Johannesburg Zoo commemorates World Wetlands Day
The Johannesburg Zoo is part of a movement of identifying species that are endangered and classified by an international union for conversation of nature. Certain species have been red listed include crustaceans, fish, certain mammals have been affected in various ways.
In light of highlighting the plight of polluted wetlands in densely populated cities such as Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Zoo commemorated World Wetlands Day on February 28.
Johannesburg Zoo’s education programme manager Nathi Mvula said, “World Wetlands Day is commemorated globally in February. The theme this year is wetlands restoration which is a call to action to prioritise restoring water catchments to maintain the health and biodiversity of the [eco] system.”
Mvula added that water was vital for all life forms and wetlands were important to provide a habitat to a wide range of species and acted as a buffer by protecting areas from flooding and droughts.
He added wetlands helped to sustain the ecological balance between biotic and antibiotic factors. “If there is an element of erosion, the entire ecosystem is disturbed, there is an intricate [balance of] marine life in the wetlands which depend on each other and if this is disturbed it won’t be easy to recreate it.”
He said the Zoo marked such days to teach learners and communities about the importance of reversing the ‘red zone’ (endangered) of species and would like to see them in a ‘green or yellow zone’ which meant the species were less vulnerable or less threatened.
Wetlands work as good filters, they trap sediments and remove pollutants.
Wetlands store water and then slowly release it, which helps to deal with dry seasons.
Wetlands help to prevent floods – When rivers burst their banks, wetlands can store the excess water, and slow it down so it distributes more evenly over a floodplain.
Wetlands help to control erosion – Sediments are also trapped by wetlands. In a semi-arid country such as South Africa, the role of wetlands in trapping sediments, before the sediment-laden water joins a river course and washes away, is useful.
Biodiversity is high around wetlands habitats. These areas provide food and shelter for many animals, in particular bird species such as herons, spoonbills, and flamingos, and amphibians such as frogs.
Source: https://www.aquarium.co.za/news/world-wetlands-day-11-reasons-why-wetlands-are-vital-for-humans-and-animals
