Call to preserve wetlands

The national commemorations were held on 2 February and the theme for this year was “Wetlands and Tourism — My responsibility, my leisure”.
Sen Ndlovu said indigenous trees were becoming scarce as a result of the drying up of wetlands.
“We should not cultivate on wetlands because doing so results in the drying of wetlands that are supposed to provide water to indigenous trees.
“Depletion of natural resources that include vegetation as well as game has a direct link to the drying up of wetlands, amaxhaphozi,” Sen Ndlovu said.
He urged villagers not to pollute wetlands by using pesticides and fertilisers.
“We have to protect these wetlands because they are our livelihoods and that of future generations,” he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the commemorations, Insiza district environmental officer Mr Mgcinisihlalo Ndlovu said the reason they held commemorations in the area was because the wetlands were drying up at an alarming rate.
“Wards 12, 20 and 21 used to have a lot of wetlands but the villagers are cultivating on them and they are drying up at an alarming rate. The villagers do not know that there is Statutory Instrument Seven which makes it an offence to conduct farming activities on wetlands,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu said before villagers could establish a garden they should contact EMA to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment.
“The farmers just have to fill in a EMA B form and after submission carry out the assessment of the wetland at no cost,” he said.
The country has an estimated 1 262 000 hectares of              wetlands.
The Tuesday event brought together police officers, soldiers, Government and Environmental Management Agency (EMA) officials as well as village heads and school children.
During the event EMA officials explained to villagers the importance of wetlands and laws that protect them.
Pupils from Pentagon Primary School provided the entertainment for the guests in song and dance.