MIDDELPUNT a new nature reserve

The White-winged Flufftail is listed as globally Critically Endangered, with an estimated population of fewer than 250 mature individuals.

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Ethiopia and, more recently, South Africa are the only two countries where the species is known to breed, and there is only one confirmed site in South Africa: Middelpunt Wetland.

A White-winged Flufftail seen at Middelpunt Wetland in 1992 was the first of the species to have been recorded in South Africa after an absence of many years. Following this lucky sighting, Deon Coetzee, Dr Warwick Tarboton and Malcolm Drummond were concerned about the condition of the wetland and engaged with the owner, Michael Jansen, to rehabilitate and conserve it. A lease was eventually signed in 1994 and Middelpunt Wetland Trust was formed as the vehicle through which efforts to restore and protect the wetland could be achieved.

The following year the trust filled in five kilometres of artificial drainage channels and thus improved the condition of the wetland. In 2002, Dullstroom Trout Farm purchased the farm portion that contains most of Middelpunt Wetland to protect the main catchment area for its trout dams directly downstream. Its aim was also to safeguard the White-winged Flufftail and its habitat.