Driefontein Grasslands
The Driefontein Grasslands, is located between Chivhu, Mvuma and Felixburg, covering three provinces; Masvingo, Midlands and Mashonaland East in central Zimbabwe. It is characterised by open wet grasslands and patches of Miombo woodlands which separate the grasslands. Most of the landscape is under natural highveld grassland, dominated by the thatching grass Hyparrhenia which can grow to a height of 3 metres. The area is one of the seven Ramsar sites in Zimbabwe. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands provides a framework for wetland conservation and asks that nations promote the sustainable utilization and conservation of wetlands. Driefontein is located outside protected area systems and therefore is communally managed. The site is an Important Bird Area (IBA), an area that is rich in birds and supports three globally threatened bird species. Driefontein Grasslands provides important ecosystem services to communities living within.
It provides an ideal breeding and feeding ground for the secretary bird Sagittarius serpentarius, saddle-billed stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis, African marsh harrier Circus ranivorus, and the duck species found in the Site. Other noteworthy species that depend on the Site include the black-bellied bustard Lissotis melanogaster and the kori bustard Ardeotis kori, the black-breasted snake eagle Circaetus pectoralis, and the African fish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer. Farmers use the wetlands for maize growing, small-scale farming, fishing, and cattle rearing. In 2010 the Conservation Action Plan for Wattled Crane and Grey Crowned Crane in Zimbabwe, which focused on Driefontein Grasslands, was developed to ensure the protection of the species against vlei fires and habitat loss.
Administrative region: Masvingo, Midlands, Mashonaland East Provinces
Site number: 2104
Area: 201,194 ha
Designation date: 03-05-2013
Coordinates: 19°15’S 30°46’E
