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
Water Week: Protecting Our Most Precious Resource
Water is fundamental to life and essential to our daily wellbeing. While this may seem widely understood, it remains important to continually remind ourselves of the value of this finite resource. Although approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, only about 2.5% of it is freshwater available to sustain ecosystems and human needs.
Western Cape adds over 81 000 hectares of new nature reserves in the past year
The Western Cape has added over 20 new nature reserves to its Protected Area network, securing more than 81 715 hectares of ecologically significant land for long-term conservation. Declared between April 2025 and March 2026, these new reserves strengthen the province’s efforts to protect important landscapes, species, and vegetation types.
Exploring the hidden world of fynbos frogs
A recent grant from the Herpetological Association of Africa enabled the investigation of the taxonomically confusing species of Ghost Frogs. Ghost Frogs (Family Heleophrynidae) are an endemic family of frogs that diverged from all other frogs 100 million years ago. These specialised frogs typically inhabit fast-flowing headwater habitats.
Where water flows, equality grows on World Water Day 2026
In recent months, communities across the Western Cape have been confronted with increasing water shortages and climate related disruptions. Communities reliant on smaller reservoirs and surface water systems, demonstrate the region’s vulnerability to low rainfall, the impact of alien invasive trees in removing water from natural systems, ageing water infrastructure and rising consumption.
Environmental education gets a boost through CapeNature’s museum training
CapeNature has partnered with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS): Museum Services to expand environmental education across the Western Cape. During February 2026, CapeNature’s Learning and Awareness team trained 18 museum staff members from DCAS affiliated institutions to deliver activity-based programmes focused on water conservation
Western Cape marks World Wildlife Day as CapeNature highlights climate resilience and sustainable living
The Western Cape is marking World Wildlife Day on 3 March, a day proclaimed by the United Nations, by reaffirming its commitment to biodiversity protection, climate resilience and sustainable development, with CapeNature playing a central role in conserving the province’s natural heritage.