South Africa’s new Grasslands National Park was officially declared on Friday, between Nqanqarhu and Rhodes in the Eastern Cape.
The Park is about 10, 225 hectares long.
It marks the first national park in South Africa, established through a biodiversity stewardship model.
Therein, landowners such as Batlokoa Traditional Council, retain ownership, while committing to long-term conservation objectives.
David Maynier, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, said the park “will help protect one of South Africa’s least-protected biomes, safeguard critical water source areas, conserve biodiversity, and support sustainable agricultural livelihoods.”
A biological survey (“bioblitz”) conducted by scientists from WWF and South African National Park (SANParks) showed there are new and undescribed species there.
These include micro-organisms, insects, and plant variations.
It is a contract national park managed by both WWF and SANParks.
Picture: Supplied