Mixed
Paysage culturel et botanique du Richtersveld
Photo : Francesco Bandarin (CC BY-SA 3.0 igo)
Located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, this cultural and botanical landscape represents a semi-arid mountainous region shaped by centuries of pastoral land management. The site encompasses an area of distinctive mountain terrain characterized by its unique flora and diverse plant species adapted to arid conditions. The landscape has been continuously inhabited and managed by the Nama people, whose traditional pastoral practices and land use systems have maintained the ecological and cultural integrity of the region over generations. The visual character of the site is defined by rugged mountains, endemic plant communities, and evidence of long-term human settlement patterns integrated with natural systems. The inscription recognizes the exceptional combination of outstanding natural biodiversity with a living cultural heritage, demonstrating how indigenous land management practices have sustained both ecological and cultural values. The Richtersveld represents a significant example of the interaction between human communities and their environment in southern Africa's arid zones.
