To commemorate World Wetlands Day, the United States Embassy in Pretoria recently partnered with Friends of Colbyn Valley to not only clean up the Colbyn Valley Nature Area but also learn more about the wetlands system in Pretoria.
U.S. Embassy officials and their families worked side-by-side with volunteers from the community and Friends of Colbyn Valley to clear waste from the wetlands system. Embassy Spokesperson Rob Mearkle led the clean-up and said the United States shares the global concern regarding ecosystem conservation, emphasized that regular clean-ups help to protect the habitat of species and increase water safety, and underscored the importance of the Embassy maintaining a connection and giving back to the Pretoria community it calls home.
The Embassy also partnered with the City of Tshwane, who provided the waste removal for this initiative.