WRC team leads visit to peatland

Abstract

I n April the Water Research Commission (WRC) led a visit of international experts to the Mfabeni Mire, situated next to St Lucia, where it is funding valuable environmental research. The mire is one of the oldest active peatlands in the world, reaching depths of 10,8 m. The area is known for its erratic rainfall and, during drier periods Mfabeni contributes to Lake St Lucia’s fresh water input. The team of international experts converged on the site to learn more about the wetland’s workings. Wetlands ecologist Prof Fred Ellery from Rhodes University, conservation ecologist Prof Ab Grootjans from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, and hydrologist Prof Bruce Kelbe of the University of Zululand take measure ments at the Mfabeni Mire. Television media interviewed international wetland experts at the Mfabeni site. Piet-Louis Grundling, whose research in the area is being funded by the WRC, takes measurements at the site.

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