SANParks and Wetlands Preservation and Conservation In South Africa

• The estimated global loss of wetlands is more than 50%

What is the case in South Africa?

In 1996 it was estimated that more than half of South Africa's wetlands had already disappeared. Studies in various catchments have estimated wetland losses at between 35 to 60%.

What is a wetland?

Most people think wetlands are muddy places, infested with diseases and mosquitoes and disregard them. However, conservationists would point out that wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems, supporting enormous quantities of unique plants and animals.

The Ramsar convention gave the following definition for wetlands: "wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres."

According to the South African Water Act a wetland is "land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems, where the water table is usually at or near 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".

This definition allows us to conclude that there are three indicators, which allow us to decide whether a piece of land is a wetland , or not:

"Available freshwater per capita is decreasing. In the 20th century, while the world's population tripled, freshwater withdrawals increased over six times. In some arid regions, as much as 95% of the available water is already being used!"  Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 2003

"Wetlands, globally, are worth more than R30 trillion a year"

Where to find wetlands

Water, which falls, as rain or snow in the catchment, and which is not lost to the atmosphere through evaporation or transpiration, moves through the catchment to the sea. Wetlands are found where the landform (topography) or geology slows down or obstructs the movement of water through the catchment (e.g. where the landform is very flat) causing the surface soil layers in the wetland area to be temporarily, seasonally or permanently wet.

Functions of wetlands.

Without water there would be no life on earth. Plants, animals and people need water to survive and grow. South Africa does not have an abundance of water, and the water in many streams is polluted. Both droughts and floods are common. Wetlands are able to reduce the severity of droughts and floods by regulating streamflow. Wetlands also purify water and provide habitat for many different plants and animals.

Besides these indirect benefits to society, wetlands provide many direct benefits in the form of resources such as fibre for making crafts. Until very recently the benefits of wetlands to society were often not recognized, and many wetlands have been destroyed or poorly managed.

Indirect Benefits

Flood reduction and streamflow regulation; Groundwater recharge and discharge; Water purification Erosion control by wetland vegetation; Biodiversity Chemical Cycling.

Direct Benefits

Livestock grazing; Fibre for construction and handcraft production; Valuable fisheries; Hunting waterfowl and other wildlife; Valuable land for cultivation; A valuable source of water; Economically efficient wastewater treatment; Aesthetics (beauty) and nature appreciation.

Wetland destruction

The worst damage anyone can inflict on a wetland is to drain it for the production of pastures and crops. Other insults to wetlands include overgrazing, excess cattle trampling and the wrong burning regime. Mismanagement of a wetland usually results in erosion, especially in the form of head - cuts (this is a type of erosion that eats uphill towards the flow of water, leaving a huge gully behind it). Channels and head - cuts essentially drain the wetland, dry it out and ultimately destroy it. They also increase the amount of sediment in the water thereby decreasing water quality.

Another major wetland problem in South Africa is erosion along riverbanks. The cause of this erosion is most often a result of poor land management - removal of streambank vegetation, invasion of alien plant species, excess cattle trampling, overgrazing, and flooding because of land disturbances in the upper catchment.

continued wetlands conservation here

Contact details

For any enquiries please contact the Unit Coordinator of the Invasive Species Control Unit of SANParks, Ms Olga Jacobs, at 012 426 5000 or at e-mail address: olgatsanparks.org

For more detail about general functioning of wetlands, the following web site can be consulted: www.sanparks.org

See brochure or visit www.sanparks.org for more details.