Tony da Cruz, who instigated and arranged the event, says the talk is to bring awareness to the culture and ecosystem and to show the Blesbokspruit “in its own beautiful space”.
Before the walk, Charl van der Merwe from the Grootvaly Blesbokspruit Conservation Trust gave the attendees a presentation on the importance and value of the Blesbokspruit.
He says the Blesbokspruit became a Ramsar site in December 1986 and went on the Montreux Record in 1998, which mean it is a wetland under threat.
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The wetland is approximately 1 860ha along 20km of the Blesbokspruit.
“A Ramsar site is a wetland of national importance,” says Charl.
In the summer of 2016, the Coordinated Wetland Aquatic Count (CWAC) on the Ramsar site was 3 082 birds and 70 species.
In the Grootvaly area, there were 321 birds and four endangered species.
During the summer of 2016, the Ramsar CWAC count was 3 149 birds and 50 species.
Grootvaly, during this time, 489 birds and three endangered species.
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Charl explains the importance of the reeds in the Blesbokspruit.
If there were no reeds in the water, the area and that surrounding it would be flooded during seasonal rain.
He also says the reeds absorb chemicals and other substances from the water into their roots, and in effect, cleans the water.
“Reeds are very good for the system.”
He says the Blesbokspruit faces many challenges among which are increased water levels, constant sewage spills and mining.
“There are a few mining applications in place to open mines in Springs, many of which are along the borders of the Blesbokspruit,” he says.
Charl says they are also facing a big problem of trucks dumping chemicals into the water.
Patrick Ganda, environmental education officer of the Blesbokspruit, says one of their main targets is to invite children from different school to the centre to educate them about the workings of this Ramsar site.
“We work in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Education who selects previously disadvantaged schools to send some of their learners to us,” says Patrick.
“Primary school learners are our main target, to raise awareness in them at a young age.”
A large group gathered after the presentation to walk 5km along the Blesbokspruit, lead by Tony who took the group to various hides around the area.
Walkers were able to ask Charl and Patrick questions along the way.
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