A water wonderland in Western Cape

Berg Estuary declared a wetland of international importance

The Berg Estuary in the Western Cape was recently declared SA’s 28th Ramsar site under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

“The declaration of SA’s 28th Ramsar site is an indication of the importance of conserving and protecting these unique environments that are considered super ecosystems because of their contribution to the provision of water, and because they provide habitats to a large variety of migratory birds, especially water birds,” said the minister of forestry, fisheries & the environment, Barbara Creecy.

The Berg Estuary, which is one of 290 estuaries in the country, is the second wetland of international importance to be declared in the country in two years. In 2021, the Ingula Nature Reserve in the northern Drakensberg was declared the country’s 27th Ramsar site.

Situated at Velddrif, close to St Helena Bay where the Berg River flows into the sea, this estuary spans 1,162ha.

The West Coast fishing village is situated in the Bergrivier local municipality.

The Berg River forms one of only four estuaries on the west coast of southern Africa that always have water. This is in addition to the main estuarine channel, which is a floodplain encompassing five major wetland types, all of importance to 250 species of waterbirds.

The Berg Estuary, in particular, contributes about 60% of the estuarine habitat on the West Coast and is therefore vitally important to the biodiversity, cultural and economic activities it supports.

Despite their significance to human life, wetlands are threatened nationally and globally. The 2018 National Biodiversity Assessment found that at least 79% of SA’s wetland ecosystems are threatened. Of these, 48% of wetland ecosystem types are critically endangered, 12% are endangered, 5% are vulnerable, and 35% are least threatened, making wetlands the most threatened ecosystems of all in the country. More than 70% of SA’s wetland ecosystem types have no protection and only 11% are well protected.

By addressing threats to the productive use of land and water, and the functioning of natural systems, SA will not only support sustainable livelihoods for local people, but secure strategic water resources and wetlands, said Creecy.

By building a new deal for people and nature, work is being done to secure strategic water sources and wetlands in SA, a water-scarce country. These important areas supply water that sustains 60% of the population, more than 90% of urban water users, 67% of national economic activity and 70% of irrigated agriculture.

At least 79% of SA’s wetland ecosystems are threatened

DFFE STOCK IMAGES / Estuaries supply water that sustains 60% of the country’s population, more than 90% of urban water users, 67% of national economic activity and 70% of irrigated agriculture.

/ DFFE STOCK IMAGES Despite their significance to human life, wetlands are threatened nationally and globally. The 2018 National Biodiversity Assessment found that at least 79% of SA’s wetland ecosystems are threatened.

/ DFFE STOCK IMAGES Major threats to these freshwater systems include over-extraction of water, pollution, invasive alien species, habitat loss, land-use change and climate change.

/DFFE STOCK IMAGES Wetlands are considered super-ecosystems because of their contribution to the provision of water and habitats to a large variety of migratory birds, especially water birds.