The Mondi Wetlands Programme

What are wetlands? A wetland is a family name given to many different types of land connected by rivers and riparian areas, including springs and seeps, marshes, floodplains, swamp forests, mangrove swamps and estuaries. Wetlands and water play a key role in human life. Even with our advancing technological skills, we still depend on our natural ecosystems to sustain us. Wetlands play a pivotal role in the management of our water flows, including the purification and storage of our water. They control erosion and are also vital for biodiversity protection, tourism, environmental education, grazing, subsistence agriculture and as a source of food and plant materials for rural communities. Their health is therefore critical to sustainable development.

before... during... ...today The above photographs are of Mondi's Zoar Wetland, near Piet Retief, which was rehabilitated in 2000.

Why is Mondi interested in wetlands?

Water is South Africa’s scarcest natural resource, and 55% of South Africa’s wetlands to date have been lost due to irresponsible agriculture and forestry, urban development, pollution, dam-building, erosion and fire. Moreover, the majority of South Africans do not have access to drinking water and therefore rely on streams, rivers, marshes and other types of wetlands to supply them with enough clean water to satisfy their needs. If the current supply and demand rates continue, South Africa’s water resources will be fully utilised by 2025.

Because Mondi’s commercial activities (commercial forestry and processing plants) use significant volumes of water, they rely on healthy wetlands and riparian zones. Mondi has therefore taken a leading role in promoting the awareness and protection of the remaining wetlands and more importantly, the rehabilitation of damaged wetlands.

What is the Mondi Wetlands Programme (MWP)?

Mondi is the principle sponsor of the MWP. This is a joint project between South Africa’s two largest NGO conservation organisations (WWF - South Africa and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) together with ourselves and the Mazda Wildlife Fund. It is WWF SA’s premier freshwater project, forming part of their global Living Waters programme. The project aims to bring about the rehabilitation, wise use and sustainable management of South Africa’s wetlands. It primarily does so by using a number of techniques to promote rural wetland conservation among key government agencies and private and communal wetland users:

• Awareness-raising
• Policy work and lobbying
• Catalysing partnerships
• Research-based tools and resources
• Training and on-the ground support

Since its launch in 1991, the MWP has been recognised as the most successful non-governmental wetland conservation project in South Africa, and is considered by its partner organisations to be a pioneering force for wetland conservation outside reserves in South Africa.

The MWP’s small team works at a national level by forging partnerships with key players throughout the country. It acts as a catalyst: enthusing, initiating, training, guiding, advising and helping other organisations develop their wetlands projects further and more specifically, works with Mondi to assist in the development of and monitoring compliance with its relevant wetland and environmental policies. The MWP also works in partnership with existing structures at both grassroots and political decision-making levels, including commercial farmers, government agricultural and conservation extension services, historically disadvantaged rural communities, and key decision makers on a national basis. In this way, the MWP’s work can continue sustainably into the future.

Last change: 14/07/2008