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Working for Wetlands programme an initiative aimed to rehabilitate, protect and conserve wetlands

Sustainable Development Goal No 6

According to the National Biodiversity Assessment for South Africa carried out in 2011, wetlands occupy only 2.4% of the country’s total area, however, 48% of the wetland ecosystem types are critically endangered, 12% are endangered, 5% vulnerable and 35% least threatened (Macfarlane et al., 2014). The South African wetlands are therefore the most highly threatened ecosystems of all in the country (Driver et al., 2012). Working for Wetlands is a joint initiative of the Departments of Environmental Affairs (DEA), Water and Sanitation (DWS) previously known as Water Affairs (DWA) and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).

Wetlands are our natural assets and natural infrastructure able to provide a range of products, functions and services, free of charge. These activities severely affected and dramatically altered South Africa’s landscapes over the past few centuries. Studies in several areas have suggested that between 35% and 60% of South Africa’s wetlands have already been lost or severely degraded. IWMI, (2014) indicate that agricultural practices such as upstream irrigation projects and extraction of water from wetlands for agriculture affect the quality and quantity of water flowing in wetlands and can also can decrease the flow of water in a wetland.

South Africa is part of Ramsar Convention which ensures that the legal duty to conserve or rehabilitate wetlands arises from various legal instruments (IWMI, 2014). In terms of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands states must assign wetlands to be listed on Ramsar convention , South Africa have assigned 12 wetlands (DWA, 2000)

A pivotal response by the government to this state of affairs was the establishment in 2002 of a national wetland rehabilitation programme, known as ‘Working for Wetlands’. The decision to create such a programme came about through the convergence of several driving forces. It drew on objectives in environmental, biodiversity, water and agriculture policies, and capitalised on the growing recognition that wetland degradation is not necessarily permanent, and that it is possible to reinstate at least some ecosystem services through rehabilitation. A foundation was provided for the creation of the programme, in the form of another pioneering government initiative.

Since 1996, the Working for Water programme had been engaged in removing thirsty invasive alien plants that posed a threat to the country’s water security, agricultural productivity and biodiversity. The non-governmental Mondi Wetlands Project recognised that the labour-intensive model pioneered by Working for Water would be equally suited to the activities involved in rehabilitating wetlands, and lobbied government to begin experimenting in this direction.

The most significant factor enabling the emergence of Working for Wetlands was the availability of government funds earmarked for employment creation and poverty reduction, through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). This government-wide initiative was set up to draw significant numbers of unemployed people into the productive sector of the economy, gaining skills while they work and increasing their capacity to earn income. The ability to turn wetland rehabilitation into a labour-intensive process unlocked a magnitude of financial resources and political support that was previously inconceivable to cash-strapped government departments responsible for biodiversity conservation and natural resource management.

Working for Wetlands conduct its mandate of wetland rehabilitation and wise use in a manner that maximises employment creation, supports small emerging businesses, and transfers skills to its beneficiaries. In line with EPWP norms, the programme targets those groups most excluded from the mainstream economy, with particular emphasis on women, youth and people with disabilities.

EPWP WFW rehabilitating a wetland using gabions to prevent soil erosion in Limpopo Province, South Africa. (Source: Department of Water affairs)

Working for Wetlands main objectives are:

  • Wetland Protection, Wise Use & Rehabilitation
  • Skills and Capacity Development
  • Co-operative Governance & Partnerships
  • Knowledge Sharing
  • Communication, Education & Public Awareness