WWF-Mondi Wetlands Programme 25 Year Publication
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WWF-MONDI WETLANDS PROGRammE B A quarter century of C wetlandconservation 1 Dragonflies are indicators of healthy wetlands. © PETER ChaDwiCK What’s in a name? Over the course of its 25-year journey, the now WWF-Mondi Wetlands Programme has changed its name three times. 1991–2000: 2013–present: Rennies Wetland Project WWF-Mondi Wetlands Programme The programme was named after the Rennies In late 2013, the management and implementation Group – the primary funder at the start – and was of the programme was transferred from WESSA managed and implemented by Ezemvelo KZN to WWF-SA. It formed an integral part of the new Wildlife (then the Natal Parks Board) from 1991 to global partnership between WWF and Mondi 1995, with WESSA taking over in 1996. and was formally renamed the WWF-Mondi Wetlands Programme. 2001–2012: WWF and Mondi acknowledge and thank all the Mondi Wetlands Programme previous funders and conservation management The programme’s name changed in 2001 when agencies for their roles and contributions in Mondi became the primary funder. WESSA was initiating, shaping and growing the success of still the lead management agency, with strategic the programme. support from WWF-SA in guiding the programme and expanding its global reach. In this publication, the programme is referred to by its current name, i.e. the WWF-Mondi Wetlands Programme (WWF-MWP). 2 Foreword 12 Supporting the wise use of communal wetlands 36 Message from Morné du Plessis CEO: WWF-SA 4 13 Growing young wetland and environmental professionals through Message from Ron Traill an internship programme 37 CEO: Mondi South Africa 5 14 Championing social learning for Message from Valli Moosa collaboration and social change 38 Chairman of the WWF-SA board 6 15 Increasing capacity and skills in the Acronyms and abbreviations 7 wetland sector through WATER 39 A quarter century of wetland 16 Assessing wetland health: the Mondi State conservation at a glance 8 of the Wetlands Report 41 Introduction 10 17 Strengthening Mondi’s wetland stewardship through organisational How the WWF-Mondi partnership learning and development 42 in South Africa began 13 Chapter 3: The birth of a global partnership The journey with WESSA 14 brings a shift in focus – from wetlands to 25 wetland areas where the WWF-MWP water stewardship 44 has worked 16 18 A global partnership is born 45 25 reasons to celebrate 18 19 Catalysing improved water stewardship through the landscape approach 47 Chapter 1: Catalysing a wetland community of practice 20 20 Engaging with dairy farmers 48 01 Starting in KwaZulu-Natal with 21 Building capacity at local authority level 49 Wetland Fix 21 22 New Generation Plantations: a global 02 Going national with the wetland message 22 platform for sharing lessons 03 A new generation of ‘wetlanders’ is born 23 and experiences 50 04 Delineating wetlands to kick-start Chapter 4: Inspiring ingredients in wetland conservation 24 a 25-year journey of success 52 05 Creating the legal framework for wetlands 26 23 Meaningful long-terms partnerships powering the WWF-MWP’s success 53 06 Rehabilitating wetlands: early successes 27 24 Accolades for the WWF-MWP 55 07 Building a wetland community of practice 28 25 The inspiring and dedicated 08 Working with the Ramsar Convention WWF-MWP team 56 on Wetlands 29 09 Catalysing Working for Wetlands – Conclusion: Lessons for a the dream is realised 30 water-secure future 58 Chapter 2: Consolidating and expanding Thank you to our funders wetland work 32 and supporters 60 10 Supporting the sugar industry to strengthen Glossary 61 environmental and social practices 33 11 Wetland tools to support learning and practice 35 Contents © WWF-SA Message from Morné du Plessis CEO: WWF-SA The 25 years of the WWF-Mondi Wetlands Programme (WWF-MWP) provide an important story of foresight, determination, inspiration and the power of strategic and meaningful partnerships. The WWF-Mondi journey is a story about people companies and key partners in industry. To date and the incredible impact we can make when we two primary corporate funders – Rennies come together, in all our diversity, and put our and Mondi – have supported the programme ideas, resources and energy to good use. over its 25-year history. This is a significant achievement, and one that reflects the high WWF South Africa’s mission is to champion the regard these funders have for the WWF-MWP, Earth’s capacity to provide a source of inspiration, its financial prudence and its innovative approach sustainable food, water and clean energy for all, to catalysing wetland conservation outside and the WWF-MWP has admirably supported protected areas. I also want to acknowledge and us to work towards this mission. The programme thank WESSA for its role in guiding and diligently has achieved this by catalysing and inspiring a managing the activities of the WWF-MWP for wetland community of practice to improve the 17 of its 25-year existence. wise use of wetlands and manage our most valuable and limited natural resource – water. WWF-SA’s 15-year-old (and counting) partnership It has worked closely with the agriculture and with Mondi continues to go from strength to forestry sectors to strengthen food and fibre strength. Over the years, we have certainly seen security through improving the sustainability of the value that Mondi brings to the partnership their agro-forestry practices. through strategic leadership, consistent funding and adopting a hands-on approach. It is through The WWF-MWP has excelled in developing this successful partnership in South Africa (as a deep understanding of the socio-ecological well as in Europe and Russia) and the mutual trust issues that are critical to wetlands and freshwater and respect built over this time that we were able stewardship, and of the technical skills needed to launch a new and ambitious global partnership to wisely manage wetlands. I have always been in 2014, which aims to promote environmental impressed by the passion and positive outlook stewardship in Mondi’s own operations and in the of the staff working with the programme and wider packaging and paper sector. how they have adapted to the changing times during the programme’s history, despite many The WWF-MWP has been truly reflective challenges along the way. of the values that WWF stands for: being knowledgeable, optimistic, determined, engaging, Over the years, as the wetland community has accountable and inclusive. We are immensely grown, the WWF-MWP has worked with partners proud to have a programme like the WWF-MWP in government and the broader conservation that has stood the test of time over the past NGO sector to develop a large cohort of young quarter of a century. “wetlanders” that is more representative of the racial and gender balance of the country. I also admire the solid and long-term relationships that were developed with individual corporate Morné Du Plessis 4 I OND © M © Message from Ron Traill CEO: Mondi South Africa The WWF-MWP embodies the qualities that make a partnership successful. It is about people believing in the value of the work being done – backed up by insightful leadership, enduring relationships, strong technical input and consistent corporate funding to develop and maintain a core team of experts. Over the past 25 years, much has changed, but approach to protecting wetlands. However, the commitment to promoting and enabling the it has also brought other benefits, including wise stewardship of wetlands has been constant. decreasing Mondi’s water footprint through wetland delineation with buffer zones; improving Mondi owns and leases about 250 000 hectares the resilience of these key freshwater ecosystems of land in South Africa, covering 20 000 hectares to cope with climate change; helping us to better of wetlands. We maintain 100% Forest Stewardship understand and manage the risks associated Council® certification of our forests – including the with water; improving relationships with local identification and protection of high conservation communities and the conservation community; value areas. In addition to certification and and developing the skills and expertise of sustainable procurement practices, we focus our people. on the proactive and responsible stewardship of forests and freshwater ecosystems, and The WWF-MWP is an excellent example of the maintenance of biodiversity and important how partnering proactively over the long habitats. For us, responsible forest management term has enabled Mondi to be part of the means increasing long-term productivity on solution. It exemplifies our commitment to commercial areas, maintaining functioning growing responsibly. We are very proud of the ecosystems and conserving high conservation contribution we have made to the protection of values in the landscape – particularly wetlands in South Africa’s wetlands and the development of water-scarce South Africa. wetland conservation practices. My first field trip to see the work being done by The importance of partnerships is a constant the WWF-MWP was in 2008, not long after I took feature in the compelling story of the WWF-MWP. over as the CEO of Mondi South Africa. The far- I would like to pay tribute to Rennies who saw reaching environmental and social impact the potential of this programme at the outset, to of the programme immediately captured my WESSA for the central role they played, to all attention. It has changed the way government the other sponsors who have contributed over agencies, communities, industry and NGOs the past 25 years, and to WWF-SA for their work together – elevating the profile of collaborative approach and ongoing support. wetland conservation across industries such Sincere thanks go to the WWF-MWP team and as forestry, sugar and dairy farming. It was everyone who has joined forces with them to clear that the success of the programme champion wetland conservation.