Tenth anniversary of River Health Programme

Abstract

River health The RHP was initiated 13 years ago as a response to the need for more detailed information on the state of South Africa’s aquatic ecosystems, at a time when the Department of Water Affairs & Forestry’s (DWAF) management focus was broadening from end-of-pipe monitoring to an integrated water resource management approach. The programme uses several ecologicallybased approaches and methods, some uniquely South African, to determine the state of river ecosystems. The overall purpose of the programme, supported by partners such as the Water Research Commission and CSIR, is to provide information on the ecological state of river ecosystems in South Africa to support the management of these rivers. About 13 river systems from the Crocodile River system to Cape T own’s rivers have been assessed to date. The latest report, Achievements of the River Health Programme 1994-2004, reflects on the first ten years of the programme’s existence, from the initial planning phase to its implementation.

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