Working for Wetlands World Wetlands Day 2016 Wetlands for our Future: sustainable livelihoods

Sustainable Development goals Of the 17, 4 are directly relevant to the work we do: Good Health and Well being, Clean water and sanitation, Climate action, Life on land. All to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all within the next 15 years This is what we do …

State of wetlands and functions Wetlands covered about 10% of the country’s land area, 65% of wetlands are to a greater or lesser extent degraded, To date WfWet has restored 1,050 wetlands, securing about Ha of wetlands, Some major climate change impacts are increased drought and flood events, Wetlands rehabilitation assists in flood attenuation, groundwater recharge, improved dry season flows and water quality.

Flood attenuation and water security

Courtesy: Mondi Wetlands

GP - Doornrandjies May 2014May 2015

Clean water from rehabilitated wetland (left) mixing with dirty water from unrehabilitated stream (right)

ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING 1.Ecosystems are the source of our water. 2.Ecosystems need water to function. 3.Our catchments are our “water factories” and must be conserved. 4.The National Water Act of 1998 prioritizes the “Water Reserve” – water for basic human needs, and water for the functioning of aquatic systems, as priorities before water is used for other purposes. 5.Ecosystems are investment in water. 6.In these times of drought and water shortages, we simply cannot afford to suck rivers, wetlands, springs or groundwater dry.

Our new work Keep landscapes healthy and productive Look at the total picture: – Invasive clearing, – Restoring wetlands, – Repairing dry land erosion, – Stepping up on the high altitude work (which focuses on the upper art of the catchment), – Use the law in all its forms to challenge irresponsible land-use and threat to bio-security.

Thank you…