Wetlands are priceless, says minister

Mangaliso Kabulika

ENVIRONMENT, Climate and Wildlife Minister, Mangaliso Ndhlovu, has stressed the importance of valuing wetlands for their provision of water, food and climate change mitigating properties.

Speaking at a media briefing to mark World Wetlands Day (WWD), Minister Ndhlovu said humans’ well-being was linked to the condition of the world’s wetlands.

This year’s WWD is running under the theme ‘Wetlands and human well-being’, but Zimbabwe is running its events under the theme ‘Wetlands for sustainable livelihoods’, with celebrations planned for Friday in Murehwa.

Minister Ndhlovu said stakeholders and individuals should look for ways to manage and use wetlands sustainably, as well as prompting ideas for their restoration.

“We are dependent on these life sustaining ecosystems. However, they must be healthy if they are to continue sustaining our livelihoods.

“Investing in wetlands means investing in the future of humanity as they provide cities and their residents multiple economic, social and cultural benefits that support human well-being.

“We must conserve them and maintain the health of these critically important ecosystems and restore lost and degraded wetlands to revive the rich biodiversity and life found in these life-sustaining ecosystems,” he said.