SUSTAINING ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICES

The document outlines a collaborative effort between Mondi, WWF, the National Business Initiative (NBI), and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to manage water resources in the uMhlathuze river catchment. Central to this is the uMhlathuze Water Stewardship Partnership (uWASP), established in 2016, which coordinates stakeholders across six sectors to address water security. Key achievements include the development of real-time monitoring tools (FlowTracker and Inwards Lite), the implementation of an Alien Invasive Plant (AIP) Strategy, and improvements in irrigation governance and wetland rehabilitation. The document highlights the critical nature of Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) in South Africa and notes that water demand in the uMhlathuze catchment is projected to rise due to population growth and climate change, with Richards Bay expected to require 20 mcm/a by 2025.

• South Africa has 22 Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) that provide over 50% of the country's water resources while occupying only 10% of the land; these areas support 50% of the population, 70% of irrigated agriculture, and 64% of the national economy.
• The uMhlathuze Water Stewardship Partnership (uWASP) was formed in 2016 with 10 members from six sectors to improve water security in the uMhlathuze river catchment, which includes the Zululand Coastal Plains Aquifer.
• The partnership has implemented several technical and governance initiatives, including the 2022 launch of real-time water use monitoring tools called FlowTracker and Inwards Lite, a multi-stakeholder Alien Invasive Plant (AIP) Strategy, and the consolidation of five irrigation systems into the uMhlathuze Water Association.
• Based on 2017 Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) data, water allocation in the Mhlathuze catchment is split between agriculture (34%), urban (26%), industrial (25%), and forestry (15%).
• Water demand in the uMhlathuze catchment is projected to increase due to climate change and population growth, with Richards Bay specifically expected to need 20 million cubic metres per annum (mcm/a) by 2025, exceeding its licensed requirement.

APA

WWF South Africa (n.d.). SUSTAINING ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICES. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/web_mondi-water-stewardship.pdf

Chicago

WWF South Africa. SUSTAINING ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICES. n.d. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/web_mondi-water-stewardship.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=SUSTAINING ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICES |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/web_mondi-water-stewardship.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafricandsustaining, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{SUSTAINING ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICES}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/web_mondi-water-stewardship.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }