KNYSNA NEWS - World Wetlands Day, which was on Saturday 2 February, annually provides a platform to raise awareness about wetlands.
In order for the younger generation to understand this better, two People and Conservation officers from Garden Route National Park's (GRNP) Knysna and Wilderness sections respectively shared some of their knowledge in the form of a couple of simple questions.
Nondumiso Mgwenya (NM) is from Knysna and Phumla Nyathikazi (PN) from Wilderness.
Why are wetlands so important?
NM: They have a variety of ecological and economic benefits. These include the provision of ecosystem services and the regulation of floodwater. They are home to a variety of animal and plant species. They are like a giant sponge, holding water in during wet seasons and slowly releasing it during dry periods, ensuring a consistent supply of water for the inhabitants of the wetland.
What is a Ramsar site?
PN: It is a wetland of global significance and has to fit select criteria set by the Ramsar Convention (also known as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance), a global body overseeing the management of wetlands. In Rondevlei, Wilderness, for example, there is a diverse population of bird and fish species. We have 20 000 migratory species which come to the site.
Why does Wilderness have a Ramsar site?
PN: The Wilderness Lakes system is made up of Rondevlei, Langvlei and Eilandvlei and is a Ramsar site. The selection criteria for Ramsar sites include factors such as the ecology, botany, zoology, limnology (the study of the biological, chemical, and physical features of lakes and other bodies of freshwater) or hydrology (the branch of science concerned with the properties of the earth's water, and especially its movement in relation to land).
The site in Wilderness includes a dune system with associated thickets, woodlands, marshes, and reedbeds. Important numbers of locally migrant resident birds, as well as staging and breeding birds, use the site. It is home to 285 native plant species, 32 fish species (several of which use the site as a nursery area), and a diverse marine invertebrate fauna.
Rondevlei in Wilderness, as seen here from a bird hide, is one of three lakes in the Wilderness Lakes and wetland system. Photo: Abraham Mouton
Why visit a wetland in Wilderness?
PN: Wilderness has dedicated bird hides very close to the wetlands. It is a bird lover's paradise! Visitors also enjoy the sense of peace provided by wetlands.
GRNP Knysna intern Thabiso Mokoena and Wilderness' Courtney Kalink encourage everyone to learn about the importance of wetlands. "Don't dump rubble or litter as wetlands absorb these. Use environmentally friendly products wherever possible. Raise awareness of wetlands in your area. Visit a wetland and do a cleanup of the area," they urge.
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