Fungai Lupande Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe has reaffirmed its commitment to conserving all wetlands through local, national actions and international co-operation, an Environmental Management Agency official said on Tuesday.

EMA’s environmental planning and monitoring manager Mrs Alleta Nyahuye said Zimbabwe committed itself to play its part within the Ramsar Convention family.

“The country is ready to embark on the concept of conservation and sustainable use of all wetlands through local, national actions and international co-operation,” she said in a statement.

“This will be through being proactive in preventing, stopping and reversing the degradation and loss of wetlands.”

Seven sites namely Cleveland Dam, Chinhoyi Caves, Mana Pools, Lake Chivero, Driefontein Grasslands, Monavale wetland and Victoria Falls are already designated as Ramsar sites, she said. Mrs Nyahuye represented the country during the first Conference of the Parties (COP) 12 held in Punta Del Este in Uruguay from June 2-9.

She said Zimbabwe, as a new contracting party, had ratified the Ramsar Convention which promoted the wise use of wetlands since 2012.

The Ramsar Convention came into effect in 1971 in the city of Ramsar in Iran.