The Isimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site that spans 332 000 hectares along the north eastern coast of South Africa, on Wednesday received a US9 million grant (about R65.7 million) for empowerment projects in the area.

The grant came from the Global Environment Facility through the World Bank. "The financing will help support in-depth programs that engage local communities and lead to significant economic and social mpowerment," park CEO Andrew Zaloumis told journalists in Durban.

Isimangaliso, which means miracle and wonder, contains three major lake systems, eight interlinking ecosystems, 700-year old fishing traditions, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system, 526 bird species and 25 000 year-old coastal dunes – among the highest in the world.

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