Threatened KZN wetlands offered a lifeline

Abstract

Technical director and geohydrologist at JG Africa engineering and environmental consulting, Mark Schapers, was invited to share his experiences working on groundwater projects in rural areas to assist in developing a workable solution for the declining water levels in northern KwaZulu-Natal. This includes the Vazi Pans peatland wetland system. The workshop was held at Isibusiso Esihle Science Discovery Centre earlier this year, and brought together a number of stakeholders, including community leaders, municipalities, state departments, scientists and industry. It was held under the banner of the KwaZulu-Natal Wetlands, and supported by the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), as well as JG Afrika. Schapers alerted the Water Research Commission (WRC) and SAEON to serious declines in water levels in the Vazi-wetlands three years ago, based on JG Afrika’s ongoing operations in the northern coastal flats aquifers.

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