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PROGRAMMES: Wetlands - Introduction

(Adapted from Swaziland's Wetlands website created in 2004.)

These pages aim to inform the general public and international community about the nature and status of wetlands in the Swaziland. It will also help in sharing information on conservation and 'wise use' of wetlands. It is part of a regional initiative the IUCN - ROSA to have each country register a national wetlands page that will be linked to a regional network.

Ramsar Classification System for Wetland Types


The codes are based upon the Ramsar Classification System for Wetland Type as approved by Recommendation 4.7 and amended by Resolution VI.5 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties. Wetlands are generally divided into two broad categories: Marine/Coastal wetlands and Inland Wetlands. Here we shall show only inland wetlands types. The categories listed below are very broad categories for rapid identification of the main wetland habitats represented at each site.

Inland Wetlands


L - Permanent inland deltas.
M - Permanent rivers/streams/creeks; includes waterfalls.
N - Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks.
O - Permanent freshwater lakes (over 8 ha); includes large oxbow lakes.
P - Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes (over 8 ha); includes floodplain lakes.
Q - Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline lakes.
R - Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline lakes and flats.
Sp - Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes/pools.
Ss - Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes/pools.
Tp - Permanent freshwater marshes/pools; ponds (below 8 ha), marshes and swamps on inorganic soils; with emergent vegetation water-logged for at least most of the growing season.
Ts - Seasonal/intermittent freshwater marshes/pools on inorganic soils; includes sloughs, potholes, seasonally flooded meadows, sedge marshes.
U - Non-forested peatlands; includes shrub or open bogs, swamps, fens.
Va - Alpine wetlands; includes alpine meadows, temporary waters from snowmelt.
Vt - Tundra wetlands; includes tundra pools, temporary waters from snowmelt.
W - Shrub-dominated wetlands; shrub swamps, shrub-dominated freshwater marshes, shrub carr, alder thicket on inorganic soils.
Xf - Freshwater, tree-dominated wetlands; includes freshwater swamp forests, seasonally flooded forests, wooded swamps on inorganic soils.
Xp - Forested peatlands; peatswamp forests.
Y - Freshwater springs; oases.
Zg - Geothermal wetlands
Zk(b) – Karst and other subterranean hydrological systems, inland

Note : "floodplain" is a broad term used to refer to one or more wetland types, which may include examples from the R, Ss, Ts, W, Xf, Xp, or other wetland types. Some examples of floodplain wetlands are seasonally inundated grassland (including natural wet meadows), shrublands, woodlands and forests. Floodplain wetlands are not listed as a specific wetland type herein.

Human-made Wetlands


1- Aquaculture (e.g., fish/shrimp) ponds
2 - Ponds; includes farm ponds, stock ponds, small tanks; (generally below 8 ha).
3 - Irrigated land; includes irrigation channels and rice fields.
4 - Seasonally flooded agricultural land (including intensively managed or grazed wet meadow or pasture).
5 - Salt exploitation sites; salt pans, salines, etc.
6 - Water storage areas;reservoirs,/barrages/dams/impoundments (generally over 8 ha).
7 - Excavations; gravel/brick/clay pits; borrow pits, mining pools.
8 - Wastewater treatment areas; sewage farms, settling ponds, oxidation basins, etc.
9 - Canals and drainage channels, ditches.
Zk(c) – Karst and other subterranean hydrological systems, human-made

(Source: www.ramsar.org )
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