Final answer:
Buffering the Mdloti River is necessary to protect its ecosystem, maintain water quality, and prevent erosion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Buffering the Mdloti River is necessary to protect its ecosystem and maintain its water quality. A buffer zone is a strip of vegetation and land surrounding a river that helps to filter pollutants, reduce erosion, and provide habitat for wildlife. By creating a buffer zone along the Mdloti River, it helps to prevent the runoff of pollutants from nearby human activities, such as agriculture or urban development, from directly entering the river.
Additionally, the buffer zone can help to stabilize the river banks and reduce erosion. The vegetation in the buffer zone acts as a barrier against the force of the water, preventing the river banks from collapsing. This helps to protect the surrounding land from being washed away and prevents the loss of fertile soil.
In conclusion, buffering the Mdloti River is essential for the preservation of its ecosystem and the protection of its water quality. It helps to filter pollutants, reduce erosion, provide habitat for wildlife, and stabilize the river banks. This ensures the long-term health and sustainability of the river and the surrounding environment.