, 20. An assessment of the water quality and ecological status. Mab is is an intergovernmental scientific programme aiming to ensure harmonious coexistence of people with nature. Current status of br in south africa the following biosphere reserves are listed in south africa.
The use of diatoms as bioindicators shows a globally increasing trend kelly and whitton 1995, lenoir. Pdf travel guides tourism industry tourism industry. Water and the south african biosphere reserves eden to addo. South africa has six designated biosphere reserves with varying degrees of effectiveness. Magaliesberg is just one of hundreds of unesco designated biosphere reserves places where people and nature share a way of living that we can all be proud of. Garden route is now a biosphere reserve, says unesco. There are more than 90 biosphere reserves in africa, they often face challenges in involving stakeholders and the community as a whole in a goaloriented manner in management.
South africa is also very rich in wildlife, and is a favoured big five safari destination. Welcome to the world network of island and coastal biosphere reserves website. The cape west coast biosphere reserve natural beauty. The animation produced by thekinetic for breinstorm commemorates the launch of the south african unesco kogelberg biosphere reserve coin series. It has been developed in a participatory and consultative way reflectingthe rich insights and experience of key biosphere reserve roleplayers, many of whom have 20 years experience in contributing to and evolving the biosphere reserve programme in south africa. It was found that there are many similar challenges with regards to monitoring and evaluation in biosphere reserves, most notably the lack of capacity and funding lastly, the collaborative process used to develop sustainability indicators for the kogelberg and cape west coast biosphere reserves proved to be useful and produced the desired outcomes. South africas garden route had been included on a list of global biosphere reserves, said the united nations educational, scientific and cultural organization unesco. South africa is a member of mab icc, elected in october 20 and will. The reserve lies at the interface of two great african biomes the central grassland plateaux and the subsaharan savannah and the remnants of a third biome, the afro. It covers five local municipal areas blouberg, musina, makhado, thulamela and mutale and includes a portion of the kruger national park, specifically that area north of. Kogelberg 1998 cape west coast 2000 waterberg 2001 kruger to canyons 2001 cape winelands 2007 vhembe biosphere 2009 the following new initiatives are in various stages of development. We started assessing the current situation in 2010 and will be facilitating the public participation process, develop a management plan, and plan to submit the listing application to unesco via south africas man and biosphere country representative during 20. Waterberg biosphere reserve is situated within the waterberg district in the limpopo province of south africa. Unesco adds 20 new sites to list of biosphere reserves.
Apr 07, 2020 just 40 kilometres from cape town, the kogelberg biosphere reserve is south africas oldest biosphere reserve, and was first designated in 1998. Understanding decisionmaking at the ruralurban fringe. Waterberg savannah biosphere reserve, south africa journeys. A nature reserve may also be known as a natural reserve, wildlife refuge or sanctuary, biosphere reserve bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area. Located at the junction of botswana, south africa and zimbabwe figure 1, the mapungubwe cultural landscape is ideal for considering climatic shifts over the last years. Biosphere reserves wnbr and organised into regional networks in order to improve networking and collaboration. The majority of its 103,629 hectares is comprised of mountainous landscapes including high peals and deep valleys, but also includes coastal plains and 1,629 hectares of marine area. Pdf a history of the unesco man and the biosphere programme.
In 2018 there were 669 biosphere reserves globally in 120 countries south african biosphere reserves are recognised as special landscapes where socialecological land management is practised towards a more sustainable future for all. Pendjari 1986 w region 2002, together with burkina faso and niger mono river 2017, shared with togo burkina faso. Attributes for success chu van cuong a, c, peter dart b, marc hockings a a school of geography, planning and environmental management, the university of queensland, brisbane, qld, 4072, australia b school of agriculture and food sciences, the university of queensland, brisbane, qld, 4072, australia c tam dao national park. Feb 18, 2015 the kogelberg biosphere reserve, south africa. Man and the biosphere reserves mab programme department. The department of environmental affairs directorate. Magaliesberg biosphere home page magaliesberg biosphere. Orientation and background to paper background to limpopo province the brs of limpopo and examples of sustainable development.
Strictly speaking, the waterberg savannah biosphere lies north of the main plateau, and is in parts higher or lower, but it shares many of the northern highvelds. The ecosystem is characterized by wetlands and a dolomitic system, which constitute a valuable part of south africa s natural heritage. The scientific value of unesco biosphere reserves south african. Just an hour out of cape town at the southern tip of africa, lies an area of such natural beauty and floral diversity as to be recognized as perhaps worlds greatest biodiversity hotspot. Click here to submit your favourite cape town video. Rhino poaching in south africa rhino species there are two rhino species in africa. The waterberg, as the name implies, serves as a water reservoir for this arid region. Criteria for selection and evaluation of biosphere reserves.
12 1205 355 244 1635 500 290 1310 1643 228 356 224 1640 1246 450 935 1335 1393 598 1030 499 313 1496 1154 447 1080 1438 73 382 1667 37 554 876 1365 859 1064 247 678 1423 1004 810 70