1. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 1 Wetlands for our Future: Sustainable Livelihoods with reference to Verloren Valei Nature Reserve and Ramsar site, Dullstroom, Mpumalanga February 2016

2. Wetlands are characterised by their function as sponges, the biota that they sustain and habitat. This presentation is to illustrate these charateristics and show how they impact on livelihoods and sustainable development goals, using Verloren Valei as example Impacts on Water and environment Energy Urban & rural development Tourism Agriculture Forestry Industry Transport Exploitation of non renewable resources Management and careers 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting CC 2

3. Verloren Valei Nature Reserve and Ramsar site Over 30 permanent fresh water marshes. Sponges in upper catchments of major rivers. Conservation management reduces ingress. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 3

4. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 4 Verloren Valei Nature Reserve and Ramsar site High biodiversity; rare &endangered species. On watershed: no outside water pollution. Under threat from mining and alternative uses.

5. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 5 Orchid that grows in nstoney grassland Disa cooperi besides intrinsic beauty value is has potential indicator value in climax grass veld

6. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 6 Orchid that grows in climax grassland Disa patula Var. transvaalensis potential value in grassland condition assessment

7. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 7 Orchid that grows in the wetland and stream banks Disa rhodantha strikingly beautiful

8. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 8 Orchid that grows in the wetland and moist grassland Disa versicolor used as a charm against evil

9. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 9 Spectacular plant of the Iris family growing in wetland Crocosmia paniculata This species has medicinal value

10. Grey-winged and Red-winged francolin are managed for sustainable consumptive use Grey-winged Francoloin premier South African gamebird 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 10

11. Plains game are also managed for sustainable consumptive use and are vital for veld composition Live capture of Blesbuck is a regular source of income for the reserve 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 11 Photo: Deon Furstenburg

12. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 12 Energy. Coal fired power generation in South Africa requires water with low sulphate levels In the absence of AMD desalinisation pure water from SA’s wetlands contributes to the dilution of AMD sulphates on which DWA (Dept Water & Sanitation) depends at present.

13. 16/03/2016 Image Nightjar Travel Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 13 Urban and rural development The town of Dullstroom on the banks of the Crocodile river and agriculture in the district depend on unpolluted water

14. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 14 Tourism is the most important economic activity of Dullstroom providing jobs to towns folk and on farms Public Fly fishing at the Dullstroom Dam and Nature Reserve in the image. This dam is fed by the Crocodile river There are many trout farms and syndicated waters in the Crocodile and Lunsklip drainage areas

15. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 15 Agriculture and forestry; Pre 1983 Verloren Valei was farmed land with some forest Post 1983 Verloren Valei raises potential for areas many times its size for progressive agriculture and forestry

16. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 16 Transport; Civil engineering imperatives often cause roads to be built along and across wetlands A provincial road giving access to farms and homes transects Verloren Valei and damages wetlands Poor grading technique causes silting of wetlands Unlimited access compromises reserve integrity

17. 16/03/2016 Picture Stephan du Toit Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 17 Exploitation of non-renewalble resources: wetlands mitigate exploitive damage yet themselves threatened Platinum in the Steenkampsberg traversing Verloren Valei Mining an ever present threat AMD; unwanted consequence with damage down steam

18. Management and careers with particular reference to Verloren Valei Nature Reserve Mpumalanga Tourism &Parks Agency Regional management Reserve management WESSA Friends of Verloren Valei group Reserve staff Community inputs Research services Volunteers 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting CC 18

19. 16/03/2016 Zingela Consulting (Pty) Ltd 19 Key discussion points –Topic #1. SANParks vs Province –Topic #2 Separate tourism and conservation –Topic #3 Public / private partnerships –Topic #4 Mining vs pristine preservation –Topic #5 Open or closed reserve