Community Mirror Reporter
Members of Parliament embarked on a familiarization tour of key wetland sites last Saturday, as part of the build-up to the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15), scheduled for July 23-31 in Victoria Falls.
The tour, organized by Birdlife Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Wetlands Trust, aimed to highlight the critical role wetlands play in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and water management.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Honourable Sam Matema, emphasized the importance of wetlands during the tour.
“Wetlands purify our water, shield us from floods, store vast amounts of carbon, and serve as vital habitats for countless bird species. As we approach Wetlands COP15 in Victoria Falls, the message is clear: we cannot halt biodiversity loss or tackle the climate crisis without urgent action to protect and restore wetlands. Wetlands matter now more than ever,” said Matema.
The tour included visits to several Ramsar sites, including Monavale Vlei, Lake Chivero, and Cleveland Dam.
These sites are recognized for their ecological significance and are crucial for sustaining local biodiversity.
The Environmental Management Agency’s Impact Assessment and Ecosystem Protection Manager Mr Phanuel Mangisi, highlighted the diversity of species that rely on these wetlands.
“One of the seven Ramsar sites or wetlands of International Importance in Zimbabwe is Monavale. A wide variety of species live in wetlands. Protecting wetlands means protecting the incredible biodiversity they sustain,” he said.
The event also served as a platform to launch the “Voices of Zimbabwe on Wetlands” campaign, aimed at amplifying community voices in the conservation dialogue.
Environmentalists accompanying the tour stressed the need for collaborative efforts to address the challenges faced by local communities in conserving wetlands.
The tour stressed Zimbabwe’s commitment to the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands, as enshrined in the 2022 National Wetlands Policy. This commitment is reinforced by a robust framework of national legislation aimed at ensuring the ecological, social, and economic value of wetlands is preserved.
The global community prepares to gather in Victoria Falls for COP15 under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” the voices of Zimbabwean parliamentarians and communities will play a crucial role in shaping the narrative around wetland conservation and its significance for the future.
