UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory

			Biosphere Reserve Information
			South Africa VHEMBE


	General Description		Human activities: Vhembe Biosphere Reserve is a favourite destination for eco-tourism, cultural tourism and related activities such as hunting amongst both the local and international visitors. The area has a relatively large and rapidly growing human population with a high unemployment rate contributing to severe negative impact on natural resources, which are harvested unsustainably. Within the VBR there are a large number of private game farms and agricultural farms creating an ideal opportunity for the unleashing the economic potential of the established VBR. The biosphere reserve will promote an integrated approach to sustainable development, ensuring that essential ecosystem services are maintained, education is improved, human development and wealth creation are stimulated through better communication and training while conserving the unique ecosystems, species and cultural resources of the region. Ecological characteristics: The VBR include three biomes, namely savanna, grassland, and forest, four bioregions and twenty three different vegetation types or biotopes. Eight of these biotopes are endemic to South Africa. The area is also a bio-geographical node, comprising of the Kalahari, Lowveld bioregions having temperate, tropical climatic conditions. This creates zones of ecologically important interactions, which need to be protected to ensure conservation viability The South African National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment (NSBA) has included the Blouberg and Soutpansberg complex as one of its nine priority areas for conservation action based on a combined analysis of species, ecosystems and ecological processes. The same area is also listed by Van Wyk and Smith (2001) as a hotspot of South African biodiversity and endemism. Lake Fundudzi in the Soutpansberg Mountains is the only natural inland lake in Southern Africa. Several wetlands in the same mountain range contain peat which harbors information going back 12 000 years BP (before present). Protection classifications: The VBR includes the northern part of the Kruger National Park, the Mapungubwe National Park and World heritage site, several Provincial Nature Reserves, two recognized centers of biodiversity and endemism (the Soutpansberg and Blouberg) and the Makgabeng Plateau with more than 1000 rock art sites.
	Major ecosystem type
	Major habitats & land cover types
	Location
	Area (hectares)
	Total		30,701
	Core area(s)
	Buffer zone(s)
	Transition area(s) when given
	Altitude (metres above sea level)
	Year designated		2009
	Administrative authorities		Limpopo Provincial Government, Polokwane

	Brief description
	*Specific variables...*
	Abiotic		n.a.
	Biodiversity		n.a.
	Socio-economic		n.a.
	Integrated monitoring		n.a.

	Contact address		Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism, Evridiki Towers, No. 20 Hans van Rensberg Street 0700 Polokwane South Africa
	Telephone		015 293 8300
	Fax		015 293 8319
	E-mail
	Web site		www.limpopo.gov.za

			n.a.

Last updated: 6/18/2010