Wetland utilisation: What you should know

survival of hundreds of plant and animal species depends on the unique and specialised habitats found only in wetlands.
Wetlands comprise an incredible array of landscapes. They can be found near the banks of rivers and streams, along the edges of lakes and ponds, or in open fields and wooded areas where the watertable is near the surface.

Some wetlands may not even appear wet year-round. Wetlands occur widely throughout both rural and urban areas and can be very small or thousands of hectares in size.
In some areas, particularly near cities and towns, wetlands may be the only remaining “wild” spaces.
Throughout the world many different names are used to describe wetland areas.

Marshes, vleis, dambos, floodplains, springs are the types of wetlands found here in Zimbabwe.

Types of Wetlands found in Zimbabwe

Marshes: Marshy areas are home to many kinds of plants and animals, including fish, which are often present in high numbers. Marshes also serve as stopping point for migratory species, especially birds.
Floodplains: Lie in areas surrounding lakes, such as Lake Kariba, and in areas alongside rivers.
The regular flooding of floodplains give rise to local areas of nutritious grassland for grazing for wildlife and stock.

Floodplains also regulate water flow they act like gigantic sponge, absorbing the seasonal rains, holding them and then slowly releasing them down into rivers.
Dambos: They act like a sponge, storing large quantities of water during the wet season and gradually releasing it during the dry season.
Springs: From a major source of water supply for many rural communities. Their occurrence is to a large extent dependent upon climate.

Temporary pans and vleis: pans usually have no established vegetation while vleis typically have some emergent plants.
Although temporary, these wetlands support a wide variety of highly adapted organisms which can complete their life cycles rapidly, can cope with large fluctuations in temperature and salinity, and can survive desiccation (drying out) or are mobile enough to move to another water body when theirs dries up.

Legislation concerning wetlands
Wetlands are protected by the laws of Zimbabwe and it is illegal to cultivate or build in wetlands before getting approval from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
Wetland utilisation is governed by Section 113 of the Environmental Management Act (Cap 20:27), a Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 Environmental Management (EIA and Ecosystems Protection Regulations).

Section 113 of the Environmental Management Act (CAP 20:27) states that the minister may declare any wetland to be an ecologically sensitive area and may impose limitations on development in or around such area.
Any activity conducted on/in a wetland, without a licence from the agency is considered illegal, and is punishable with a level 10 fine and/or a prison sentence of no more than six months. It is therefore a legal requirement to apply for wetland utilisation from any nearest EMA offices throughout the country.