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NEWS
This programme aims to build
a supportive and sustainable
relationship between people
and their environments
through a specific focus on
safeguarding natural ecosystems through innovative
approaches to economic
development.
The World Network of
Biosphere Reserves, which
the Magaliesberg now joins,
counts 631 biosphere
reserves in 119 countries.
“We are delighted with this
final acknowledgement of the
unique nature of the
Magaliesberg and the
powerful contribution it is
making to our country, to the
ecosystem services in
Gauteng and the North West
and the communities it
nurtures over an extensive
area,” says Paul Fatti,
chairman of the Magaliesberg
Biosphere Initiative Group
(MBIG) that has been
lobbying authorities since
2007 to support the establishment of the biosphere.
According to Vincent
Carruthers, past chairman of
MBIG and renowned author
of “The Magaliesberg”, the
most authoritative study of
the mountain range, the
Magaliesberg is almost 100
times older than Mount
Everest and half the age of
the earth, a unique treasure
that has witnessed the whole
span of life, from its very
origins.
The Magaliesberg Biosphere
will be formally registered by
Unesco and the Dept of
Environmental Affairs in
October but before that
happens a Board of
Management for the
Biosphere must be
appointed, comprising
representatives of 16 interest
groups who are involved one
way or another in the
Magaliesberg. These include
bodies involved in conservation, education, tourism,
cultural or historical activities,
business and religion.
The Magaliesberg is under
intense pressure from
urbanisation and has lacked
the support of a strong
regulatory framework to back
its status as a protected area.
The Magaliesberg Biosphere
Reserve covers almost
358 000
ha 58 000 making up the core
area, 110 000 ha the buffer
area and 190 000 ha the
transition area.
Besides the range's unique
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biomes the Central
Grassland Plateaux
and the sub-Saharan
savannah - it has a rich
biodiversity. The Aloe
peglerae and Frithia pulchra
are unique to the area which
has 443 bird species, almost
half the total bird species of
Southern Africa.