SOUTH AFRICA: Twenty Second Ramsar Site For South Africa

South Africa’s False Bay Nature Reserve has been designated as a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site no. 2219). It is the twenty second Ramsar Site in South Africa.

The False Bay Nature Reserve is a unique area on the Cape Flats, situated between False Bay and Table Bay, consisting of about 50% permanent wetland and 49% terrestrial vegetation including the critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos and Cape Flats Dune Strandveld and some sand beaches. The False Bay Nature Reserve contains two lakes, of which Rondevlei is a protected area reserve while Zeekoevlei is a residential area and a popular yachting, canoeing and wind-surfing venue. Both lakes support large populations of waterbirds including pelicans and flamingoes.

Serving as a reservoir of biodiversity, the Site supports important populations of mammals including the hippopotamus, cape clawless otter and water mongoose. About 256 species of indigenous plants grow on the Site including two endemic plant species currently listed as extinct in the wild, namely Erica turgida and Erica verticillata (Cape Flats erica).

The False Bay Nature Reserve is home to over 60% of the bird species in the South-western Cape (228 species) with notable examples including the little stint, ruff, pied avocet, common tern, greater flamingo, and the great white pelican.