How upland stream restoration and donga reclamation under the LLBCP Replication Project support healthier wetlands
Across the Northern Drakensberg catchments of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, communities are working to restore mountain ecosystems that are critical for both people and nature. Under the Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project (LLBCP) Replication Project, these efforts are demonstrating how improving land management high up in the landscape directly benefits the wetlands below.
Why Wetland Health Starts in the Mountains
What do small upland streams and “donga” reclamation have to do with wetland rehabilitation? The answer lies in how mountain landscapes function. They can generally be divided into three zones. The upper zone is where streams and springs emerge, often the first places to show signs of erosion. The middle zone is typically home to farms and settlements, which influence how water and sediment move downhill. And finally, in the valleys, lie the wetlands – rich ecosystems that depend on clean water and healthy flows from above.
When land use practices in the upper and middle zones cause water to rush downhill too quickly or carry excess sediment, it puts stress on the wetlands. By improving land management higher up, we slow water movement, reduce erosion, and give wetlands a better chance to thrive.
Mapping the Problem Together
This work begins with social-ecological mapping, where community members and project teams walk the landscape together to identify high-pressure areas. In many places, these are zones where dongas – deep, actively eroding gullies – have already carved into the land, threatening to grow even larger.
By understanding exactly where these challenges are most severe, communities can prioritize interventions that offer the greatest benefits for the landscape and for downstream wetlands.
Tackling Dongas and Eroded Streams
Rather than relying on large-scale infrastructure, the approach under the LLBCP Replication Project focuses on practical, nature-based solutions. Restoration often starts with simple actions, such as moving rocks to build small, stepwise check dams in dongas and eroded streambeds. These slow the flow of water and help trap sediment.
As projects progress, the work expands to include building small rock walls and brush packs, planting vegetative strips, using soil retention blankets, and setting up livestock exclusion zones to protect particularly unstable slopes. These interventions stabilize the land and reduce the amount of soil and debris carried into the wetlands below.
Local Leadership and Youth Action
At the heart of this effort are local land management committees and learning groups. They guide much of the planning and hands-on work. Supporting them are trained young people known as eco-champs, who dedicate time each month to critical activities like stream restoration, removing invasive plants, managing waste, and helping control fires.
Their involvement not only strengthens local stewardship but also builds skills and creates a new generation of community environmental leaders.
Pilots in Ezibomvini and Stulwane
In pilot sites such as Ezibomvini and Stulwane, these approaches are being tested and refined. The goal is to develop methods that communities themselves can adapt and maintain over the long term, without heavy reliance on external support. Each success builds local confidence and provides a model that can be shared with other mountain communities facing similar challenges.
Building Resilience from the Top Down
Through the LLBCP Replication Project, these communities are addressing much more than visible erosion. They are actively building resilience into the entire catchment system. By tackling problems in the uplands, they help ensure that wetlands below continue to provide clean water, support biodiversity, and sustain livelihoods – benefits that extend well beyond their own communities.
A Shared Journey of Restoration
Together, these efforts show that wetland rehabilitation is not just about restoring ecosystems at the valley floor. It’s about taking care of the entire system – from mountain streams to wetland basins. It’s a journey of collaboration, innovation, and hope, one stream and one donga at a time.
