Simonsvlei Wetlands Trust

Check out the Simonsvlei Wetlands Trust



Simonsvlei is a concerned eco-citizen and serious about protecting and caring for the vlei or wetland on its property. Although located between the N1 highway and the busy R101, this wetland has a historical and ecological significance for Simonsvlei.

In order to protect its wetland for future generations, Simonsvlei has established the Simonsvlei Wetlands Trust. The primary aim of the trust is to develop a sustainable plan for the protection and rehabilitation of the area’s remaining wetlands, and to elevate the status of the wetlands by educating the community on its historical, economic and ecological importance.

A permanent link to the Simonsvlei Wetlands Trust has been added to the 'Friends of Western Cape Wetlands' section in the right hand sidebar of this blog

New Coordinated Water Bird Count (CWAC) project

February 2 was World Wetlands Day

The Avian Demography Unit's (ADU's) contribution was to launch the new website of the Coordinated Waterbird Count (CWAC) project.

The development of the site was sponsored by SANBI.

The main content of the site (found by drilling down from "CWC Data" on the left hand side menu on the CWAC site) is a tribute to the hundreds of CWACers who have faithfully counted the waterbirds at wetlands. CWAC started in 1992.

The site was designed by Michael Brooks at the ADU, and the CWAC project is coordinated by Marius Wheeler (marius.wheeler@uct.ac.za).

Spare a thought for the wetlands.

--
Professor Les Underhill
Director: Avian Demography Unit
http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/index.htm
Vice-President: International Ornithological Committee Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
Phone +27 21 650 3227 Cell 072 062 1140 Fax 021 650 3434

Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2
http://www.sabap2.org

12th Pan-African Ornithological Congress, Goudini Spa, Cape Town
7-12 September 2008
http://www.paoc12.org

25th International Ornithological Congress, Campos do Jordao, Brazil
22-28 August 2010
http://www.ib.usp.br/25ioc

Western Cape Wetlands Forum - 2008 e-card

Enviro Kids Magazine - Wetlands Edition

Click on the images to display a larger image

ORDER WESSA's ENVIROKIDS MAGAZINE
TO SUPPORT YOUR EDUCATION INITIATIVES

THEME: HANDS-ON WETLANDS

NB ... NO PRICE INCREASE FOR 2008!

R7.50 per copy + VAT + postage. Note: minimum order 6 copies
R7.00 per copy + VAT + p&p for 25+ copies
R6.50 per copy + VAT + p&p for 500+ copies
Quotes supplied on request
Magazines mail last week of February.
Deadline for orders: 5pm on Thursday 7 February 2008 - magazine goes for
printing on the 8th.

To order, press the reply button, fill in your details below and send.
Your name :
Postal address:
Order number if required to expedite payment:
Number of copies required:
Telephone contact details:


MAGAZINE CONTENT
Feature articles:

1. Know your wetlands - Double page spread (DPS) on characteristics of wetlands, different types of wetlands in a catchment, the value of wetlands, threats and what people can do to help conserve them. Interactive children are asked to name wetlands in a a catchment illustration.

2. Exploring wetlands - 5 pages detailing how to sample wetlands, simple equipment required, and what you can expect to find at the water's edge, near the surface, in midwater and on the bottom. Pages contain clear photographs of animals and plants to be found as well as descriptive text.

3. Feathered tourists - A4 Featuring a Common Ringed Plover migrating to our wetlands. The article highlights the importance of Ramsar sites and wetland conservation.

4.Windows on our world: Wetlands Sections of a large poster produced as a learning resource by Pat Hoffmann of WATER, illustrate problems in wetlands. Interactive children are asked to identify which illustrations feature specific problems.

5. Story: Why the Flamingo stands on one leg - an African tale. Extra information and photos on flamingos.

6. iSimangaliso wetland game - a board game that takes you on a journey around Lake St Lucia to discover what the park has to offer and learn about this famous wetland.

7. Make a wetland for wildlife - how to make a small pond and attract a wetland community to your garden.

8. How can schools become water wise - A poster produced by Rand Water about how the Water Wise Education Team can help school learning programmes.

9. Jewels of the city - A4 featuring the importance of urban wetlands as a learning resource. The Edith Stephens Wetland Park in Cape Town is highlighted.

10. Saving the Kamfers Dam Flamingos - A4 Article detailing how an island refuge was built to help save Kimberley's Flamingos.

11. Kids in Parks: Visit the West Coast National Park A4 detailing what is special about this park and the educational programmes that are available.

12. Remaining content: Report on Eco-Schools: Celebrating 5 years; Froggie's colour-in Puzzles & Competitions; Letters 'n art and News.

ENVIROKIDS MAGAZINE
EnviroKids is the junior magazine of the Wildlife & Environment Society of SA. This quarterly 32-page magazine is mailed to WESSA junior members, educators, enviro-clubs and libraries nationwide. Each issue has a different theme. Bulk orders are made available to other educational institutes and organisations. The magazine is useful for designing lessons, supporting the curriculum, enrichment and project material, to improve literacy, and for general information.

WESSA aims to promote 'Public participation in caring for the Earth.'

For more information contact the Editor.
Dr. Roberta Griffiths
EnviroKids Editor
Wildlife & Environment Society of SA
P.O. Box 30145
7966 Tokai
South Africa
Tel./Fax 021-6718344
rgriffs@iafrica.com

World Wetlands Day - 2 February 2008

By Philippa Huntly

With more than half of South Africa’s wetlands already lost, chiefly due to unwise development and unsustainable farming practices, it is time we took our environmental laws a little more seriously.

The 2nd of February is World Wetlands Day. On this day all over the world environmental organizations try to raise awareness about wetlands, why they are important and how we can help protect those that remain.

Ramsar and World Wetlands Day
Wetlands became the focus for international concern back in 1971 when countries met at the little town of Ramsar on the edge of the Caspian sea in Iran to plan for the better protection and sustainable use of the world’s rapidly disappearing wetlands that were being lost to ill-considered development, pollution, forestry, drainage and overexploitation. South Africa is a signatory to the Ramsar convention and has 16 Ramsar sites, including those in the Western Cape - De Hoop Vlei, De Mond State Forest, Langebaan and Verlorenvlei.

World Wetlands Day is now celebrated as an annual event in recognition of the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971. It has gained momentum in recent years with a growing awareness of the urgency of the environmental crisis we face. Many environmental groups, government agencies, schools and concerned citizens use this day, and the whole of February, as an opportunity to raise public awareness, and remind decision makers, of the value of wetlands. Each year the Ramsar theme changes. This year it is “Healthy wetlands, healthy people” – meaning quite literally that healthy, functioning wetlands give direct benefits to people.

What are Wetlands
Wetlands, or vleis are an ecosystem type that can vary greatly. There are numerous formal definitions. The Ramsar Convention defines wetlands as: “areas of marsh, fen, peatlands or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters”.
There are many different kinds of wetlands, such as estuarine, delta, riverine, peatlands and mountain seeps. There are also many different names for wetlands such as vlei, marsh, fen, bog and pan. Sometimes the dominance of one kind of plant can define a wetland, such as Palmiet wetlands.

Palmiet Wetlands and floods in the Southern Cape
In the Southern Cape beautiful Palmiet wetlands used to be prevalent, however they are now highly threatened. Palmiet is a large plant, growing up to 2,5 m tall when undisturbed, with an even deeper root system designed to hold soil and to withstand flooding. In doing so it mitigates the effects of flooding, protecting the whole river system and by default any human built infrastructure on or close to floodplains. Take it away and pay the price, as shown in the post flooding photographs of the Duivenhoks River in the Southern Cape.

Hannes Muller of LandCare, a division of the Department of Agriculture, works constantly with farmers in the Southern Cape and Klein Karoo. Hannes and his colleagues are not only trying to stop the destruction of wetlands due to poor farming practices, but are also busy with wetland rehabilitation as well as alien clearing. Hannes says it is estimated that “over two thirds of the Palmiet wetlands in the Southern Cape have been completely destroyed, mostly due to unsustainable farming practices, as well as various types of unwise development. A lot of the destruction is at the hands of land owners who often know their actions are harmful and/or against the law”.

Floods have plagued the Southern Cape in recent years and the natural sponge effect that wetlands provide helps to mitigate the effects of flooding. Take the wetlands out of the river systems and the intensity of floods is increased hugely, wiping out agriculture, homes and other infrastructure, as in the town and rural area of Heidelberg when the Duivenhoks River floods. Some landowners upstream in the Duivenhoks system have rooted out Palmiet, canalized sections of the river, dug out peat beds (estimated to be between 7.5 and 10 000 years old) and the results are felt throughout the entire system. Mistakes or transgressions like these are made everywhere, and not only by private landowners and farmers, but also by Government Departments and Local Government. As with many environmental issues, those doing the most damage, often through ignorance, are not always the ones to pay the price.

Threats to Wetlands
Aside from unsustainable agriculture, unwise development is a major threat to wetlands. In many cases this means the draining, filling in and building on wetland sites. This not only kills the specific wetland system that has been built on but also has knock-on effects in the whole ecosystem. Invasion by alien plants is another major threat to wetlands. In the Western Cape many of our remaining wetlands are infested with alien plants, the most common being the Australian Acacias and Eucalyptus, Hyacinth and Parrots Feather. One of the aims of Working for Wetlands is to remove alien invasive plants and control their re-growth in an attempt to restore the proper functioning of wetlands.

Western Cape Wetlands Forum and Working for Wetlands
When the Working for Water Programme was launched into the public works sector in 1995, the way was cleared for creative thinking around the links between environmental management and social development. The Working for Wetlands Programme followed a few years later, and job creation projects that tackled wetland restoration and rehabilitation were initiated around the country. In order to provide the space for discussion amongst the different stakeholder groups concerned with wetlands, and to receive guidance for the prioritization of wetlands to be restored, a network of wetland forums was nurtured into being around the country by Working for Wetlands.

In the Western Cape, this process took hold in 2002, and over the past 5 years the Western Cape Wetlands Forum has built a comprehensive membership ranging from public sector managers and policy makers, through the wetland research community and NGOs to practitioners engaged in conservation and rehabilitation of wetlands. Included in the objectives of the Forum are: the promotion, amongst all sectors of society, of awareness and understanding of wetlands, their roles as part of both the natural and human environments, and the factors that affect them. Dr George Davis of the South African National Biodiversity Institute, and current chair of the Forum, believes that the breadth of the membership is important for articulating and establishing the long-term objectives of wetland conservation. “We have recently established an explorative relationship with the Simonsvlei Winery in Klapmuts, who are interested in protecting and rehabilitating a piece of wetland alongside the N1. In synch with similar initiatives such as ‘biodiversity and wine’, we are hoping to encourage the process of ‘mainstreaming’ wetland appreciation and conservation into the mindset of South Africans who have had little exposure to both the biodiversity heritage that is linked to our wetlands, as well as to the critical ecosystem services that they provide, such as groundwater recharge, river health, flood attenuation, and a reliable water supply. The more we can involve the commercial sector in this type of approach, the better our chances of sustaining our total environment. The Wetlands Forum is a valuable tool in this process”.

Naturally it makes sense that it is in our collective interest to look after those remaining wetlands.

Photographs by Japie Buckle, Working for Wetlands

1. Homes damaged in Heidelberg after the flooding of the Duivenhoks River.

Coming soon

2. Pristine Palmiet wetlands remain intact after a flood, thereby protecting the whole river system from erosion.

Brochure for World Wetlands Day - 2 Feb 2008

A brochure is available with information about World Wetlands Day 2008
Click on the picture above to download the brochure from mediafire

Wetlands Poster

Click on the poster to display a larger image

This poster has been produced for learners - 1000 have been printed.
800 are being distributed via the City of Cape Town's YES schools programme and
200 via WCWF and WESSA.

SOME EVENTS ON WORLD WETLANDS DAY 2008

SOME OF THE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES HAPPENING IN THE NAME OF WORLD WETLANDS DAY 2008 IN THE WESTERN CAPE

This year our aim is to get the wetlands message to as wide an audience as possible for world wetlands day. We are targeting 3 main groups: decision makers (in business and gov), the general public and learners. With the help of many stakeholders, particularly WESSA, the City of Cape Town and Simonsvlei Wines, the Forum is doing the following:

Advert to address the general public to raise awareness:
The Forum is placing an advert in the Weekend Argus and Die Burger. Both newspapers will carry editorial on wetlands, how important they are to the environment and people and the threats they face.

Message to decision makers:
A “Happy Wetlands Day” e-card is being sent to decision makers in government, local municipalities and business. The message encourages thought about the decisions made in the course of business, development and planning.

Material for learners:
1000 of the Ramsar posters with a mini poster produced by the Forum are being put up in schools, community notice boards and at Universities.

Blog:
The Forum has created its own blog: www.wetlandsforum.blogspot.com

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FRIENDS OF THE LIESBEEK

In celebration of World Wetlands Day the Friends of the Liesbeek invite you to join them on a walk and talk around the wetlands of the lower Liesbeek. On Friday 1 February meet at 6pm on the Durban Road Bridge, Mowbray. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a jersey. Dogs with poop scoops welcome. No charge.

Contact:
Liz or Dave
021-671-4553.

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RONDEVLEI NATURE RESERVE

The programme below will take place at Rondevlei Nature Reserve, Fisherman's Walk Road, Zeekoevlei. Dates: 4 and 8 Feb 08

The target group for World Wetlands day is Grade 4-7. Learners can bring a snack and a drink with for a short break after the walk.

The itinerary for the visit:
* Introduction to Rondevlei
* A walk along the pathway using bird identification charts to identify birds at the bird hides
* Identification of animal spoor along the pathway
- Short interval
* Discussions about the animals and plants associated with the wetland, specifically at Rondevlei.
* Discussion about the importance of Wetlands in nature
* Discussion about it’s importance to humans.
* Threats to Wetlands and how to help.
* Walk through the museum.

Bookings are essential:
Contact:
Bronwen Foster
Tel.: 021 706 2404,
Email: Bronwen.Foster@capetown.gov.za

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ZANDVLEI TRUST

Zandvlei Trust members will be assisting the Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve staff from 28/01/2008 to 08/02/2008 on the week days, when the Metrorail Edutrain will be bringing between 80 and 100 learners per day to Zandvlei to learn about the importance of Wetlands, celebrating World Wetlands Day.

Selected schools (by the Edutrain staff) from across the Cape Flats from as far as Tulbach, Wellington, Stellenbosch come to Zandvlei. The unique aspect of Zandvlei is that it is the only Reserve within walking distance to a railway station (public transport) in the Metropole.

Contact person:
Gavin Lawson
phone / fax 27 021 705 5224
email glawson@xsinet.co.za

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HOUT BAY WETLANDS PROJECTS

The Hout Bay Heritage Trust has initiated and sourced funding for three wetland restoration projects for WWD08:

1) Linking Coastal Wetlands

Aim: To establish a corridor linking two rehabilitated wetlands within the Coastal zone of Hout Bay.
Dates: January - August 2008

2) Kronendal Project: Alien Removal in Hout Bay Wetland

Aim: To ringbark and poison the Gray poplar trees invading the western portion of the Hout Bay Wetland

3) Good Hope Sub-Council Ward Project: Cleaning up of Hout Bay Wetland

Aim: Clearing rubble adjacent to wetlands, maintaining the board walk and cutting of alien Spanish reeds.

Contact person:
Justin O’Riain
Tel: 021 6503645

*******

KEYSERS RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT

Rotating poster display that goes from business to business in the light industrial area along the Keysers River to raise awareness and encourage participation in the Keyers river restoration project. Also aims to raise general awareness about wetlands.

Contact Person:
Mandy Noffke
021 7856871

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GEESE

Glencain Education and Environment Support Enthusiasts

Els River clean up, talk and walk. Date: 2nd Feb 08

Program:
* 09h00 meet outside the Sothern Right Hotel. Work Party to clean up the triangle of public land & the Els River in front of the Southern Right Hotel, Glen Road, Glencairn.
* 11h00 Refreshments at the Southern Right Hotel
* 11.45 Paul Jaques will give a presentation about the old water mill. Presentation in Southern Right Hotel.
- Break for Lunch - At the hotel, or take a picnic to the ruins of the Water Mill or have a well earned rest at home
* 16h00 Meet at the Water Mill. Paul will talk us through the ruins.

Then, those who are energetic will walk down the Els River to the Sea
* 17h30 Re-Assemble at the Southern Right Hotel for Drinks and Snacks

A big “Thank you” to the Southern Right Hotel

Contact person:
Cilla Bromley
021 782 6400
e-mail: cilla@bromley.co.za

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TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Table Mountain National Park staff will lead an interactive wetlands walk and talk for grade 6 and 7 learners from Ukhanyo Primary School at the Noordhoek Wetlands bordering Masiphumelele (approx 60 learners).

This interpretive walk is on the 01 February 2008. After the walk, the learners will be invited to apply what they have learnt to enter a 'Ranger Challenge' competition: In groups of five they must pretend that they are Rangers and either write what about what they will/should do to
look after an indicated piece of the wetland, or draw a plan/map/picture that shows what they will do. The best group wins either a hiking trip to sleep on Table Mountain (People's Trail) or an overnight trip to West Coast National Park.

The awareness drive is ongoing in that a smaller group of interested learners will be helped by a teacher from the school and the People and Conservation Officer from the Park to form an eco-club which can 'adopt' a piece of the wetland close to Masiphumelele, which they will regularly visit with the rangers in the section to assist in its maintenance during the course of the year.

Future plans include that learners who remain inspired after the year and move up to the High School can be helped to start an eco-club at this school, and/or can join the new TMNP Youth Honorary Rangers program that is due to start up next year.

Contact person:
Crecilda van den Berg, Section Ranger for the Noordhoek Wetlands:
021 789 2456, or

Leighan Mossop, Senior Section Ranger for the Central Section of TMNP:
021 789 2457, or

Luyanda Lombo, People and Conservation Officer in TMNP:
021 789 2458

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Cape Nature Porterville Area
Friday 1 Feb 08

Cape Nature guided tour of Jackalsvlei and Verlorenvlei wetlands for WfWetlands contractors. A talk about the importance of wetlands will be presented.

Contact:
Heidi Nieuwoudt
022 9312900

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TYGERBERG BIRD CLUB

BIRD COUNT

Our next Co-ordinated Water Bird Count (CWAC) at the Botriviervlei and Kleinmond Estuary is due on Saturday, 2 February 2008. This coincides with World Wetlands Day, and what better way to contribute to the management of a healthy wetland!

We start at 07h00. The duration per section varies, but the last team usually finishes by not later than 12h00. We usually have a tea break during the count and a light lunch before we go home. Each person is responsible for bringing his/her own eats and drinks. Do remember that it is essential that everybody takes enough water or other liquid refreshments as it might be a very hot day. Also remember your sunscreen, hat and windbreaker, and, of course, your binoculars!

Coordinator:
Mariana Delport
tel: 021 919 2282 or md@cape-ecotrous.co.za

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WEST COAST FIELD STUDIES CENTRE

The West Coast Field Studies Centre is proud to launch the Paarden Eiland Wetland Rehabilitation Project on the 02 February 2008, proudly sponsored by Totalgaz Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. and Total Corporate Foundation for Biodiversity and the Sea.

Details of the launch:

Place: Brooklyn Chest Hospital
Time: To start at 10:00 am
Theme: Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People

A group of learners has been invited to attend the launch. The learners will partake in various educational activities to learn more about the Paarden Eiland Wetland and the WCFSCs involvement in conserving and rehabilitating the wetland.

Contact person:
Jennifer van Niekerk,
tel (021) 511 2384 or 084 626 7404

Wetland information from DWAF Perspective

DWAF is the South African national Department of Water Affairs and Forestry

Compiled by Ms Nyamande T.B

The National Water Act (NWA), 1998 (Act 36 of 1998), regards the Minister of DWAF1 as the public trustee of the nation's water resources and therefore acknowledges the Department's overall responsibility for and authority over the nation's water resources.

The ultimate aim of integrated water resource management is to achieve the sustainable use of water for the benefit of all users now and in the future. Recognising this, it is important to note that the protection of the water resource is imperative to ensure sustainability of the nation's water resources in the interests of all water users.

a. Definitions (NWA, 1998)

i) Water resource includes a watercourse, surface water, estuary, or aquifer;

ii) Watercourse means 

• (a) a river or spring;
• (b) a natural channel in which water flows regularly or intermittently;
• (c) a wetland, lake or dam into which, or from which, water flows; and
• (d) any collection of water which the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare to be a watercourse,

and a reference to a watercourse includes, where relevant, its bed and banks;

iii) Wetland means land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface, or the land is periodically covered with shallow water, and which land in normal circumstances supports or would support vegetation typically adapted to life in saturated soil.

b. Uses of water

According to s.21 of the NWA, water uses include consumptive & non-consumptive uses.

Consumptive uses are:

(a) taking,
(b) storing,
(c) Impeding or diverting the flow r
(d) Engaging in streamflow reduction activity (SFRA);
(e) Engaging in Controlled activities

non-consumptive components are

(f) discharging waste or wastewater into a water resource or
(g) on land by irrigation,
(h) disposing of heated water,
(i) altering the bed and banks of water courses,
(j) removing underground water by mining, and
(k) for recreational purposes (NWA 1998).


Water Use Authorisations:

Water authorisations are regulatory tools and strategies to address equity, maintain sustainability and access of water for different water uses, without compromising the integrity of the water resource. The following are authorization, which are issued by DWAF:

• Existing Lawful Water use,
• General Authorisation,
• ad hoc licences, and Compulsory licensing),

Before issuing a licence, among other relevant factors, the Reserve needs to be considered.

The Reserve means that quantity and quality of water required –

• to satisfy basic human needs by securing basic water supply, as prescribed under the Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997) for now or future, taking water from, or being supplied from the relevant water resources; and

• to protect aquatic ecosystems - to secure ecologically sustainable development and use of the relevant water resources (NWA 1998).

NB: DWAF Wetland Task Group (DWTG), through the mandate of DWAF national office is compiling a Position Paper to serve as implementation requirements for various DWAF Directorates and all Regions and CMAs.

REFERENCE

National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998)

City’s Youth Environmental School (YES) hosts Wetlands Awareness Programme

MEDIA RELEASE
23 January 2008

The City of Cape Town’s Youth Environmental School (YES), co-ordinated by the Environmental Resource Management Department, will be hosting a Wetlands Awareness Programme from 28 January to 8 February.

The theme for World Wetlands Day, 2 February 2008, is Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People.

World Wetlands Day (WWD) was first celebrated in 1997, in celebration of the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Each year government agencies, non-governmental organisations and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits.

During World Wetlands Day this year, a few key topics that exemplify both the direct, positive effects on human health of maintaining healthy wetlands – such as the provision of food, clean water, pharmaceutical products etc. – and the direct negative effects of mismanaging wetlands that result in the impairment of our health and even the loss of life – such as through the effects of water-related diseases, burning peatlands, floods, and water pollution – will be highlighted.

The programme aims is to emphasise that the strong relationship between healthy functioning wetland ecosystems and human health underlines the importance of management strategies that support both the health of wetland ecosystems and the health of humans. And that the costs of poor management can be high. Wetland-related diseases, for example, claim the lives of more than 3 million people every year and bring suffering to many more.

The City will be supporting World Wetlands Day by hosting a Wetlands Awareness Programme in partnership with Metrorail’s Edutrain, the Western Cape Education Department’s Centre for Conservation Education, the Primary Science Programme (PSP), CapeNature and Century City Property Owners’ Association. The broader programme will comprise of the following:

Edutrain Programme:
Learners from the Urban Renewal areas of Mitchell’s Plain and Khayelitsha will be travelling on the Edutrain to Zandvlei Wetlands Reserve where they will be learning and experiencing more about the importance of wetlands.

City of Cape Town Nature Reserves Programme:
Wetland education programmes will be running on several of the City’s Nature Reserves.

Edith Stephens Wetland Park Schools Wetlands Book Launch:
This guide to environmental activities for learners called: Learning about environment at the Edith Stephens Wetland Park for Grades 4 to 9 will be launched on 1 Feb at Edith Stephens Wetland Park. Learners will also use some of the activities in the book during their lesson on the day.

Delft Wetlands Programme:
CapeNature will be taking learners from Delft to the wetlands in their area to learn about the importance of wetlands and their uses and why we must conserve them.

Centre for Conservation Education (CCE) Programme:
Learners will be having lesson on the role of frogs in wetlands at the CCE.

Intaka Island Century City Wetlands Programme:
Learners will have a lesson and guided tour of the Intake Island Wetlands. Intaka, meaning ‘bird’ in Xhosa, is a unique example of nature conservation and property development co-existing in harmony and for mutual benefit.

ISSUED BY:
DIRECTORATE: COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
TEL: 021 400-2201 FAX: 021 957 0023

MEDIA QUERIES:
CITY OF CAPE TOWN YES PROGRAMME
LINDIE BUIRSKI
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
CELL: 084 629 9305

INTAKA ISLAND
ALAN LIEBENBERG
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER
021 552 6889
alanl@ccpoa.co.za

Minutes of the Wetlands Forum - 14 November 2008

The minutes of the Wetlands Forum of 14 November 2008 can be uploaded here

SEASONAL WINTER POOLS OF THE HELDERBERG BASIN

By Pat Reavell
preavell@absamail.co.za

In the S.W. Cape there are coastal fresh and brackish lagoons, as well as river systems all with some degree of protection. Small permanent dams have been formed recently by European settlers and contain a restricted aquatic invertebrate fauna, mainly of eurytopic and widely distributed species found elsewhere in cooler parts of South Africa.

However the natural seasonal winter pools , which dry up during the Mediterranean summer, contain many unique Western Cape endemics, mainly invertebrates such as; microcrustacea, water mites, a few water bugs, and many water beetle species endemic to this afromediterranean biome. These seasonal surface waters have lower temperatures than the permanent pools, and are covered by land plants during the dry season.

During the rainy season inundated vegetation triggers a microbial food base for a rapid succession of aquatic invertebrates many confined to these pools. The predatory backswimmer Notonecta lactitans and predatory diving beetles; Rhantus circurius, Hydropeplus trimaculatus, Primospes suturalis, Darwinhydrus solidus, Copelatus platynotus, and Andex insignis are characteristic . The lesser known water scavenger beetles or hydrophilidae contain even more species than the aforementioned Dytiscidae, and may contain many endemic species.

A range of flowering plants are confined to these pools, including the culturally important water hawthorn or waterblometjie. During the dry summer these plants either die back to underground storage organs, or become terrestrial.

A few frogs such as the cape river frog and clicking stream frog breed here and form food for various water birds.

From this brief report it should be clear that the protection of these pools is important. The major problem with permanent man made dams is that they contain predatory and disruptive alien fish such as bass, carp, and Mozambique kurper. Apart from changing the water clarity, the two bass species are voracious predators on most invertebrates. In the Helderberg Basin, there are some winter pools in Victoria flats an area which may be zoned for housing. Also AECI Heartlands property, and Lourens river floodplain have a few excellent winter pools. Sadly due to rapid housing expansion, many of the remaining pools are being lost thus a protection policy should be implemented for the remaining pools and ditches.

World Wetlands Week Programme

The Western Cape World Wetlands Week programme can now be downloaded HERE.
A link has also been added under "What's New" in the right hand sidebar of this page.

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

Wetlands forum meeting 14 November 2007

The last meeting of 2007 was at 13h30 on 14 November 2007 in the KRC Seminar Room

The agenda

The minutes

Two key presentations were:

Hannes Muller of LandCare: Failing the environment by lack of law enforcement; and

Pat Homes: Restoration protocol for Fynbos riparian vegetation following alien plant invasion

There will also be two mini-workshops:

Dennis Laidler: Live demo of the new Western Cape Wetlands Forum blog; and

Patrick Dowling: Workshop in preparation for World Wetlands Day - 2 February, 2008