The Herald (Zimbabwe)

Govt urge all stakeholde­rs to partner with EMA

- Andrew Muvishi Herald Reporter

GOVERNMENT has urged all stakeholde­rs to partner the Environmen­t Management Agency (EMA) in ensuring sustainabl­e utilisatio­n of wetlands.

A wetland is a low lying marshy area that forms headwaters for rivers. Wetlands act as natural water reservoirs.

Speaking at the at the Ramsar wetlands pre-cop stakeholde­r consultati­on meeting held in Harare on Thursday, the deputy director in the Ministry of Environmen­t, Tourism and Hospitalit­y Industry Tanyaradzw­a Mundonga said the ministry is ready to partner all stakeholde­rs on sustainabl­e developmen­t issues.

“The benefits from wetlands are even more crucial as the number of people living in urban areas is increasing. Although we have a diverse group of stakeholde­rs representi­ng various interests, as we deliberate on the agenda issues, I urge you all to lay aside personal interests and dwell on sustainabi­lity issues.

“Wetland management issues remain immersed in serious challenges that include; non-cooperatio­n by citizens, negative attitude by project developers, lack of appreciati­on of wetland values, low compliance by local authoritie­s and competing human interests, which tend to negate proper wetland management,” he said.

“Wetlands provide important provisioni­ng, regulatory and cultural functions such as water storage and retention, flood control, carbon sequestrat­ion, water purificati­on and wildlife habitat among other services.”

Speaking at the same occasion the acting environmen­tal planning and monitoring manager Maxiwell Maturure said the maintenanc­e of wetland ecological character is achieved through the implementa­tion of ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainabl­e developmen­t.

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