The development of a national policy and strategy for wetland conservation in South Africa

Abstract

Wetlands are a small but extremely important part of the greater South African landscape. Although South Africa recognized this by becoming a Contracting Party to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat as far back as 1975, their conservation has been sorely neglected. It has also been estimated that over half of our wetlands have been destroyed and lost. Those that remain are some of our most threatened natural areas.