Home Wetlands in South Africa Ramsar Sites Definition of a Wetland
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The Verloren Valei Nature Reserve is located in the Mpumalanga Province about 10 km north of the town of Dullstroom (25°25'S 030°06'E). Dullstroom has a population of approximately 2 000 people and is an important tourist destination. Tourists are attracted to the village‘s aesthetic value and the stonekraals or stone formations (ruins circa 1846) in the Verloren Valei Reserve nearby. The reserve was proclaimed a Provincial Nature Reserve in 1983 and falls within the Belfast Magisterial District administrative region. It comprises an area of 5,891 ha and is 2049 m - 2214 m above mean sea level. The wetlands have remained in excellent condition. Conservation of the site is particularly important when considering the impact of forestry, agriculture and the fly-fishing industry in the surrounding areas. | |||||
| Land uses Top | ||||||
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Natural:
Verloren
Valei Nature Reserve is a Provincial Nature Reserve proclaimed in
1983. The Mpumalanga Parks Board manages this reserve, including
catchments and wetlands. The
major ecological management actions are burning and grazing (Ref. 3). The surrounding area comprises privately owned farms. The
reserve is of distinct economic importance, since it provides a
significant portion of the water used for irrigation by farmers and/or
municipalities further downstream. Privately owned farms comprise the
surrounding area. The properties on the immediate borders of the area
are mainly used for farming and trout fishing.
The grassland slopes supply grazing for game, cattle and sheep,
and where the soil is arable a variety of crops is cultivated. The
population density on the reserve and surrounding farms are quite low.
The agricultural systems in use are semi-extensive, and therefore not
labour intensive. |
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| Ecology Top | ||||||
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Wetlands of Verloren Valei exhibit a near-pristine state of vegetation, and include good examples of a natural wetland characteristic of the Steenkampsberg Plateau biogeographical region within the North Eastern Mountain Grassland Vegetation type (Ref. 2). | |||||
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Bloem
(Ref. 1) identified three vegetation units within the site: 1.
Tristachya leucothrix grassland, 2.
Coleochloa setifera crest grassland, and 3.
wetlands. A
small and isolated pocket of peatland occurs on the reserve. Peatland
is very rare in South Africa, especially on the Steenkampsberg
Plateau. |
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Six
occurring plant species are endemic to the country's Drakensberg
Escarpment (e.g. Gladiolus appendiculatus, G. calcaratus and
G. varius), 11 are endemic to South Africa (e.g. G. vernus
and Neobolusia tysonii) and five species are classified as
rare (e.g. Kniphofia rigidifolia) or critically endangered
(e.g. Eucomis vandermerwei) at the global level.
A total of 379 plant species have been identified at the reserve. The
site provides habitat for 50 species of butterflies, five species of
fish, nine species of amphibians, 36 reptile species, 160 species of
birds and 10 mammal species. In addition to the aforementioned
globally important examples, many of these species are nationally and
provincially important. |
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Apart from at least 50 butterfly species in the reserve, a noteworthy butterfly Swanepoel’s Widow (Dira swanepoel swanepoel), that is endemic to South Africa and rated as rare, occur in the reserve. Another butterfly, Warren’s Blue (Orachrysops warreni), whose type locality is Verloren Valei Nature Reserve, are presently restricted to the reserve. |
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The wetlands also provide satisfactory breeding habitat for fish (5 species), amphibians (9 species) and 36 reptile species. This is especially important given the introduction of trout into the rivers and wetlands in the surrounding areas, which has had severe impacts on fish and amphibian populations. |
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The Verloren Valei site supports 12 endemic species of bird (including the wetland-related Cape weaver Ploceus capensis). It is the only protected area in the world that affords the globally critically endangered lark Heteromirafra ruddi any protection. Three globally vulnerable or endangered crane species (Grus [Bugeranus] carunculatus, Anthropoides paradiseus and Balearica regulorum) occur in the site that also serves as one of the last suitable breeding habitats for G. carunculatus. | |||||
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Apart from the 7 red data mammal species, of which 3 are rated as vulnerable and 4 as rare, there are three endemic mammal species, the striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha), the blesbok (Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi) and the grey Rhebok (Pelea capreolus) are protected in the Verloren Valei Ramsar Site. | |||||
| Topography and geology Top | |||||
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Topography
and Geography:
The
area is underlain by two types of rocks, namely sedimentary rocks and
intrusive igneous rocks. The sediments are principally quartzites
(belonging to the Transvaal System, Pretoria Group, Steenkampsberg
Formation), shales and alluvial soils. The intrusive rocks are mainly
diabase outcrops between the quartzite bands. The
area is situated on the Steenkampsberg plateau, at >2000 m above
mean sea level, one of the highest areas in Mpumalanga. Three
quartzite ridges occur in the area, running parallel from north to
south. The divisions between valleys and drainage basins are mostly
rounded crests that gradually lose height. |
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Soils: Most
of the soils on the reserve are leached, because of the influence of
the climatic conditions in the area. The quartzite soils are sandy,
light textured, and shallow; while the underlying rock is covered with
ferricrete, causing a high water table in the wet season. The shale
soils are mostly shallow, sand/clay/loam soils with a red colour. The
diabase soils are shallow, dark-brown soils with high silt content. |
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| Hydrology and geohydrology Top | |||||
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The
Reserve is situated on a watershed between the Olifants and Crocodile
drainage systems. The west flowing streams are tributaries of the
Steelpoort River, which is part of the Olifants system. The east
flowing streams are part of the Lunsklip River, which is a tributary
of the Crocodile River. The south flowing stream is the stream source
of the Crocodile River. Water flow in these streams has been measured
in the mid-rainy season (not flood conditions) and at the end of the
dry season. The results of these measurements are given in Appendix 6. |
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| Climate Top | |||||
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The
reserve is situated in the Highveld climate region. The climate is
described as a cool, moist climate where average temperatures do not
exceed 18°C,
and where the dry season occurs in winter (Ref. 4). Precipitation: The reserve is situated in the summer rainfall zone with a mean annual rainfall of 840mm. Precipitation is mostly in the form of thunderstorms between October and March. Mist is common in the area. Snow has been recorded on several occasions. Temperature: The maximum temperature recorded in the area was 29°C while the lowest temperature recorded was –13°C. Frost is common between March and September. |
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| Threats Top | |||||
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One
of the factors that could affect the ecological character of the site
is the so far, marginal impact of introduced plant species (e.g. Eucalyptus
spp. and Cirsium vulgare). All exotics are carefully monitored
and controlled on the reserve on a regular basis as part of the
reserve's management plan. Wetlands
in the surrounding area are under various threats, including impacts
from the growing trout and tourist industries, the future expansion of
forestry, inappropriate farming practices, and invasion by exotic
plants, such as Acacia mearnsii. |
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| References Top | |||||
| Ref 1. Bloem, K.J. (1988). ‘n Plantsosiologiese studie van die Verlorenvaleinatuurreservaat, Transvaal (translated A phytosociology study of Verloren Valei Nature Reserve, Transvaal). Unpub. M.Sc. thesis, University of Pretoria. | |||||
| Ref 2. Low,
A.B. and Rebello, A.G. (1966). Vegetation
of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.
National Botanical Institute, Pretoria. |
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| Ref 3. Eksteen, J.J. 1993. Integrated resource management at the Verloren Valei Nature Reserve, Eastern Transvaal, South Africa. In: Proceedings - African Crane and Wetland Training Workshop, Maun, 1993. International Crane Foundation. | |||||
| Ref 4. Schulze, R.E. & McGee, O.S. 1978. Climatic indices and classification in relation to the biogeography of southern Africa. In: Biogeography and ecology of southern Africa. Ed. Werger, M.J.A., pp 19-52. Dr W. Junk, Den Haag. | |||||
| Useful links Top | |||||
| Ramsar List and Facts | |||||
| Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS). | |||||
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