Estuaries and wetlands – together we can preserve them

Writer: Klaus Schmitt.

Estuaries are one of the most important features of the South African coastline; they are tranquil areas of high productivity and play a vital role in the life cycles of many plants and animals – especially as a nursery for fish. Situated at the interface between fresh and marine waters, estuaries are among the most biologically productive ecosystems in the world and are of great ecological and economic importance.

These words were written by Dr Anina Lee in The Village NEWS of 30 October 2019. Friends of the Bot River Estuary and Environs (Botfriends) fully agree with this ecological appreciation of both estuaries and wetlands as high-value ecosystems.

The shore of the Bot River Estuary near the mouth. On the dune to the right, fynbos vegetation has already recovered a year after alien clearing by Botfriends. The spot to the left in the foreground was cleared a few months ago. To the left, the dense woody vegetation showsuncontrolled Port Jackson (Acacia saligna) and Australian Myrtle (Leptospermum laevigatum) having suppressed the slower-growing fynbos.

PHOTO: Klaus Schmitt

The Bot River Estuary is the largest in the Overstrand. Its surroundings include large badly-degraded wetland areas. We are highly concerned about the conservation of these environmental assets. Among the most serious threats are the aggressive and rapid spread of invasive alien vegetation at the expense of the indigenous fynbos, and the pollution and drying up of the wetlands.

Click below to read more. (The full article can be found on page 18)