Before the walk Eden Mayor Leon Dorfling presented Lorrainne McGibbon from the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) with a cheque to the value of R88 578.
WESSA will use the money for the Eden Eco-Schools Climate Change and Heritage Node. The schools all fall in the Mossel Bay area as the area has many heritage sites and the research in the caves are linked to climate change. Mossel Bay is the perfect place for the research as the tectonic plates are stable and data going back millions of years is still to be found.
Vernon Gibbs-Halls from the Eden environmental department organised the day’s activities and says children must be shown the importance of wetlands at an early age. "The theme for this year’s World Wetlands Day is Caring for Wetlands - an answer to climate change. 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, so the theme is very apt. Wetland species and ecosystems are under threat from unsustainable human practices. Different wetland types supply different ecosystem services, including flood attenuation, provision of clean water and carbon storage."
In addition to the walk, the children also took part in group activities and were entertained by actors from the Lunchbox Theatre after which they were given tasty treats for lunch.
Article: Ilse Schoonraad
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Thumbs up to wetlands. Lorraine presented the Hoekwil Eco-Cubs and teacher Alida Lubbe with a bronze certificate for a successful first year as Eco-School. Photo: Ilse Schoonraad
