SA's Sixth World Heritage Site: Confirmation of Global Leadership In Biodiversity Management

The World Heritage Committee, meeting in Suzhou, China, has officially recognised the Cape Floristic Region as South Africa's sixth world heritage site. Reacting to the news of the decision, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, said: "This is another fantastic achievement for South Africa, with great significance for our continuing role as global leaders in both responsible tourism and sustainable environmental management."

Covering a total area of more than 553 000 hectares, the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage site comprises eight separate protected areas stretching from the Cape Peninsula into the Eastern Cape.

"Apart from the importance of adding another World Heritage Site to the list of protected areas in South Africa, this announcement is also a world-first," said the Minister, "No other natural World Heritage Site includes a Botanical Garden. The inclusion of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, the flagship of the Cape Floral Kingdom, in the decision underscores the strength of our research and management component, and represents international recognition of the highest order."

Thanking the World Heritage Committee, the Minister added: "This achievement comes hot-on-the-heels of recent international agreements to the value of more than $11 million signed with the Global Environment Facility for conservation and biodiversity management; another Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show; the passage into law of our Biodiversity Act; the ongoing transformation of the National Botanical Institute (NBI) into the SA National Biodiversity Institute; and the proclamation of four new Marine Protected Areas in South Africa. Clearly we are at a high-point for environmental management and protection."

Minister Van Schalkwyk also paid tribute to the decade-long team effort that has led up to the Suzhou decision: "The credit for this achievement belongs to Western Cape Nature Conservation, SANPARKS, NBI, provincial and local government, our Department, and a wide range of other institutions, organisations and individuals. The World Heritage Committee also took the unusual and extremely complimentary step of singling out the Cape Action for People and the Environment (CAPE) programme and other projects to build public support for the conservation of the area. Our thanks and congratulations must go to all who have contributed to this recognition."

" The World's heritage is our heritage, and this world class recognition underlines our responsibility to ensure the wise use of resources like our Cape Floristic Region. It also places us in an excellent position to expand responsible tourism and to generate much-needed employment throughout the area," Van Schalkwyk said.

For more information contact: Riaan Aucamp
Mobile: 083 778 9923
Tel: 021 465 7240
raucamp@deat.gov.za