Wetlands Conservation in South Africa
Wetlands can be defined in different ways: wetlands can be defined as muddy places, infested with diseases and mosquitoes. The Conservationists define wetlands as the most productive ecosystems, supporting enormous quantities of unique plants. Therefore the Water Act of South Africa define wetlands as a land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems, where the water table is usually at the surface or the land is periodically covered with shallow water, and which land in normal circumstances supports or would support vegetation typically adapted to life in saturated soil. (1) . Wetlands are found in a variety of topographical settings for an example gentle slope and depressions where water flows down to the river. The fresh water wetlands are found all over the world in lowland areas such as rivers, lakes and streams. They are always under water and other they occur for a few weeks at a time and then disappear until they are refilled with water.
(2)
Wetlands play an important role in purifying water by trapping pollutants, micro-organisms such as viruses and bacteria which cause diseases like diarrhoea and dysentery. They function like living filters because they remove pollutant nutrients and sediments from surface and ground water. Wetland is also functions as a barrier to erosion. How? The root system of wetland plants stabilize soil at the water’s edge and enhance soil accumulation at the shoreline. Therefore by dampening wave action and slowing current speed wetland reduces erosion. Wetland plays an important role in flood prevention especially in urban area; it acts as a hydrologic sponge by storing flood water for temporarily and later releasing it slowly. (3)
Who benefits most from wetlands? Some of mammal species (River Otter and Sable Antelope), plant species (Yellow lotus and Bulrushes), insect species (Dragonfly and Water Bugs), amphibian species (Dwarf Siren and Gold Spiny Reed Frog), reptile species (Crocodiles and Snakes), bird species (Common Snipe) and fish species (Cape Lopez Lyretail) depend on wetlands for food and shelter (4). Agricultures and industries mostly depend on wetlands. Wild rice is a plant that is found in wetlands and it can be used to produce medicines, cosmetic and decorative items. (5). All above-mentioned species benefit from the wetlands during a drought period because the water sinks into the ground where some is stored as a reserve for drier periods.
Why does South Africa need to conserve its wetlands? South Africa is one of the countries which water is scarcer. Sixty-five percent of South Africa receives an average of less than 500mm of rain a year which makes it a water-scarce country according to the World Wide Fund for nature (WWF). They further mentioned that South Africa will run out of water if urgent steps are not taken seriously in managing of wetlands in a sustainable manner. (7) . SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute), DEAT (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism), DWAF (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry) and Agriculture lunched the Working for Wetlands programme. The programme focused mainly on the protection, rehabilitation and sustainable use of wetlands. The programme is also committed to international agreements policy (Ramsar Convention on Wetlands). The activities that are undertaken within the projects are as follows: the building of concrete, gabion structures in order to arrest erosion; plugging of artificial drainage channels; eradicating of invasive alien plants and airing awareness of wetlands among workers, landowners and the public. The other few activities include wetlands inventory and funding of wetlands-related research (8).
(8)
The Working for Wetlands project employed 1, 690 people in 2006 and 2007 and the targeted workers are drawn from disadvantaged background (unemployment and poverty). The programme aims to rehabilitate 83 wetlands by installation of 1,700m of fencing around structures; clearing invasive alien vegetation from 671 ha of wetlands and construction of 34,500m 3 of gabion, concrete and earth structures to trap sediment. The DEAT recommended that people must work with the departments by reporting the abuse of wetlands in their local nature conservation and all people to participate in wetlands conservation programme. Therefore conservation of wetlands in South Africa is more essential because many people remain directly dependent on wetlands for their water and much of their food. The more people are involved (volunteers) in Wetlands Conservation project, the better conservation of wetlands will improve.
References
Andreas Viklund. SANParks and Wetlands Preservation and Conservation In South Africa. [Internet]. Access on line: 16 March 2007. Available on: http://www.vuvuzela.com/wetlandspreservation/
Kandis Elliot. Defender of Worllife. Wetlands: Wonderlands Not Wastelands. [Internet] Online Access: 09 March 2007. Available from: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/habitat/wetland1.htm
Unknown. Living with Michingan’s Wetlands: A Landowner’s Guide. [Internet] Online Accesses: 11 March 2007. Available from: http://www.vbco.org/planningeduc0011.asp
Dr. Eric F. Pauley. Wetlands Plant Ecology. Biology 578. Assistant Proferssor, Department of Biology, Costal Carolina University. [Internet] Online access: 13 March 2007. Available from: http://www.lethsd.ab.ca/mmh/grade5/wetlands/index.htm
Paruelo. J. Sutton. P. Van der belt. M. and Hannon. B. Economic Benefits of Wetlands. [Internet] Online Access: 09 March 2007. Available from: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/EconomicBenefits.pdf
Unknown. Missouri Botanic Garden. Wetlands Topics. [Internet] Online access: 17 March 2007. Available from: http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/wetlands/index.htm
Unknown. Forest Conservation Portal. [Internet] Online Access: 19 March 2007. Available from: http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=31713
South African National Biodiversity Institute. Working for Wetlands Programme. [Internet] Online accesses: 17 March 2007. Available from: http://www.sanbi.org/research/wetlandprog.htm
Ramapulana Nkoana
CSIR
Pretoria0001
Cell:+27 73 347 6551
Tell:+27 12 841 2133
Fax:+27 12 841 4405
Email: pnkoana@csir.co.za
: puli.nkoana@gmail.com
Blog URL: http://pnkoana.blogspot.com/
(2)Wetlands play an important role in purifying water by trapping pollutants, micro-organisms such as viruses and bacteria which cause diseases like diarrhoea and dysentery. They function like living filters because they remove pollutant nutrients and sediments from surface and ground water. Wetland is also functions as a barrier to erosion. How? The root system of wetland plants stabilize soil at the water’s edge and enhance soil accumulation at the shoreline. Therefore by dampening wave action and slowing current speed wetland reduces erosion. Wetland plays an important role in flood prevention especially in urban area; it acts as a hydrologic sponge by storing flood water for temporarily and later releasing it slowly. (3)
Who benefits most from wetlands? Some of mammal species (River Otter and Sable Antelope), plant species (Yellow lotus and Bulrushes), insect species (Dragonfly and Water Bugs), amphibian species (Dwarf Siren and Gold Spiny Reed Frog), reptile species (Crocodiles and Snakes), bird species (Common Snipe) and fish species (Cape Lopez Lyretail) depend on wetlands for food and shelter (4). Agricultures and industries mostly depend on wetlands. Wild rice is a plant that is found in wetlands and it can be used to produce medicines, cosmetic and decorative items. (5). All above-mentioned species benefit from the wetlands during a drought period because the water sinks into the ground where some is stored as a reserve for drier periods.
Why does South Africa need to conserve its wetlands? South Africa is one of the countries which water is scarcer. Sixty-five percent of South Africa receives an average of less than 500mm of rain a year which makes it a water-scarce country according to the World Wide Fund for nature (WWF). They further mentioned that South Africa will run out of water if urgent steps are not taken seriously in managing of wetlands in a sustainable manner. (7) . SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute), DEAT (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism), DWAF (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry) and Agriculture lunched the Working for Wetlands programme. The programme focused mainly on the protection, rehabilitation and sustainable use of wetlands. The programme is also committed to international agreements policy (Ramsar Convention on Wetlands). The activities that are undertaken within the projects are as follows: the building of concrete, gabion structures in order to arrest erosion; plugging of artificial drainage channels; eradicating of invasive alien plants and airing awareness of wetlands among workers, landowners and the public. The other few activities include wetlands inventory and funding of wetlands-related research (8).
(8)
The Working for Wetlands project employed 1, 690 people in 2006 and 2007 and the targeted workers are drawn from disadvantaged background (unemployment and poverty). The programme aims to rehabilitate 83 wetlands by installation of 1,700m of fencing around structures; clearing invasive alien vegetation from 671 ha of wetlands and construction of 34,500m 3 of gabion, concrete and earth structures to trap sediment. The DEAT recommended that people must work with the departments by reporting the abuse of wetlands in their local nature conservation and all people to participate in wetlands conservation programme. Therefore conservation of wetlands in South Africa is more essential because many people remain directly dependent on wetlands for their water and much of their food. The more people are involved (volunteers) in Wetlands Conservation project, the better conservation of wetlands will improve.
References
Andreas Viklund. SANParks and Wetlands Preservation and Conservation In South Africa. [Internet]. Access on line: 16 March 2007. Available on: http://www.vuvuzela.com/wetlandspreservation/
Kandis Elliot. Defender of Worllife. Wetlands: Wonderlands Not Wastelands. [Internet] Online Access: 09 March 2007. Available from: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/habitat/wetland1.htm
Unknown. Living with Michingan’s Wetlands: A Landowner’s Guide. [Internet] Online Accesses: 11 March 2007. Available from: http://www.vbco.org/planningeduc0011.asp
Dr. Eric F. Pauley. Wetlands Plant Ecology. Biology 578. Assistant Proferssor, Department of Biology, Costal Carolina University. [Internet] Online access: 13 March 2007. Available from: http://www.lethsd.ab.ca/mmh/grade5/wetlands/index.htm
Paruelo. J. Sutton. P. Van der belt. M. and Hannon. B. Economic Benefits of Wetlands. [Internet] Online Access: 09 March 2007. Available from: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/EconomicBenefits.pdf
Unknown. Missouri Botanic Garden. Wetlands Topics. [Internet] Online access: 17 March 2007. Available from: http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/wetlands/index.htm
Unknown. Forest Conservation Portal. [Internet] Online Access: 19 March 2007. Available from: http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=31713
South African National Biodiversity Institute. Working for Wetlands Programme. [Internet] Online accesses: 17 March 2007. Available from: http://www.sanbi.org/research/wetlandprog.htm
Ramapulana Nkoana
CSIR
Pretoria0001
Cell:+27 73 347 6551
Tell:+27 12 841 2133
Fax:+27 12 841 4405
Email: pnkoana@csir.co.za
: puli.nkoana@gmail.com
Blog URL: http://pnkoana.blogspot.com/
posted by Ramapulana at
3/20/2007 01:09:00 PM
10 Comments:
Nice article and very interesting. Some of the natural wetlands also threatened by quality of rivers, which flows over them. Rivers carry soil and other contaminants (herbicides and chemicals) from cultivated land and dump them in wetlands. Preservation is the key of saving the wetlands. I do agree with you that people have to volunteer in wetlands conservation project so that the wetlands shrink because we will die of dehydration. Wetlands are very import; they purify and conserve water that we drink.
By
Masingita Lizzy, at March 22, 2007 4:08 PM
Wetlands are sometimes degraded due to overgrazing, overharvesting and continues burning. People have to stop all activities that threatened our precious wetland.
Wetland are very essential because they act as nitrogen and phosphorous traps. Some wetlands were reported 90% of nitrogen removal efficiencies (Limson 2001). Studies also indicated that wetland eliminate heavy metals from 15% to 32%(Limson 2001).
Wetlands could assist to combat water borne disease because they (wetlands) do not store water pathogen but they destroy them (Limson 2001).
It is good to conserve the remaining wetland because studies indicated that 50% of South Africa wetland are already destroyed (Rennie wetland project).Mondi wetland project estimated that South Africa fresh water will be fully utilised by 2025.
By
Kedibone, at March 22, 2007 5:06 PM
I really enjoyed to read your article. It also has recent reference.Thanks Puli for such an informative article.
By
Kedibone, at March 22, 2007 5:13 PM
hi Puli
this is a nice topic and it is very interesting. i think lot of people dont know much about wetlands, they just see them as rivers. they also dont know the difference between a river and a wetland. if people are taught about the importance of wetlands and why should wetlands be conserved i think every thing will be fine.
By
Lethabo, at March 23, 2007 9:11 AM
Yes Puli, it is true that many species such as waterbirds are threatened as a result of degradation of their wetlands due to land claims, urban developments and pollution. I think the main problem of conservation of the wetlands is the limited knowledge which is not effective.
Wetlands are very important in the fight for climate change. If the destruction of wetlands continue, climate change will also continues. This is because 8% of the world carbon dioxide gases are coming from the wetlands which have been destroyed. Wetlands are regarded as ecosystem which functions as sink for carbon. Wetlands store large amount of carbon as peat than forests do. Extremely weather events such as floods which occur as a result of climate change can be prevented by wetlands.
What need to be done is to reverse and prevent wetland loss and degradation for livelihoods and biodiversity. Local people also need to be empowered to use wetlands wisely.
By
peter, at March 23, 2007 12:21 PM
Hi Mr. Nkoana
You raised important points; however, I would like to comment about wetlands being a source of water treatment. As you said that wetlands could be defined in different ways, they are regarded as the passive treatment method of treating the sulphate rich water. The plant microbes that are associations in the wetland serve both as the reactor and carbon and energy source for the reduction of sulphate and water quality.
It is important to conserve the wetlands because birds e.g. black swan, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and invertebrate species. South Africa being water scare country. The wetlands are the cheap or free technology of water treatment.
I am positive that the Working for Wetlands project will help in the conservation of the wetlands.
By
Maleka Evelyn, at March 23, 2007 12:46 PM
I agree with you Evelyn, wetlands is the most cheapest method of water treatment but it will be more expencieve if we do not volunteer in WW programme.
Peter and lethabo i'm 100% agreeing with you guys when you say local people need to be empowered to use wetlands wisely. More education about wetlands conservation must be done through out South African schools and community.
By
pnkoana, at March 23, 2007 3:27 PM
I am very impressed with the layout of everything in this topic more especially the pictures. I do agree with Lethabo that lack of knowledge is the major cause of wetlands destruction, most of the rural people see wetlands as dumping sites where they through all the toxic chemicals inside. Most of them are not aware of the fact that there is life inside the wetlands.
I think we are not late as a South African Nation to rescue all our wetlands through rehabilitation, although awareness should be our first cause of action because it will be pointless to rehabilitate these wetlands while people will still be polluting them because of lack of knowledge. Awareness can be done through the radio and even through the direct contact where the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWARF) and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) can work hand in hand with the Chiefs in the rural villages as most threatened wetlands are found in rural areas. The Chief can help the two Departments in calling the village meeting where they will all attend and be educated about the importance of the wetlands and also how to protect them.
By
Dianah Nangammbi, at March 26, 2007 9:35 AM
South Africa is known as one country with water problem, which need to be addressed, with 50% of wetland contaminated the problem will not be solved. I can suggest that wetland have to be identified and placed in a database so that it can be known that they are monitored and are in use to purify water. These management strategies will have to be implemented in order to have quality water. The program of working for water need to be motivated with the work they are doing on rehabilitation of wetlands. The Department of water affairs and forestry need to use the wetland as part of water reservoir as wetland has ability to purify 33% of waste material. These mean that if there is rehabilitation of wetland there will be increase in percentage of purification.
By
Elelwani, at March 26, 2007 1:06 PM
HI PULI, YOU MADE MY DAY, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS INFORMATION CONCERNING WETLANDS AS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN ASSIGNMENT TO WRITE ABOUT WETLANDS AND I HAVE REALLY FOUND THIS ARTICLE MORE USEFUL, ANYWAY KEEP WELL ON ATTEMPTING THOSE ARTICLES GREAT TEAM.
By
kgetsepe, at August 06, 2008 3:36 PM
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