Mothopestad Village, near Koster, had the honour of hosting the celebration of World Wetlands Day in the North West Province on the 1st March 2013. The purpose of the event, hosted by the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, was to educate and create awareness on the importance of wetlands to the environment.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated internationally each year on 02nd February. Wetlands are warehouses of biodiversity, they support plants and animals that are specifically adapted to wet regions and are not able to survive anywhere else. The international theme for Wetlands Day 2013 is “Wetlands and Water management.”

Wetlands also supply water for domestic animals in the area such as cattle, goats and sheep, hence making it a vital part of the environment which needs to be conserved. It is on this premise that the Department decided to build gabions at the wetlands sites which serve as water storage facilities for livestock.

Speaking on behalf of MEC Rosho, Member of the Municipal Council (MMC) for Local Economic Development (LED) in the Bojanala District Municipality, Mme Velemina Molekwa pleads with members of the community to preserve water. “Shotage of water is one of the biggest challenges in the country hence we should conserve and take care of water as it is a basic source of life, and as such should not only be governments responsibility but everyone’s responsibility,” said Mme Molekwa.