World Wetlands Day and Ramsar Sites
World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on the 2nd of February and is an outcome of the Ramsar Convention which took place in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971. This intergovernmental treaty provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and came into force in 1975. South Africa is one of 172 contracting parties to the convention and was one of the first member states to ratify the Convention.
World Wetlands Day is aimed at raising public awareness about wetlands and their value and provides an opportunity to challenge, discuss and share ideas in an open and safe platform with leaders, researchers, and politicians to support the uptake of an improved understanding of the ecosystem-based services provided by wetlands and the need to safeguard their ecological integrity. The celebration of World Wetlands Day is also an opportunity to encourage youth focus environmental education about wetlands and every year there are excellent learning support materials which can be found on the Ramsar website.
Wetlands are among South Africa’s most threatened ecosystems and provide essential ecological infrastructure. It is vital to take action towards the restoration of wetlands ecosystems and the theme for 2023 is Wetlands Restoration.
There are currently 28 Ramsar sites in South Africa with the most recent of these being the Berg Estuary on the West Coast of the Western Cape. The Western Cape hosts 10 Ramsar sites and CapeNature partners in managing seven of these: Verlorenvlei, Berg, Bot-Kleinmond, De Mond, De Hoop vlei, Dassen, Dyer and Geyser Islands (with Dyer and Geyser islands being managed as one site). The other Ramsar sites in the province are at Langebaan, Wilderness Lakes and False Bay Nature Reserve.
The Berg Estuary received Ramsar status a year ago and is an important coastal wetland in South Africa with fresh water flowing from the river and its floodplain mixing with marine water providing important habitat for water birds and fish. It is also a well-used recreational area and supports numerous commercial activities.
The Bot- Kleinmond River estuary, showing the wetland water body which is a depressional system behind the dunes. Photo by Jean Trefson
The Bot-Kleinmond Estuarine System is in the coastal Southern African temperate area, within the Overberg West. This is also one of the most important wetland sites as it serves as a nursery for a number of fish species and houses a large community of waterbirds during dry summer months. Some impacts in the area include recreational fishing and boating, with the most significant impact being invasive alien species.
The Berg Estuary System Ramsar site, along the West Coast of the Western Cape. Photo by Jean Trefson
Verlorenvlei, a Ramsar site on the West Coast of the Western Cape, image taken in 2015. The vlei is currently mostly dry in the upper and lower reaches, at this time of the year. Photo by Kevin Shaw
Related News
Stewardship practitioners tackle mining, municipal and agricultural interfaces at annual CapeNature Stewardship Workshop
The 23rd Annual CapeNature Stewardship Peer Learning Workshop was held between 29 and 30 October 2026 under the theme "Stewardship Interface: Connecting with Key Stakeholders – Where, How and Why." The workshop brought together 75 delegates representing 26 organisations and provided a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and capacity building among stewardship practitioners. Designed to strengthen practitioners' understanding of
Relax and explore another day on us this Black Friday
Make the most of the season with our Black Friday 3-for-2 accommodation promotion at select nature reserves. It's the perfect excuse to slow down, unwind, and enjoy everything our unique accommodation and on-site amenities have to offer - ideal for families, couples, and groups of friends. Spend your evening beneath starry skies in the Cape Karoo, soak up the warm weather and mountain pools of the Overberg, or take a scenic drive along the West Coast, where blue skies, vibrant landscapes, nearby beaches, or a private pool awaits.
Green Noise named SA Podcast Awards finalist
Green Noise, CapeNature's podcast, has been named a finalist in the Best Education category at the 2026 South African Podcast Awards. The podcast is one of five finalists in the category, competing alongside Pippa Hudson's Curriculum Bootcamp and Dr Carra's The Paws & Effect Podcast, among others. Finalists are scored across six criteria: concept and originality, content quality, host performance, structure and pacing, audience connection and production quality. Each entry is scored blind by an independent panel of judges.
CapeNature to phase out trade in California kingsnakes
CapeNature is phasing out trade in California kingsnakes (Lampropeltis californiae) in the Western Cape over a two-year transition period that began on 1 April 2026, after a risk assessment classified the species as high risk for invasion. Animals already lawfully held may remain in captivity for the remainder of their natural lives. The assessment, which used the Bomford (2008) rapid risk assessment model, identified the potential for ecological disruption and competition with indigenous species should
HeliHack volunteers clear 5 334 invasive pines from Boosmansbos
Twenty-three volunteers were flown by helicopter into the remote upper slopes of the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area from 23–25 October 2026, where they cut down 5 334 invasive alien pine trees across 904 hectares. The operation, led by the HeliHack Initiative in partnership with CapeNature, comes as the region is still recovering from the wildfires of 2025. With the South African Weather Service forecasting a strong El Niño and warmer, drier conditions through the 2026/27 summer, the fire risk in the months
CapeNature welcomes conviction of Cape Town woman in case involving 145 reptiles
CapeNature welcomes the successful conviction of Mrs Jacqueline Hewett of Woodstock, Cape Town, on all six charges relating to the unlawful acquisition, possession and keeping in captivity of 145 reptiles. The offences involved snakes, geckos and lizards, including protected, endangered, alien invasive and prohibited species, kept at a shop in Lower Main Road, Observatory and her residence in Woodstock in March 2023.