Nature savvy at Albert’s Farm

ALBERTSKROON – Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo hosts a successful World Wetlands Day celebration at Albert's Farm.

February 20, 2017

Neo Phashe 1 minute read

Learners answer a quiz about the most popular types of plants.

ALBERTSKROON – Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo hosted an educational environmental day at Albert’s Farm.

World Wetlands Day fell on 15 February and was attended by various people and schools interested in educating themselves about the environment and how they could make a difference.

Learners take booklets they can read about the environment.

The event, held in Albertskroon, was aimed at raising awareness about water and the threatened wetlands in our city.Wetlands are described as environmentally sound spaces that absorb water and are also used as a great buffer for floods.

Jeanine Keet, Annie Kirsten and Mandisa Mqolombeni are ready to educate people about the earth and its importance.

Representative of the Environmental Education for City Parks and Zoo Mosa Rametse said that the day was all about bringing awareness to World Wetlands Day. She explained that they chose Albert’s Farm because it is pristine and one of the cleanest wetlands we have.

Ella Bella, one of the directors for the Miss South Africa programme, holds an item made of recycled goods.

“The aim was to show people from other areas that having such environments is possible if we have people who are passionate about the environment, looking after these spaces and working together.”

Organisations that had stalls were Rand Water, City Parks and Zoo, Friends of Kloofendal, Pikitup, Environmental Health Region D, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Miss Earth organisation.

One of the directors of the Miss Earth South Africa programme, Ella Bella, said such days are important to celebrate wetlands and the environment so we understand how important it is to give back to it.

Learners get educated on the different types of leaves.

“We have to love our environment and understand that we need to change the narrative of waste.”

She added that such movements start with days such as these where the community and different stakeholders find ways to combat waste and say ‘waste stops with me.’ Bella expressed that people should always stand up for their community and environment.

Rametse also said people came from various neighbourhoods to learn about the environment and see that places like Albert’s Farm are possible.