the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA
the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA
the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA
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Richtersveld Cultural <strong>and</strong> Botanical L<strong>and</strong>scape World Heritage Site Nomination 85<br />
As <strong>the</strong> table above demonstrates, <strong>the</strong> Succulent Karoo is home to over one<br />
thous<strong>and</strong> endemic succulents. With more succulents than any o<strong>the</strong>r place in <strong>the</strong><br />
world, <strong>the</strong> Succulent Karoo warrants global recognition for its natural heritage. What<br />
<strong>the</strong> table also shows is of <strong>the</strong> various centres of <strong>the</strong> Succulent Karoo <strong>the</strong> Gariep<br />
Centre attributes almost half of <strong>the</strong> endemic succulent species with an astounding<br />
80% endemism rate. This more than doubles almost every o<strong>the</strong>r Region or Centre<br />
in Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Africa, a part of <strong>the</strong> world renowned for succulent plants. With <strong>the</strong><br />
Conservancy being a Core of <strong>the</strong> Gariep Centre, this comparison emphasizes <strong>the</strong><br />
justification as having outst<strong>and</strong>ing universal value to <strong>the</strong> world <strong>botanical</strong> estate.<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r deserts inscribed in <strong>the</strong> World Heritage Site List, such as Oman’s Arabian<br />
Oryx Sanctuary or <strong>the</strong> Mauritania’s Banc d’Arguin National Park, do not, despite<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r worthy attributes, demonstrate universal biological or ecological importance<br />
as dramatically or as quantitatively as <strong>the</strong> Richtersveld. In regards to diversity,<br />
species densities <strong>and</strong> rates of endemism reaching upwards of 40%, <strong>the</strong><br />
Richtersveld, st<strong>and</strong>s tallest of all <strong>the</strong> world’s deserts. If natural aspects of <strong>the</strong><br />
environments of <strong>the</strong> two above sites prove <strong>the</strong>m justifiable for World Heritage<br />
inclusion, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> status of being one of only two deserts in <strong>the</strong> world to be a<br />
Biodiversity Hotspot should provide a very sound case for inclusion of <strong>the</strong><br />
Richtersveld. Similarly, if <strong>the</strong> Pirin National Park of Bulgaria is regarded as<br />
universally outst<strong>and</strong>ing for its endemic <strong>and</strong> rare species – which is impressive in its<br />
own right - it can reasonably be argued that <strong>the</strong> greater biologically diversity <strong>and</strong><br />
uniqueness of <strong>the</strong> Richtersveld can be viewed as extraordinary.<br />
A final comparison can be made between <strong>the</strong> Richtersveld <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Valle de Mai<br />
Nature Reserve of <strong>the</strong> Seychelles. The isl<strong>and</strong>’s coco de mer is described as a<br />
universally significant <strong>and</strong> valuable species <strong>and</strong> rightly so. It is immediately evident<br />
<strong>the</strong> similarities between <strong>the</strong> high status of <strong>the</strong> coco de mer <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> scientifically <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>cultural</strong>ly valuable “halfmens” (Pachypodium namaquanum) <strong>and</strong> Aloe pillansii, of<br />
which most of <strong>the</strong> world’s population exist inside <strong>the</strong> Richtersveld Community<br />
Conservancy boundaries. All three species have enormously restricted habitats <strong>and</strong><br />
all are also very large <strong>and</strong> charismatic species bearing powerful presences <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>cultural</strong> significance. They are flagship species for <strong>the</strong>ir respective environments,