Nylsvlei RAMSAR Site

[Richprins]

The Nylsvlei is a 4 000 ha nature reserve lying to the East of the Waterberg between Modimolle (Nylstroom) and Mokgopong (Naboomspruit), this RAMSAR site is part of the Waterberg falls within the UNESCO Biosphere and is the largest inland floodplain in South Africa, covering an area of 16 000 ha when fully inundated, is managed by the Limpopo Conservation Authority.

The rich underlying geological formations are responsible for supporting the unique biodiversity of plant and animal life. 104 of the 365 bird species recorded in the Reserve are water birds, 87 are breeding and 8 red data listed species breed on the flood plain, which is most important as a nesting and feeding site for migratory birds. These water bird species visit and many breed during extensive flooding, which only occurs every three or four years.
SA Birding lists the following avifauna species as special:
Squacco Heron, Rufous-bellied Heron, Slaty Egret, Eurasian Bittern, Dwarf Bitten, Little Bittern, African Pygmy-Goose, Gallinule, Lesser Jacana, Striped Crake, Streaky-breasted Flufftail, Greater Painted-snipe, European Honey Buzzard, Western Marsh-Harrier, Ayres's Hawk-Eagle, Meyer's Parrot, Blue-cheeked Bee eater, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Black-winged Pratincole, Olive-tree Warbler, African Golden Oriole, Common Whitethroat and Tinkling Cisticola.

Herds of Zebra, Waterbuck, Wildebeest and magnificent Roan Antelope find refuge in this sanctuary and make a visit worth one’s while.

Nylsvlei is indeed one of the jewels in the Waterberg crown.

Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and/or coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. They are internationally recognised, nominated by national governments and remain under sovereign jurisdiction of the states in which they are located.


A biosphere reserve is intended to fullfil 3 core functions, which are complementary and mutually reinforcing:

-conservation – to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation,
-economic development – to foster economic and human development which is socio- culturally and ecologically sustainable,
-logistics – to provide support for scientific research and education.

[Mel]

Sounds like just one of those places!

Sorry for my ignorance, but what does RAMSAR stand for?

[Dewi]

Here you go Mel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsar_Convention

[Richprins]

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

The Ramsar Convention is the only global environmental treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem. The treaty was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and the Convention's member countries cover all geographic regions of the planet.
The Ramsar mission

The Convention's mission is "the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world".

The Convention uses a broad definition of the types of wetlands covered in its mission, including lakes and rivers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands and peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, near-shore marine areas, mangroves and coral reefs, and human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs, and salt pans.
The Wise Use concept

At the centre of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use” concept. The wise use of wetlands is defined as "the maintenance of their ecological character, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable development". "Wise use" therefore has at its heart the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and their resources, for the benefit of humankind.

Link: http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-hom ... r/1_4000_0__

[Richprins]

Snap, Deli! -O

[Mel]

Aha! Thanks, Dewi and Richprins.

Makes me feel much better asking for something that is actually a town in Iran
that I have never heard of but probably should have.

[Flutterby]

Very interesting...thanks Dewi and RP!

[Richprins]

The Nylsvley floodplain is an officially declared RAMSAR site. RAMSAR Reference No: 952 and Wetlands International Site Reference No. 1Z016.

RAMSAR is the Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. There are presently 155 Contracting Parties to the Convention, of which the South African government is one, with 1674 wetland sites, totalling 150 million hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

Escience Associates (Pty) Ltd was appointed to conduct an environmental impact study for an opencast platinum mine in the area of Nylsvley. Although there will be some distance between the proposed mine and the Nylsvley wetland, Friends of Nylsvley are very concerned about the impact of a mine on the sensitive ecosystem of Nylsvley. The open cast mine will affect a large area around it, and the area of most concern is the impact on the underground water-table of Nylsvley. The slightest change (drop) in the ground water level can totally destroy the ecosystem of complete floodplain.

Escience Associates (Pty) Ltd conducted a preliminary impact study and presented to public interest groups. That presentation was scheduled and took place during the December holiday period when very few people were aware of the study, the intended mining initiative and the presentation. The preliminary study is now available for public comment. Many conservationists are very concerned that all environmental aspects were not taken into full consideration and that the impact on the Nylsvley floodplain and nature reserve were not fully investigated and reflected in the preliminary environmental impact assessment report.

Bradley Thorpe, Senior Environmental Manager at Escience Associates (Pty) Ltd can be contacted for more detailed regarding the preliminary environment impact assessment documentation. E-mail: bradley@escience.co.za

Afriforum's GreenForum also studied the preliminary report and published the issues that are not addressed in the EIA. For detail about the environmental issues that were highlighted by Green forum, please read the following document online: http://www.afriforum.co.za/wp-content/u ... Forum1.pdf

Many red listed species are indigenous to the Nylsvley area, and will most probably not survive the impact of an open cast mine in the vicinity of the Nyl River floodplain.

South Africa and world as a whole, cannot afford that this unique and valuable wetland be affected or destroyed by mining or any other development. We MUST object to the establishment of any further development that can have a negative effect on the Nylsvley ecosystem. This will not only be a loss to South Africa , as it will be a global loss if this floodplain is affected and destroyed.

Please sign this petition and get as many of your friends to do the same.
On the last day of public comment 14 January 2013, I will submit the petition with all signatures to Bradley Thorpe of Escience Associates (Pty) Ltd, and ensure that every person that signed the petition has officially objected to the establishment of the proposed opencast platinum mine.

Thank you for your cooperation and support.
Ben van den Berg
e-mail: ben.vandenberg@gmail.com

P.S. Please visit the Friends of Nylsvley website to get a better understanding of the critical importance of the Nylsvley floodplain and the nature reserve. http://www.nylsvley.co.za


http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Petiti ... e/?tNDeqbb