ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS - The Garden Route District Municipality approved a draft of the reviewed Garden Route District Wetland Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2031 at its July meeting.
The draft is an update of the strategy originally developed for the former Eden District Municipality in 2017 and aims to improve the protection, rehabilitation and monitoring of wetlands across the district.
According to a report tabled to Council, wetlands play an important role in keeping communities and ecosystems healthy. They help regulate water, support biodiversity and provide other natural services on which communities rely.
The report states there is an urgent need to increase awareness of the importance of wetlands and to ensure they are properly considered in municipal planning and decision-making. This includes protecting healthy wetlands, maintaining them and restoring areas that have been damaged or degraded.
The updated strategy includes the latest policy requirements, information and data. The report states that the most important section is the action plan, which sets out the work to be undertaken over the next five years. The strategy is intended to guide the Garden Route’s local municipalities in identifying gaps in wetland management and developing better ways of protecting these areas.
Local municipalities asked for input
As part of the review, the district municipality has asked local municipalities to comment on the draft and provide information about current and planned wetland-related projects. Some municipalities have asked for more time to provide their input as they need to consult various departments internally.
The next stage will involve wider public participation and engagement with interested and affected parties.
These will include government authorities, landowners, conservation organisations and community stakeholders. Their comments and suggestions will be considered before the strategy is brought back to the Garden Route District Council for consideration and adoption.
Original development process
The original wetlands strategy was compiled through a process involving the Garden Route District Municipality, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives’ (ICLEI) Local Action for Biodiversity: Wetlands South Africa project and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
A political leadership workshop was also held in George in March 2018, and political representatives from the district and local municipalities contributed to the original document.
The draft revised strategy is available on the Garden Route District Municipality’s website for viewing.
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