Celebrating World Wetlands Day by showcasing the wetlands of South Africa spatially.

Statement by Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands on the occasion of World Wetlands Day, 2 February 2024:

"Wetlands and people are life interlaced. Wetlands are central to our wellbeing. Whether it be through the provision of clean water, acting as the source of food or protecting us from extreme weather events, healthy wetlands equate to our wellbeing.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on 2 February. The commemoration raises awareness and increases people’s understanding of the critical importance of wetlands. In every corner of the world, human beings have depended on wetlands for centuries, drawing sustenance, inspiration and resilience from these important environments. Despite the numerous benefits that humans receive from wetlands, every day wetlands are damaged by human beings. Wetlands are being destroyed by unsustainable agricultural practices which are a primary cause of wetland loss through drainage and infilling. Many wetlands, particularly those near cities, have also been polluted by human activities and recently further degraded by plastic pollution, which exacerbates the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution ultimately affecting human health. Current trends in human settlement also pose a major threat to the conservation and wise use of wetlands in and near growing cities. As cities grow and demand for land increases, the tendency is to encroach on wetlands and these are disappearing three times faster than forests. Hence, we need to stop the ongoing destruction and encourage actions to conserve and restore these vital ecosystems. The theme for the day is “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing”. With only six years left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030, there is an urgent need to act now" (Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General, Convention on Wetlands).

For more information visit: https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/

Data source: SANBI & CSIR. Archived National Wetland Types [vector geospatial dataset] 2010. Available from the Biodiversity GIS website.

The Landform class NWCS Level 3A HGM type includes:

• Canyons, deeply incised streams - Valley floor
• Midslope drainages, shallow valleys - Slope
• Upland drainages, headwaters - Slope
• U-shaped valleys - Slope 5. Plains - Plain
• Open slopes - Slope
• Upper slopes - Slope
• Local ridges / hills in valleys - Bench
• Midslope ridges, small hills in plains - Slope
• Mountain tops, high ridges - Bench