Media Release: World Wetlands Day 2026

2 February 2026

Today, we collectively join the global community in celebrating World Wetlands Day, a day that is dedicated to raising awareness about the significance of wetlands and the need to conserve and protect these vital ecosystems. World Wetlands Day is held annually on the 2^nd of February, and is an opportunity to highlight the crucial role wetlands play in supporting diversity, regulating the climate, and providing essential ecosystems. Wetlands are areas of land that are saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally. They can be found in a variety of forms, including marshes, swamps, bogs and mangroves. Wetlands are some of the most valuable ecosystems on the planet, providing vast array of services.

The purpose of World Wetlands Day is to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and the need to preserve and protect these ecosystems. The day is also an opportunity to promote action and advocacy for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, and to highlight the importance of wetlands in achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Interesting facts about wetlands:

• Wetlands cover only 6% of the Earth’s surface but are home to a disproportionate amount of biodiversity.
• Wetlands play a pivotal role in regulating the climate, storing carbon dioxide (CO₂), and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
• Wetlands help to filter water, reducing the number of contaminants and sediments that enter rivers and oceans.

The Garden Route District Municipality is committed to protecting the valuable wetland systems within the district, and is currently in the process of reviewing its Garden Route District Wetland Strategy and Action Plan (previously titled the Eden District Wetland Strategy and Action Plan), which will guide the local Municipalities in the district with the implementation of the most essential wetland projects and initiatives that can improve the functioning and ecosystem services of some of the district’s key wetland systems.

As we celebrate World Wetlands Day, we urge all residents to take action to protect these vital ecosystems. By reducing pollution and waste, supporting conservation efforts, and spreading awareness about the importance of wetlands, we can work towards a future where wetlands continue to thrive and support the health and well-being of our communities. Let us work together to protect our wetlands and many benefits they provide.

Image Source: Available at: Online: https://www.freepik.com/photos/world-wetlands-day-theme

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Media Release: Hessequa Municipality, GRDM and stakeholders clean-up beaches along the Hessequa Coastline in celebration of Marine Month

For immediate release
23 October 2025

The National Marine Week in South Africa is held annually from 7 – 11 October, with a broader Marine Month running from 1-31 October. The annual event aims to raise awareness about marine and coastal ecosystems through commemorative events such as coastal clean-up operations and promote their sustainable use for current and future generations.

The 2025 theme is “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity,” emphasizing the importance of ocean conservation.

As part of the celebrations, the Hessequa Municipality conducted a clean-up operation in collaboration with the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) which coordinated the resources of the Department of Environmental Affair and Development Planning, at the Preekstoel Beach in Hessequa. Thirty (30) learners and 4 teachers from Melkhoutfontein Primary School with 10 adults formed part of the operation.

During his address, as part of the awareness session, prior to the clean-up operation, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, Portfolio Chairperson for Community Services at GRDM, said: “Marine Week is not only about celebrating our coastlines; it’s about taking responsibility for them. Every piece of litter we pick up today is a small but powerful act. A bottle cap, a plastic straw, a fishing line – these might seem insignificant, but to a turtle, a seabird, or a fish, they can mean the difference between life and death. By cleaning up, we prevent waste from entering the marine food chain and protect the biodiversity that keeps our oceans alive”.

In addition, Hoogbaard highlighted that “our coastline is a shared treasure – a treasure that supports tourism, fisheries, recreation, and provides livelihoods for many families. But more than that, it is a living system – a delicate balance of plants, animals, tides, and winds. When we pollute it, we disturb that balance; when we protect it, we restore hope”.

In respect of collaborative initiatives and protecting marine conservation, he said: “As we work together today, let’s remember that marine conservation doesn’t end when we leave the beach. It continues every time we refuse a plastic bag, recycle properly, or teach someone about ocean care. It continues when municipalities enforce coastal management laws, when schools include marine education, and when each of us treats the environment not as a resource to use, but as a legacy to safeguard”.

Coastal waters are packed with life and are massively important to society from a biodiversity and food security perspective, as well as being part of cultural and natural heritage. The World Wildlife Fund in a report said that “as a country with more ocean territory than land, our rich and productive coastal waters support thousands of jobs and contribute billions of rands to the national economy each year. In terms of fisheries alone, historically we have harvested around 600 000 tons of fish a year which provides livelihoods to over 127 000 people and food security to millions.” Humanity should therefore preserve this precious resource for future generations to enjoy.

Dr Nina Viljoen, Head of Environmental Management at GRDM, advised: “Let’s celebrate our magnificent ocean – it’s the only one we have. Take your family or friends out for a beach or river cleanup or just aim to read up a bit more on our beautiful coastline”.

“Every action we take, on land or sea, has ripple effects across coasts, currents, and communities. Together, we can safeguard a healthy, sustainable ocean for all, “Viljoen concluded.

This collaborative partnership between the local Municipalities, District Municipality, Western Cape Government, and other Governmental authorities is a clear example of how Government institutions can work together and make a difference in ensuring the success of environmental projects within communities.

Tomorrow, 24 October 2025, the team, including 60 Slangrivier Primary School learners and educators, will be heading to the Witsand Beach to conclude their annual Marine Month campaign.

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Media Release: GRDM joins Knysna Municipality and others to clean up some beach areas

For immediate release
15 September 2025

To celebrate International Coastal Clean-Up Day in Knysna from 11 to 12 September 2025, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) joined hands with the Knysna Municipality, the Western Cape Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP), CapeNature, and the South African National Parks (SANParks).

Participants clean-up the Main Beach of Buffalo Bay, in celebration of International Coastal Clean-up Day.

The annual International Coastal Clean-Up Day is celebrated on 20 September 2025 every year, however this initiative is celebrated worldwide with various coastal, estuarine, river, and marine clean-up activities. According to Dr Nina Viljoen, GRDM Head: Environmental Management, ‘this initiative is a meaningful approach to raise awareness on the impact of waste and littering on the Garden Route’s sensitive coastline, and why coastal and marine wildlife, birds and plants rely on a clean coastal and marine environment”.

“It inspires sustainable habits, as awareness is the first step towards change,” she said.

On Thursday, 11 September, Knysna Municipality hosted a coastal clean-up awareness event at the Hornlee Civic Hall in Knysna, where High School Tourism learners from surrounding schools were treated to awareness talks and exhibitions. Organisations, including CapeNature, the SANParks, and Knysna Tourism, collectively raised awareness to learners about the Tourism Industry, focusing on the benefits of eco-tourism and the challenges within the Sector.

Learners are educated about various marine life species during the Clean-up operation at Buffalo Bay beach.

The next day, Knysna Municipality also hosted a clean-up operation along the Buffalo Bay main beach. During the event, learners from the Rondevlei Learning Centre participated to clear the beach as they collected waste and small litter particles they came across. In rewarding them for all their efforts, the CapeNature team presented an interactive activity to them, where they had to identify marine life on the beach, and were furthermore educated on ‘why clean beaches are important’. The GRDM Environmental Management team, under leadership of Dr Nina Viljoen, furthermore spoiled them with stationery packs and snacks that were donated by the Western Cape DEA&DP.

This collaborative partnership between these participating organisations symbolises how Government institutions take hands and make a difference in ensuring the success of environmental projects rolled out within communities of the Garden Route district.

Did you know?

Rondevlei Learning Centre is established in 2019 and is a registered NPC (2024/453120/08) and PBO with Section 18A registration. Their aim is to provide stimulating forms of learning to children struggling with mainstream education.

Also read: https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/2025/09/01/46214/

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Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality calls on residents to “Grow a Living Legacy” this Arbor Week (01–07 September 2025)

01 September 2025

Arbor Week also highlights South Africa’s Champion Trees – some of the country’s oldest, largest, and most culturally significant trees, such as the Sophia Town Oak Tree and the Sagole Baobab Tree in Limpopo. These trees symbolize the connection between our natural and cultural heritage, which is celebrated during Heritage Month in September.

The key objectives of Arbor Week are to:
• Emphasise the importance of planting and protecting trees.
• Increase knowledge and appreciation of indigenous tree species.
• Promote sustainable and eco-friendly living practices.

Why trees matter

Trees supply oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, improve air quality, support biodiversity, stabilise soil, and provide both medicinal and cultural benefits. By planting and caring for trees, communities can actively contribute to tackling climate change and building a greener, healthier environment for future generations.

Restoring what we’ve lost

In the Garden Route, Arbor Week takes on even greater importance as we work to restore areas affected by the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB). First detected in George in 2018, this invasive beetle has spread rapidly and is likely present in other parts of the municipality where susceptible trees, such as English Oaks, occur. Residents are encouraged to be vigilant for signs of infestation, report sightings to their municipality, and chip infested wood to prevent further spread. Planting new indigenous trees during Arbor Week will help replace lost trees, restore biodiversity, and ensure our communities remain shaded, resilient, and beautiful for generations to come.

Community involvement

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) encourages residents, schools, community-based organisations, and businesses across the district to participate in tree planting and greening activities. Greening refers to the planting, care, and management of vegetation in urban and rural spaces — ensuring that disadvantaged areas, such as townships and informal settlements, also benefit from parks, trees, and green open spaces.

How to plant a tree
• Selection: Choose the right tree for your location — indigenous and endemic species are recommended.
• Location: Plant trees at least 3 metres away from walls, powerlines, and municipal utilities.
• Planting: Dig a 1m x 1m x 1m square hole, remove stones, and separate or mix topsoil and subsoil. Place the tree in the hole, refill with topsoil first, and water thoroughly.The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) calls on all residents to join hands during Arbor Week to create a greener and more sustainable Garden Route. Together, we can grow a living legacy that benefits both people and the environment.

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Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality Urging its Citizens to Join the Annual International Coastal Clean-up Celebrations during the Month of September 2025

 1 September 2025

Annually, on the third Saturday of September, volunteers around the world take part in the world’s biggest coastal clean-up – the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) day, which will be held on the 20^th of September 2025. This event encourages volunteers to clean and record trash along coastlines and other water bodies throughout the month of September, with 2025 marking the 29th year of the country’s participation in this global effort. The ICC event is also used as the platform to address issues concerning coastal pollution, as well as to stimulate change in the behavioural patterns that negatively affect the marine environment.

The ICC event has been held internationally each year since 1986, and started when communities rallied together with the common goal of collecting and documenting the trash littering their coastline. Over the years, this movement has created a family that spans oceans and country borders.

This year’s coastal clean-up efforts align with the 2025 World Ocean Day theme, “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” which emphasises protecting the ocean to sustain life and build resilience against climate change. A major goal is to shift harmful behaviours that lead to pollution, and emphasising responsible waste disposal. Beach cleanups are important mitigation tools that helps to create an understanding of the global trash problem and encourage people to engage in solutions. Awareness is the first step to creating behaviour change!

The Garden Route District has 300 km of coastline and some of the most diverse marine environments of the world. The benefits derived from the oceans include climate regulation, waste absorption, sustenance (sea food), economic development (tourism, seafood distribution), transportation (shipping), medicine (biomedical products from marine plants and animals) and recreation (swimming, diving etc.). In addition to this, estuaries are sensitive environments, due to its ecological uniqueness, and are increasingly being regarded as important ecological infrastructure to protect and enhance given the ecological services that it provides. It is however typically in these sensitive systems where the problem of marine litter is seen to manifest itself so clearly and profoundly.

Due to human activities along estuaries and beaches (due to increasing population and urbanisation), marine litter creates one of the major threats to our beaches and marine life.  Every year thousands of tons of marine litter finds its way onto our coast, most of which ends up in our oceans with devastating effects to our sensitive marine ecosystem.

This year, the Garden Route district’s Municipalities and organisations will be embarking on various awareness campaigns, litter collection / clean-up activities on beaches, estuary and river clean-ups, educational talks and speeches. The Garden Route District Municipality would therefore like to encourage its citizens to get involved in the various activities within their areas. Citizens must unite – communities, volunteers, learners, and officials must come together to take action for the ocean.

Some important key dates to know are:

• September 2025 – Clean-up & Recycle SA Month

• 14–20 September 2025 – Clean-up & Recycle SA Week

• 17 September 2025 – River Clean-up Day

• 19 September 2025 – National Recycling Day

• 20 September 2025 – International Coastal Cleanup (ICC)

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