06 July 2015

South Africa: Cape floral heritage site expands!

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has approved the extension of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage Site. The approval was granted by the 39th Session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee taking place in Bonn, Germany (28 June - 08 July 2015). The extension almost doubles the size of the world heritage site from 553 000 hectares to 1 094 742 hectares and includes Table Mountain National Park, Agulhas complex, Langeberg complex, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Swartberg complex, Baviaanskloof complex and the Garden Route complex.


The extended Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage Site is one of the richest areas for plants when compared to any similar sized area in the world. It represents less than 0.5% of the area of Africa but is home to nearly 20% of the continent's flora with some 69% of the 9000 identified plant species being endemic to the area.

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