Angola’s “source of life” wetland receives international protection as ramsar site

A vast highland wetland in Angola that locals call lisima lya mwono—meaning “source of life”—has earned official recognition as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The Angolan government designated the site last October, with the announcement made public in early January.

Spanning approximately 53,000 square kilometers in Angola’s remote Moxico province, this natural “water tower” sits on a plateau 1,200 meters above sea level. The area’s intricate landscape of valleys, freshwater lakes, rivers, peatlands and marshes acts as a massive sponge, storing rainfall and steadily releasing it into major African river systems including the Okavango and Zambezi. This steady water supply makes the wetland crucial for regional water security across multiple countries.

The site’s biological significance has proven equally remarkable. Since researchers from the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project first explored the region in 2015, they have documented nearly 150 species new to science, including spiders, snakes, mice and mushrooms. Camera traps reveal thriving populations of big cats—lions, leopards and cheetahs—while confirming local reports of mysterious “ghost elephants” that may represent a genetically distinct population.

The wetland’s deep, sandy soils support specialized deciduous miombo woodlands that host plants found nowhere else on Earth. “It’s like a hidden world,” says Kerllen Costa, the project’s Angolan director, highlighting how this remote ecosystem continues to surprise scientists with its biodiversity while serving as a lifeline for millions of people downstream.