AfriForum cleaned up the wetland in the Moreleta Park Nature Reserve on 31 January 2020 as part of World Wetlands Day that is celebrated annually on 2 February. Wetlands, functioning like natural dams, are very important and in 2020 AfriForum will identify other wetlands all over the country that need to be cleaned up. The civil rights organisation will also assist communities that want to clean wetlands.
“The preservation of wetlands is extremely important due to the fact that wetlands absorb rainwater during the rain season and then release it during the course of the year. In the absence of wetlands, this water will simply run off. What also makes wetlands remarkable, is the fact that they act as a natural filtration system,” says Lambert de Klerk, Manager for Environmental Affairs at AfriForum.
The recent rains caused a lot of garbage to accumulate in this wetland and for that reason it’s necessary to do regular clean-ups.
“We have to take responsibility for the preservation of our wetlands to ensure the optimal functioning of vital ecosystems. More than 50% of South Africa’s wetlands have already been obliterated or is showing neglect,” concludes De Klerk.
