Nigel Cattlin / Papyrus sedge (Cyperus papyrus). Koh Kret, Nonthaburi Province, Thailand.

Chris Gomersall / White-throated or Smyrna kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) perched in papyrus sedge (Cyperus papyrus), and photographed against the morning sun. Hula Valley, Israel. January

Michel Roggo / Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) and other aquatic plants on the river bed of the Okavango river, Okavango Delta, Botswana, June 2014 . Photographed for The Freshwater Project

Michel Roggo / Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) and other aquatic plants on the river bed of the Okavango river, Okavango Delta, Botswana, June 2014 . Photographed for The Freshwater Project

Michel Roggo / Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) growing in a channel of the Okavango River, with flower stems, Okavango Delta, Botswana, June 2014. Photographed for The Freshwater Project

Bruno D'Amicis / Harvest of Nile grass (Cyperus papyrus) Fogera Plains, Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve, Ethiopia. December 2013.

Bruno D'Amicis / Nile grass (Cyperus papyrus) harvest for sale in Bahir Dar harbour. Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve, Ethiopia. December 2013.

Bruno D'Amicis / Nile grass (Cyperus papyrus) collectors carrying harvest at sunset, Jimba Wetlands, Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve, Ethiopia. December 2013.

Bruno D'Amicis / Shoreline wetland of Tana Qirqos Island with Nile grass (Cyperus papyrus) Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve, Ethiopia.

Bruno D'Amicis / Weaver birds (Ploceus sp.) flock flying through Nile grass (Cyperus papyrus). Jimba wetland, Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve, Ethiopia

Kerstin Hinze / Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus). St Lucia Wetland National Park, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

Christophe Courteau / Papyrus in permanent swamp. Okavango delta, Botswana, Southern-Africa.

Christophe Courteau / Papyrus in permanent swamp. Okavango delta, Botswana, Southern-Africa.

Pete Oxford / Papyrus flower head {Cyperus papyrus} Botswana

John Waters / Papyrus reed bed {Cyperus papyrus} LOW angle shot, Kenya

Pete Oxford / Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) growing in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Pete Oxford / Papyrus {Cyperus papyrus} and water lilies (Nymphaeaceae) on the Okavango delta, Botswana

Pete Oxford / Papyrus (Cuperus papyrus) swamps and channel, aerial view, Africa

Pete Oxford / Papyrus (Cuperus papyrus) swamps and channel, aerial view, Africa

Thomas Mangelsen / Papyrus (Cuperus papyrus) beds growing along stream, Africa

Mitsuaki Iwago / Grosbeak Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons) at nest built in Papyrus (Cuperus sp) bed, Africa

Pete Oxford / Papyrus growing along river bank, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa.

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Lechwe (Kobus leche) herd in papyrus floodplain, Busanga Plains, Kafue National Park, Zambia

David Tipling / Southern carmine bee-eater (Merops nubicoides) perched on Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) stem, along edge of grassland fire, Okavango Delta, Botswana.

David Tipling / Two Southern carmine bee-eaters (Merops nubicoides) perched among Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) with flames from grassland fire behind, Okavango Delta, Botswana.

David Tipling / Southern carmine bee-eater (Merops nubicoides) perched among Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) with smoke and flames from grassland fire behind, Okavango Delta, Botswana.

Loic Poidevin / Long-tailed cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus) perched on Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus). Uganda. July.

Kristel Richard / Two female African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and calf feeding on papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) in delta. Okavango Delta, Botswana.