How do the wetlands benefit the ecosystem?

Some areas in the country experience  a lot of heavy rainfall. This could lead to floods. Wetlands that are converted through drainage systems help in terms of flood control . The water is distributed to different channels where the water will be used in many different ways.

Wetlands have considerable value as filters for water.  When water enters a wetland, it moves around wetland plants.  The dirt in the in the water settles down on the ground surface.  Plant roots and micro organisms on plant stems and in the soil absorb the excess nutrients. All this improves the water quality, making it healthier for the surrounding community to drink the water once it has been boiled.

Many wetland systems possess bio filters, hydro-phytes and organisms that have the capacity to remove toxic substances that have some pesticides, industrial discharges and mining activities.  This happens through most parts of the plant including stems and leaves.  The filter purify the water making the wetland a good and clean environment for plants and animals.

Wetland vegetation reduces erosion along lakes and stream banks by reducing forces associated with wave action.

Wetlands provide ideal locations for classroom ecological studies and a focus for art.

Wetland vegetation reduces erosion along lakes and stream banks by reducing forces associated with wave action. Fresh water marsh help clean water.

Different species of mammals, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and fish rely on wetlands for food or shelter.  Threatened and endangered species use or inhabit wetlands at some point in their life.  Some species must be in a wetland in order to reproduce.

Types of wetlands

The following is a list of the types of wetlands:

Coastal Wetlands(first pic):
Found in the areas between land and open sea that are not influenced by rivers, shorelines and beaches

Shallow lakes and ponds:
These wetlands are areas of permanent or semi-permanent water with little flow.  They include spring ponds and salt water lakes.

Bogs(second pic):
Bogs are waterlogged lands in old lake basins or depressions in the landscape.  Almost all bogs are a result of rainfall.

Mashes and swamps(third pic):
Marshes form in depressions in the landscape as fringes around lakes and along slow flowing streams and rivers.  Mashes are dominated by floating-leafed plants like water lilies.

What is a Wetland?

Like we said, the Blog was created to inform people about wetlands but before we can go any further we need to understand what wetlands are.

A wetland is a wet land (i.e land which is wet).  A wetland is found where the land is wet enough, either saturated or flooded enough to be favourable to plants that adapt to soil conditions that require an absence of free oxygen.  When soil becomes extremely wet, the spaces between the soil particles becomes filled by water.  When this happens, the soil is said to be saturated.  The water will drain away very slowly while the soil remains saturated for a long time.

All about us!!!

The Environmental Club at Tidimane Middle School was inspired by the need to conserve the environment.  The Grade 8 learners together with their Teacher Mr Mogomotsi Molefi started the club and then later decided to bring the the Grade 7 learners on board. The Club also got support from Environmental Department at the Moses Kotane Local Municipality. 

The Club has participated in different projects such as:
School Greening
Gardening
Waste Management
Anti-littering Campaigns
Energy saving.

Welcome!!!

Before we start blogging, we would love to welcome you to our blog.  This blog was created by the Environmental Club at Tidimane Middle School which is in the Northwest Province in Rustenburg. The aim of this blog is to raise awareness in the Sandfontein Community about the wetlands in their  area. All the information we can possibly find on wetlands will be posted right here, you will also be able to view pictures as well as videos.  We hope you will find this blog informative as well as educational. Enjoy your stay with us!!!!