Harry says save the wetlands

Wetlands, which may look to us like nothing but breeding grounds for annoying insects, are actually something we should look after very carefully, says Harry the Hominid, Maropeng’s spokeshominid.

“Also known as swamps or marshes, wetlands play an important part in the way nature works and we actually should treat them with a lot of respect.”

Here are some of the valuable things wetlands do:

• Wetlands help remove excess nutrients that come from human activities and turn them into food for plants and animals.

• Some wetland plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and store it, which helps control climate change.

• Wetlands act like sponges, soaking up excess water and storing it for when the weather is dry so our rivers don’t flood or run dry.

• The wetlands give us clean water.

• The wetlands are filled with insect, bird and animal life that should be preserved.

“Because wetlands clearly are such a good thing,” says Harry, “we shouldn’t let any rubbish get into the water.

“Help keep the water clean and pure so that creatures and plants will have a place to live. You also can enjoy it by fishing, swimming, sailing or bird watching in and around the wetlands, and keep doing so for years to come,” he concludes.