June 4th, 1998

|
A carpet of wild flowers covers the Coastal Fynbos region
of South Africa's West Coast National Park
|
GLAND, Switzerland-- In honour of World Environment Day on June 5,
South African President Nelson Mandela today designated the newly
created Cape Peninsula National Park as a Gift to the Earth. Through
these gifts, which are part of the conservation organisation WWF's
Living Planet Campaign, governments, international organisations,
individuals and corporations work together to achieve unprecedented
levels of nature conservation.
The new park includes the spectacular Table Mountain and stretches all
the way to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. It is home to some
2285 plant species of which 105 are endemic, and an even greater
number of endemic animal species. The park will also protect the Cape
Floral Kingdom - one of the world's richest and most diverse regions for
wild fauna and flora.
"WWF has greatly assisted South African National Parks through the
establishment of the Table Mountain Fund," President Mandela declared. "I am therefore happy to announce that the proclamation of this new
national park will be a South African "Gift to the Earth' in terms of WWF's
Living Planet Campaign. South Africa, as a signatory to the Convention
on Biological Diversity, is committed to playing its role in the conservation
of the global environment."
On a personal note he added, "For centuries Table Mountain has been a
symbol of our mother city, Cape Town. During the many years of
incarceration on Robben Island, we often looked across Table Bay at its
magnificent silhouette....To us on Robben Island, Table Mountain was a
beacon of hope. It represented the mainland to which we knew we
would one day return."
Welcoming the announcement WWF's President Emeritus, The Duke of
Edinburgh, observed, "President Mandela's proclamation....ensures the
conservation of the natural environment of Table Mountain and of the
whole of the Cape Peninsula. The future of this unique and beautiful
place has now been made secure for the people of South Africa and the
world. It is indeed a most far-sighted "Gift to the Earth'."

|
The Cape Sugarbird (Promerops caffer) is the main
pollinator of the endemic protaecheas flowers in the Fynbos region,
South Africa.
|
Major threats such as invasive alien vegetation, ever increasing
development and the uncontrolled use of the Cape Peninsula area have
led to a rapid disappearance of unique life forms such as the
endangered Table Mountain ghost frog. Another one of the fascinating
"missing links" in the animal kingdom is the very rare peripatus which is
found in cool forested ravines under litter and decaying logs. Several
other endemic invertebrates, like the Table Mountain cave shrimp and the
cave dwelling Table Mountain camel cricket have no living relatives
elsewhere in Africa. The genes of these species are unique and have
now been protected for future generations.
For more information, please contact
Ronel Beukes at WWF South Africa:
Tel +27 21 8872801, Fax +27 21 8879517
or Javier Arreaza at WWF International +41 22 3649550