Last week, WILDTRUST spent incredible sessions with the Nyembe and Nqutshini communities, diving deep into the world of wetlands and how they could all play a part in protecting them.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (27 March 2026) – Wetlands are one of nature’s underrated gems, vital for supporting diverse ecosystems, purifying water, and helping communities thrive in the face of climate change.
In northern KZN, the communities of Nyembe and Nqutshini recently experienced this firsthand, participating in lively, hands-on workshops hosted by WILDTRUST as part of its uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) initiative.
These engaging workshops were designed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding about the essential role wetlands play in sustaining ecosystems, improving water quality, and empowering communities to build resilience against climate change.
Through a combination of practical demonstrations and engaging discussions, community members got to explore the importance of wetlands and their role in the broader landscape.
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Representatives from the South African Weather Service (SAWS), including Lucky Dlamini, Thandiwe Gumede, and Bubele Rasmeni, were in attendance to unpack key topics. These included the role of SAWS, how weather forecasts and climate projections are developed, and how this information can support communities in preparing for changing weather conditions.
They also highlighted the impacts of climate change, noting that temperatures are expected to rise and rainfall patterns may shift, and emphasised the importance of healthy ecosystems, such as wetlands, in mitigating these effects.
Community members rotated through three interactive demonstration stations. The first station used a 2-litre bottle demonstration and other materials to simulate a wetland ecosystem, illustrating how wetlands store and filter water.
The second station focused on ecosystem restoration, highlighting the importance of rehabilitating degraded environments and removing alien invasive plants, which place a significant strain on local water systems.
The third station introduced the Mini Stream Assessment Scoring System (MiniSASS), a citizen science tool that enables communities to monitor river health and better understand water quality.
Attendees walked away with new knowledge and a fresh perspective on the environment around them. Commenting on the eye-opening workshop, Sinenhlanhla Makhoba from Nyembe said she learned a lot, especially on the topic of alien plants and how harmful they are.
“I also learned different ways to remove these plants and, most importantly, gained a deeper understanding of the importance of wetlands.”
Sources: WILDTRUST
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