Be mindful of your activities when visiting Knysna's sensitive estuary

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Be mindful of your activities when visiting Knysna's sensitive estuary

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46 minutes ago - Gabi Zietsman

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The Knysna estuary is one of the most important ones in South Africa, and requires improved conservation efforts. (Photo: SANParks)

Estuaries are an important part of the ecosystem - where various animals safely start the beginning of their lives before facing off the dangers of the ocean. South Africa has around 249 national estuaries that make up a big part of the country's biomes.

According to South African National Parks (SANParks), the Knysna estuary is one of the most important ones in South Africa, not only for the animal kingdom but also as one of Garden Route's biggest human playgrounds for a variety of water sports and leisure activities.

Situated within the Garden Route National Park, it is home to 43% of SA's plant and animal life, contributing 21.6% of the total economic value of all national estuaries. Some of the species found in its waters include dolphins, the rare Knysna seahorse, white steenbras, the grunter and the Cape stumpnose.

In a study conducted by scientists of all of SA's estuaries in 2007, Knysna's one was ranked higher than the St Lucia World Heritage Site in terms of biodiversity, and because of this and the threats that face the estuary, SANParks is escalating its awareness programmes to ensure the protection of this ecosystem.

This includes asking visitors and users of the estuary to practice caution and ensure no damage is done to plant and animal life.

Some of the issues facing the estuary are changes in water levels coming into the estuary from the ocean, pollution and habitat quality and its effect on the animals that live in its waters.

"The Knysna estuary is also South Africa’s most important seagrass site with an estimated 355 – 420 hectares of Cape dwarf-eelgrass," says SANParks marine ecologist Kyle Smith.

"Both the Cape dwarf-eelgrass and the fauna that it supports in Knysna are of very high conservation importance, contributing to the estuary receiving the highest ranking in terms of its ecological importance."

SANParks plans to put more effort into pollution prevention strategies and increase educational initiatives with more resources, as well as more research projects on the only estuarine Hope Spot in the world.

https://www.news24.com/Green


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