16 March 2006
An undertaking that emerged at the provincial Wetlands Workshop the
Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture and Land Administration (DALA)
successfully held a workshop on 15 March, on the role of local government in
water management and wetland conservation. The workshop held in partnership
with the Mpumalanga Wetland Forum (MWF) looked at recent events in the province
relating to health hazards and water shortages. It sought to raise the profile
of wetlands in the province and highlight the important environmental services
they offer.
In his address, Chief Director for Environmental Services, Mr Sam Maluleka,
submitted that as municipalities are the custodians of the environment at a
grassroots level, local government therefore plays a vital role in the
management of our wetlands and water resources. With the joining of hands,
Maluleka, charges that this shows commitment to work together but an example of
cooperative environmental governance.
Officials from various municipalities in the province, environmentalists and
other affected parties listened to presentations by speakers from the MWF,
working for water programme and Water Affairs and Forestry Department. The
inputs helped to see the relevance of wetlands in relation to municipal
officials dealing with local economic development, integrated development
planning, health and environment as well as waste, water and disaster
management Anton Linstrom, a Wetland Ecologist from the Mpumalanga Parks Board,
explained the importance and role played by wetlands in the betterment of
communities' lives. âWetlands play an important role in water purification,
provision and need to be protected. He argues that wetlands take control over
floods could solve water problems and provide habitat for biodiversity.
To move the process forward, the workshop made the following inputs:
* Political awareness and support and buy in at a higher level (municipal
managers and mayors)
* Wetland workshop for municipal mayors and managers, MEC invitation and
initiative (both DALA MEC and Department of Local Government and Housing
MEC)
* More enforcement of legislation, relevant authorities need to enforce
respective mandates
* Involvement form community level (ward level) ward councillor rally support
from grass roots level
* Municipal officials need to get involved in MWF
Key wetland areas in Mpumalanga are around Dullstroom, Lothair,
Chrissiesmeer and Wakkerstrooom. Of particular importance is Verloren Vallei
near Dullstroom as it has been recognised as a wetland of international
importance in terms of the Ramsar Convention and as such has been afforded
international status and protection.
If managed properly wetlands could bring positive spin offs for the rural
poor. To them wetlands are source of income that they obtain from production of
crops, grazing of cattle as well as fishing and hunting. The Department said 60
percent of the country's wetlands lost or degraded, with the causes being
indiscriminate ploughing and overgrazing, chemicals and fertilisers that end up
in the water, the construction of dams and the removal of vegetation and poorly
planned and managed development activities.
Contact:
Freddy Ngobe
Tel: (013) 766 6086
Cell: 082 821 4148
Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Land Administration, Mpumalanga
Provincial Government
16 March 2006
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government (http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za)
