A Journey to Limpopo Wetlands
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM STATE OF WETLANDS IN THE LIMPOPO PROVINCE Directorate: Biodiversity Management C/o Suid & Voortrekker Street, POLOKWANE, 0700, Private Bag X9484, POLOKWANE, 0700 Tel: (015) 293 8300, Fax: (015) 295 4120 Website: http/www.limpopo.gov.za 1. Introduction Ramsar Convention on wetlands conservation and wise use was adopted in Ramsar city, Iran in 1971 as contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world. Ramsar Convention also works hand in hand with other convention such as Convention on biological diversity and other related organizations. As contracting party (country member) of Ramsar convention South Africa had designated about 12 wetlands as Ramsar site or site of international importance. Nysvley Nature Reserve and Makuleke floodplain are the two Ramsar sites in the Limpopo Province. According to Ramsar Convention wetlands are area of marshes, fen, peatland, wet grassland, lakes, estuaries, mangroves and coral reefs, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres. Wetlands have different names following the four dominant languages in the Limpopo province, nhlangasi (in Tsonga), Mohlaka or Monyuka (in Pedi) Maroroma or Matzhava (in Venda) and Vlei (in Afrikaans) Conservation, wise use and management of wetlands requires partnership of relevant government departments (e.g. Agriculture, Water Affairs and Forestry, Environmental Affairs and Tourism), local authorities (Municipalities and traditional), Non-governmental organizations (e.g. Working for Wetland, Mondi wetlands project) and other relevant research institutions. As a results wetland stakeholders in the Limpopo Province network and interact through the Limpopo wetlands Forum which is informally coordinated and chaired by SANBI (Working for Wetland) World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2nd of February throughout South Africa and international community.
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