Wetlands are one of the most vital and diverse ecosystems on the planet, providing a wide range of ecological, economic, and social benefits.
Despite their importance, wetlands are facing numerous threats, including habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, which can have severe consequences for the environment, human health, and the economy.
In this analysis, we will explore the importance of conserving wetlands and the need for urgent action to protect these critical ecosystems.
First and foremost, wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity. They provide a habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else on earth.
Wetlands are home to numerous migratory bird species, fish, and other aquatic animals, which rely on these ecosystems for food, shelter, and breeding grounds.
The loss of wetlands can have a devastating impact on these species, leading to population decline, fragmentation, and even extinction.
Wetlands also play a critical role in regulating the climate.
They help to sequester carbon dioxide, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Wetlands also help to regulate the water cycle, influencing the amount of rainfall, evaporation, and runoff.
This, in turn, affects the availability of water for human consumption, agriculture, and industry.
Despite their importance, wetlands are facing numerous threats. Habitat destruction, caused by urbanisation, agriculture, and infrastructure development, is one of the most significant threats to wetlands.
The conversion of wetlands to agricultural land, urban areas, and other human-dominated landscapes has resulted in the loss of millions of hectares of wetlands worldwide.
Pollution, including agricultural runoff, industrial effluent, and domestic wastewater, is another major threat to wetlands.
Pollutants can alter the chemical composition of the water, reducing the quality of the habitat
and affecting the health of aquatic species.
Climate change is also having a significant impact on wetlands.
Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events are altering the hydrology and ecology of wetlands.
This can lead to changes in the distribution and abundance of plant and animal species, as well as the degradation of wetland habitats.
In Zimbabwe organisations such as The Environmental Management Agency (Ema) are playing a crucial role in fighting to conserve wetlands, last week the agency issued a stop order blocking a housing development project in Greystone Park, Borrowdale, after proving that the developments were happening in a protected wetland area.
In a statement, Ema spokesperson Amkela Sidange said the developer, who commenced construction without the necessary environmental permits, had disregarded environmental regulations.
“This blatant disregard for environmental regulations is unacceptable, the Agency swiftly intervened, issuing an Environmental Protection Order and initiating legal proceedings against the developer,” Sidange said.
“The developer subsequently submitted a project prospectus, which was promptly rejected by
Ema due to the project's potential for irreversible ecological damage and significant socio- economic impacts.”
“These are all concerted efforts to ring-fence wetlands as systems of ecological importance and to entrench the principles of conservation and wise use of wetlands as advocated for by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and our own national aspirations on wetland protection.”
The agency warned that violating legal provisions on wetland management in Zimbabwe is a punishable offence.
An offender is liable to a fine not exceeding level 14 or imprisonment not exceeding two years, or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Wetlands matter for the survival of mankind and it remains everyone’s responsibility to protect these vital ecosystems for posterity.
Wetlands are a depleting resource which require combined efforts to preserve and replenish for future generations.
As such, Section 73 of the constitution gives substance to the Environmental Management (Ema) Act which in Section 97 prohibits the draining of wetlands except in accordance with a certificate issued by the Ema director-general following an environmental impact assessment report.
Today, we also remind each other of Section 113 of the Ema (Act) which prohibits anyone from reclaiming, draining or disturbing wetlands without the express written authorisation from EMA, given in consultation with the minister responsible for water resources.
Unfortunately, despite these provisions, many wetlands continue to be destroyed or degraded due to human activities such as urbanisation and agriculture.
It is disheartening to note that penalties for wetland destruction are proving not deterrent enough for offenders who seem to find it more profitable to destroy the natural resource and pay fines than avoid invading protected land.
In this regard, urban growth is a primary culprit, consuming the majority of these fragile and important biodiversity hotspots.
There is a tug of war between the desire to build housing and the need to safeguard the environment from excessive development.
Aside from construction activity, wetlands around the country are also extensively polluted due to the failure of sewer and water reticulation systems.
Noting this threat, Zela has been at the forefront of calls for responsible development and efficient urban service delivery by urban councils.
Restoration and rehabilitation, awareness-raising and use of communication tools for wetland protection should be ongoing activities involving drama, role-plays, songs, poetry, photographic pictures of wetlands, wetland digital stories, school-based debates and public speaking, essay writing competitions, among others.
These become essential components of life-long learning and as part of the traditional ecological knowledge also known as indigenous knowledge systems for the inculcation of ecological values, beliefs, sustainable worldviews and ideologies.
To conserve wetlands there is need for constant review of the policy and legal framework for the management of wetland ecosystems to ensure fines and penalties in the EMA Act are prohibitive.
Local authorities must create and (or) enforce policies to for constant restoration, creation, and enhancement of wetlands.
EMA must scale up the monitoring of wetlands to curb invasion by developers and land barons.
Civil society organisations must collaborate with government to advise on environmental policy, national goals and priorities and to give directions about enforcing the EMA Act.
*Gary Gerald Mtombeni is a journalist based in Harare. He writes here in his own personal capacity. For feedback Email garymtombeni@gmail.com/ call- +263778861608