Cape Fold Mountain Region - A Centre of Diversity for Endemic Freshwater Fish (ZA 5028)
The project aims to assess the biodiversity of Cape Fold Region freshwater fishes through extensive surveys and genetic studies. New species found will be described. Recommendations regarding how to protect genetic diversity and unique populations will be made through the identification of units for conservation management.

Contact: Paulette Bloomer
Telephone: 012 420 3259
E-mail: pbloomer@postino.up.ac.za
Partner Website: University of Pretoria - Dept. of Genetics: Molecular Ecology & Evolution Programme - www.up.ac.za/academic/genetics
Funder Website: WWF-SA, The Table Mountain Fund - www.panda.org.za
Note: This project also contributes to our Fynbos Programme

Classification & Evaluation of Wetlands in the Western Cape (ZA 5026)
The overall aim of this project is to evaluate the proposed new South African Wetland Classification system. The information generated will serve to start a detailed inventory of wetlands in the Western Cape and will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the current classification for Western Cape wetlands.

Contact: Jenny Day
Telephone: 021 650 3635
E-mail: jday@botzoo.uct.ac.za
Partner Website: UCT Freshwater Unit - www.uct.ac.za/depts/zoology/fru
Funder Website: WWF-SA, The Table Mountain Fund - www.panda.org.za
Note: This project also contributes to our Fynbos Programme

CWAC: Co-ordinated Waterbird Counts (ZA 422)
This project was initiated in November 1991 by the Avian Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town, to monitor populations of waterbirds by carrying out regular summer and winter counts at as many of South Africa's major wetlands as possible, on an ongoing basis.

Contact: Les Underhill
Telephone: 021 650 3227
E-mail: lgu@adu.uct.ac.za
Partner Website: Avian Demographic Unit of UCT - www.aviandemographyunit.org
Funder Website: WWF-SA - www.panda.org.za

Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation Programme: National Strategy (ZA 1262)
Freshwater ecosystems are the most threatened in the world and they are the ecosystems in greatest need of immediate conservation action now and in the future. The first step in addressing this pressing issue will be to develop a strategy and implementation plan, in consultation with the appropriate players, to conserve the biophysical diversity of South Africa's freshwater resources.

Contact: Tony Ribbink
Telephone: 046 622 2403
E-mail: A.Ribbink@ru.ac.za
Partner Website: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB, formerly the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology) - www.saiab.ru.ac.za
Funder Websites: Mondi Ltd - www.mondi.co.za, WWF-SA - www.panda.org.za

Integrating Wetland Conservation into Catchment Management Planning (ZA 1327)
In terms of our water legislation, each of the 19 water management areas in South Africa is required to have a Catchment Management Strategy. This project's aim is to develop guidelines and procedures for integrating the conservation and wise use of wetlands within the overall management of their respective catchments. Once developed, these guidelines will form a valuable management tool for the still-to-be-constituted Catchment Management Agencies.

Contact: Heather McKay
Telephone: 012 330 0340
E-mail: heatherm@wrc.org.za
Partner Website: Water Research Commission - www.wrc.org.za
Funder Website: WWF-SA - www.panda.org.za

Mondi Wetlands Project (ZA 234)
This dynamic programme seeks to catalyze wetland conservation in South Africa. Key areas of focus include rehabilitation, wise use, training, community management, lobbying and government co-operation. Emphasis is placed on developing the capacity of agricultural and conservation extension staff in government, commercial agriculture, emerging farmers and the forestry industry, thereby playing a crucially important role in the maintenance of our arid country's freshwater resources.

Contact: David Lindley
Telephone: 012 667-6597
E-mail: Lindley@wetland.org.za
Project website: www.wetland.org.za
Partner website: WESSA - www.wildlifesociety.org.za
Funder Websites: Mondi Ltd - www.mondi.co.za, Mazda Wildlife Fund - www.mazdawildlife.co.za, WWF-SA - www.panda.org.za

Ntsikeni Nature Reserve: Community Tourism Project (ZA 1059)
This project aims to assist the Eastern Cape nature conservation authority and local community to prepare a management plan for the Ntsikeni Nature Reserve, in support of an application to have this important wetland declared a Ramsar site.

Contact: Donovan Kotze
Telephone: 033 260 6533
E-mail: kotzed@nu.ac.za
Funder Websites: Sappi Ltd - www.sappi.com, WWF-SA - www.panda.org.za

Schools Water Project - Gauteng (ZA 452)
This project is based on a river quality monitoring programme, using low-cost scientific procedures that create the opportunity to utilize a local river as a springboard for environmental, social and scientific studies in the classroom. Kits that enable pupils to perform a number of tests on fresh water in order to determine water quality, have been developed at low cost and made available to schools. The project incorporates teacher capacity building. Six schools along the Klip River (Soweto) are involved in this project.

Contact: Di Beeton
Telephone: 011 888 4831
E-mail: delta.enviro@pixie.co.za
Partner Website: Delta Environmental Education Centre - www.deltaenviron.org.za
Funder Website: SA Breweries - www.sabmiller.co.za
WWF-SA - www.panda.org.za

Sustainable Sugar Initiative - (ZA 1355)
To address water use in agriculture WWF has a freshwater target which aims to reduce water consumption in internationally traded water-intensive ('thirsty') crops. Globally, the most water intensive crops have been identified as cotton, sugar, rice, wheat, vegetables and pasture for livestock. In South Africa, the industry is looking at the environmental impacts of sugar cultivation, particularly with regard to water use and have already produced conservation and environmental management guidelines. This provides WWF with an opportunity to constructively engage with the industry and the first phase of this initiative will focus on identifying key areas and strategies for future collaborative engagement.

Contact: Vaughan Koopman
Telephone: 083 228-7949
E-mail: wiseuse@mweb.co.za
Funder Website: WWF-SA - www.panda.org.za