Locally and globally, water and water security must be prioritized to achieve many of the 17 SDGs set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The "protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes" (SDG 6.6) are crucial as "healthy source watersheds are vital natural infrastructure for nearly all cities around the world."

Currently, we are falling far short of achieving the SDGs, and water security will remain a significant threat to well-being unless there is a dramatic increase in awareness and action from governments, businesses, and civil society.

While most of us cannot access the required finance or create the necessary nature-positive legislative environment, we can actively engage on whatever scale is within our range.

South Africa is a water-scarce country, and water supply must be secured through multiple initiatives. In the Western Cape, over two-thirds of the sub-catchments provisioning the Western Cape Water Supply System are affected by alien plant invasions. Many sub-catchments are in an alarmingly unnatural state, with invasive alien plants covering large areas.
Despite significant government efforts, invasives are still spreading faster than they are being controlled, especially in inaccessible areas like our mountain catchments. (2. Greater Cape Town Water Fund, Business Case Nov 2018)

Our mountain catchments are our Water Towers and deliver all four Ecosystem Services (ES): Supporting, Provisioning, Regulating, and Cultural Services.
The most direct way to improve the health of these watersheds and maintain, their ecological function is to ensure they are free of invasive alien vegetation.