How private landowners help to conserve our wetlands

Marked annually on March 22, World Water Day highlights the importance of water in all its forms ~ from oceans and glaciers to river systems and wetlands. As the lifeblood of our planet, water sustains ecosystems, economies, and communities.

- HLENGIWE MSIBI

This day also sheds light on the crucial ecological services provided by wetlands and their increasingly threatened conservation status. Just as importantly, it serves as a call to action, reminding us of the vital role South African landowners play in safeguarding these fragile habitats through active and sustained environmental stewardship. South Africa’s wetlands are biodiversity-rich ecosystems that support a diverse array of plant and animal life, including endemic and threatened species. By acting as natural water filters, wetlands improve water quality while regulating hydrological cycles, thus helping to prevent incidents of flash flooding and playing a crucial role in water security.

A 2021 survey of South Africa’s forestry landholdings found that more than 300 000 hectares (ha) of natural and semi-natural habitats are actively managed and maintained within the forestry landscape. This includes more than 171 000ha of grasslands and their connected wetland systems. Through active environmental stewardship of these habitats, forestry companies can play a significant and positive role in conserving key ecosystems like wetlands, along with threatened, endan-gered, and endemic species they support.

Ina forestry context, environmental stewardship is a multifaceted commitment that integrates sustainable management practices with collaborative efforts to restore and reconnect natural habitats and the ecological services they provide. Such stewardship cannot be done in isolation, as ecological services and natural habitats extend beyond the boundaries of the forestry landscape. It demands collaboration between various public and private stakeholders, both individuals and organisations, coupled with active investment in research and innovation to guide and enhance conservation efforts.

Setting international benchmarks