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What we do
Towards a sustainable Agulhas Plain
It took six years for the Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area (SMA) to evolve from a vague
concept to a working venture. Today the Special Management Area, implemented across private
farmland on the Agulhas Plain in the Overberg, is the only one of its kind in South Africa.
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Challenges on the Agulhas Plain
March 2011: Government, non-governmental organisations and the Nuwejaars Wetland Special
Management Area (SMA) met last week to seek joint solutions to environmental and social
challenges facing the Agulhas Plain.
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Other Articles
Coasting Along
Decanter Magazine 2010
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Wining and Dining in Elim
Country Life, 2010
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4, Page 5
Major Conservation Award for NWSMA
Press release - CAPE 2010 Fynbos
Conservation Award
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Bontebok & Hartebeest released
10 August 2010
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Decanter Magazine 2010
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
Wining and Dining in Elim
Country Life, 2010
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4, Page 5
Major Conservation Award for NWSMA
Press release - CAPE 2010 Fynbos
Conservation Award
Read more
Bontebok & Hartebeest released
10 August 2010
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Agulhas Plains run wild again
Country Life, March 2011: Having recently visited the Agulhas Plains, my ears pricked up when I
heard about the Nuwejaars Special Management Area (SMA). It made sense. With mountains to the
north, the ocean to the south, and protected area on either side, creating a conservation corridor is
surely the way to go.
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Corne Krige besoek die SMA
SA Jagter, Feb 2011: Sedert my laaste besoek, het die hele area 'n gedaanteverwisseling ondergaan
en maak Kosierskraal nou deel uit van die Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area. Hierdie
gebied word formeel erken as 'n area waar volhoubare benutting toegepas en gepromoveer word.
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Conservation & Farming
Farmers Weekly, Dec 2010: A conservation project on the Agulhas Plain promotes sustainable land
use in the area. It has gained the support of the department of agriculture and environmental
affairs, SANparks, the UN Development Programme and LandCare.
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Enhancing the well-being of all who live here is an
imperative for the SMA. More
Our tourism venture will include training for
operators and entrepreneurs. More
Production and food security is enhanced through
sustainable use of land. More
Sustainably-utilised products will prove a key
economic driver for communities here. More
economic driver for communities here. More
By developing the SMA's infrastructure, we can
unlock the area's sustainable capital. More
unlock the area's sustainable capital. More
A buffalo is born – a first in 200 years
SMA Press Release, 29 September 2011
The first buffalo calf in approximately 200 years has been born on the Agulhas Plain. The calf forms part of a herd of buffalo reintroduced into the area by the Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area (SMA) venture. Records show buffalo were last seen on the Agulhas Plain in the late 1700s.
According to Dirk Human, Chairman of the Nuwejaars Wetland SMA, the buffalo calf signifies the first step in turning back the clock on the Agulhas Plain. “Aside from buffalo, we’ve also reintroduced hippo, last seen here some 150 years ago. We’re slowly moving towards bringing back the natural systems as they existed in previous centuries.” The buffalo calf will be given an appropriate indigenous Khoisan name still to be decided.
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Cape Times, October 2011: Buffalo birth turns clock back 200 year.
A buffalo calf has been born on the Agulhas Plains for the first time in over 200 years. The little female calf was born on the Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area...
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Die Burger Aktueel, Oktober 2011: Vlakte kry eerste buffelkalfie in 200 jaar
Nuwejaarsvleiland se natuurlewe stadig hervestig...
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Die Burger, Oktober 2011: Laaste buffels in die laat 1700's in die streek gesien
Die eerste buffelkalfie in 200 jaar is op die Agulhas-vlakte, 'n laag-liggende gebied naby Afrika se suidelikste gebied, gebore...
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Farmers Weekly, 14 October 2011: A first in 200 years
The Western Cape Agriculture Department recently recognized the Nuwejaars Wetland SMA's contribution to conservation on agricultural land...
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The first buffalo calf in approximately 200 years has been born on the Agulhas Plain. The calf forms part of a herd of buffalo reintroduced into the area by the Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area (SMA) venture. Records show buffalo were last seen on the Agulhas Plain in the late 1700s.
According to Dirk Human, Chairman of the Nuwejaars Wetland SMA, the buffalo calf signifies the first step in turning back the clock on the Agulhas Plain. “Aside from buffalo, we’ve also reintroduced hippo, last seen here some 150 years ago. We’re slowly moving towards bringing back the natural systems as they existed in previous centuries.” The buffalo calf will be given an appropriate indigenous Khoisan name still to be decided.
Read More
Cape Times, October 2011: Buffalo birth turns clock back 200 year.
A buffalo calf has been born on the Agulhas Plains for the first time in over 200 years. The little female calf was born on the Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area...
Read More
Die Burger Aktueel, Oktober 2011: Vlakte kry eerste buffelkalfie in 200 jaar
Nuwejaarsvleiland se natuurlewe stadig hervestig...
Read More
Die Burger, Oktober 2011: Laaste buffels in die laat 1700's in die streek gesien
Die eerste buffelkalfie in 200 jaar is op die Agulhas-vlakte, 'n laag-liggende gebied naby Afrika se suidelikste gebied, gebore...
Read More
Farmers Weekly, 14 October 2011: A first in 200 years
The Western Cape Agriculture Department recently recognized the Nuwejaars Wetland SMA's contribution to conservation on agricultural land...
Read More
February, 2012: The Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area (NWSMA) is to be the focus of
an extensive climate change study. Researchers plan to assess the buried peat beds that
characterise the wetland, in order to determine their age and how vulnerable they are to
degradation.
Peat beds are essentially layers of undecayed organic matter that have built up over time in a waterlogged environment. They are estimated to grow at just 1mm every year, which would make a metre of peat 1000 years old. In the case of the NWSMA, the peat is believed to have been formed by dense stands of 'palmiet' which have largely been destroyed by floods.
Peat is important for the healthy functioning of wetlands and provides vital ecosystem services to communities living in the area. They store water, reduce the impact of flooding and store large quantities of carbon as organic matter. If peat is allowed to dry out, this carbon is released into the atmosphere which in turn contributes to climate change.
According to C4 EcoSolutions CEO Dr Anthony Mills, whose team will conduct the research, much peat is likely to have been buried under sand from floodwaters in the NWSMA over the years. "As a result, the full extent of intact peat beds and the corresponding water storage and carbon sequestration capacity of the system are currently unknown. However, this information is important to inform management activities aimed at restoring and protecting valuable or vulnerable wetland sites in the NWSMA."
Based on the study, researchers will also be able to determine effective interventions and measures that reduce the vulnerability and restore the natural capital of the region's peat beds. Mills says these interventions will prove vital for the NWSMA and its stakeholders, including local municipalities, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Water Affairs. C4 EcoSolutions is currently sourcing funding for the research.
Peat beds are essentially layers of undecayed organic matter that have built up over time in a waterlogged environment. They are estimated to grow at just 1mm every year, which would make a metre of peat 1000 years old. In the case of the NWSMA, the peat is believed to have been formed by dense stands of 'palmiet' which have largely been destroyed by floods.
Peat is important for the healthy functioning of wetlands and provides vital ecosystem services to communities living in the area. They store water, reduce the impact of flooding and store large quantities of carbon as organic matter. If peat is allowed to dry out, this carbon is released into the atmosphere which in turn contributes to climate change.
According to C4 EcoSolutions CEO Dr Anthony Mills, whose team will conduct the research, much peat is likely to have been buried under sand from floodwaters in the NWSMA over the years. "As a result, the full extent of intact peat beds and the corresponding water storage and carbon sequestration capacity of the system are currently unknown. However, this information is important to inform management activities aimed at restoring and protecting valuable or vulnerable wetland sites in the NWSMA."
Based on the study, researchers will also be able to determine effective interventions and measures that reduce the vulnerability and restore the natural capital of the region's peat beds. Mills says these interventions will prove vital for the NWSMA and its stakeholders, including local municipalities, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Water Affairs. C4 EcoSolutions is currently sourcing funding for the research.
Vulnerability of SMA peat to be studied
Nov 2011: The Nuwejaars Wetland System
To the north of Agulhas National Park and partially within, lies the Nuwejaars Wetland system – an area of immense diversity and conservation value. It consists of rare and endemic natural fynbos and wetlands, which are all interlinked by the streams and rivers of the Nuwejaars Wetland ecosystem.
November 2011, Volume 20
To the north of Agulhas National Park and partially within, lies the Nuwejaars Wetland system – an area of immense diversity and conservation value. It consists of rare and endemic natural fynbos and wetlands, which are all interlinked by the streams and rivers of the Nuwejaars Wetland ecosystem.
November 2011, Volume 20
Agulhas Park
eBULLETIN
October, 2011: The German
government.s international
climate finance chief, Norbert
Gorissen, visited the SMA late
in October.
The visit allowed Gorissen to see the climate change adaptation projects undertaken by the SMA
over the past two years.
The €2-million grant from the BMU was crucial in allowing the SMA venture launch its first formal biodiversity conservation projects.
More.
The visit allowed Gorissen to see the climate change adaptation projects undertaken by the SMA
over the past two years.
The €2-million grant from the BMU was crucial in allowing the SMA venture launch its first formal biodiversity conservation projects.
More.
Climate change chief visits SMA