The Department of Environmental Affairs to embark on a public awareness drive on the Preservation of Wetlands in Mpumalanga
The Department of Environmental Affairs, together with Ehlanzeni District Municipality will embark on a robust public awareness drive by visiting schools in an effort to urge South Africans to take a step towards the protection and conservation of wetlands in the province of Mpumalanga from 25 to 28 February 2018.
The campaign forms part of South Africa’s activities in marking the World Wetlands Day celebrated on 02 February 2019. This year’s celebrations are taking place under the theme: “Wetlands and Climate Change,” which demonstrates the importance of wetlands as the planet’s most effective carbon sinks or storage that signify unrealised potential for climate mitigation and adaptation. Climate change is seen as a major threat to the survival of species and integrity of ecosystems on a global scale.
At least 8 schools in Mpumalanga will also participate in the schools wetland awareness competition. The competition- in both written and oral debate, is open to both primary and high school going learners. The prizes will be awarded as follows: 1st prize winner to receive a R25 000 worth of voucher; 2nd prize winner will receive R15 000 voucher and R10 000 voucher will be awarded to the 3rd price winner.
The ultimate objective of the campaign is to heighten education and raise public awareness on the value of wetlands and their vital contribution to human wellness. At the center of it all is attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically Goal 13 which urges parties to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, through strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
Members of the media are invited as per the attached programme of activities. The competitions will culminate into an award ceremony scheduled to take place as follows:
Date: Friday, 01 March 2019
Time: 09h00
Venue: Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Disaster Management Center
To RSVP, contact:
Sithokozile Banele Mabena
Tel: 012 399 9989
Cell: 073 297 9409
E-mail: smabena@environment.gov.za
Enquiries:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
