The MWP’s mission is to work towards the social change required to improve wetland sustainability practices. Improved wise use of communal wetlands in rural tribal areas through raised awareness, increased capacity and competence, establishment of wetland governance structures, and implementation of better management practices. Specific Objectives: Improved environmental management performance of growers in the plantation forestry and sugar industries, through the adoption of better management practices reducing their impact on wetland and estuarine ecosystems. Integration of the wise use of wetlands into government’s catchment management planning and implementation of water resource management. Wetland rehabilitation catalysed and government efforts through the Working for Wetlands Programme are effective and sustainable. Raised awareness and increased capacity and competence amongst natural resource managers, environmental impact assessment practitioners, regulators and policy makers resulting in improved management of South Africa’s wetlands. Key wetland management tools and resources developed and used by wetland practitioners, improving the effectiveness of wetland conservation. Increased public awareness of wetlands through the generation of publicity on wetland importance, topical wetland issues, their rehabilitation, sustainable utilization and management.

Project Results

Literally thousands of people have been trained for free by the Programme in wetland management, and been employed by Working for Wetlands to rehabilitate degraded wetlands. Many more who have been positively affected include: landowners who have had their wetlands rehabilitated; poor rural communities who live in focus areas of the Programme; government departments of Water affairs, Environmental Affairs, and Agriculture and their extension services; as well as the sugar and forestry industries.