The need to protect wetlands cannot be over-emphasized, as these vital ecosystems are the unsung heroes of the climate crisis, a senior government official has said.
Speaking at the belated World Wetlands Day commemoration at Nyororo Wetland in Mberengwa, Provincial Director of Infrastructure Development and Environment, Tendai Forichi, stressed the importance of wetlands in sustaining life. He warned that climate change, pollution, and unsustainable development threaten their survival, with devastating consequences for biodiversity, food security, and human well-being.
“Wetlands play a crucial role in flood control, carbon storage, and water purification,” Forichi said. “They are disappearing three times faster than forests, with 35% lost globally since 1970. Without biodiversity, we have no future.”
Midlands Province is home to the Driefontein Grasslands, one of Zimbabwe’s seven Ramsar sites, which provides a vital breeding and feeding ground for bird species. However, Forichi expressed concern over increasing threats from habitat destruction and wildfires, calling for stronger conservation efforts.
The Local Initiative Development Agency (LiD Agency) is leading restoration efforts through its Climate Adaptation for Rural Livelihoods project, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The initiative has seen 40 hectares of wetlands fenced off, solar-powered boreholes installed, and a two-hectare irrigation scheme established, benefiting 24 households.
Forichi called on traditional leaders and communities to take responsibility for wetland conservation.
“Safeguarding wetlands ensures their continued contribution to sustainable livelihoods,” he emphasized.
This year’s World Wetlands Day, commemorated under the theme ‘Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future’, also serves as a precursor to the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (COP 15), set to take place in Victoria Falls from June 23 to July 1, 2025.
