Today the world marks World Wetlands day, a day that is celebrated annually on February the 2nd and aims to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for both people and planet.
This day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in Ramsar, Iran.
A call to take action for wetlands is the focus of this years’ campaign. It is an appeal to invest financial, human and political capital to save the world’s wetlands from disappearing and to restore those we have degraded.
This year is the first that World Wetlands Day will be observed as a United Nations international day, following its adoption by the General Assembly on 30 August 2021 in a resolution co-sponsored by 75 member states.
This year’ s theme is “Wetlands’ Action for people and nature” which highlights the importance of actions that ensure that wetlands are conserved and used sustainably.
Zimbabwe last August committed to the effective management of the country’s wetlands after unveiling a policy to that effect.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa at the time said that the policy would assist in establishing a comprehensive wetlands management framework.
“The Policy will facilitate the establishment of an effective and efficient institutional and legal framework for integrated management, and enhance capacity building within relevant institutions involved in the management of wetlands,” she said.
According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), in Harare alone there are plus or minus 47 wetlands with a total hectrage of approximately 23 000 hectares that include Harare, Ruwa, Epworth and Chitungwiza.
