Celebrating the cultural heritage of wetlands on World Wetlands Day 2026
As the world commemorates World Wetlands Day annually on 2 February, CapeNature joins communities across the Western Cape in recognising the deep and enduring relationship between people, culture and wetlands, celebrating under the 2026 theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge… Celebrating Cultural Heritage”.
Together with the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, CapeNature will celebrate World Wetlands Day at Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve on 6 February. Grade seven learners from Pniel Primary School will participate in an educational event designed to strengthen their understanding of wetlands, inspire positive environmental action, and promote overall wellbeing.
Through its environmental education programmes, CapeNature encourages intergenerational knowledge transfer by creating spaces where elders, youth and conservation practitioners can learn from one another. These programmes highlight how cultural values, customs and practices contribute to the sustainable management of wetlands and develop a shared sense of responsibility for their protection.
For generations, wetlands in the Western Cape have been central to the cultural identity, livelihoods and knowledge systems of indigenous and local communities. Long before formal conservation frameworks existed, traditional knowledge guided the sustainable use, protection and management of these vital ecosystems.
Wetlands provided food, medicinal plants, grazing, building materials and spiritual spaces, shaping cultural practices and community resilience across landscapes. It was recognised that wetlands provide natural water filters between the mountain catchments, rivers and estuaries as well as provide goods and services for human and essential living space for many species of insects, fish, birds and animals.
This traditional ecological knowledge remains highly relevant today. In a time of climate change, water insecurity, especially with current water shortage challenges in the province, and biodiversity loss, the wisdom embedded in cultural heritage offers practical and time-tested approaches to wetland stewardship.
Across the province, CapeNature actively integrates traditional knowledge and community heritage into wetland conservation and environmental education initiatives. This includes working with local communities to document and share indigenous plant uses, promoting storytelling and cultural interpretation at protected areas, and supporting community-led restoration projects that draw on local experience and historical land-use practices.
Wetlands are also living cultural landscapes and not only ecological assets. Many wetlands in the Western Cape are closely linked to heritage sites, traditional harvesting areas and cultural routes. By incorporating cultural heritage considerations into conservation planning and management, CapeNature aims to ensure that wetland protection supports both biodiversity and community wellbeing.
As we mark World Wetlands Day 2026, CapeNature calls on all residents of the Western Cape to celebrate and protect wetlands as places where nature and culture intersect. By valuing traditional knowledge alongside scientific research, we can strengthen conservation outcomes and honour the cultural heritage that has sustained wetlands for generations.
Throughout February, CapeNature will offer facilitated, curriculum-aligned wetland education programmes. Teachers and parents interested in these opportunities can contact learning@capenature.co.za. Educational resources are also available in the learning library on our website at www.capenature.co.za.
Related News
Radio network upgrade to strengthen emergency communication in Hangklip area
CapeNature and Overstrand Municipality will install a small radio repeater station near Hangklip Peak as part of an upgrade to the region’s radio communication network. The repeater will strengthen the communication networks used by both parties and improve coverage across the Overstrand municipal area, Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Betty’s Bay Marine Protected Area and parts of the City of Cape Town. Reliable radio communication is essential for the daily operations of
State of Conservation Report 2026 tracks progress and pressures facing Western Cape biodiversity
The Western Cape’s biodiversity is facing mounting pressure, with a sharp increase in the area affected by fires and more ecosystems and species classified as threatened, according to the Western Cape State of Conservation Report 2026. The report records 107 fires that burned 215 936 hectares during the 2025/26 reporting period – almost three times the 75 174 hectares burned by 97 fires in the previous reporting period.
El Niño raises fire risk as Western Cape prepares for a challenging fire season
The Western Cape is preparing for a potentially challenging wildfire season, with the developing El Niño weather pattern expected to contribute to hotter and drier conditions and an increased risk of wildfires across the province. The South African Weather Service has warned of below-normal rainfall associated with the expected strong El Niño during the coming summer season. While El Niño does not automatically mean that every part of the province will experience drought
Cape fur seal safety remains important this World Rabies Day
On World Rabies Day (28 September), CapeNature is reminding residents and visitors to keep a safe distance from Cape fur seals and to act immediately if they or their pets are bitten, scratched or exposed to a seal’s saliva. Rabies has been detected in Cape fur seals along the South African coastline and by the end of 2025, at least 176 people had been bitten by seals. While most seals do not pose a threat to people, they are wild animals and should never be approached, touched, fed or encouraged to interact with humans.
How Waste Affects Biodiversity and What We Can Do About It
Waste is more than an eyesore. Littered streets, polluted rivers and overflowing landfills are visible signs of a much wider environmental problem. Every year, people generate large volumes of waste, yet much of it is not managed effectively. In South Africa, more than 60% of waste has been reported as ending up in landfills. With service-delivery challenges and many major landfill sites approaching capacity, the pressure on communities and natural ecosystems continues to grow. Both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity carry much of the impact.
Roll-out of baboon-proof bins to start as northern fence gets under way
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team is pleased to announce key developments related to the practical implementation of the approved Cape Peninsula Baboon Strategic Management Plan (CPBSMP). The Action Plan that guides the practical implementation of the CPBSMP was approved by SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town in November 2025.