THE USE OF REMOTE SENSING AND GIS TO DELINEATING THE
BOUNDARIES AND CREATING A BUFFER ZONE TO DEMARCATE THE BLESBOKSPRUIT RAMSAR
WETLAND SITE – SOUTH AFRICA
M.
Monique1, D.L. Pillay2, M. Sham3
1 - University
of Johannesburg
2 - Meraka Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR)
3 - Department of Geography, Environmental Management and
Energy Studies
moniquesham@gmail.com
Wetland areas in South
Africa play an important role in terms of
water purification, erosion control and provision of habitat for wetland
dependent species. Although there are many obvious reasons for conserving
natural wetland systems, human activities still continue to negatively impact
these habitats. The key to understanding the impact on these systems is to
conduct regular inventory and mapping exercises that enable one to determine
the changes to these dynamic systems. This study highlights the use of multi
temporal remote sensing data to determine the boundaries of the Blesbokspruit
Ramsar Wetland site in South
Africa. The Blesbokspruit Ramsar Wetland is
located southeast of city Johannesburg.
The wetland has a high conservation priority, as it forms an important
component of a tributary of the Vaal
River. This catchment
provides the city of Johannesburg
with most of its drinking water and is an important water resource for the
area. In 1996 the Blesbokspruit Ramsar Wetland was placed on the Montreux
Record as a result of a number of anthropogenic activities negatively impacting
on the wetland. Primarily, discharges of large volumes of polluted water from
an adjacent gold mine contributed to this listing.
This study uses remote sensing data to
determine the boundaries of the wetland and by doing so create an appropriate
buffer zone between the wetland and the various land uses. These parameters are
currently non existent in the management of the wetland The
study analyses rainfall within the catchment within a five year period
(2000-2005) and remote sensing data is acquired according to the wettest and
driest month of the year. The delineation process will guided by international
studies on this aspect and will take into cognizance the appropriate
legislative processes necessary. The anticipated results will be used to manage
the site as well ensure that the necessary planning procedures of future
developments in this area are regulated in accordance with the priorities of
the wetland.