NEW NATURE CONSERVATION DECLARATIONS

The Western Cape has added 47 000 hectares to its conservation estate through the declaration of two new nature reserves and the expansion of two others. This expansion in protected areas provides space for Cape mountain zebras to breed and improves the protection of many threatened succulent plants, mammals and bird species across the province.

The declarations have increased the size of two existing nature reserves, Anysberg in the Karoo and Knersvlakte in Namaqualand. The two new areas are Waterkloof near Ladismith and Zebraskop in the Klein Karoo. All four declarations were made possible  with land purchased by WWF South Africa using funds raised through the Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust and other sources.

Together, these properties improve ecological integrity and enhance landscape connectivity. The latter creates vital corridors that allow wildlife to move more freely between protected areas. The declarations also count towards South Africa’s ambition of conserving 30% of land and marine areas by 2030 – a conservation goal set out by the UN.

www.wwf.org.za