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List of protected areas of South Africa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The protected areas of South Africa include national parks and marine protected areas managed by the national government, public nature reserves managed by provincial and local governments, and private nature reserves managed by private landowners. Most protected areas are intended for the conservation of flora and fauna. National parks are maintained by South African National Parks (SANParks).[1] A number of national parks have been incorporated in transfrontier conservation areas.

Protected areas may also be protected for their value and importance as historical, cultural heritage or scientific sites. More information on these can be found in the list of heritage sites in South Africa.

Special Nature Reserves

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Special nature reserves are highly protected areas from which all people and human activities are excluded, except for conservation and scientific research. The Prince Edward Islands, which are South African territories in the Southern Ocean, have been declared as a special nature reserve.[2][3]

National Parks

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The following are the national parks of South Africa:[4]

Transfrontier conservation areas

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South Africa is involved in the following transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), also known as "peace parks".

The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area, involving South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland, is planned to be formed from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the Nsubane Pongola, Songimvelo-Malolotja and Usuthu-Tembe-Futi TFCAs.

Marine Protected Areas

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Map
Marine protected areas of South Africa[5][6]

Ramsar Sites

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There are 30 designated Ramsar sites in South Africa:

World Heritage Sites

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World heritage sites in South Africa are protected by the World Heritage Convention Act (Act 49 of 1999). These include:

  • Fossil Hominid sites and environs of:
    • Sterkfontein – Archaeological site in Gauteng, South Africa
    • Swartkrans – Fossil-bearing cave in South Africa
    • Kromdraai – Protected conservation park in South Africa
  • Cape Floral Region – Smallest of the six recognised floral kingdoms of the world Protected Areas
  • iSimangaliso Wetland Park – South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km of coastline
  • Mapungubwe – Ancient kingdom in the Limpopo-Shashe Basin, northern South Africa Cultural Landscape
  • Richtersveld – Desert in South Africa Cultural and Botanical Landscape
  • Robben Island – Island in Table Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
  • uKhahlamba/Drakensberg – Mountain range in South Africa Park
  • Vredefort Dome – Largest verified impact structure on Earth, about 2 billion years old

Botanical Gardens

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UNESCO Biosphere Reserves of South Africa

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Eastern Cape

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National Parks situated in the Eastern Cape

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Mega Parks in the making, predominantly in the Eastern Cape

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Parks Managed by Eastern Cape Parks

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Natural Heritage Sites

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Private and Other Parks

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Forest Reserves

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Protected Areas

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Free State

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National Parks

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World Heritage Sites

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Private and Other Parks

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Gauteng

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GDACE Parks

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Protected Areas

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Other parks and private reserves

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Bishop Bird, Rooihuiskraal, Centuion

KwaZulu-Natal

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Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

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Private and Other Parks

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Natural Heritage Sites

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Limpopo

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National Parks

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Provincial Parks

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Private and Other Parks

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Mpumalanga

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National Parks

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Provincial Parks

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Private and Other Parks

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Northern Cape

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National Parks

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Private and Other Parks

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North West

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National Parks

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Provincial Parks

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Protected Areas

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Private and Other Parks

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Western Cape

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National Parks

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Provincial Parks

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West Coast

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Winelands

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Overberg

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Cape Karoo

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Garden Route and Little Karoo

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Private and other Reserves

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Forests

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Natural Heritage Sites

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Mountain Catchment Areas

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  • Hawequas Mountain Catchment Area
  • Kammanassie Mountain Catchment Area
  • Klein Swartberg – Mountain range in Western Cape, South Africa Mountain Catchment Area
  • Koue Bokkeveld – Mountain range in Western Cape, South Africa Mountain Catchment Area
  • Langeberg East Mountain Catchment Area
  • Langeberg West Mountain Catchment Area
  • Matroosberg – Second tallest mountain in the Western Cape, South Africa Mountain Catchment Area
  • Swartberg – Mountain range in Western Cape, South Africa East Mountain Catchment Area
  • Winterhoek – Mountain range in the Western Cape region of South Africa Mountain Catchment Area

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Biodiversity & ecosystems". Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (South Africa). Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  2. ^ Cooper, John (June 2006). "Antarctica and Islands – Background Research Paper produced for the South Africa Environment Outlook report on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism" (PDF). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  3. ^ 1993 United Nations list of national parks and protected areas. World Conservation Monitoring Centre, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Commission on Natural Parks and Protected Areas, United Nations Environment Programme. 1993. p. 173. ISBN 2-8317-0190-2.
  4. ^ "SANParks – South African National Parks (A-Z)". South African National Parks. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  5. ^ "MPA Declarations" (PDF). Regulation Gazette No. 42478. 647 (10177). Pretoria: Government Printer. 23 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Protected Areas Register". dffeportal.environment.gov.za. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Kuzuko Lodge, Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa".
  8. ^ "Pumba Private Game Reserve | Eastern Cape Safari". www.pumbagamereserve.co.za. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Mountain Zebra-Camdeboo Protected Environment" (PDF).
  10. ^ National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 Section 12
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