Conservation and farmers join hands to protect wetlands in drought stricken Southern Cape, 2 February 2010
Yesterday in the Soutern Cape conservation, local government and agriculture joined hands at a wetland rehabilitation site in the Duiwenshok river (close to Heidelberg) to protect the region's wetlands - increasingly recognised as a critical ecosystem to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as flooding and droughts - plaguing the popular tourism region in recent times.
The event hosted by CapeNature, in solidarity with citizens from across the globe, who observed World Wetlands Day, was held under the international theme:"Wetlands, Biodiversity, and Climate Change ".
CapeNature Southern Cape Area Manager, Mbulelo Jacobs said: “Wetlands in the Riversdal and Heidelberg areas of the Southern Cape are under mounting pressure due to human activities (channelling, cultivation, developments too close to wetlands or lack of knowledge about how these systems work) and invasive plant species”
The current drought in this area has also worsened because water flow is not properly controlled, Jacobs said.
He explained that CapeNature views the support to conservation from the agricultural sector and local authorities as crucial as a healthy environment is able to sustain healthy communities.
All of the rehabilitation work started by CapeNature in conjunction with Working for Wetlands (WfW) last year, takes place on privately owned land and includes the construction of a 1432m³ gabion structure by up to 33 local workers, following a previous serious head-cut by farmers.
Jacobs went on to say that the gabion structure prevents the loss of Peat Palmiet - essential for the functioning of a healthy wetland system. Palmiet plants, found most commonly in wetlands in the upper reaches of rivers in the Southern Cape help to reduce flood damage (by slowing down the velocity of water and trapping sediment) and this along with Peat (an organic soil in wetlands) improve its quality and quantity.
Healthy wetlands are able to provide many other ecosystem services including climate regulations, retainment of nutrients important for food production as well as acting as reservoirs, because of its amazing capacity to store water.
Landowners assist in allowing free access on their property and contribute to a healthier wetland system by practicing more sustainable use.
“It is vital that we make sure that these kinds of initiatives become success stories in order to sustain and create a healthy environment for ourselves and for our children,” Executive Mayor: Hessequa Municipality, Chris Taute said.
NOTES TO EDITOR
HEADCUT
A headcut is an erosion donga (or a point in the river where someone has interfered (dug a channel) with an earth moving machine. This disturbance causes water to flow faster thereby causing a large erosion hole.
When flood events occur this erosion hole/point starts moving up-river taking the river banks downstream in the form of sediment .
Relevant to the story above is that the sediment ends up in the Duiwenhoks dam thereby decreasing the water holding capacity of the dam. It also erodes the peat wetlands which stores water and releases it slowly over a period of time.
The wetland rehabilitation project was started by CapeNature in 2009 in conjunction with Working for Wetlands (WfW) and provides jobs to 22 to 33 local people.
Working for Wetlands is a government programme managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), for Departments: Environmental and Tourism (DEAT), Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) and Agriculture. It is part of the Expanded Public Works Program. The programme was initiated in 2002 to supervise the rehabilitation of depredated wetlands throughout South Africa.
Pressure on water sources is increasing, but by correct management of resources it offers many benefits to humans, known as ecoservices. Approximately 7% of South Africa’s surface is covered by wetlands. Wetlands can be seen as the kidneys of the earth as it is designed to purify water. Wetlands manage both water quantity and quality. It is one of the most important and known ecoservices to humans and the environment.
World Wetland Day commemorates the date on which the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 with the main aim of promoting conservation and wise use of wetlands through local and national actions complemented by international cooperation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Heidi Nieuwoudt
Tel/Fax: 028 713 236
Mobile: 082 448 9116
ISSUED BY:
Liesl Brink
Public Relations Officer
CapeNature
Tel: 021 659 3446
Mobile: 071 688 2649
Email: lbrink@capenature.co.za
Website: www.capenature.co.za
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