Corporate Social Review Magazine 1st Quarter 2012 | Page 56

ple however are unaware that natural wetlands are
often destroyed in the name of progress; commercial
development and increased agricultural needs, as
well as residential properties and roads are built on
them -- all of which directly impact on the destruction
of animal and plant life. Humans are also responsible for dropping litter and harmful chemicals into the
water, poachers kill or capture animals such as crocodile and birds and take them away from their natural
habitat.
South Africa is however making great strides in taking
responsibility for the rehabilitation of more than 800
wetlands countrywide through government’s ‘Working for Wetlands Program’. A parallel project is their
‘Working for Water Program’ that involves clearing invasive alien plants from catchments to improve fresh
water quality and supply. The intention is to safeguard the animals that live there and the vegetation
that flourishes there. It is critical to promote wetland
preservation so it will not be lost to future generations. Both these projects are inextricably linked with
government’s Social Responsibility policy to generate
hundreds of thousands of jobs to alleviate poverty,
to build awareness of ecological conservation and
develop a positive relationship between tourism and
wetlands. Tourism is a principal source of income that
provides good opportunities for many poor people.

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South Africa has already lost more than half its wetlands; a study in 2004 showed that less than one
percent of seasonal wetlands are protected in South
Africa. Because of the rapid loss and degradation of
wetlands, South Africa signed the Ramsar Convention, an international agreement to protect wetlands. A
recent rehabilitation project, located in the Kruger National Park, cost R1.8-million; the rehabilitation work
took place on the southern bank of the Luvuvhu River
on route to the Maluleke Ramsar site. Stakeholders
are driven to increase public awareness; elicit greater
support for protection of wetland sites; develop job ?7&VF?????BV???6R??'GV??F?W2f?"&W6V&6??@?V6?F?W&?6????FG&W72FV?fW&VB??fV''V'?#"BF?P???V?V?R&?6"6?FR??????&?f??6R?F?R?????FWWG????7FW"?bvFW"?BV?f?&???V?F?ff?'2???2?&V???6R?'VFf?6?7FFVBF?Bv?&?BvWF??G0?F??26V?V'&FVBv?&?Gv?FRF?&?Vv?f&?WG??b7F?f?F?W2?v?VBF?&?6"6??fV?F???( ?2F?V?Rf?"#"??v??6??2( ?vWF??G2?BF?W&?6?( ????6?WF?g&?6F??0?F?V?R?2&VV???6??VB'?FF??r6??v?V???6??r6???V??G??fV????G2?( ?vWF??BV6?7?7FV?0?????G66R&R??R??F?W?2???W"?V??&?F?W2( 2F?W???f?F?&??R??7W7F????r?V?F???fW0??bV??R??V?F??vWF??G2f?6?FVBF?F??????&???B&?WF'V6?f?V???&W&W6V?B?W"V?F?v?V?BgV?Bf? ????VF?FR6???V??F?W2?BF??6RgW'F?W"f?V?B????`??4?%?$DR4?4??$Ud?Up??