Villagers benefit from wetland conservation
By Midlands Correspondent
Tuesday, 01 March 2011 18:21
ZVISHAVANE – Villagers in Chebvute in Zvishavane district are reaping from
benefits from conserving a wet land for nine years.
They planted a maize crop on five hectares and the maize is almost ready
for harvest.
The revelation came at a belated World Wetlands Day provincial
commemorations at Chebvute vlei last week.
In a speech read on his behalf by Zvishavane-Ngezi MP, Obert Matshalaga,
Environmental Management Agency Board member for Environment protection,
Devious Marongwe commended the Chebvute commnity for preserving the wetland.
He said it is not the community which only benefits but the environment as
well.
“The community at Chebvute vlei have learnt the concept of co-existence and
hence managed to restore the status of this wetland with areas around it
benefitting from its conservation.
“An integration of management practice such as the one designed and
implemented at Chebvute sustains the environment and the local beneficiaries
not only thrive but also benefit downstream populations,” said Marongwe.
Marongwe said EMA gives its full support to Chebvute for their initiative to
protect wetlands. He called upon traditional leaders, local authorities and
all environment friendly citizens to partner with EMA and Forestry
Commission to conserve the wetlands and forests around Chebvute vlei and in
Zimbabwe at large.
Matshalaga, who is the MP for the area promised to assist the community add
other projects to Chebvute vlei like bee keeping, fish farming, citrus
growing and a dairy project so as to diversify from crop cultivation.
Wetlands offer a diverse of benefits like water purification, flood
mitigation, water provision, medicinal plants and as habitats for animal and
plant species.