cannot prevent destruction caused by such floods , integration of healthy ecological green infrastructure in planning and the management of other urban infrastructure assets would have alleviated by magnitude the costs to the business , insurances , and people ’ s properties . This is a living example that illustrates the value of wetlands , which goes beyond the attenuation of flood energy , provided those wetland plants are maintained in good health condition .
The opposite of floods — drought — is currently being experienced in Cape Town and in the broader Western Cape province . Again , the retention and slow release of water from wetlands during droughts have been widely reported in literature . While these difficult experiences are underway and stressful , it is also an opportune time to review our relationship with nature and nature-based solutions .
To this extent , DWS is leading a complete turnaround of its operations through the development of the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan . This huge exercise is aimed at shifting from ‘ job as usual ’ to a ‘ new normal ’, which takes serious future projections of frequent droughts and floods — a situation that calls for future cities ’ resilience . The plan will see the merging of water supply and raw water resources management in planning developments and water demands , which must be objective and contextualised . Traditionally , water availability is assumed in the business planning until later when it is realised that water assurance of good quantity and quality is a limiting factor !
The Master Plan , in line with the World Economic Forum , has noted water as one of the top risks facing humanity now and into the future as populations and other water demands escalate . The estimations are that by 2030 , urbanisation will have driven more people towards cities , putting extra pressure on wetlands and rivers . Much of this is already reported through numerous WRC reports — a situation that demands speedy review of urban settlement / business / transport mechanism designs that are sensitive to nature .
Various international plans / strategies , such as Sustainable Development Goals : 2030 ( particularly Goal 6 as interlinked ), the African Agenda 2063 , the National Development Plan , and city plans , provide support to the realisation of a greener economy that promises better life for all on targeted time frames . Fortunately , wetlands and their restoration and maintenance as ecological infrastructures are prominently listed as priority resources to be given immediate attention . Indeed , water is life !
The WRC is one of the world leaders in generating new knowledge critical in policy decision-making . Most of the key reports already exist in managing wetlands . More work is underway . Just as an illustration , a framework report ( TT 732 / 17 ) with special focus on Ramsar wetlands was launched during the WWD 2018 celebrations . The framework provides for the collection of key biodiversity and biophysical information required by the Ramsar Convention .
Many countries ( including South Africa ) who are signatories to the Ramsar Convention battle to generate and report on this aspect . In realising this gap , through a WRC-organised dialogue , DEA agreed on producing this framework as an urgent matter . The framework was launched in the City of Tshwane Metro during the celebration , organised by a partnership with City of Tshwane , DWS , DEA / SANBI .
The WRC in its Research Development and Innovation Strategy plan has made a dedicated effort to focus on ecological infrastructure , resilience , governance , and social and economic aspects of wetlands . This is done to emphasise research towards the ‘ new normal ’ meant for survival , despite risks posed by various threats to our limited water resources . Real water price in the light of ecological infrastructure maintenance demands attracting investments into environmental protection or ecosystem insurance value ( a risk mitigation perspective ), and many more avenues are receiving direct attention .
It is therefore not enough to justify the protection of wetlands by noting the biodiversity importance . While that is critical , the change in language and approach , such as focus on beneficial services provided by wetlands , is gaining momentum . The WRC is not only engaging partners within the country , but also in the SADC region , African continent , and beyond . u Bonani Madikizela is research manager : water and ecosystem management at the Water Research Commission . Source : www . bizcommunity . com networking contributor innovations industry debate environment infrastructure municipalities
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