htp://www.td-sa.net Open Access The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa ISSN: (Online) 2415-2005, (Print) 1817-4434 Page 1 of 11 Original Research Read online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online. Authors: Jan T. Marx 1 Ian Liebenberg 2 Afliatons: 1 Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Stellenbosch University, South Africa 2 Centre for Military Studies and Faculty of Military Science, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa Corresponding author: Ian Liebenberg, jankalahari@gmail.com Dates: Received: 22 Apr. 2018 Accepted: 12 Oct. 2018 Published: 26 Feb. 2019 How to cite this artcle: Marx, J.T. & Liebenberg, I., 2019, ‘Into the future: Donkergat Military Training Area and the Langebaan Ramsar site’, The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa 15(1), a566. htps://doi.org/10.4102/ td.v15i1.566 Copyright: © 2019. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creatve Commons Atributon License. Introducton The military of any country needs natural areas for combat-readiness programmes where tactics in warfghting endeavours are rehearsed. The integration of environmental considerations into military activities is a growing global challenge, and in this study the possibility for the contribution of the military to a sensitive and diminishing wetland on the West Coast of SA is addressed. A consideration of MIEM for South African National Defence Force (SANDF) properties, including DMTA, requires refection on international environmental laws. South Africa has signed and ratifed virtually all the current environmental conventions and protocols (South Africa 2001), and in cases, even played a leading role in the implementation and development of these international legal agreements. One important agreement that SA has ratifed is the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention). 1 According to the criteria of the Ramsar Convention (established 1971), there are presently 23 wetlands of international importance in SA (Ramsar Sites Information Service 2017). 2 Langebaan Lagoon in the Western Cape 1.Some other important agreements that South Africa has ratfed and that are applicable to a military area such as DMTA are the Bonn Conventon on Migratory Species (CMS), the Conventon on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UNESCO World Heritage Conventon (WHC). Additonal internatonal conventons, treates, agreements and protocols relatng to the core business and the environmental responsibility of the DOD are listed in South Africa (2001). These agreements form part of internatonal law and have limited applicaton in South Africa if not ratfed by parliament, formulated in other legal imperatves and applied during assessments (DEAT 2005; World Bank 1996). The above relates closely to the drafing, implementaton and monitoring of MIEM plans as discussed here. 2.Other Ramsar designated wetlands in the Western Cape are the Bot - Kleinmond Estuarine System (1349 ha), De Hoop Vlei (750 ha), De Mond (918 ha), False Bay Nature Reserve (1542 ha), Verlorenvlei (1500 ha) and Wilderness Lakes (1300 ha). The Western Cape hosts the most estuarine wetlands but in KwaZulu-Natal Kosi Bay (10 982 ha) and the St. Lucia System (155 500 ha) also fall in this category. Last mentoned designated on 02 October 1986, was downgraded and added to the Montreux Record on 04 July 1990 but 6 years later on 11 March 1996 received its elite status back (The Montreux Record 2011). There is already islands included in the Ramsar List and site number 1688 is the Prince Edward Islands (37 500 ha) also falling under the Western Cape Province (Ramsar Sites Informaton Service 2017). In other provinces some wetlands designated of internatonal importance have been shamefully downgraded and is included in the Montreux Record with no re-classifcaton yet. These wetlands are Blesbokspruit in Gauteng and Orange River Mouth in Northern Cape. Militaries need natural areas for offensive and defensive combat-readiness programmes. Here soldiers, war machinery and munitions are employed to prepare forces to execute warfghting tactics. Integration of environmental considerations into military activities is a growing global challenge. This study is based on a qualitative approach underpinned by an extensive literature review. The potential for the contribution of the military to a sensitive and diminishing wetland on the West Coast of South Africa (SA) is addressed. Donkergat Military Training Area (DMTA) in the Western Cape province, SA, provides diverse, seaborne training and warfghting facilities for the South African Special Forces (SASF), a specialist branch of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). This facility borders the Atlantic Ocean and Langebaan Lagoon, a Ramsar site (no. 398). One of only 15 island ecosystems on the southern African coastline, lies within the boundaries of the area. Saldanha Bay was identifed as an economic development node by the national government. The 4 Special Forces Regiment (4 SFR) is thus obliged to contribute to the conservation of these environmental assets. Industrial development includes Operation Phakisa by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) that envisages expanded aquaculture practices in Saldanha Bay. Developers of fsh and bivalve farms are allowed up-scaling aquaculture operations. These result in the loss of ecological attributes of the Langebaan Lagoon Wetland system. In the study, we recommend that parts of DMTA should be incorporated in the Ramsar defnition for the Langebaan Lagoon Wetland system. Ecosystem indicators monitoring bird life, water and sediment quality, fsh and rocky intertidal macrofauna in the DMTA waters should be intensifed. The DMTA as a benchmark ecosystem in the Saldanha Bay area will facilitate environmentally sound planning amidst recent developments. Integrating sections of the Langebaan Lagoon that is part of the DMTA into the existing internationally recognised wetland area, the military can contribute signifcantly to wetland conservation. Management of these areas should be formulated in a Military Integrated Environmental Management (MIEM) plan by incorporating international guidelines. Into the future: Donkergat Military Training Area and the Langebaan Ramsar site Read online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online.