South Africa's wetlands at Cape Agulhas in Bredasdorp have been declared a world heritage site by the Ramsar Convention. The announcement came during World Wetlands Day celebrations at Rondevlei in Cape Town. Deputy Minister Narend Singh highlighted the significance of this recognition for conservation efforts.
On February 2, 2026, South Africa marked World Wetlands Day with a major announcement. Deputy Minister for Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, revealed that the wetlands at Cape Agulhas in Bredasdorp have been designated a world heritage site by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. This event took place at Rondevlei in the False Bay Nature Reserve, itself a Ramsar site, during commemorations themed 'Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.' The theme emphasizes the role of traditional and indigenous knowledge in managing wetlands and preserving cultural identity, while underscoring community involvement in conservation. Singh expressed pride in the achievement, stating, 'The second of February is a very important day for us here in 2026 because we just received news that the Agulhas wetland in Bredasdorp has just been declared a World Heritage Site by the Ramsar Convention and we are very proud of that we have 32 wetlands in South Africa and 12 of them in the Western Cape province and we want to increase our footprint throughout the rest of the country.' This declaration adds to South Africa's tally of 32 Ramsar wetlands, with 12 located in the Western Cape. It highlights ongoing efforts to expand wetland protection nationwide, recognizing their vital role in ecosystems, human well-being, and climate regulation. The event also called for greater community participation in wetland clean-up and preservation initiatives amid risks from human activities.