It is one of the few environmental projects tackling South Africa's critical water shortage. The project was started in 1991 by the World Wide Fund for Nature, South Africa and Renfreight. The aim was to raise the awareness of wetland managers and the public. Workshops, talks and practical advice were provided to land agency extension officers, wetland managers and users of wetlands. It also works on developing adequate wetland policy and is directed at wetland owners and managers, users and key de cision makers.
Wetlands are of national importance in protecting South Africa's scarcest resource - water.
They ensure water during droughts and prevent flood damage. Wetlands recharge groundwater. They store water and even purify it. They perform all these vital functions for free - and as a bonus, wetlands conserve biodiversity. Yet wetlands are one of the most threatened habitats in the world today.