tailieunhanh - WATER POLLUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA: ITS IMPACT ON WETLAND BIOTA

Having defined long-term objectives it is necessary to assess how the present situation matches the desired situation. The key issue is identification of the potential of, and constraints upon, the present management capacity and capability in relation to carrying out the management functions defined in the long-term objectives. Such aspects as suitability of institutional framework, number of staff, recruitability of relevant new staff, educational background, and availability of financial resources should be considered. The needs for training staff and for human resources development to enhance management performance should also be identified and plans made for initiation of this development. . | WATER POLLUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA ITS IMPACT ON WETLAND BIOTA MAS COETZEE Centre for Water in the Environment Department of Botany University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3 Wits 2050 Abstract 1 scalating rates of urbanization industrialization and population growth have aggravated the sig nificance of water pollution as a threat to the persistence of South Africa s wetland resources. Of the extremely wide range of water-borne pollutants nutrients sediments acidic compounds salts heavy metals and biocides are considered most significant in terms of their impact on wetlands and their biota. Although dissimilarities in the response of the wetland ecosystem to each of these pollutants are recognized and described a common response is also acknowledged. This response involves the alteration of the physico-chemical properties of the wetland substrates sediment and water by the water-borne pollutant the elimination of less tolerant organisms and the subsequent proliferation of tolerant species due to a release from predation pressure and or resource competition leading ultimately to the extinction of the ecosystem. The paper furthermore highlights the challenges faced in the management of water pollution in semi-arid aquatic systems and the need for research in order to face these challenges. 1 Introduction The last decade has heralded an increased appreciation of the contribution wetlands can make to the quality of human life Mitsch Gosselink 1986 Begg 1986 . Despite the numerous and now well-recognised public benefits accrued from wetlands for examples see Rogers Sloey Spangler Fetter 1978 Pooley 1980 Larson 1982 Whigham 1982 Howard-Williams 1983 Rogers Buzer 1985 Begg 1986 Institute of Natural Resources 1988 Rogers 1990 human activities still severely threaten their persistence. Amongst the anthropogenic activities that may result in the destruction of wetlands are draining to allow either for the planting of commercial crops or in order to liberate grazing land .

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• Increased role of civil society
• Environment for development
• Poverty and inequity
• Harnessing opportunities
• Integrated approach
• Cooperation at multiple levels