Dube TradePort Aids Wetland Restoration

On the 2^nd of February, the world celebrates wetlands day, under the theme “Wetlands Restoration”.
Wetlands are essential ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity and provide us with fresh water; they are integral to both our socio-economy and well-being. 

Wetlands store more carbon than forests and help us cope with flooding, considering that less than 1 hectare of wetland can absorb over 10 million litres of flood water. Wetlands also provide livelihoods for many through aquaculture and tourism. 

Today, wetlands are counted among the world’s most threatened ecosystems, with over 80% of all wetlands being degraded in the past 300 years. Human activities such as water pollution, unsustainable agriculture, encroaching of human settlements, as well as invasive species have been the main contributing factor to wetland degradation. 

In 2023, Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone plans to continue investing in several wetland restoration interventions, which include alien clearing and wetland rehabilitation. 

 Dube TradePort has established a long-term partnership with the Mount Moreland Conservancy in the management of much of the landholdings around the Lake Victoria and Froggy Pond wetlands, which form part of the Mount Moreland wetland. 

The Mount Moreland wetland is a critical wetland habitat for frog populations. In particular, the presence of the Hyperolius Pickersgill frog is of national importance, given its critically endangered status. The wetlands also contain a large population of Afrixalus spinifrons, Hemisus guttatus, large numbers of Leptopelis natalensis and a variety of other amphibian species.

These wetlands are also recognised for their importance in providing a roosting site for barn swallows, the Durban roost is among the largest recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The conservation of these wetlands is part of an overall approach to adopt and implement sustainable development principles as we further our economic development mandate. 

You can also visit https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/pledges and post your pledge to act for wetland restoration. 

Heed the call. Learn more about wetlands. Make ecosystems-conscious decisions. Act for Wetland Restoration.