The Role of Research in Supporting Biodiversity and how Education can enhance Biodiversity.

1. The Role of Research in Supporting Biodiversity and how Education can enhance Biodiversity. Bonani Madikizela 17 Sept 2010 “Biodiversity is life-Biodiversity is our life”

2. OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar • Water Research Commission (WRC) Mandate • Research Partners/or Beneficiaries • Research Focus • Research Impact Areas and Evaluation • Biodiversity Related Research • Enhancing capacity (grade R-12, Hons-PhD, Communities) DVD • Biodiversity-So What? • Concluding Remarks

3. WRC Mandate Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar • WRC (WRC Act of 1971, last amended 1996) is a dynamic hub for water centered knowledge, innovation and intellectual capital. • Key functions include the following: • Establishing water research needs and priorities • Stimulating and funding water research according to priority • Promoting effective transfer and application of information and technology • Enhancing knowledge and capacity building within the water sector • Promoting, co-ordination, co-operationand communication in the area of water research and development

4. Partnering in Research Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar Engages other partners such as: • SANBI/SAIAB • CSIR • NRF • DST • DWEA • SANParks • DAFF • Academic Institutions • Independent researchers • International collaborators/Leverage (IWMI, FETwater, CBD, Ramsar…) The focus is on generating information key in solving natural resource related challenges which are critical to South Africa and neighbouring countries environmental, social and economic growth or sustainable development.

5. Research Focus Areas • WATER RESOURCE • Water Resource Management. • Water-Linked Ecosystems • WATER USE • Water Use and Waste Management. • Water Utilization in Agriculture Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar

6. Research Focus Area Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar • Water Resource Management: Focuses on: • Water resource assessment and planning • Water quality/quantity protection • Management of natural and human caused impacts on water resources • Water resource institutional arrangements • Water Linked Ecosystem: Focuses on: • Water ecosystem processes • Ecosystem management and utilization • Ecosystem rehabilitation • Water Use and Waste Management: Focuses on: • Water services- Institutional and management issues • Water supply and treatment technology

7. Research Focus Area(Cont) Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar • Sustainable municipal waste water and sanitation • Industrial and mine water management • Sanitation, Health and hygiene education • Water Utilization in Agriculture: Focuses on: • Irrigated agriculture • Dry-land agriculture • Woodlands and Forestry • Grasslands and Livestock watering • A “non-research” focus area is Water-Centered Knowledge, responsible for information management and distribution

8. Research Impact Areas and Evaluation Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar • The information generated through the research is regularly • evaluated and is targeted at making impacts on: • Social aspects • Health aspects • Environmental and • Economical • Impact studies: • Once in 5-years or more, WRC has introduced a monitoring • mechanism which is aimed at ensuring that there is value for • money spent on funding research. Is the Information • generated applied, if so what is the impact?

9. Biodiversity Related Research Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar • South Africa is a dry country • South Africa is one of global leaders in research through • various research institutions • Aquatic biodiversity is more threatened than terrestrial • Aquatic ecosystems are complicated and not easy to protect, e.g. by fencing !

10. ANNUAL RAINFALL 10 000 mm 857 mm 470 mm 80 % in 5 MONTHS SOUTH AFRICA WORLD HAWAII

11. Water Reserve: Some for all For-ever! Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar

12. 114,000 wetlands mapped to date Covering 7,6% of country’s surface area

13. Wetlands Research in South Africa • Internationally, scientists estimate wetlands already lost at 50% • In South Africa, the figure is estimated between 30 – 60% • The uncertainty puts enormous pressure on mapping and verification • SANBI/Working for Wetlands spends millions of rands on rehabilitation • Working for Water is equally doing the same, all attempting to restore habitats, water, biodiversity Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar

14. Wetlands Research in South Africa • Some of the driving forces of wetlands degradation include: • Extensive drainage and conversion of wetlands for • unsustainable agricultural purposes • Construction of infrastructure, such as dams, roads • Industrial development, e.g. Mining • Informal settlements • Uncontrolled fires • Waste disposal, etc • NB: All these types of impacts lead to lose of ability of wetlands to provide the goods and services they are supposed to under natural conditions Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar

18. “Something Fishy”!!

19. Research And Development

20. Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation: Whose Responsibility? Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar • The catchment is the globally-accepted spatial unit for managing water resources. The rivers, wetlands, estuaries and groundwater reflect or mirror everything that happens in the catchment. Impact is felt at water resource. • Water Resource managers do not manage water resources, rather try to manage what people do with and / or to water resources

21. Biodiversity Conservation: Whose Responsibility? Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar Integrated water resources management (IWRM) may be defined as a process that promotes ALL Inclusive and participatory development and management of water resources related land resources in order to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare in an BALANCED manner without causing degradation of the ecosystems. That is, understanding and dealing with - Water as an integrated system – surface water and groundwater, quantity and quality The interactions between the water system and other systems such as land and the natural environment The inter-relationships between water and social and economic development (Adopted from Mitchell, 1991)

22. HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

23. Biodiversity Conservation: My Responsibility Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar • Volunteer Monitoring: Public, including Schools can be involved with a range of activities including:- • Water Chemistry testing, Microbial and biological monitoring • Clearing invasive alien species, such as water hyacinth, algae • Wetland conservation and rehabilitation • Water-wise gardening • Biodiversity is life-Biodiversity is our Heritage, lets use it • wisely ! • Many Tools are available, such as MiniSASS (for rivers), • Test kits...(Training is available- Grade: R-PhD and • Community-No Excuse for lack of involvement !)

24. Biodiversity Related Research (cont) Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar • The following slides attempt to give an idea of water pollution and challenges faced by the human beings, as well as the Environment or aquatic biodiversity. • Pollution affecting our water resources is of point and non-point sources • Pollution often result in water related borne diseases, such as cholera • Result in toxic water due to occurrence of cyanobactaria /or cyanotoxins • Occurrence of endocrine disrupter compounds (EDC) • Can also be a favourable place for intermediate hosts such as snails, mosquitoes, resulting in bilharzias and malaria outbreaks, respectively

25. Concluding Remarks Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar South Africa needs PARTNERSHIP in saving every drop of water and our biodiversity ! Schools, Communities, Tswaingmust get involved, adopt a Soutpan river and start voluntary monitoring, linking up with Water Affairs for assistance Report pollution and non-compliance to DWA Schools must use of Lesson Plans, available freely from WRC (www.wrc.org.za, 012 3300340) Remove alien and invasive species (contact DWA, Working for Water, for details)

27. FORCING A SOLUTION? RES8510

28. I THANK YOU !! Biodiversity and Heritage Seminar