This week on the 2nd February was World Wetlands Day which is celebrated on this date every year as it marks the day the Convention on Wetlands was signed in 1971. This details the conservations of the Wetlands and how it should be used in order to do this.

MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Jan Serfontein is urging communities to think about the future of the Wetlands. Not only do they need them for their future generations livelihood but also for the Wetlands to be a place to enjoy its sheer beauty.
 
Stakeholders in the province are being asked to increase public awareness about the benefits and value the Wetlands bring. Most of this will be aimed at children in schools, this if their heritage and their livelihood that may be affected if something isn’t put into place soon. The locals harvest the reeds and then use them to make weaved goods such as bags.

Not only does it affect livelihoods, it also has a huge affect on the ecosystems. Wetlands are good for livestock to graze on due to their high organic matter and are also a very much needed source of water. Birds also rely heavily on the Wetlands as they use them as feeding and breeding grounds due to the low risk of flooding.

The department has identified eight wetlands which need to be rehabilitated within the Greater Taung Municipality. "We will work with communities and various stakeholders to come up with plans to develop and rehabilitate these wetlands," MEC Serfontein said.

"Our analysis is that most wetlands, including the ones existing in the Greater Taung Local municipality, need to be rehabilitated before they are completely destroyed by natural effects like climate change."

"Wetlands in this area in particular have lost the functionality of absorbing more water; thus the need to rehabilitate all wetlands in the area of Taung. In as much as we acknowledge these conditions which may be as a result of the climate change effects, you need to ask yourself what your contribution is in fighting the degradation of our wetlands."

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