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Wetlands are permanent or temporary wet places such as ponds, marshes, swa-mps, peat lands and salt pans. Examples include Lusede wetlands in Hwange, Mapembe in Manicaland, Bhoyile in Matabeleland South and Chirimudondo in Mashonaland West provinces. Wetlands are also known as “dambo”, a Chichewa word to describe grassland in Zambia and Malawi. Environmental Management Agency education and publicity manager Mr Steady Kangata said it was crucial to use wetlands in a sustainable manner.

“We need to use the wetlands in such a manner that they do not degrade since they have ecological benefits.

“They provide local level climatic control and also reduce flood impact,” he said.

If properly harnessed, wetlands have the capacity to increase growth in the agriculture sector to meet food demands. Wetlands are part of an environmental system that farmers operate and manage for their economic benefit. Over the years rural communities have used wetlands as a source of water for gardens since they wet are all year round.

It is estimated that Zimbabwe is endowed with 300 000 hectares of wetland areas, 20 percent of these is in rural areas.

In India, farmers cultivate wetlands and successfully produce crops such as rice, maize, cleus esculentus and vegetables. Small-scale farmers use the majority of these lands, whose soils have relatively good agricultural potential. Wetlands are also a source of water for wildlife which in the end becomes a tourist attraction.

Environmentalist Ms Yvonne Chingara-nde said wetlands should be conserved since they are the means of survival for rural communities during dry spells.

“Communities use the water from wetlands to water gardens in the dry season and most rural areas have their gardens in the wetlands,” she said.

These special water systems can be cultivated safely by using a system of broad-ridges and broad-furrows where upland crops are grown on ridges whilst rice or other crops tolerant to waterlogged conditions are grown in the furrows. Climate change co-ordinator in the Environment and Natural Resources Management, Mr Washington Zhakata, said wetlands provide numerous products, services and functions.

He said rural communities should manage wetlands properly since they are more susceptible to effects of climate change. As the world approaches the World Wet Lands Day on February 2, people should cultivate a tradition of conserving the natural system for their benefit. — New Ziana.