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
Firefighters honoured after one of the Western Cape's toughest fire seasons
CapeNature hosted an appreciation event in Velddrif on 4 August 2026 to honour firefighters who were on the frontlines during the Western Cape's most recent fire season. A representative group attended the event on behalf of CapeNature's larger cohort of Field Rangers and firefighters working across the Province. Despite extreme heat and challenging terrain, the firefighters remained steadfast in their commitment to protecting communities, infrastructure and the Western Cape's
CapeNature welcomes the conviction of Cape Town couple for wildlife crime
CapeNature welcomes the sentence imposed by the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Mr Zirkie Bernardus Jansen and Mrs Valerie Gayle Simpson-Jansen of Kirstenhof following their conviction on multiple offences relating to the unlawful keeping, possession and transport of reptiles. The couple were each sentenced on 30 July 2026 to pay a fine of R40 000 or serve 18 months’ imprisonment after being convicted on seven counts under the Nature Conservation Ordinance 19 of 1974.
The joy of being outdoors
Life has a way of becoming busy, but sometimes the greatest luxury is simply slowing down. Imagine waking up to fresh mountain air, taking a gentle stroll beneath towering trees, listening to birdsong, or enjoying a quiet cup of coffee while overlooking breathtaking natural landscapes. These are the moments that help us reconnect with ourselves and appreciate the simple joys of life. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the restorative power of nature. That's why we're inviting senior citizens to enjoy peaceful escapes across the Western
Freshwater science takes centre stage at the 2026 SASAqS Conference
The Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists (SASAqS) is a learned society concerned with the research, management and conservation of inland waters and their associated biota throughout southern Africa. Established in 1964 as the Limnological Society of South Africa, SASAqS provides an important forum for discussion and sharing of scientific ideas. The two cornerstones of the society's activities are the annual conference and the African Journal of Aquatic Science.
Marine Protected Areas hold the key to human wellbeing
On 1 August, we celebrate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Day, a global occasion first marked in 2021 to recognise the role that MPAs play in conserving our oceans while supporting the wellbeing of people and communities. The day encourages us to appreciate the value of MPAs and the many ways they benefit both us and the extraordinary marine biodiversity they are designed to protect. This year's theme, "Ocean Protection Needs Human Connection," reminds us that conserving our oceans is a shared responsibility.
Bringing Conservation to Life Through Storytelling, Film and Digital Media
When was the last time a film, photograph or story about nature made you stop and feel something? Perhaps it was a breathtaking wildlife documentary. A short social media reel that transported you to a mountain peak. A travel video that inspired your next adventure. Or a story that highlighted the impact of a wildfire and reminded you why conservation matters. Every adventure has a story. Watch ours on our YouTube channel and subscribe for more.