Celebrating World Wetlands Day: protecting our common future

World Wetlands Day is celebrated every February, and this year focuses on a unique theme to highlight the significance of wetlands: Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future. The University of the Western Cape proudly boasts its very own seasonal wetlands, which made their appearance after the heavy rains of winter 2024, showcasing beautiful fauna and flora that can be seen whenever the wetlands emerge.

All wetlands are protected ecosystems where water covers the soil or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods. They have a threatened status and need to be protected—a task that staff at the Cape Flats Nature Reserve (CFNR) take very seriously. Environmental Education Officer at the Reserve, Laurenda van Breda, stated, “Conserving these wetlands is a priority because they play a crucial role in the environment by filtering polluted water, recharging groundwater, and acting as a buffer to prevent flooding from excessive rain. Other benefits include providing essential habitats for a wide range of biodiversity, from the smallest organisms at the base of the food chain to the predators at the top.”

After a dry period of seven years, the wetlands started filling up to capacity once again in 2023. The wetlands at the Reserve are a man-made feature created in 1977, providing a refuge for aquatic and semi-aquatic species, and biodiversity has been thriving since then. “After sufficient winter rains, the wetland slowly fills, creating a flurry of activity, from the croaking of frogs to the screeching of weaver birds building nests and visiting water birds enjoying the urban stopover. We also see colourful bulbs like the Long-tubed Painted Lady (Gladiolus angustus), and both students and visitors exploring the wetland. Dragonflies and adult frogs are commonly seen, which are great indicators of good water quality,” said Van Breda.

Wetlands serve as perfect recreational spaces, providing a calm environment that contributes to mental well-being in an ever-encroaching urban setting. “It is important for us to protect our wetlands for our common future by raising awareness through education and maintaining these areas as beautiful, accessible, recreational spaces for the public to enjoy,” Van Breda added.

Although the wetland has slowly been drying up, at the height of the wetlands season, special sightings of the Marsh mongoose have recently been captured on the reserve’s camera trap. The first record was footprints in 2016, and the first camera record of the Marsh mongoose was in 2020. It finally made an appearance on camera on 12 August 2023 and again last year in November.