World Wetlands Day - 2 February 2008

In preparation for WWD 2008, a task team has been set up. It is headed by Patrick Dowling of WESSA.


Patrick Dowling in the foreground

We are not staging our own ‘event’ but are coordinating interested agencies so that information can be shared, distributed and used optimally.

The latest Western Cape World Wetlands Week Programme can be downloaded HERE.

With assistance from Dennis Laidler, Biodiversity Deputy Director in the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, this blog site has been established.

We will use our new blog to accumulate relevant postings that can then be made available to organisers of WWD events, as well as being used for other purposes.

The home page URL for the Western Cape Wetlands blog is www.wetlandsforum.blogspot.com .

Please feel free to send contributions to the blog editor, Philippa Huntly at wetlandsforum@sanbi.org

The World Wetlands Day 2008 Ramsar Theme is “Healthy Wetlands Healthy People”

In unpacking this theme we have come up with the following attributes of healthy wetlands and healthy people:

HEALTHY WETLANDS:

• are not polluted
• render many valuable services
• are not dump sites
• support human and non-human activity
• help cleanse water and improve its quality
• help prevent flooding
• counter the effects of drought
• are found inland, on the coast, near rivers
• can be big or small
• are not infested with alien plants
• are not under threat by development
• are not used as sewerage outfalls
• are not drained
• are beautiful
• are crucial habitat to plants and animals

HEALTHY PEOPLE:

• are well in mind, body and spirit
• are helpful and know where to get help
• are concerned about the environment for themselves and future generations
• participate in democracy
• are prepared to make a difference
• are more interested in need than in greed
• are not bought off easily
• work hard and intelligently
• see health and environment connections
• are not selfish
• promote health messages to others
• are not passive
• look forward to solving problems
• do not exploit the environment
• share resources
• perceive the earth and all its components as a closed finite system to be conserved and not to be exploited