Wetland Biome:
Wetlands are present in all parts of the world with the exception of the Arctic, as the temperatures cause water to freeze over. As a result of their geographic adaptability, the climate of these wetlands can vary from -58 °F, 51 °F, or 122 °F (1).These wetlands are defined by a moist and humid weather and develop close to rivers, lakes and streams.
Source: http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/south-africa-biomes_10c7
A combination of both land and water is essential to this biome and the water can be fresh water, salt water or in some locations a combination of both (3, 4). These wetlands commonly overlap and influence other biomes so it is not uncommon to find forests in these wetlands or to notice their direct influence on the ecosystems directly surrounding them.
Wetlands also are a source of high biodiversity of both plants and animals with over 2,000 known species of indigenous freshwater fish living in Africa wetlands and over 700 identified plant species of which 560 are endemic to the basin (2). The most common animals in these areas are alligators and crocodiles, with fish, birds, beavers, minks, rats and a plethora of additional animals frequent these wetlands. Plants in this area are frequently hydrophytes such as pond lilies, cattails, tamarack, blue spruce (1).
Source: http://isimangaliso.com/
Historic Description:
For centuries, wetlands have provided many resources to people. Humans use wetlands as grazing for domestic stock, fishing, hunting, and observing wildlife, especially birds (1). The wetlands provide an excellent stock of reeds which people used for thatching, basket weaving, and hut construction. Sedges, grass-like plants that are adapted to regular harvesting and rapidly regrows, are used to make traditional sleeping mats (3).
Around 1440, the first south-migrating Bantu people arrived and changed the landscape by livestock grazing, hunting, and brush clearance (14). The wetlands in KwaZulu-Natal was the proud home of the Tsonga people for 1000 years until 1895 when the British colonized the area. They forcibly removed the Tsonga people and turned the wetlands and other ecosystems into a wildlife reserve and established a holiday town of St. Lucia.
source: http://www.peaceparks.org/images/pictures/wqejrqsotkkvnhkj4ec37d2eb9ffa.jpg
Human Benefits:
One of the benefits of wetlands is the purification of the water, removing toxins and microorganisms like viruses and bacteria. In the process of this purification, plant matter is released from wetlands into freshwater biomes (15). These nutrients allow for an abundance of plants and animals, particularly fish, to thrive which creates a uniquely highly diverse habitat. Fish in turn serve as a key source of food for locals, and the plants can provide fuelwood, timber and materials. Medicines can be developed from the leaves and bark of these plants as well as dyes (5).
Source: http://isimangaliso.com/
For humans, with water purification, wetlands serve as a water source, an invaluable resource in a country with minimal natural water sources (2). These wetlands also have nutrient rich soils, which are essential to maintaining agriculture in a mostly dry and arid country (4). As these wetlands frequently neighbor other larger, faster moving bodies of water, they can also serve as a form of protection from flooding and prevent saltwater intrusion.
Source: http://isimangaliso.com/
These coastal wetlands can also help alleviate the effects of natural disasters and the roots of wetland plants bind together and help to prevent erosion of shorelines, counteracting the impact of storm surges and tidal waves. These waters can also serve as a source of recreation with canoeing, fishing, bird watching and swimming (5). The combined calculated value of wetland services in Africa amounts to $5.5 billion (1).
Human Impact:
During the wet seasons, wetlands are able to reserve rain water and release it during the dry season. This especially benefit farmers because of “opportunities to grow crops all-year round thereby improving their food security and incomes” (12). Other than crop production, wetlands “provide other services that support human welfare such as livestock grazing and watering, water supply, fishing and natural products (reeds, sedge and edible plants)” (12). Of course it comes at a cost. More than fifty percent of South African wetlands have been destroyed. One of the reasons is the conversion of wetlands to cropland. “IWMI indicates that 66% of all listed African wetland are used for agriculture, and this wetland agriculture is valued at $1.1 billion.” Wetland areas are ideal locations for agricultural production as the along with being a source of valuable water, the soil is full of nutrients from the native plants (3).
Source: www.landandwater.com
In addition, “the hydrology of the ecosystem has been severely impacted by artificial draining to create favorable growing conditions.” (12). Once the wetland has been converted, it “reduces the wetland area and consequently availability of its natural products including vegetation for livestock grazing.” (12). With the decreased supply of water, competition between humans and animals get tougher. Humans are using the water for irrigation, domestic, and industrial uses which led to the construction of reservoirs. As a result, it reduced flooding to down-river areas (13).
If the number of livestock increase, it will alter plant cover and compete with game animals (13). Grazers can affect runoff as well. Heavy grazing can cause soil erosions and lead to unstable soils creating a channel which will eventually cut off water flow to the wetland (3). In addition, increased grazing can decrease vegetation cover, infiltration, groundwater recharge, and increase soil compaction. This will ultimately “increases floods and reduces dry season flows from the catchment”(3).
Source: http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/intro/threats/
Predicted Future of Biome:
The future of South African wetlands vary based on location. Some wetlands have to deal with soil erosion from agriculture. An example would be eutrophication from fertilizer runoff, pesticides and siltation. (17). In some places, it has to deal with “existing and additional obstructions which interfere with natural estuarine and coastal lake dynamics”(8). In other words, the creation of reservoirs and dams has affected the natural processes of wetlands as mentioned above. Even though domestic grazing can cause serious consequences, it is possible that grazing will increase, particularly goats. (8). Despite the negative effects of converting wetlands into croplands, it is likely to continue (8). As the population increase, more water is needed to fulfill the growing population. This will result in increased extraction of groundwater for irrigation(8).
source: www.waterjournalistafrica.com
A study was done to see if economic well-being and ecological security is sustainable for both the humans and the ecosystem. In one simulation, if profitability of cultivation is priority, then it “may improve economic well-being but at the expense of wetland conservation”(12). If improvement of economic well-being and enhancement are both priority, simulations show livelihood diversification out of agriculture would suffice. “Livelihood diversification can be supported through increased government investment in rural infrastructure, downstream value chains, health and education”(12). If conservation is priority, economic well-being will not be affected unless “livelihood sources are diversified into alternative non-farm employment and income options”(12). With predicted reduction in rainfall, adaptability to climate change must be promoted. Reduced rainfall will accelerate wetland conversion to agriculture undermining conservation efforts. “Strategies that reduce dependence on wetlands for agriculture such as investment in water harvesting and storage, efficient irrigation methods, and promoting use of drought tolerant crops and diversifying out of agriculture” (12).
Suggestions for Conservation:
The first step in any conservation efforts should be educating the citizens of South Africa of the importance of the wetlands. “One of the major constraints… is that wetland users and decision-makers have insufficient understanding of the consequences of alternative management and policy regimes on wetland functioning, ecosystem services and human well-being”(12). South Africa should allocate money and resources to educate politicians and local people. If people are not aware of the consequences, any effort in conservation will be a waste. To many people, the wetlands are still viewed as an unused, nutrient rich and developable land that is otherwise just sitting going to waste. With increased understanding of the centrality and significance of wetlands, programs and projects may have more luck in swaying opinions and getting citizens to prioritize conservation efforts. The country can hold workshops throughout the year to teach sustainable methods and to learn about the effects of global warming. If able, incentives should be given to those who follow. An example of incentives can be a stipend for being sustainable. “Given the importance of the direct and ecological services wetlands provide to human society it is important that they are sustainably managed so that they continue to provide services in the future”(12).
Source: http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/south-africa-biomes_10c7
One of the projects currently in action is an effort to get court injunctions of buildings where wetlands exist. They hope that with quick action, the wetlands will be salvaged and they will be able to restore them to a thriving ecosystem. There is a simultaneous push for a more sustainable development of areas that could indirectly affect these essential wetlands (1). They hope to avoid construction of tourist sights directly on top of these swampy wetlands, like the one pictured below.
Source: http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/intro/threats/
In the preservation of undeveloped, endangered wetlands, there is an effort to improve water conservation. With water a scarce resource, water conservation efforts need to be improved to ensure that water is not diverted from the wetlands for the use of humans. In addition, with fishing being a key source of food, locals should go back to traditional fishing techniques rather than industrialized methods so they can fish sustainably. Traditional techniques act like a selective permeable membrane. It's a network of wooden fences that allow small fish to go through (16). This will give the fish a chance to breed upstream and or grow in the ocean and as a result, adult fish will be caught. The combination of these conservation efforts combined with additional projects form a multi-focused foundation for the essential conservation of this invaluable ecosystem.
Sources:
- http://africa.wetlands.org/Africanwetlands
