{"id":109160,"date":"2018-02-02T22:53:21","date_gmt":"2018-02-02T20:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/world-wetlands-day-protecting-our-worlds-water-factories-how-the-forest-products-sector-is-leading-the-way\/"},"modified":"2018-02-02T22:53:21","modified_gmt":"2018-02-02T20:53:21","slug":"world-wetlands-day-protecting-our-worlds-water-factories-how-the-forest-products-sector-is-leading-the-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/world-wetlands-day-protecting-our-worlds-water-factories-how-the-forest-products-sector-is-leading-the-way\/","title":{"rendered":"World Wetlands Day | Protecting our world\u2019s water factories \u2013 how the forest products sector is leading the way"},"content":{"rendered":"

World Wetlands Day | Protecting our world\u2019s water factories \u2013 how the forest products sector is leading the way<\/a>: <\/p>\n

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The forestry and forest products industry has made significant strides in wetland management and biodiversity conservation. Photo: Credit: Mondi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

FACTS
Wetlands are the most threatened of all South African ecosystems.
Despite only making up 2.4% of the country\u2019s landmass, wetlands play a big role in natural and urban areas,
50% of South Africa\u2019s wetlands have been lost to human and urban impact.
World Wetlands Day takes place on 2 February under the theme Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future.<\/p>\n

Wetlands, dubbed \u2018water factories\u2019, are the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems. With World Wetlands Day 2018 taking place on 2 February, it is important to recognise the contribution they make to human well-being and economic growth through farming, fishing, tourism and water provision, and how they are being protected.<\/p>\n

According to the National Water Act, wetlands are defined as \u201cland which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is at or near the surface, or the land is periodically covered with shallow water, or would support vegetation typically adapted to life in water saturated soils\u201d.<\/p>\n

By linking land and water bodies, wetlands protect coastlines, prevent flooding, filter pollutants and act as giant sponges \u2013 soaking up rainwater and releasing it slowly over time. This makes them one of the most important freshwater storage systems on Earth. Wetlands also store carbon dioxide (between 10 and 20 times faster than terrestrial ecosystems), thus slowing the impact of climate change.<\/p>\n

Looking after the world\u2019s water factories
\u201cSadly, 50% of South Africa\u2019s wetlands have been lost as a result of human and urban impact, and only a fraction of those that remain are being conserved,\u201d says Jane Molony, president of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) and executive director of the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA).<\/p>\n

\u201cFor decades, the forestry and forest product sector has been working alongside scientists and conservationists to rehabilitate and conserve wetlands on forestry-owned land.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTissue, tables, pencils, paper and cellulose come from farmed trees. Without these products, our urban lives would be less than ideal,\u201d says Molony. \u201cWhile it meets these needs, the industry regards looking after the land on which trees are farmed as a business, social and environmental imperative.\u201d<\/p>\n

As timber plantations share land with wetlands and grasslands, environmentally sound plantation design and management is crucial to effective water stewardship. Such efforts include conserving freshwater ecosystems, like wetlands, rivers and banks, all of which serve as vital habitats for freshwater plant, animal, insect bird, and aquatic species.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than 28,000 hectares of wetland have already been identified on forestry-owned land,\u201d says Michael Peter, executive director of Forestry South Africa.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmong our wetland conservation efforts are the removal alien and invasive plant species and where necessary, our trees,\u201d he says, pointing out that forestry companies continually reduce their plantation areas in riverine and other ecologically-sensitive areas.<\/p>\n

A number of flagship programmes are managed by forestry, paper and packaging companies, among them Mondi and Sappi.
Mondi Wetlands Programme celebrates 26 years
Mondi owns and leases about 250,000 hectares, including 20,000 hectares of wetland. The company has been a steadfast funder of the World Wildlife Fund-Mondi Wetlands Programme which marked its 26th anniversary in 2017. As one of the country\u2019s longest-running, privately-funded conservation programmes, it has helped move wetlands to the top of conservation agendas, especially for the forestry, sugar and dairy industries. It has also pioneeered the way wetlands are identified, restored and protected across sectors, in South Africa and beyond.<\/p>\n

Sappi\u2019s efforts yield success for Shafton\/Kusane wetland in the Karkloof catchment
The Karkloof catchment in KwaZulu-Natal consists of highly productive agricultural land. Not only is the area rich in wetlands, it serves as a water catchment for the greater Durban and Pietermaritzburg areas. Intense land use over the years makes the protection of the area and its rich biodiversity extremely important.<\/p>\n

Sappi owns and manages approximately 170 hectares of a large floodplain where the Karkloof, Kusane, and Mnalweni rivers meet. One particular wetland – the Shafton\/Kusane wetland in the upper Umgeni catchment area \u2013 has been assessed and is in good health owing to rehabilitation efforts undertaken by Sappi. The company is exploring further opportunities to improve the ecosystem\u2019s functionality still further through weed and bramble control and the preventing of encroachment by poplar, wattle, pine and gum trees.<\/p>\n

We are all stewards
Wetlands, just like working forests, absorb excess carbon dioxide, and provide clean air, water and climate regulation. It\u2019s up to each of us to be stewards of our environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn this World Wetlands Day we encourage you to work together in your communities to ensure that those marshy places that you didn\u2019t think were important are rehabilitated and kept clear of invasive vegetation and litter,\u201d states Molony.<\/p>\n

For more information visit, www.forestryexplained.co.za.<\/p>\n

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