Page 19 - Landscape-Issue123

FEATURE

AGULHAS NATIONAL PARK AND

SOETENDALSVLEI WETLAND

On World Wetlands Day 2023, SANParks and WWF South Africa celebrated the
incorporation of the Soetendalsvlei wetland into the Agulhas National Park, situated
200 km from Cape Town. This move has secured 90% of the wetland and added a
further 2 345 ha to the park.

The Soetendalsvlei wetland, now incorporated into the Agulhas National Park
oetendalsvlei is Africa’s southernmost freshwater lake and plays a
critical role in recharging groundwater, as well as supplying fresh
Swater for local agriculture. It drains into the Heuningnes River which
connects with the sea at De Mond Nature Reserve, between Struisbaai
and Arniston, where the estuary provides a safe haven for migrating
birds and breeding fish.
By turning this area over to conservation and reducing alien plant
infestation, the hope is that Soetendalsvlei’s ecological functions will
be safeguarded into the future, in line with this year’s World Wetland
Day theme of restoration. Internationally, wetlands are among the most
threatened ecosystems and are often overlooked and degraded.
A further benefit of this move is that it protects inland salt pans, many of
which are under threat in the Western Cape from urban development,
mining and agriculture. In addition, it protects rare veld types such as
the critically endangered shale Renosterveld, vulnerable Agulhas sand
fynbos and limestone fynbos, all of which face similar threats.

Critical biodiversity area
Soetendalsvlei is designated both a critical biodiversity area and an
important bird area, supporting over 60 water bird species which
include several birds of concern such as the Damara tern, the great white The park will now assume a visible presence on the ground, and the
pelican and two flamingo species, along with more than 21 000 migrant planning and implementation of veld and wetland rehabilitation
and resident birds that are recorded here annually. through the Working for Water and Working on Wetlands programmes,
will commence. SANParks will also plan towards improving area
Part of the Vissersdrift property supports pockets of milkwood forests integrity, with the main focus being restoration of the natural habitat.
around the vlei, which once offered shelter to the first inhabitants of this
area. South of this property lies the Denhami property that was recently Estuaries and wetlands are the most threatened and least protected
acquired by the National Parks Trust which is also to be included as ecosystems in South Africa and the inclusion of this area into the
part of the core of the park. Although it does not have wetlands on it, Agulhas National Park not only expands the park but also contributes
it is the link between the Sandberg mountain and the Soetendalsvlei, towards the protection of a critical wetland ecosystem for the Overberg
supporting the ecological functionality of the vlei system. region and its people.

The Soetendalsvlei and wetland properties also add substantial value Dr Morne du Plessis, CEO of WWF South Africa, said that the acquisition
to the park’s cultural and archaeological attributes. Historically, people of this critically important wetland area for incorporation into Africa’s
used the adjacent salt pans to harvest salt for local use. About every 50 to southernmost national park is a milestone, as the wetland plays such an
100 years, the vlei’s bed is exposed through droughts, such as happened important role in a functioning ecosystem. “We are immensely grateful
in April 2019 when one could see some of these archaeological and to our generous donors and SANParks for their efforts in securing this
cultural artifacts. Among the first management actions will be to clear wetland for future generations,” he said.
the alien infestation on the north-western end of the property, and to
address the erosion control in order to sustain the ecological functioning. Information supplied by WWF SA. Photos by Jean Tresfon. n

Landscape SA • Issue 123 2023 17