Angola designates Lisima Lya Mwono as first Ramsar Wetland
Angola has officially designated Lisima Lya Mwono as its first Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an international treaty for wetland conservation.
Ramsar said in a statement on its website that the site, listed as Ramsar Site No. 2584, covers more than 53 000 km².
Located in the central and south-eastern highlands within the Zambezi biogeographical region, Lisima Lya Mwono forms a major watershed, feeding river systems that sustain downstream wetlands such as the Okavango Delta and the Zambezi Floodplain.
Its hydrology is shaped by deep sandy soils that filter rainfall into clear, low-mineral streams, supporting Miombo forests and peatlands across more than 110 000 km².
The site is home to rare and endangered species, including the giant sable antelope, cheetah, lion and African wild dog, as well as the near-endemic carnivorous plant Genlisea angolensis.
Its freshwater ecosystems host more than 18 endemic or near-endemic fish species, several of which are potentially new to science, and provide crucial spawning grounds for the migratory African tigerfish.
According to Ramsar, Lisima Lya Mwono plays a central role in safeguarding biodiversity and maintaining hydrological systems of regional and global significance. However, water abstraction and unspecified development currently threaten its ecological character.
Ramsar said in a statement on its website that the site, listed as Ramsar Site No. 2584, covers more than 53 000 km².
Located in the central and south-eastern highlands within the Zambezi biogeographical region, Lisima Lya Mwono forms a major watershed, feeding river systems that sustain downstream wetlands such as the Okavango Delta and the Zambezi Floodplain.
Its hydrology is shaped by deep sandy soils that filter rainfall into clear, low-mineral streams, supporting Miombo forests and peatlands across more than 110 000 km².
The site is home to rare and endangered species, including the giant sable antelope, cheetah, lion and African wild dog, as well as the near-endemic carnivorous plant Genlisea angolensis.
Its freshwater ecosystems host more than 18 endemic or near-endemic fish species, several of which are potentially new to science, and provide crucial spawning grounds for the migratory African tigerfish.
According to Ramsar, Lisima Lya Mwono plays a central role in safeguarding biodiversity and maintaining hydrological systems of regional and global significance. However, water abstraction and unspecified development currently threaten its ecological character.
