“Moving towards healthy, naturally functioning wetlands within Ehlanzeni District Municipality that are protected by all for the benefit of all.”

As part of the LAB: Wetlands SA project, municipalities are embarking on the next phase of their projects. The Wetland Reports are in their final stages and now the municipalities are going into a phase where the rubber hits the road! Improving the management of wetlands within the municipalities.

In order to achieve this, all project municipalities are hosting Workshops to develop Wetland Strategy and Action Plans (WSAPs). The Ehlanzeni WSAP workshop was held on the 2nd and 3rd of November in Nelspruit.

The workshop was structured and conducted by means of presentations, break-away group activities and discussions between the attending participants. It was a highly focused workshop and key stakeholders attended, including National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), Working for Wetlands, the Mpumulanga Wetlands Forum, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Ehlanzeni District Municipality and representatives from the local municipalities within Ehlanzeni District Municipality.

The Strategy and Action Planning Workshop was a successful workshop and a clear vision, strong values and focus areas as well as well-defined and realistic long term goals and associated actions were established during the process. These will feed directly into the Ehlanzeni Wetland Strategy and Action Plan going forward. Ehlanzeni District Municipality is excited about the outcome of the workshop and is anxious to start implementing the developed WSAP.