From wetland to wasteland: activists ramp up water safety message
“Unfortunately our wetlands are being turned into wastelands because people don’t see a value in them. Wetlands are very important in that they don’t only filter water but they help in reducing flooding.”
February should be Wetlands month, a Centurion clean water activist has suggested.
Tarryn Johnston was talking to Rekord on the commemoration of Wetlands day on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately our wetlands are being turned into wastelands because people don’t see a value in them. Wetlands are very important in that they don’t only filter water but they help in reducing flooding,” she said.
Johnston added that the biggest problem was that people were moving into wetlands and destroying them completely.
“People are taking wetlands out to plant crops, all those things can’t retain nor clean water. All of these doings are from a complete lack of understanding, just at Centurion Lake we have a wetland developed and one can see a difference in water quality in the area,” she said.
Ayabulela Madikana, a soil science student from Highveld, said communities needed to teach themselves about the importance of wetlands.
Madikana said it was upon all of us to protect and manage wetlands in a way that considers the needs of local communities.
“We must remember that wetlands are not just important for us, but they are part of our shared heritage. They are a source of beauty and wonder and they are a reminder of our interconnectedness with nature.”
She said wetlands were the main source of livelihood for the majority of people around the globe.
MMC for environment and agriculture management Katlego Mathebe said wetlands were beneficial to the ecosystem because they filtered pollutants out of waterways, reduced flood risk by holding back water, replenished groundwater supplies as well as provided food and medicine.
“A wide range of events have been organised by the city to create an understanding among residents of the important role wetlands play. This year’s focus will be on raising awareness at the community in Winterveldt about a degrading wetland due to illegal dumping into it and the removal of vegetation,” said Mathebe.
Johnston urged all stakeholders to work together to retain the wetland at Centurion Lake.
“If we can all pull together and cut off trees that are in the middle of the river, and re-plant proper wetlands grass which will filtrate all the waters that comes through.”
The UN General Assembly adopted World Wetlands Day on August 30, 2021, making this the second year such day has been commemorated.
World Wetlands Day is observed on February 2 to raise global awareness about the importance of wetlands, not only for people but for our planet as well.
The day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
