‘Wetlands important ecological kidneys’

commemorations of the World Wetlands Day at Diana’s Pool in Umzingwane district on Monday.
Governor Masuku said communities should preserve wetlands, as they were useful in economic projects like gardening, fish farming and as tourist attractions.
“Wetlands are important in many ways to the community. They are also habitats for aquatic life, water loving plants and vegetation.
“Forest wetlands are important stores of carbon and their destruction would release vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere which contributes to the present climate change,” said Governor Masuku.
“We should engage in tourism in and around wetlands as they can bring both economic and environmental benefits at the site, regionally and nationally.
“Tourism in wetlands is also an opportunity for strengthening communication and marketing strategies used to raise awareness of the value of bio-diversity and steps that can be taken to protect wetlands.”
Governor Masuku said the country was endowed with wetlands that cover approximately 1 262 000 hectares, which include flood plains, swamps, pans and dambos.
Speaking at the same occasion, Matabeleland South provincial environmental manager for Environment Management Agency (EMA) Mrs Sithembisiwe Ndlovu said the province was not as dry as people thought.
“We chose to come to Diana’s Pool so that we remind people that Matabeleland South is not a dry place. We have many wetlands some in Matopo and we need to conserve them.
“Wetlands are a source of water, bio-diversity and food like fish,” said Mrs Ndlovu.
She said EMA’s aim was to make people aware that by cultivating on wetlands they were contributing to climate change. “This region is dry but we are urging people to desist from cultivating on wetlands. If they conserve the wetlands they have, people will be helping to fight global warming that we are facing,” said Mrs Ndlovu.
World Wetlands Day (WWD) is observed annually on 2 February by countries signatory to Ramsar Convention.
The day follows the signing of the convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
The theme for this year’s commemorations is Wetlands and Tourism – My responsibility, my Leisure.