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Rustenburg View Map The project implements rehabilitation intervention in wetlands in the Rustenburg Nature Reserve in the North West Province. They are of high importance for biodiversity conservation and water provision.
The region is dominated by mixed bushveld, sourish mixed bushveld and turf thornveld. Sourish mixed bushveld is the most common vegetation type and covers the largest part of the wetland area. Eight threatened mammal species and five IUCN red list reptile species are found in the area, and the South African python has a high chance of occurring here. The province supports three threatened fish species and nine threatened butterfly species, three of which are associated with wetlands, two with bushveld and four with grasslands. About a third of South Africa’s bird species (328 of about 900) occur in the Rustenburg-Pilanesberg area, including many that are threatened. A number of wetland plants and reeds grow in the wetland, some of which are harvested by medicinal herbalists. The area is also important for tourism and recreation.
The wetlands are used by local communities for grazing livestock. Overgrazing has affected hydrology, resulting in loss of vegetation cover Cattle tracks and road crossings created erosion features, and wetland hydrology is affected by housing developments and associated roads. Inflow from storm water drains caused incision and canalisation which has resulted in a lowering of the water table, and desiccation of some parts of the wetlands.
Two wetlands are targeted for rehabilitation intervention, one at Baithkong that falls under the governance of the Rustenburg Local Municipality, and the other under the governance of the Bafokeng Tribal Authority. The Bojanala District Municipality is also a partner in the project.
Rehabilitation work in the system began in 2001, and in 2008/9 the project provided temporary employment and skills development for 43 people. It’s budget for the year is R1,342,000. A number of concrete, gabion and earth structures are used to control erosion. Invasive alien vegetation is removed, and the wetlands are revegetated with indigenous wetland species.
Rustenburg Wetland 1 : The 27 ha wetland on the Hex river is affected by overgrazing. Channel incision, sediment loss and erosion headcuts have developed as a result of grazing tracks and road crossings The lower part of the wetland also receives high volumes of fast-flowing water from the local sewage works. Rehabilitation intervention is aimed at preventing sedimentation and raising the water table in the wetland to restore its functionality and encourage regrowth of indigenous wetland vegetation. The area downstream of the sewage works discharge pipe will require attention.
Rustenburg Wetland 2 : The 153 ha channeled valley bottom wetland was modified by overgrazing that reduced vegetation density and changed vegetation composition. Resultant erosion altered the run-off characteristics of the wetland, and road crossings and a bridge contributed to changes in the wetland’s hydrology. Rehabilitation intervention is aimed at reducing sedimentation to protect the downstream Bospoortdam and raising the water table in the wetland to encourage re-establishment of wetland vegetation.
Contacts
For more detailed information such as project implementation plans and progress reports, please visit www.thelapa.com, click on Working for Wetlands and enter view for both username and password.
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