Ndumo Game Reserve, a Ramsar-listed wetland site, Kwazulu-Natal, is facing an escalation of environmental and conservation threats, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the International Convention on Protection. Over the past 17 years, the reserve has seen an increase in levels of illegal farming, deforestation, wildlife poaching and guilnet fishing following the removal of the eastern boundary fence. Nudumo, once inhabited by a considerable population of rhinoceros and hippopotamus, suffered severe biodiversity losses. A government call for intervention has been made, but no formal requests have been filed with Ramsar to assess the situation.
Conservation experts, including Dr. Simon Pooley, have questioned South Africa's commitment to Ramsar's duties, highlighting the lack of government action despite the perceived site being exposed to ecological threats. While Ramsar offers advisory duties to support conservation challenges, the South African government prioritizes regional assessments instead of seeking international expertise. It remains unclear whether the Ndumo incident will be addressed at the next Ramsar Membership Conference scheduled for July 2025 at Victoria Falls. This situation highlights the broader challenges faced by African protected areas and international conservation commitments.
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Source: Daily Maverick
