adminActivities done are planned according to the given theme of that particular commemoration.
By commemorating these environmental days it gives Zimbabweans an opportunity to care for the Earth.
Human activities have placed increasing pressure on our life-supporting Earth.
To continue to live and operate safely, humanity has to stay within critical boundaries in the Earth’s environment, and respect the nature of the planet’s climatic, geophysical, atmospheric and ecological processes.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is mandated to protect the environment by ensuring a clean safe and healthy environment.
EMA, under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management, is the lead agency in most environmental commemorations, but there are other parastatals and departments under the same ministry, who also lead in some of these commemorations.
These Special Environment Days give EMA the platform to reach out to the public and to encourage one another to manage our environment with care and caution.
The Environment Days Calendar
February 2 World Wetlands Day: This day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Ramsar Convention in 1971.
The Convention took place in the Iranian City of Ramsar and is an inter-governmental treaty to promote national action and international operation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
Wetlands are often thought of only in terms of their hydrological importance, but they also hold cultural significance.
Many cultures have developed traditional practices and belief systems for regulating the use of wetlands to protect these valuable ecosystems.
Wetlands are also known as vleis, bogs, swamps, marshes, dambos or sponges.
They are regarded as some of the most productive ecosystems in the world because they serve as sponges that regulate river flow, they provide habitats for a variety of plant and animal species and they help to absorb silt and cleanse water of pollutants.
Wetlands are at risk all around Zimbabwe due to practices of draining the land for alternative use such as: construction of buildings, removal of plants, waste water pumped into the area by industries, seepage of agricultural fertilisers and mining are all threats to these sensitive ecosystems.
March 3 Africa Environment Day: A day set aside by African Union and is commemorated in order to heighten public awareness on issues linked to environmental conservation.
Africa is one of the continents that has been exposed to the harmful effects of climate change, and consequently, the disruption of ecosystems.
The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Management chooses any thematic area to focus on in a given year.
This ranges from waste management, veld fires, gold panning, and deforestation among others.
April 22 Earth Day: This day marks an opportunity for volunteers to initiate actions towards a sustainable future.
More than 174 countries celebrate this day worldwide, forming a global network that works towards environmental protection in communities, regions and around the world.
Earth Day is a global attempt for international co-operations to address such issues as the greenhouse effect, the hole in the ozone layer, toxic waste, groundwater contamination, destruction of forests and expanding deserts.
Environment Quote of the Week:
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.”
Online Reporter