Wetlands: Proactive approach needed to mitigate against depletion

Blessing V. Bonga    

The critical need to preserve and protect nature and the environment at large has always been existent since time immemorial.

However, issues such as information gaps that exist within communities particularly in the developing world, Zimbabwe included, could be the major stumbling block in efforts to mitigate against the depletion of wetlands and other environmental phenomena.

It is therefore imperative to ensure that stakeholders work together in order to achieve awareness with regards to environmental sustainability issues in communities.

This can only be achieved through the creation of synergies between Government, through the environment and climate ministry, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), media practitioners, schools, churches and communities themselves at large.

Of late, the issue of wetlands’ depletion has taken centre stage and yet no one is taking the sole responsibility for the undesirable state of affairs.

The country has witnessed a massive rise in cases where desperate home seekers have been sold residential stands on wetlands that are supposed to be protected, while illegal farming activities also continue to go unabated particularly in Harare and Chitungwiza.

According to the Ramsar Convention of 1971, (Article 1.1), wetlands are areas of marsh, fern, peat-land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres. The convention has actually broadened its scope to include every aspect of wetland conservation and wise use while recognising wetlands as ecosystems that are extremely important towards biodiversity conservation and for the wellbeing of human communities.

Zimbabwe, is a signatory to the convention which is suffice to say that it is imperative for authorities to come up with proper pieces of legislation to guard against wetland misuse and subsequent depletion.

Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Protection Officer for Harare Province in EMA Gilbert Mugunzva recently said that for an effective management of wetlands in the country, both EMA and local authorities have a part to play in enforcing legal instruments.

“As EMA we are responsible for enforcing the Principal act, the Environmental Management Act Chapter 20.27, Section 20 and Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 which deal with the protection of wetlands…however, depending on the location of a specific wetland, it then falls under the direct jurisdiction of that area’s local authority,” he said.

In the high density suburb of Glen Norah, in Harare for example, next to the leisure park there used to be a wetland that also included a dam which provided a perfect habitat for fish while it also afforded locals in the area a recreational facility.

The place, to date is now depleted to the extent that the dam no longer holds any water, while all the flora and fauna previously associated with the wetland continue to dry up significantly.

Residents have taken over the area with illegal farming activities, hence further damaging the environment. Local authorities however, conceded that such practices were intolerable and should be condemned in the strongest of terms.

City of Harare spokesperson, Michael Chideme recently admitted that indeed the Glen Norah Park which houses the dried up dam and wetland is their responsibility.

“Glen Norah Park, and the dried up dam are indeed a City of Harare baby, and we are looking for partners to assist us in upgrading the place including reclaiming the drying dam, it will also become easier to man the area so that the undesirable illegal farming activities happening on the wetland and dam can come to a stop once and for all.

It should also be known that as a City we are very much for the idea of preservation of wetlands, because they are natural water purifiers” he said.

It is therefore largely evident that when it comes to protecting wetlands in communities, there is general complacency which could be attributed to ignorance promulgated by lack of knowledge.

Not known to the majority of citizens is that wetlands act as natural purifiers. Pollutants are absorbed in wetlands and the water which then filters out would be pure.

On the other hand, wetlands assist with mitigating climate change phenomena such as global warming. Wetlands absorb carbon dioxide which is a major greenhouse gas responsible for global warming.

If the carbon dioxide is not absorbed, it remains in the atmosphere where it absorbs lots of heat thereby causing accelerated global warming.

By continued reckless human behaviour such as polluting wetlands by dumping waste for example, there continues to be direct flow of contaminated water into water bodies such as Lake Chivero.

Such unfortunate consequences lead to local authorities facing the burden of having to purchase a lot of chemicals to purify the water for residents’ consumption.

According to EMA, Harare (including Ruwa, Epworth and Chitungwiza) accounts for about 47 wetlands totalling approximately 23 000 hectares. It is commendable to note the recent announcement by government that the National Wetlands Master plan has now been completed.

The document is going to act as an administrative tool to guide authorities in planning with the sole purpose of educating the public on sustainable wetland management nationwide.

The document is also a precursor to a National Wetlands Policy that will be crafted in due course. It therefore remains to be seen if the blueprints bring the desirable outcome which is to empower citizens with information on how well to take care of the environment.

Blessing V. Bonga is a Journalist based in Harare who is passionate about environmental sustainability issues. He is the Founder of Beaver Media Co. (Pvt) Ltd inc. EnviroZim. He writes in his personal capacity.

Feedback : +263772908937/+263714448304

E-mail : bvbonga@beavermedia.co.zw/bvbonga@envirozim.com