News details

South Africa: Project Mfabeni

Hydrological functioning of Mfabeni fen; the oldest and largest fen in South Africa

Mfabeni fen is situated in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South-Africa within the borders of the iSimangalesi Wetland Park, near the town of St Lucia. The almost undisturbed mire (= living peatland) occurs in an inter-dunal depression close to the Indian Ocean (see map). The fen is still largely without trees, the peat thickness is up to 10 meters and it is the oldest recorded peatland in South Africa (ca, 39.000 years old). ERA is involved in this study since 2005. The project is financed by the South-African Water Research Commission (WRC) and the University of Waterloo in Canada (prof. J. Price). ERA has contributed in making an ecohydrological landscape analysis of the area. 

  • Literature list

    Clulow, A.D., Everson, C.S, Mengistu, M.G., Jarmain, C., Jewitt, G.P.W., Price, J.S. & Grundling, P.L. 2012. Measurement and modelling of evaporation from a coastal wetland in Maputaland, South Africa. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 16: 3233-3247..
    Grundling, P.L., Grootjans, A.P., Price, J.S., & Ellery, W.N. 2013. Development and persistence of an African mire; how the oldest South African fen has survived in a marginal climate. Catena 100: 176-183.
    Grundling, P.L., 2014. Genesis and hydrological functioning of an African mire: understanding the role of peatlands in providing ecosystem services in semi-arid climates. PhD thesis University of Waterloo, Canada. 
    Sieben, E.J.J., Ellery, W.N., Dullo, B.W. & Grootjans, A.P. 2015. Impact of marine inundation on the lakeshore vegetation of Lake St. Lucia, South Africa; resilience of estuarine vegetation. African Journal of Aquatic Science 2015:1-11.
    Grundling, P.L., Clulow, A.D. Price, J.S., & Everson, C.S. 2015. Quantifying the water balance of Mfabeni Mire (iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa) to understand its importance, functioning and vulnerability. Mires and Peat 16 article 12: 1-18.


    Project 2-SA-DEFMfabeni fen South Africa..pdf