Richtersveld cultural landscape

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Richtersveld cultural and plant landscape
UNESCO world heritage UNESCO World Heritage Emblem
Tylecodon paniculatus-PICT2534.jpg
National territory: South AfricaSouth Africa South Africa
Type: Culture
Criteria : iv, v
Surface: 160,000 ha
Reference No .: 1265
UNESCO region : Africa
History of enrollment
Enrollment: 2007  (session 31)
National park and world heritage site in the municipality of Richtersveld

The Richtersveld cultural landscape (official name: Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape ) is an area in the far north-west of South Africa . The mountainous, desert-like terrain is the last area in southern Africa where inhabitants of the Nama tribe still live as shepherds . In 2007, UNESCO therefore declared this landscape a World Heritage Site .

location

Richtersveld is an extremely sparsely populated municipality on the border with Namibia , bordered in the north by the Orange River and in the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Only a few hundred people live in the mountainous northeast. The northernmost part of the municipality is the Richtersveld National Park , which has been operated as a transnational park with Namibia since 2003. To the south of this is the area of ​​the World Heritage Site, which has been protected under the name Richtersveld Community Conservancy since 2000 . The villages of Kuboes, Lekkersing and Eksteenfontein lie on its borders. Both the national park and the Community Conservancy are owned by a “ Community Property Association ” of the Nama and the Bosluis- Baster who live there .

The Richtersveld is a dry mountain desert where temperatures are subject to extreme daily and seasonal fluctuations. Frost in winter and over 40 ° C in summer are not uncommon. In most of the Richtersveld, rain falls in winter, mostly between May and September, but summer thunderstorms are also possible in the mountains. These climatic conditions have created a unique biodiversity : The Succulent Karoo is home to almost 5,000 species of succulent, 40% of which are endemic , despite desert conditions . Lithops are represented in large numbers. 29 species of lichen represent a diversity that is unique in the world.

use

While the touristic development of the national park is geared more towards the natural, undisturbed flora and fauna, the areas designated as world heritage are mainly used as seasonal grazing land. In fact, the herds of goats, donkeys and sheep contribute significantly to the preservation of the Karoo vegetation. Such an ecological equilibrium has probably been created for two thousand years.

Nonetheless, overgrazing is a serious problem on the sensitive ground. Therefore, only grazing according to the traditional rules and with the traditional mobile rush huts is permitted within the core areas .

In contrast to the national park, prospecting , mining and diamond mining are strictly prohibited in the Community Conservancy.

Traditional pasture farming

Nama huts

In the protected area there are around 40 traditional camp posts ( stockposts ), which the shepherds take turns to visit . Depending on the season, they switch between higher and lower locations ( transhumance ). The distribution of the camp sites to families is done collectively. Nowadays the relatives of the shepherds only stay there on weekends.

At night the animals are herded together in kraals , and during the day they roam the area. The herds consist of their own animals as well as those that are guarded against payment.

Rush huts, the ǀharu om, are traditionally used as accommodation . They are hemispherical and covered over a wooden frame with finely woven rush mats. Only a few huts that are prepared for tourists are limited to these materials. Usually they are now made weatherproof with plastic sheeting and canvas.

tourism

Apart from guest houses in Kuboes and Eksteenfontein and a small museum in Eksteenfontein, there is hardly any tourist infrastructure up to now. However, there are plans to improve traffic routes and build campsites in the coming years. There are also hikes and the opportunity to explore the area on the existing slopes with off-road vehicles. The research station on Rooiberg is to be expanded for visitors.

See also

Web links

  • Entry on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website ( English and French ).
Commons : Richtersveld  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

  1. ↑ The Bosluis-Baster are mixed race relocated from Buschmannland at the time of apartheid . See Explore the Richtersveld: The Bosluis Basters
  2. ↑ For the definition of the Succulent Karoo as an ecoregion, see WWF Full Report: Succulent Karoo
  3. ↑ Among other things through the inclusion in the South-North Tourism Route through the Norkap Province

Coordinates: 28 ° 36 ′ 0 ″  S , 17 ° 12 ′ 0 ″  E