World wetlands day
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The document summarizes a case study on the Lawuba Wetlands Protection project in Eswatini. The project was successfully implemented in 2014 with funding from various organizations. It protected 25 hectares of wetland area with participation from the local community and authorities. As a result of the project, fauna has developed in the area, the wetland acts as a water source, and several vegetable gardens and income generation activities like harvesting reeds and crafts have emerged. The project now supports 388 members who earn on average 3,800 emalangeni annually from wetland products. The document also discusses how wetlands can help adapt to climate change impacts like drought and help mitigate climate change.
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World wetlands day
- 1. Wetlands and Climate Change: Opportunities for Adaptation and Mitigation Deepa Pullanikkatil (PhD) d.Pullanikkatil@gmail.com Presentation for World Wetlands Day, King Sobhuza Memorial Park, 28 Feb 2019 Kingdom of Eswatini
- 4. Case study on Lawuba Wetlands Protection • Was successfully implemented in 2014 • Funded by mainly the Environment Fund {E228,000 , SPTC and World Vision (additional E50,000)} • Protected Wetland area covers 25hectares • Community participation was critical on the success of the project including local authority. • Education and awareness raising at initial stages is your first stop
- 7. Women taking the lead to protect the wetlands at Lawuba
- 9. Impacts of the project • Fauna has developed • The spongy effect of the wetland has been observed during the rainy season • Has become a major source of water in the whole area for domestic , livestock and agriculture • Several vegetable gardens have sprung up around the wetland for income . • Woman have started harvesting handcraft raw material.
- 10. The INCOME Generation scheme • The wetland has now become an income generating project . • There are 388 active members each have a total average income of E3800 • Annually net income is over 1.2million • This is from the sale reed such as lukwane and incoboza , and umtsala • Finished products produced include handcraft material such as mats, baskets, etc.
- 14. Climate change and Wetlands • With climate change: Rising temperatures, less rainfall • Especially in arid areas, climate change will make, droughts and water shortage more extreme. Rainfall may decrease. Also, evaporation increases considerably with higher temperatures. As a result, food production may drop, and salinisation will occur. • Wetlands have important climate adaptation function: • Marshes, lakes and floodplains can offset these impacts by: • releasing wet season flows slowly during drought periods • recharging groundwater aquifers during water-rich period • providing diversification during drought periods
- 15. Ecosystem Based Adaptation It is nature based solution that harnesses biodiversity and ecosystem services to reduce vulnerability and build resilience to climate change
- 16. Ecosystem Based Adaptation • Priority for Eswatini • Mentioned in National Climate Change Policy • Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) document • National Adaptation Planning process – more research and prioritization • NDC – Nationally Determined Contributions • TNA – Technology Needs Assessment • TNC – Third National Communication
- 17. To conclude • Sustaining and restoring wetlands form a cost-effective strategy for climate adaptation and mitigation with strong benefits for poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation.
- 18. Thank you
Editor's Notes
- Prince Lembelele and Prince Masuku II Honourable Minister of Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Principal Secretary Emmanuel Dlamini, Honourable Members of Parliament Chief Environmental Coordinator Hlobsile Skhosana, National Climate Change Focal Point, Chairman of Eswatini National Trust Commission, CEO of Eswatini National Trust Commission Dr.Cliff Dlamini, Ramsar Commission Focal Point Sandile Gumedze. Respected delegates. All protocol observed. Thank you to Eswatini Environment Authority for inviting me. It is my privilege to be here at the World Wetlands Day celebration. I am presenting on behalf of the National Climate Change Unit, Khetsiwe Khumalo and this presentation will touch on wetlands, its importance and particularly the links with climate change adaptation and mitigation (trying not to repeat what has already been said by previous speakers)
- As you all know, wetlands are most important for healthy ecosystems, and they have important role to play with regard to climate change adaptation and mitigation. But, wetlands are amongst the most threatened ecosystems- they are most abused, overused and often threatened, due to development needs and unsustainable practices. They have so many uses, being a habitat for biodiversity to thrive – many insects, plants, birds, animals depend on wetlands, they are breeding grounds for this fauna. Many special plants of medicinal and cultural values are found in wetlands. Wetlands also play an important role of being a carbon sink. They act as sponges to control flood waters and many of them are the sources of our rivers. But sadly, 50% of the world’s wetlands have already been lost!
- In Eswatini, we have many wetlands spread right across the country. These maps are from 2015 Review of national wetlands done by ENTC, document prepared by Prof. Manyatsi. The map on the left is distribution of wetlands within protected areas and the map on the right has wetlands identified for protection. For the country, wetlands are very important. To demonstrate the potential of wetlands in our lives, let me start with a little success, or happy story.
- Not too long ago, the Environment Fund supported the protection of the Lawuba wetland, which has an area of 25 hectares and contains other wetlands too. This project incorporated community participation right from the beginning and along with the community they were able to fence wetlands, prevent animals from trampling sensitive parts of the wetlands, allowing at the same time, sustainable extraction of natural resources by the community.
- Here you can see community members involved in fencing
- Participation of women was key to this project, as often it is women who use there wetlands to collect reeds and grasses for their livelihood, crafting and cultural activities
- The project has reported many successes, including improvement in wetlands functioning,
- Wetlands plants growth improved, its function for flood control improved and its function to provide water also improved. The project helped enhance sustainable use of the wetlands for improving livelihoods, through sustainable extraction of fibre for handicraft, use of water for agriculture, domestic use
- Women who are part of this project has seen their incomes increase and a net income during the study period of one year was over E1.2million, through sale of reeds and crafts
- The project was applauded and featured in the media. I acknowledge Mbongeni Hlophe who shared these slides with me and was managing this project. So that is a success story where, if we protect and sustainably use wetlands, we can derive many benefits.
- The importance of wetlands for handicrafts and livelihoods particularly of vulnerable women cannot be over estimated. Two years ago, when I was at Rhodes University, I was part of a study on fibre craft covering Eswatini, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Across these countries, We found that so many interesting and varied types of products are made from the natural fibres found in and around wetlands.
- As I interviewed some of these women in Eswatini, We interviewed 100 women and we found that majority were over 50 years old, many were Gogos looking after several grandchildren. Some women are widowed, many have not had formal education. They find making crafts an important livelihood activity as they can stay home and make crafts, allowing time to look after their grandchildren, cook and take care of household duties. we realized that craft making is very important for these women and important source of income. So we owe it to our mothers and Gogos to protect the wetlands which provide raw materials for them to make crafts.
- From the country context, moving to a global context – the global challenge of climate change, we are all aware of the impacts of rising temperature, erratic rainfall patterns -We can expect many impacts affecting all sectors. Wetlands can help us reduce impacts to climate change! They prevent flooding when we have heavy rains, they release water slowly when it is drought and allows for livelihoods to carry on during dry periods.
- That brings me to the solutions for climate change management – one of the most prominent approach is “Ecosystem based adaptation”. This is a buzz word now. So what is “Ecosystem Based Adaptation” and how does it connect to “wetlands” . The definition is there on the slide. The key words in the definition of Ecosystem Based Adaptation is that it is “Nature based”, which means it works “with” not against nature. It harnesses “Biodiversity” and “Ecosystem services”, to “reduce vulnerability” and “build resilience” to climate change. If you look at the key words, all of them are linked to wetlands. Wetlands are natural, found naturally and allows for biodiversity to thrive. If its weren’t for wetlands, many species would be extinct. Species can multiply because of wetlands providing them a habitat for breeding. Wetlands provide important ecosystem services – that of “regulating” floods, being a carbon sink,. “maintaining micro climates” and “provisioning” of natural products including fibre and wild foods, fruits, . Also “cultural ecosystem service” of both being aesthetic, pleasing to tourists, and providing cultural benefits- reeds, community public spaces and psychological benefits of providing sense of place and so on. Most importantly, using wetlands sustainably can help humans through livelihood activities that reduce humans vulnerability and help them generate income that builds resilience and helps them adapt to climate change. Also, wetlands, reduces vulnerability of ecosystems say for example to flooding and species loss and thus builds resilience of ecosystems to climate change. Hence we can conclude that wetlands are an important element in Ecosystem Based Adaptation.
- Ecosystem Based Adaptation is a priority for Eswatini. It has been mentioned in key national documents, including the National Climate Change Policy and the NDC document. The country is now developing a National Adaptation Plan. Yesterday, I was at the launch and inception workshop for the same. Eswatini will be prioritizing Ecosystem Based Adaptation in the NAP and doing more research on this to inform better decision making. Wetlands are important aspects of ecosystems and will be part of Ecosystem Based Adaptation priorities and plans. Eswatini’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) prioritizes protecting wetlands. Wetlands protection and restoration has been prioritized (one of 9 technologies under adaptation) by stakeholders under the Technology Needs Assessment project too and a rough project plan including budget is available in that report for those who would like to take this up further and develop project proposals. The Third National Communicaton reports that wetlands contribute to absorbing carbon under the sector : Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry and Eswatini is a net sink for carbon dioxide emissions.
- To conclude, protecting wetlands is particularly important. It is the most vulnerable and poor who depend on them. If we prioritize wetlands protection and their sustainable use and incorporate that into our climate change adaptation work, we have much to gain, including benefits such as poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation. Eswatini has prioritized wetland protection as evident in our national documents and many projects being undertaken and in our climate change management agenda. Today’s celebration is another testimony to the fact that we take wetlands seriously! Thank you.