Zambia celebrates world wetlands day -2020
World wetlands day fell on the 2nd of February. The day represents the date when the Convention on wetlands was adopted on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar. It is aimed at raising public awareness about the importance and value of wetlands.
Zambia’s wetlands account for about 145,194 square kilometers representing 19 percent of the country’s total land area. This year’s celebration was spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands and Natural resources in partnership with Birdwatch Zambia (BWZ) and the Worldwide fund for Nature (WWF) at Venter Valley.
Venter valley is a small urban wetland located in Lusaka, Villa Wanga area, the wetland acts mainly as a drainage and water filter for the residents. Like all our natural resources today, Venter valley is under threat due to human activity and diversity of species in Villa wanga.
Zambian wetlands are very important and have cultural and economic significance; The Baroste flood plain for example holds cultural importance to the Lozi people as it is the host of the annual Kuomboka ceremony. A lot of fisheries are established on wetlands and they hold financial and nutritional value for the locals. The Bangweulu wetlands in North- east Zambia are a great example of such value.
This year’s theme was Wetlands and biodiversity. Wetlands are rich with biodiversity and are a habitat for a dense variety of plant and animal species. Latest estimates show a global decline of biodiversity, while wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests. This year’s theme was a unique opportunity to contemplate wetlands biodiversity, its status, why it matters and promote actions to reverse it.
The main threats of Zambian wetlands according to a research conducted by WWF are: invasive species like mimosa pigra on the Kafue flats, land conversions, poor management and human encroachment. For more information – www.wwf.panda.org
These threats have not gone unnoticed, the Zambian Government launched a National Policy on wetlands to show the importance of managing wetlands as well as their threats. Like all environmental problems, the threats must and are being addressed through collaborations of the government, organisations such as WWF and the local communities. Be part of this change and do something this year to protect or wetlands.