By Lindsay Chiswe
On 2nd February each year, the world commemorates World Wetlands Day. The day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in February 1971 in the Iranian City of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
The Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention and under the country’s constitution, wetlands are protected under the Environmental Management Act.
The Environmental Management Act ( Cap 20:27) defines wetlands as “ areas of marsh, fen peat-land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including riparian land adjacent to the wetland”.
The International theme for World Wetlands Day is “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future” which shades light on the importance of wetlands for cities.
Worldwide urban planners and decision makers face a practical dilemma how to meet the increasing demand for land in cities while still preserving the natural environment. Studies have shown that wetland areas and quality continue to decline in most regions of the world yet urban wetlands play a vital role in making cities safe , resilient and sustainable the aims of Sustainable Development Goal number 11.
Pachikoro recognises the pivotal role the wetlands play and they are among the world’s most productive environments, cradles of biological diversity that provide the water and productivity upon which countless species of plants and animals depend for survival.
In Zimbabwe, In as much as the country has put in place constitutional provisions for the protection of the wetlands, these important sources of water have of late been under threat due to illegal land occupations.
Importance of Wetlands.
- They prevent flooding. Wetlands act as flood busters and they slow down the floodwaters of stream and rivers by acting as giant shallow bowls.
- They provide habitat for animals and plants and many contain a wide diversity of life, supporting plants and animals that are found nowhere else.
- They also control erosion and downstram flood damage
- Wetlands act as a sponge in which floodwater is stored and slowly released, instead of it all rushing to the sea within a few days.
- Wetlands present a platform for ecological services, regulating and providing convenient water for many communities supporting fauna and flora.
- Fire control;
- Provide a source of economically valuable products such as wild rice and commercial fish;
- Support recreational activities including fish, hunting, nature appreciation, bird watching and so much more and
- Provide opportunities to participate in outdoor educational activities and to enjoy the aesthetic qualities of wetlands.
What are the dangers of building in wetlands?
According to a survey done by Environmental Management Agency 2015, many home owners seem unaware of the dangers of building in wetlands. Constructing in such areas comes with a lot of risks; the soil is not the best to build because its structure is weak and mostly made of clay.
More so building on wetlands directly tampers with the natural flow of the environment by blocking water passage which is naturally instituted by the free flow of water. It directly tampers with natural water collection and leads to flooding. It can also expose you to water borne disease such as cholera and typhoid, worse still the building can collapse as what happened to houses built in wetlands in Chitungwiza , Lenana Park amongst other areas.
As a signatory to the Ramsar Convention, Zimbabwe has now seven wetlands that have been declared as Ramsar sites which Driefontein Grasslands, Victoria Falls, Middle Zambezi/Mana Pools, Lake Chivero, Monavale Vlei, Chinhoyi Caves and Cleverland Dam.