28 May 2009

New Biosphere Reserve in South Africa - Vhembe

International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC) just added 22 new sites from 17 countries to the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) which now counts 553 sites in 107 countries. One of the new reserves is in South Africa.

Vhembe, South Afica is world renowned for its rich cultural and biological diversity. It includes northern part of the Kruger National Park, Makuleke Wetlands Ramsar Site, the Soutpansberg and Blouberg bio-diversity hot spots, as well as the Mapungube Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site and the Makgabeng Plateau with more than 1000 rock art sites. Human activities in the site are predominately agricultural, including production of subtropical fruits and vegetables, cattle and game farming and hunting. The Venda, Shangaan and Sepedi people, who are the main population group in the area, have a rich history of traditional indigenous knowledge ranging from wood carving and drum making to traditional healing. [src]

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