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A Comparative Analysis of The Pattern and Effects of Wetland Utilisation in Urban Versus Rural Areas of Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province
Mr.Innocent Sinthumule
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University of Venda,
South Africa
Email: innocent@univen.ac.za
Abstract
Wetlands contain numerous goods and services that have an economic value not only to local populations but also to people living outside the periphery of the wetland. They are an important source of water and nutrients necessary for biological productivity and often sheer survival of people. Despite their significance, wetlands continue to be destroyed and poorly managed. The aim of this study is to investigate the pattern of wetland use, assess ecological and socio economic effects of wetland use and to come up with strategies that can ensure sustainable healthy condition of wetlands in Thohoyandou. Ground field survey method was used to collect data from the field. The aspects that were considered during field survey include vegetation, hydrology, soil and land use activities that were taking place in the area. It was found out that the wetlands in urban areas are mainly adversely affected by settlement and infrastructural development, sewage and solid waste disposal as well as cultivation; whereas wetlands in rural areas are mainly affected by cultivation, unsustainable harvesting of plant species and using wetlands as grazing land for domestic stock. Different strategies that can enhance, restore and sustain the quality of resources in wetlands are suggested.
1. INTRODUCTION
Wetland is a collective term used to describe land where an excess of water (that is water logging) is the dominant factor determining the nature of the soil development and the types of plants and animals living at the soil surface. Wetlands are essentially designed by nature to catch, clean and preserve any unused surface water (Kotze 1996).
Much of Africa lies within arid and semiarid climates, where freshwater is scarce and many regions face serious water shortages. In these contexts, wetlands are an important source of water and nutrients necessary for biological productivity and often sheer survival of people (Kirsten 2005).
The wetlands provide habitats for a wide range of animal species such as aquatic invertebrates, water birds and reptiles (Cooper et al, 2006). Wetlands also reduce severity of droughts and floods by regulating stream flow, and provide superb recreational areas for people (Kotze 1996, Wyatt 1999). Despite their importance, wetlands are being modified or reclaimed, either their resources are overexploited and converted to other uses or upstream developments alter the magnitude, timing and quality of river water feeding the wetlands (Kirsten 2005).
Wetland destruction by human intervention commenced long ago and has accelerated in recent times. As a consequence, wetlands are among the most degraded of all ecosystems. The relatively recent acceptance of the socio-economic and ecological importance of wetlands in developed countries has not yet succeeded in reversing this trend (Amezaga et al 2002).
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