Ingula Nature Reserve designated as South Africa’s 27th Ramsar Site
The Ingula Nature Reserve in South Africa has been declared a Wetland of International Importance ("Ramsar Site") by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar Convention. This addition brings the number of South Africa's Ramsar Sites to 27 covering a surface area of 571,089 hectares.
The Ingula Nature Reserve sits along the northernmost part of the Drakensberg mountain range, between Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. It lies between 1,260 and 1,900 metres above sea level, and mainly consists of dry grassy plains – which are partly cultivated and irrigated – interspersed with extensive wetlands. The Ingula Nature Reserve is home to over 300 bird species, of which 24 are threatened, 34 mammal species, including 11 carnivores and 10 antelope species, as well as 69 butterflies and 29 reptiles.
The Convention on Wetlands/Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories.
Annotated List of Wetlands of International Importance/Ramsar Sites inSouth Africa:
- Barberspan
- Blesbokspruit
- Bot - Kleinmond Estuarine System
- Dassen Island Nature Reserve
- De Hoop Vlei
- De Mond
- Dyer Island Provincial Nature Reserve and Geyser Island Provincial Nature Reserve
- False Bay Nature Reserve
- Ingula Nature Reserve
- Kgaswane Mountain Reserve
- Kosi Bay
- Lake Sibaya
- Langebaan
- Makuleke Wetlands
- Natal Drakensberg Park
- Ndumo Game Reserve
- Ntsikeni Nature Reserve
- Nylsvley Nature Reserve
- Orange River Mouth
- Prince Edward Islands
- Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve
- St. Lucia System
- Turtle Beaches/Coral Reefs of Tongaland
- uMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve
- Verloren Valei Nature Reserve
- Verlorenvlei
- Wilderness Lakes
