CONSERVATION AREAS
"Conservation" is the maintenance of environment quality and resources or of a particular balance among the species present in a given area. The resources may be physical, biological or cultural. Conservation must be seen as a land use. It is an action that people take to dedicate a piece of land for a specific use, whether it is for the use as a monument, for the breeding of animals, or as a habitat for animals.
A land area dedicated for conservation must be carefully managed to ensure that the land remains a viable resource. For instance, it must have a managed burning programme. Veld fires are one of the most important habitat management actions in South Africa, especially for the fynbos and grass biomes.
It is important to ensure that the carrying capacity of the conservation area is not exceeded. "Carrying capacity" refers to the finite amount of food, water, shelter, and breeding area available in a given area for animals. Other than natural disasters, humans have the largest impact on the bio-physical environment. Therefore, people have the responsibility of managing the environment in a sustainable manner to ensure the continued existence and maintenance of the biodiversity of the earth.
Choose a province to view map or click on province in image
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
KwaZulu-Natal
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
Northern Province
North West
Western Cape
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Marine pollution
Some 63 ocean outfalls are located along the South African coast and these discharge approximately 800 000 cubic metres of sewage and industrial effluent into the sea daily. Most large pipelines discharge into deeper waters, but 27 of the older pipelines discharge above the high water mark. This is extremely dangerous to human health, as bathing waters are affected, and edible species such as mussels may become contaminated. Apart from its impact on human health, sewage and industrial effluence also harm the marine environment. Untreated storm water from urban areas along the coast poses a pollution risk. In 1991 the total volume of storm water runoff entering the marine environment in South Africa was estimated to be about 876 000 cubic metres per day. Operational and major oil spills and the discharge of ballast water and waste from ships constitute another major source of marine pollution. Although only the 34th largest spill worldwide (38 800 metric tons) the Exxon Valdez, which ran aground in the Prince William Sound (Alaska) on 24 March, 1989, can be considered as the number one spill in terms of environmental damage caused. South Africa has until now been spared a really large oil spill. In February 1971 the Wafra ran aground near Cape Agulhas and spilled 8 000 – 10 000 tons of crude oil, and in August 1972 a collision took place between the Oswego Guardian and the Texanita off Ystervark Point with 10 000 tons of crude oil and fuel oil being spilled on that occasion. The sinking of the iron ore carrier Treasure between Robben and Dassen Islands in June 2000, causing 1 500 tons of fuel oil to be spilled can perhaps be seen as the most important local oil spillage disaster in terms of environmental damage. At that time 23 000 African Penguins were oiled while 20 000 had to be relocated to prevent them from being oiled. For more information on oil spills:
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