January 30, 2007
By Tammy O'Reilly
THE environmental value of wetlands and the importance of nurturing them will be highlighted on World Wetlands Day.
Johannesburg City Parks has planned a number of activities to mark the day.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on 2 February; the day the Convention on Wetlands was signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. It is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
As part of the City's ongoing efforts to care for its wetlands, City Parks is undertaking clean up campaigns along the Jukskei River, Braamfontein Spruit and Klip River, as well as at Blue Dam, Florida Lake and Moroka Dam.
In the build up to the day, learners are being encouraged to clean up wetlands and other areas of ecological importance in their communities and near their schools, and to participate in environmental activities that will raise awareness of the importance of wetlands.
Participating schools have been asked to document their activities, which include testing water quality in wetlands, taking before and after pictures of their clean up campaigns, and their awareness efforts. These can be posted to the Environmental Conservation Department, Johannesburg City Parks, UCS House, 6th Floor, 209 Smith Street, Braamfontein.
Activities to be held on 2 February include a road show with the member of the mayoral committee for the environment, Prema Naidoo, and joint community and schools clean up campaigns at Lenasia Vlei in Lenasia, Extension 5 and at the Bailey Spruit in Diepkloof. Water quality will be tested, illegally dumped rubbish will be removed and there will be a march for a healthier and greener Johannesburg.
Wetlands are defined as "any wet land" and include mountain springs, vleis and lakes. They are among the earth's most productive ecosystems because of the huge variety of plants and animals they support.
The international theme this year for World Wetlands Day is "Fish for tomorrow". According to the official World Wetlands Day website, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, one billion people rely on fish and shellfish as their main - or even sole - source of protein.
An increasing world population has led to an increased demand for fish, which has caused many of the inland stocks of fish and fisheries to be fished to their biological limit. This World Wetlands Day the role that inland and coastal wetlands play in supporting fish and fisheries will be in the spotlight.
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