by Derick Tsimba

The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry said Zimbabwe was going to join the rest of the world to commemorate the World Wetlands Day.

In his press statement, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu said the world wet lands day was commemorated world over and seeks to raise awareness on management of wetlands.

“The day is commemorated world over on the second of February, marking the signing of a treaty of the conservation of wet lands which was signed on the second of February 1971, in Ramsar Iran. The treaty became popularly known as the Ramsar convention and its aim is to raise public awareness on conservation, proper utilisation and management of wetlands and their resources.

“Ramsar is an Inter-Governmental treaty whose mission is the conservation and wise use of all wet lands through local regional and national actions and international co-operations as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world,” said the Minister

The Minister also said the commemoration of the world wetlands day was going to be held under the theme ‘Wetlands and biodiversity.’

“This year we are commemorating the world wet lands day under the theme ‘Wetlands and biodiversity.’ The key message of wet lands in 2020 is that wet lands biodiversity matters as 40% of all species mate or breed in wet lands. Over 100 000 fresh water species have been identified in wet lands so far.

“Wetlands provide livelihoods for more than 1 billion people and help to feed the world. Livelihoods such as subsistence fisheries and aquaculture, crop and livestock production, travel tourism and water provision all depend on wetlands,” he said.

The Harare Post has learnt that this year’s World Wetlands Day shall be commemorated at Njovo wetland ward 18 in Masvingo district.