The 2nd of February each year celebrates World Wetlands Day; NVT shares this celebration by raising public awareness about the values and benefits of wetlands on our twitter page. We’ve also decided to take this opportunity to inform our supporters on the work that the NVT has done in the past year (2013), as well as upcoming work related to wetlands, in an effort to protect and/or promote wetland and water conservation.
Wetlands are commonly known as “giant sponges’’ that slow down flood waters, with an important role in trapping sediments and improving water quality. Most of the water that we use comes from wetlands, and these habitats are also home to many important animals including fish, amphibians, birds and invertebrates. Wetlands are however becoming increasingly endangered as they are being drained for the need for development, agricultural practices, industry etc, with agriculture being identified as the major use of water from wetlands. This year’s theme for World Wetlands Day is “Wetlands and Agriculture: Partners for growth” chosen by the Ramsar Convention in relation to the UN’s 2014 International year of family farming. This theme is in support of the need for wetlands and agriculture to work together for mutual benefit. Wetlands provide water and fertile soils for agricultural practices, but for this benefit to continue there is a need for sustainable management of water and wetlands (that is less impact and pollution on our water and wetlands).
NVT has been involved in a lot of projects that inform and educate school groups on water and wetland systems, together with scientific research aimed at monitoring and protecting our water systems. As part of a national awareness campaign, the NVT, assisted by the ORCA Foundation and SANParks, held a Water week lesson in 2013. This involved learners from Formosa Primary participating in a lesson and activities focusing on water resources, the value of water and the need to sustainably manage this resource.
An outdoor lesson on water conservation for Formosa Primary during Water Week 2013.
We also visited three local schools (Plettenberg Bay Primary, Kranshoek Primary and Formosa Primary) in 2013 as part of BirdLife SA’s Bird Week celebrations , where Peter Ginn, funded by BirdLife Plettenberg Bay, presented a talk on birds of prey, as well as the use and importance of wetlands by birds. Hundreds of kids learned about the importance of wetlands, specifically for birds that utilise wetlands.
Peter Ginn teaching Plett Primary learners about waterbird conservation.
NVT also introduced the Big Birding Experience, funded by BirdLife Plettenberg Bay, in October 2013 which is an initiative to involve young and keen birders to learn about our beautiful birds and their habitats. We took eco-club learners from local schools to an outing at the Goose Marsh wetland where they used birding gear (binoculars and bird guide books) sponsored by an individual member of BirdLife Plettenberg Bay for their birding experience. For some of these learners it was their first time using equipment such as binoculars and was thus an honour for us to be part of this experience.
The Big Birding Experience enabled young aspirant eco-club members to use binoculars and field guides for the first time. Here, Cindy-Lee helps Crags Primary learners identify a waterbird.
As part of our environmental education program, NVT runs an Adopt-a-River program with the eco-clubs of two local schools, The Crags Primary and Cold stream Primary, throughout the year during school terms. This program allows learners to monitor the ‘health’ of local rivers using the mini-SASS biomonitoring tool. Mini-SASS is an easy to use method that allows these learners to monitor the quality of water in these rivers through sampling of macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects). This initiative is in partnership with the Department of Water Affairs, who have also joined us in a few visits at these schools.
The Crags Eco-club conducting a mini-SASS as part of the Adopt-a-River Program.
NVT also hosted two Water and Biodiversity lessons with Plettenberg Bay Secondary. These lessons allowed very enthusiastic learners to build their own wetland thus emphasising what a wetland is and its function. The aim of this visit was to educate learners about water and its importance, ultimately water conservation.
Plett Secondary Eco-club members making a water filter by mimicking a natural wetland.
This year will see the continuation of NVT’s Tsitsikamma rivers monitoring project. This project is part of an ongoing research study of the rivers in the Tsitsikamma Mountains undertaken by a team of researchers from the Albany Museum, Rhodes University, Stellenbosch University and the Department of Water Affairs, with field assistance from SANParks rangers. The overall objective of NVT’s river project is to do continual assessment of three rivers (Salt, Groot and Lottering) in and around the Tsitsikamma Mountains in an effort to monitor and assess the ecological conditions of these systems using patterns in biodiversity as a measure, correlated with physico-chemical parameters, with implications for aquatic ecosystem conservation. We have just managed to purchase the YSI mult-probe that will enable us to monitor and measure the water quality parameters of these rivers. We are very grateful for the funds generated from Magnetic South’s Otter Trail Run that allowed the acquisition of this equipment.
Babalwa showing off our new YSI probe for water parameter testing
All in all, 2013 was a fantastic year with us getting the message of water conservation across to literally thousands of community members. We would like to thank all our supporters for participating, and their continued support to the NVT, we hope for an even better year in 2014, striving always for the support of conservation.
Please sign up for the My School Program to raise funds for our work!