Benefits of wetlands highlighted

Expert opinions support Bhisho’s move to protect Baakens from development

BHISHO moved to protect the Baakens River when it turned down the N2 North housing project in October – and now the international Ramsar Convention is backing up the Eastern Cape legislature.

Ramsar Convention secretary-general Martha Rojas Urrego was speaking on the eve of World Wetlands Day, being celebrated today around the theme “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future”.

Ureggo said wetlands helped make cities livable.

“During storms, urban wetlands absorb excess rainfall, which reduces flooding in cities and prevents disasters and their subsequent costs.

“The abundant vegetation found in urban wetlands acts as a filter for domestic and industrial waste and this contributes to improving water quality,” she said.

“Urban wetlands supply cities with water and are green spaces for recreation which promotes human wellbeing.”

The current development of human settlements was a major concern for wetland conservation and wise use, she said.

“As cities grow and demand for land increases, the tendency is to encroach on wetlands,” she said. “They are often viewed as wasteland.

“Yet, when sustainably used, urban wetlands can provide cities with multiple economic, social and cultural benefits.

“They are prize land, not wasteland, and therefore should be integrated into the development and management plans of cities.”

In its landmark rejection of the N2 North housing project, the Eastern Cape Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Department argued that the project site in the upper catchment of the Baakens River would irreparably damage a valuable resource that benefited the entire metro.

While a wetland is usually associated with a vlei area, it is technically any land area that is saturated with water, permanently or seasonally.

Eastern Cape wetlands specialist Dr Brian Colloty said yesterday ways had to be found to retard the passage of stormwater rushing into the Baakens Valley and to filter it before it entered the river.

He said the stormwater flowed into the valley off surrounding streets, carparks and buildings and was often laden with toxins and litter.

Because of all the impermeable tar and concrete surfaces, heavy rain could also quickly turn into floods.

“The result is a polluted river that rushes from weir to weir between canalised banks,” Colloty said.

“First prize would be if we could manage this stormwater better by catching it in ponds and cleaning it up before releasing it.

“A slower, cleaner river would allow for the recreation of more diverse habitats, and we can gradually get back to what the Baakens used to look like.

“Once we’ve dealt properly with the stormwater we can move on to dealing with the sewage leaks.”

With South Africa wracked by drought, the most important benefit of healthy wetlands was that they acted like sponges, filtering out toxins and then gradually releasing water, he said.

Urban wetlands supply cities with water and are green spaces