District’s use of harmful toxins stirs fear for health of Ramsar site
Garden Route District Municipality has admitted to using toxic herbicides on the verges of Island Lake in Wilderness. which forms part of a wetland of global significance – FRAN KIRSTEN reports
The Wilderness Lake, which includes Eilandvlei (also known as Island Lake) was proclaimed as Ramsar site* in 1991, designating this wetland as one of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
During the convention, an intergovernmental treaty was formalised with its mission as follows: “The conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional, and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.”
Residents in the vicinity of Die Vleie and Langvlei reported their concern over the spraying of herbicides on the verges of Island Lake to SAN-Parks and CXPRESS.
These concerns pertained to the impact that herbicides could have on the sensitive wetland, and questioned if this practice went against principles of the Ramsar Convention.
Garden Route District Municipality confirmed that they had indeed used the herbicide Kilo Max 700 WSG on the verges of Die Vleie road. The Composition / Information fact sheet of this herbicide, under the heading ‘Hazardous Ingredients of Toxicological Concern’, states that the product contains glyphosate and is “harmful”.
A paper entitled The environmental impacts of glyphosate’ by Friends of the Earth Europe claims that “glyphosate in water pesticides may be washed by rain into the water in ditches, rivers, and streams”.
They may also be washed down through soil and rock layers into underground water sources, such as aquifers, or groundwater.
According to the National Pesticide Information Centre general fact sheet, pure glyphosate is low in toxicity. “Glyphosate may affect fish and wildlife indirectly because killing the plants alters the animal’s habitat,” it reads.
Garden Route National Park communications manager Nandi Mgwadlamba said spraying of the herbicide was part of the district municipality’s road maintenance programme.
“The valid concern from people who have noticed the activity is because the herbicide is sprayed onto vegetation on the side of the road that is 1-2 metres tall,” Mgwadlamba explained.
“Although the road verge where the herbicide is applied is on a district road, there is no guarantee that the spray will not drift into a nearby water body that is a wetland of global significance.
“SANParks marine ranger for Wilderness Jonathan Britton has confirmed that a meeting with district officials concerned had taken place and that they had ironed out sensitivities that could potentially negatively affect the environment.”
She said the meeting had resulted in the district reviewing methods used to ensure the protection of the environment.
Turn to page 15 of this edition for Garden Route District Municipality’s response to queries posed by CXPRESS.
The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO, which came into force in 1975.
It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands, and wise sustainable use of their resources.
Ramsar identifies wetlands of international importance, especially those providing waterfowl habitat. As of 2016, a total of 2,231 Ramsar sites have been protecting 214,936,005 hectares, and 169 national governments are currently participating.