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The new National Water Act is set to change the way water resources are managed and allocated in South Africa. The Act allows for water to be set aside to protect the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, in order to ensure that water resource utilisation is sustainable. This quantity and quality of water is known as the Ecological Reserve.

Although methods for calculating the volume and timing of water needed to sustain riverine ecosystems are well developed, in the form of Instream Flow Requirements, this is not the case for wetlands. With the Act's recognition of wetlands as key components of the water resource base has come a need to develop methods for determining the Reserve for these ecosystems.

A pilot study of the Pienaars River floodplain wetland in the Northern Province was undertaken in August 1999, in order to address this need. As a result of the contributions of wetland experts present, progress was made in defining a set of methods for determining the reserve for wetlands, as well as outlining further work that needs to be done.

Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands meet every three years to assess the progress of the Convention and wetland conservation to date, share knowledge and experience on technical issues, and plan their own and the Bureau's work for the next triennium. There have been seven such Meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties since the founding of the Convention.

The Seventh Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP7) to the Convention was held in Costa Rica from 10 - 18 May 1999 and focussed on the interrelations between human societies and wetland habitats, with a general theme of "People and Wetlands -The Vital Link." Approximately 1000 participants attended the COP, including representatives from 116 Contracting Parties (CPs) to the Convention, observer states, national and international NGOs, other convention secretariats, intergovernmental institutions, donor agencies and wetland scientists.

A delegation of five represented South Africa at COP7. Following their return to the country, a report was compiled discussing the events at the conference, priorities of the Convention for the next three years, and the implications of these for South Africa.

Wetland Fix is a valuable tool for wetland owners and agriculture and conservation extension officers, containing practical information, mostly in illustrated step-by-step format. The series includes:

Part 1 - Introduction and wetland assessment

Part 2 - Wetland burning and grazing guide

Part 3 - Streambank stabilisation and channel plug development

Part 4 - Indigenous plants suitable for rehabilitation

Part 5 - Spring protection guide

Part 6 - Alien plant control guide

South Africa's World Wetlands Day Report 1999

Since many groups and organisations were interested in organising or participating in activities on World Wetlands Day and during the following week, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism felt that it would be easier to join hands and do things together than to do it alone. World Wetlands Day has been a haphazard event in South Africa till now, and it was therefore decided to organise it better this year by appointing coordinators in each province to help focus attention and events and draw people together.

With the theme being "Wetlands and People" we hoped to involve as many local organizations, grassroots environmental groups and stakeholders as possible, with the idea that cherishing wetlands and learning to value their biological diversity and functions will help people to appreciate the role that wetlands play in their lives and why they should be protected for future generations.

Provincial co-ordinators were appointed in all nine provinces, with the idea that each co-ordinator will make a list of events happening in their province and to coordinate events or let other organizations know what is happening in their province and where they can join existing programmes and events, or initiate programmes and events themselves. This would help focus attention and give more people the opportunity to club their resources together.

The co-ordinators in the different provinces really made an effort and many organization were pulled in and joined hands to make a great success of this event.

The following organisations took part in the events across the country:

• Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
• Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF)
• Working for Water Programme (DWAF)
• Northern Province Department of Agriculture, Land and Environment
• South African National Parks
• Mpumalanga Parks Board
• Mpumalanga Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
• Free Sate Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
• North-West Province Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation
• Cape Nature Conservation
• Northern Cape Department of Environmental Affairs
• Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment
• Eastern Cape Department of Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism
• Waterberg Biosphere
• University of the North
• University of Venda
• Khanyisa College
• Schools
• Mondi
• Olifants River Forum
• City Councils
• Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa
• Friends of Nylsvley
• Rennies Wetlands Project
• Endangered Wildlife Trust (South African Crane Working Group)
• Highlands Crane Group
• National Botanical Institute
• Council for Geoscience
• National Zoological Gardens (Pretoria)

The following events and projects were coordinated across the country by the different co-ordinators, either on, or close to the 2nd of February, in celebration of World Wetland Day:

• The main event for World Wetlands Day in South Africa took place in the Soshanguve township were the Ramsar certificates for the sites designated since the last COP were presented to the MEC's for the Environment of the respective provinces by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee for Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The function was attended by representatives from the management authorities and communities associated with these sites

• An exhibition was also held at the community hall for the rest of the week to give school children and the community a chance to see why wetlands are important to them.

• Following the ceremony in Pretoria, the MEC's returned to their provinces, many to present these certificates to the management authorities for the Ramsar sites.

• Several presentations (audio visual, poster displays) and talks (with slides and projections) were delivered around the country covering topics such as the role of wetlands, descriptions of conservation initiatives for different wetland types, wetland rehabilitation, the National Water Act (1998) and implications to wetland conservation, current and future studies proposed for wetlands, wetland conservation, the re-introduction of wattled cranes, the value of medicinal plants, responsible use of crop protection chemicals, amphibians, cranes, importance of wetlands, monitoring methods, management, the functional values and wetland characteristics. Specific references were made to recently declared (Nylsvley Nature Reserve) and proposed (Verloren Valei Nature Reserve) Ramsar sites.

• Many presentations were followed by practical sessions and field trips at wetlands which included school children and teachers, a large cross section of government officials, farmers, land owners and several media groups.

• Reviews of fauna and flora of different wetlands were done (eg. Georges Valley wetlands), and assorted management aspects discussed and demonstrations were given to participants in the DWAF adult project.

• In Northern Province a geothermal wetland (Soutini Baleni) was proclaimed a Natural Heritage Site. The certificate presentation was hosted by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in Pietersburg.

• Since World Wetlands Day is followed by National Water Week (15-18 March), this was seen as an ideal opportunity and link to this week in March. The purpose of World Wetland Day was presented to the Provincial (Water) Liaison Committee. All provincial government departments were asked to take note of the celebration on 2nd February, and to provide support. Programmes for National Water Week were also discussed.

• Frog monitoring in the Nwambiya sandveld pans on the eastern border of the Kruger National Park was done.

• In the Dullstroom - Steenkampberg region four young wattled cranes were re-introduced to the wild. This was a project of the South African Crane Working Group, a working group of the Endangered Wildlife Trust. The aim of the project is to boost the wild population of wattled cranes which is already declared as a critical endangered species. Because wattled cranes rely on wetlands for feeding, roosting and breeding, World Wetlands Day was considered the best day to reintroduce these four young birds to the wild. These birds will be closely monitored and everything possible will be done to allow them to grow to maturity.

• In Lydenburg the Mpumalanga Parks Board and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism held a workshop and a practical wetland session for forty Environmental Education officers from Environmental Education Centres from all over the province. Since this year's theme is Wetlands and People, Environmental Education Officers were targeted to take the wetland message further.

• Press releases were sent to all media sectors both locally and nationally, and several radio stations, news papers and TV programmes covered stories about World Wetland Day. This event attracted considerable media attention in all the provinces.

Have we missed your World Wetlands Day event in this report? If so, let us know. Email your report to nat_rvdw@ozone.pwv.gov.za

At the first triennial meeting of Wetlands International in Dakar, Senegal in November 1998, Geoff Cowan of South Africa was elected as Chair of the Africa, Europe and Middle East Regional Council. He is one of two South African Board members of Wetlands International, and is the first South African to sit on the organisation's Board of Directors.

The President of Wetlands International is Chris Kalden (elected for a second term) from the Netherlands, with the Asia-Pacific Region being represented by Malcolm Forbes of Australia, and the Americas by Jim McCuaig of Canada.

	If you have any comments on this page, or need more information, please contact John Dini at nat_jd@ozone.pwv.gov.za.
	This page is maintained by the South African Wetlands Conservation Programme and was last updated on 13 September 1999.