CoE commemorates World Wetland Day
“CoE has more than 200 water bodies in the form of lakes and dams, including wetlands,” said Dlamini.
To commemorate World Wetlands Day, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) intensified work to preserve wetlands by removing foreign vegetation in local dams.
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World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on February 2.
CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini explained that at the core of the city’s intervention is the removal of the invasive hyacinth that has aggressively invaded most of the region’s dams.
On World Wetlands Day, the campaign to clean the city’s lakes was kickstarted by MMC for Waste Management and Environment Resources Andre du Plessis in Benoni.
Dlamini said recent heavy rains which brought about flash floods invoked a sense of appreciation and the need to preserve the many wetlands found around the city.
“The wetlands assisted in slowing down the movement of rainwater, which helped to prevent heavy flooding,” said Dlamini.
A wetland is an area of land that is permanently or periodically covered with shallow water.
They are often characterised by the wet and dry areas around them, providing shelter to different fauna and flora species.
Dlamini said these water bodies are a source of recreational, aesthetic beauty and human well-being.
“CoE has more than 200 water bodies in the form of lakes and dams, including wetlands,” said Dlamini.
Parallel to removing the invasive hyacinth, the city will embark on an educational drive to empower people with critical information about the importance of wetlands and the environment in general.
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