Cranes are the ambassadors for two of South Africa’s most important ecosystems, the wetlands and grasslands that make up our water catchment areas. All South African residents are dependent upon the careful management of these biodiversity hot spots as are South Africa’s cranes. These ecosystems provide food, clothing, bio-diversity, carbon storage, housing materials, water storage and purification, flood control, recharge of groundwater supplies, and recreational and tourism opportunities. Efforts to protect cranes bring the need to conserve these ecosystems into sharp focus and the cranes reliance on these ecosystems is a reflection of our own survival needs.
