The Mkambathi Nature Reserve community in the Eastern Cape has been granted an internationally recognised certificate.

The Ramsar Certificate is for global wetlands and rivers that have ecological significance.

The tourist destination, located between Port Edward and Port St John’s, consists of over 7 000 hectares of unspoilt landscape. It has rare and endangered species and nurtures fragile wetlands.

Chairperson of the Mkhambathi Land Trust Zamokuhle Nzekeni says the recognition will have economic benefits for the community.

“It’s a great pleasure for the community because we see that there are opportunities that come with this declaration of a Ramsar site for the communities that are around Mkhambathi which are led by us. They will benefit a lot from this project, and a lot of job creations will happen, particularly for the youth; they will benefit from that project.”