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ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE

The Coca-Cola Foundation, through its Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN) programme, partnered with Living
Lands to clear invasive alien plant species from the Impofu Dam, a key upstream catchment area for the
Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. This project cleared over 260 ha of invasive alien plants and created 21
jobs in a rural area with high rates of unemployment. George is one of the team members tasked with the
removal of alien invasive plants.

WETLAND RESTORATION

There were solid reasons why World Wetlands Day – Wednesday 2 February 2022
– was declared a United Nations International Day.

rimarily, it was a clarion call to a catalytic impact by improving the lives Wolseley, a town in the Western Cape’s
action because natural wetlands are of over six million people in Africa through Breede River Valley, is part of the watershed
Pdisappearing three times faster than a wide range of water-based initiatives, that feeds the Kluitjieskraal wetland. The
forests. Globally, 35% of all wetlands have including community access to safe project, led by WWF-SA, sought to address
been lost since 1970, but this can and must drinking water and sanitation projects. water scarcity and unemployment through
be reversed. It also highlighted the appeal RAIN also focused on replenishing water the clearing of alien invasive plants in
to invest financial, human and political into nature in critical watersheds, clearing this key water source area. As a result,
capital to save the world’s wetlands from alien invasive plants and improving water two small enterprises were developed
disappearing, and restoring those that security for communities across Africa. to convert biomass into wood chips that
have been drained or degraded. were then sold as mulch to surrounding
The Coca-Cola Foundation, the global farmers and used in the agricultural
Vice president of the South Africa franchise philanthropic arm of The Coca Cola value chain. The project, which ended in
at Coca-Cola Africa, Phillipine Mtikitiki, Company, was established in 1984 and has October 2020, created 94 jobs and cleared
made it clear when she took up the position awarded more than $1 billion in grants to 470 ha of alien vegetation.
that prioritising key sustainability issues support sustainable community initiatives
such as water stewardship would remain at around the world. Since 2019, RAIN facilitated the clearing
the top of her agenda. of 3,400 ha in priority catchment areas
RAIN supported multiple projects directly in South Africa. The programme also
“Water is a valuable natural resource, the related to South Africa’s watersheds and the provided employment and skills training
management of which requires all our wetlands they serve through partnerships for approximately 400 women and young
commitment and collective actions,” said with Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), The people in rural areas of South Africa.
Mtikitiki. “We need to continue to forge Nature Conservancy, World Wide Fund for
partnerships with the government, private Nature-South Africa (WWF-SA) and Living World Wetlands Day will continue to
sector entities, civil society actors, and Lands. Projects have ranged across the be a powerful reminder that water and
communities to help improve access to safe country, from the Soutpansberg Protected wetlands are connected in an inseparable
water and protect our water resources on a Area Water Conservation Project (EWT) to co-existence that is vital to life, our well-
continent exacerbated by climate change.” the catchment restoration to secure water being, the success of our communities,
resources and livelihoods in the upper and our planet’s health. Coca Cola
One such collective action was the Umzimvubu watershed, Matatiele (WWF– remains committed to continuing the
Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), launched SA). In addition, there were projects in the fight to preserve clean water sources and
in 2010 and funded by The Coca-Cola Wemmershoek and Theewaterskloof sub- restore those that have been degraded or
Foundation (TCCF). Its mandate was to catchment areas (The Nature Conservancy) depleted.
respond to the severe health challenges and with the Wolseley Water Users
that millions of Africans face concerning Association Wetland Rehabilitation Project Information and photos supplied by FTI
water scarcity. Over a decade, RAIN made (WWF–SA). Consulting on behalf of Coca-Cola. n

Landscape SA • Issue 111 2022 21