ZIMBABWE joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Wetlands Day at Domborutinhira Wetlands in Mutasa District Manicaland.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on February 2 since 1971 after the signing of the Ramsar Convention in Iran.
The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty whose mission is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation to achieve sustainable development.
Speaking at the commemorations, the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Saviour Kasukuwere said communities needed to preserve wetlands as they were critical to sustainable development.
He said it was important for people to bear in mind that despite the capacity of wetlands to provide many goods and ecosystem services, they do have limits.
“Of great concern is the continued wetlands degradation from water pollution through the discharge of raw and partially treated sewage into wetlands, mining activities in river systems, infrastructural development and cultivation in wetlands just to mention a few,” said Kasukuwere.
“Conversion of wetlands for agriculture land will lead to the loss of vital wetland ecosystem services.
“Intensive agricultural activities often lead to increased loads of pollutants such as pesticides, fertilisers, antibiotics and disinfectants in wetlands.
“Not only do these affect their ecological character they also impact on human health and the quality of drinking water supplied by wetlands.”
Kasukuwere said there is need to ensure that there is balance between agricultural production and wetland utilisation and protection.
“As a Ministry through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), we will descend heavily on people who are illegally utilising wetlands,” he said.
Domborutinhira Wetland contributes to the food and nutrition security of 120 households currently doing market gardening.
The community with the help of EMA has fenced off the spring which is the source of water for the wetland.
The garden supporting the community has been set-up 30 metres away from the core wetland and unsuitable tree species within the wetland have been uprooted and replaced by indigenous ones.
Other thriving wetlands in the country include Maturure Wetland in Masvingo, Songore Wetland in Murehwa and Magwenzi Wetland in Chivi District.
Wetlands provide essential ecosystem services and benefits such as regulating and providing water for agricultural activities.
As a source of constant water supply, wetlands are key to poverty eradication.