GWD YP Talk: Wetlands - A Friendly Introduction (Central Branch)

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Ground Water Division members and other interested attendees celebrated World Wetlands Day (2 February) with the GWD Central Branch and invited speaker Steven Ellery.

Steven, a Wetland Ecologist from GroundTruth, has an extreme passion for both the environment and humanity and is very interested in how both work and how they interact with one another. He has worked in hydrology, geomorphology, geology, wetland sciences, environmental management practices, botany (ecology and climate change) and anthropology. He expressed that he would very much like to continue working in a field that balances both the needs of the environment and the needs of society.

 

Wetlands are fundamental ecosystems which are formed by the interaction between hydrology, geomorphology and vegetation. Wetlands occur where shallow surface water covers the surface or groundwater is at/near the surface. The main controlling factors for the formation of wetlands are climate and geology.

Wetlands are classified according to their hydrogeomorphic (HGM) types which are solely based on the geomorphic position and hydrologic characteristics. These wetlands provide ecosystem services through regulation, support, provision and cultural services; which make them fundamental to environmental conservation. Through the assessment of the integrity of wetlands by determining the Present Ecological State (PES), the need to protect and conserve wetlands from degradation is expressed.

 

 

Steven's informative presentation shared around the following slides:

What is a Wetland?	What are Ecosystem Services?
Fundamental drivers of Wetlands	Regulating and Supporting Ecosystem Services
Geomorphology - Land	Provisioning Ecosystem Services
Hydrology - Water	Cultural Ecosystem Services
Hydrophytes - Vegetation	Wetlands in Trouble
What does this all look like?	What is Wetland Integrity?
Wetland Classification: Hydrogeomorphic	How are Wetlands degraded?
Unchannelled Valley - Bottom Wetlands	How can we measure PES?
Seep Wetlands	In Conclusion
What do we know so far?

 

Listen to the webinar available via the  GWD YouTube Channel

Click to on the image to connect or visit the Channel

Steven offered feedback on the following questions from attendees: 

• Steven, in terms of size, what is the usual spatial scale for wetlands?

• A very informative presentation, are there any laws that protect wetlands in the country and if so are they typically enforced?

• Do  you classify arid or semi-arid (Karoo) differently?

• Since water table can emerge above surface, can springs be considered seep wetlands as well?

• In wetlands, what is the minimum percentage of ecological flow required? Is this accounted usually when we wish to regulate groundwater pumping?

• Can you maybe provide more info on the courses you provide on wetlands? When and where?

• We know that wetlands are very valuable in terms of fauna and flora which is protected by NEMA (environmental legislation). Do CBA's (Critical Biodiversity Targets) and ESA's (Ecological Support Areas) have anything relation to wetlands specifically?

We thank Steven, the GWD Central Branch Chair (Dr Amy) and Central Young Professional Representative (Rolene) and all attendees for this informative session and celebrating World Wetlands Day with the GWD.

EVENT STATISTICS: 47 REGISTRATIONS; 35 UNIQUE SIGN-IN'S ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT; 16 CPD CERTIFICATES