Wetlands, Forests and Climate Change was South Africa’s theme for World Wetlands Day (February 2).
The national World Wetlands Day celebrations took place at Verlorenvlei, a 1 500ha wetland situated just inland from the West Coast town of Elands Bay.
Designated as a Ramsar site (a wetland of international importance) in 1991, Verlorenvlei is located in the biodiversity-rich Bergrivier Municipality and is host to 75 resident and migratory bird species as well as other wetland-dependent species such as the rare minnow Barbus burgi.
In 2007, the public was given access to Verlorenvlei after a bird hide built by Working for Wetlands and CapeNature was opened.
“Working for Wetlands has rehabilitated more than 800 wetlands through its 40 projects, which have provided over 15 000 job opportunities”, says national project leader, John Dini.
Wetlands cover seven percent of South Africa’s surface area and form vital links in the chain of water supply, as well as providing flood control and maintaining water quality. Wetlands are rich in biodiversity and provide food, housing materials and traditional medicines for local communities.
Wetlands are under siege as a result of ever-expanding towns and cities, excessive water abstraction and pollution. As a result, species dependent on wetlands are declining faster than those reliant on other ecosystems.
Create a garden wetland
Gardeners can show their support for wetland species by installing a mini-wetland in their garden. In the simplest terms, a wetland is an area that is covered with water for long enough periods of time to require the planting of plant communities that can live in water or waterlogged boggy soil.
A garden wetland will provide many of the same benefits that natural wetlands offer, such as temporarily storing, filtering and cleaning run-off water from your roof and lawn. They will also provide a habitat for many creatures, from butterflies, birds and bees to lizards, geckoes, toads, frogs and dragonflies.
If you have a naturally occurring wet spot in your garden, or natural depression you can turn it into a wetland. An area with heavy clay soil that drains slowly may also be suitable. Alternatively, you can establish a high water-usage area in your garden to grow many of the beautiful plants associated with wetlands, as most wetland plants do not require standing water to grow successfully.
Steps to Success
To conserve water, line an area with a waterproof black plastic lining. Place a pond with sloping sides next to the wetland to make it more attractive to birds and frogs. The pond can be pre-formed or lined with plastic and filled with water.
Follow this step-by-step guide to developing a wetland:
* Lay out the shape of your wetland using a hose pipe. An irregular shape will appear the most natural.
* Dig out the soil to a depth of 50cm to 70cm. Slope the sides gently to the deepest area and lay a black plastic liner, which is often sold as damp-proofing plastic.
* Put 2-3cm of fine sand in the bottom to prevent the liner from being punctured by small stones.
* Puncture the liner in several places with pencil-sized holes about halfway up the sides to allow slow drainage so the soil will not stay completely waterlogged for long periods.
* Fill the hold with a mixture of soil, compost and water-retaining granules.
* Cover the edges of the plastic with soil or rocks to hide it and to hold the liner in place.
* If it is feasible, attach rubber tubing to the end of a nearby drainpipe to channel rain water from the roof into your pond and wetland.
Plants for garden wetlands
To imitate a natural wetland, choose locally indigenous plants that are adapted to wet winters and dry summers.
Consider the 2m-tall bloodroot (Wachendorfia thyrsiflora) with pleated green leaves and yellow flowers in spring and early summer; spring-flowering white arum (Zantedeschia aethiopica); 1m-tall Cape thatching reed (Elegia tectorum syn. Chondropetalum tectorum), that forms dense clumps of dark green architectural foliage; 1,5m tall bell reed (Cannomois virgata), which has striking inflorescences in October and 2m Cape reed (Elegia capensis), with arching branches and needle-like foliage.
You can also try crimson river lily (Hesperantha coccinea syn. Schizostylis coccinea), otterbossie (Gomphostigma virgatum), orange river lily (Crinum bulbispermum), summer-flowering red hot pokers (Kniphofia species) or papyrus (Cyperus species).
The best-known papyrus is the 2m-tall Cyperus papyrus. However there are smaller species, such as 1,5m Cyperus textilis, 1m Cyperus alternifolius, and 1m Cyperus prolifer.
Most survive frost if a thick layer of mulch is placed over the roots.
Plant in full sun to light shade. Cyperus textilis is an excellent water purifier. - Weekend Argus