Today we acknowledge World Wetlands Day, which is celebrated annually on the 2nd of February to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and planet.

Africa Foundation has the privilege of working in communities situated near the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a vast protected area along the coast of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province and hosts the beautiful Lake St. Lucia, the largest estuarine lake in Southern Africa. The Wetland Park is home to large numbers of hippos, crocodiles, pelicans and flamingos.

According to the United Nations, nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies, and more.

Empowering communities. Enabling conservation

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