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Precious Wetlands of Angola |
 Some of the local environmental documentaries shown at Earthnotes festivals have reminded us how important the wetlands of the region are for biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Vanishing Waters highlighted the link between communities and wetlands, showing us how people in different parts of South Africa use these important ecosystems and their resources. The arid landscape depicted in Desert Coast makes us realise the crucial role that coastal wetlands have in this region.
While South Africa and Namibia are signatories to the Ramsar Convention, Angola is also giving steps to protect her incredibly rich water resources. In 2004, at the First National Wetland Workshop, various stakeholders met in Lubango and adopted the National Strategy for Wetland Sustainable Management. Later in 2006, in a second multi-stakeholder meeting in Luanda, the discussion centered around the key elements for a Draft National Wetland Policy. As part of the process to ratify the Ramsar Convention, Angola has selected Saco dos Flamingos near Luanda as the first wetland for designation as Ramsar Site.
Following the momentum created by these workshops, the Ministry of Urbanism and Environment has recently promoted a training course for provincial officers responsible for environmental matters. The 2-week course took place in September 2007 in Luanda and was attended by 35 people from all 18 provinces in the country. Covering areas such as hydrology, mapping, wetland management plans, and biophysical assessments, the course aimed at preparing the provincial authorities to be able to undertake the forthcoming national inventory of wetlands.
Saco dos Flamingos
By José Ngola, Namibe’s Provincial Directorate for Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment
Angola has one of the highest levels of biodiversity among African countries. The country’s aquatic ecosystems are abundant and diverse. Angola’s wetlands play a range of key ecological, cultural, social and economic roles. They support high concentrations of bird species, especially migratory birds that use them as stopovers on their routes, as well as species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates, and are also an important centre for conservation of genetic resources.
Saco dos Flamingos is a wetland located in the Municipality of Samba, 15km from Luanda, and covering an estimated area of 649 ha. It is an important feeding and resting area for various species of regional and inter-continental migratory birds, some of them listed on the IUCN red list. Some species observed in this area are flamingos, African Open-billed Stork (Anastomus lamelligerus), white pelicans (Pelicanus onocratalus), yellow and black billed storks, damara terns (Sterna balaenarum), and grey-headed gull (Larus cirrocephalus), as well as some turtle species. This area is also an important source of revenue for many families who practice artisanal fishing nearby.
About Vanishing Waters:
Wetlands are vital for many ecosystem services, yet they are one of the most critically threatened habitat types in South Africa today. This documentary travels around several of South Africa's provinces to tell stories about rural and urban wetlands, highlighting the threats they face and the need to protect them.
Credits: Nick Chevalier 1999 South Africa 26 min
To read more about this and other films please visit Earthnotes.
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