The City of Ekurhuleni has invested resources to rehabilitate its wetlands and many other water bodies such as lakes, dams and ponds in line with world environmental standards.
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“Efforts to restore the city’s wetlands include the development of the catchment assessment plans for Kaalspruit, Blesbokspruit, Natalspruit and Jukskei River, all of which have been experiencing soil erosion, alien evasive species such as water hyacinth and poor water quality,” said spokesperson for the city, Zweli Dlamini.
Last week, the city joined the rest of the world in commemorating the annual World Wetlands Day.
The plan serves as the city’s guide to rehabilitate and restore wetlands to their original ecological and hydrological functions, the use of integrated methods such as constant cleaning of wetlands and other water bodies by using chemicals, physical removal, and biological controls.
“Community engagements, through educational awareness programmes on the significance of preserving wetlands is key to the city’s means to contribute to the restoration of wetlands,” said Dlamini.
This year’s theme for world wetlands day was ‘It’s Time for Wetlands Restoration’.
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“We have a responsibility to protect the environment and as a city that is rich with water bodies, we remain committed to paying special attention to these.
“It is also important that looking after the environment has become non-negotiable in recent times considering the threat of Climate Change.”
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The city has appealed to members of the public to join in the protection of the water bodies in the region and avoid discharging foreign objects in the dams, lakes and rivers in the region.
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