Mkambati Nature Reserve Becomes Eastern Cape's First Ramsar Wetland Site
Mkambati Nature Reserve on the Wild Coast has been officially designated as South Africa's first Ramsar site in the Eastern Cape, recognising the reserve's wetlands for their unique ecological, cultural, and socio-economic values. The announcement was made by Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh, who described the designation as a significant achievement for both conservation and international collaboration. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, established in 1975, is the world's first international treaty dedicated to wetland conservation, and Mkambati's inclusion on the list reflects findings that its waters remain exceptionally clean and its wetlands in optimal condition - a rare status given the widespread degradation of wetland ecosystems across South Africa. The reserve, which features rare swamp forests, multiple estuaries, and waterfalls that cascade directly into the sea, is home to species found nowhere else on Earth.
Singh acknowledged that wetlands and estuaries are among the most threatened and least protected ecosystems in the country, and announced that R17 million will be allocated to improving infrastructure and visitor access within Mkambati, strengthening its potential for sustainable tourism and community engagement. The government's Environmental Programmes have already restored 1,467 hectares across 37 wetlands in the Eastern Cape. The designation also aligns with the Wild Coast Conservation and Development Initiative, a collaborative effort to integrate conservation with local economic development. Official Ramsar site certificates were received from the Ramsar Secretariat in Switzerland earlier this year, with the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency and local community stakeholders credited for their ongoing stewardship and collaboration.
Source: IOL News
