“The positive response to the application to declare the Garden Route a biosphere reserve is most encouraging, not just for us, as a country, but also for the people of the region,” said Minister Molewa.

Biosphere reserves are learning places for sustainable development whose aim is to reconcile biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.

According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) members voted in favour of the inclusion of the Garden Route as a biosphere reserve at a meeting in Paris, France, recently.

“The Garden Route, one of South Africa’s prime tourism regions, is an area rich in terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems where conservation of the rich biodiverse region is ably reconciled with sustainable use practices,” she said.

The UNESCO states that biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. Their status is internationally recognised.

The Garden Route Biosphere Reserve (GRBR) is the ninth such reserve to be declared in South Africa.

“The GRBG is located within the Cape Floristic biodiversity hotspot region along the southern coast of part of the country.

“With a total area of 698 363 ha and a population of 450 624 people, the area includes the Tsitsikamma, Goukamma and Robberg marine protected areas; Wilderness Lake Ramsar Site; Garden Route National Park; and two components of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage site: the Nelson Bay Cave and the Langkloof Valley, the latter being critically endangered,” the department said.

The official launch of the GRBG will take place later in the year. – Source:  SAnews.gov.za