Namibia supports sixth wetland Ramsar Site plan
Discussions are underway to designate the Bushmanland Pans, including Nyae Nyae Pan, as Namibia's sixth wetland Ramsar Site.
Currently, Namibia has designated five wetlands as Wetlands of International Importance, commonly known as Ramsar Sites.
Three are located at the coast: the Walvis Bay wetlands, the Sandwich Harbour wetlands and the Orange River Mouth. Two are inland: the Etosha Pan and the Bwabwata Okavango Ramsar Site.
This information is according to a statement issued by the environment ministry. It stated that World Wetland Day was celebrated on Friday under the theme 'Wetlands and Human Wellbeing' to emphasise that wetland landscapes nurture wellbeing and mental health.
Awash with benefits
The ministry underlined that wetlands provide water and food and that healthy, well-vegetated floodplains can also protect people from floods.
“For the many Namibians who live alongside our permanent rivers and temporary Oshana, these wetlands are essential for their livelihoods. They provide water for their livestock and crops, fish and waterlily bulbs to eat, a means of transport and also employment in wetland-based tourism.”
The ministry pointed out that many tourists visit the coast, Sossusvlei, Etosha Pan, Epupa Falls, the lodges in Kavango and Zambezi regions, and the Etosha Pans every year to derive pleasure from wetlands, be it for birding, game watching, experiencing their beauty, or for angling.
Vanishing wetlands
The ministry, however, expressed concern that across the globe, wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests.
“In the last century, over half of all wetlands have been lost, many drained or filled in for agricultural land and human settlement, and vital floodplains have been lost due to the canalising of rivers.”
Many wetlands continue to be threatened by human activity, such as habitat loss, overuse of wetland resources, alien plant invasions, pollution, and agricultural runoff containing pesticides, herbicides and fertiliser.
In Windhoek, rubbish thrown into rivers ends up in Swakoppoort Dam when it rains, causing algal blooms that not only make the water taste and smell bad but are also very expensive to treat.
“We need wetlands for our health, and wetlands need us to keep them healthy. We need to all get actively involved in conserving our healthy wetlands and restoring the damaged ones.”
This year, Namibia will jointly commemorate World Wetland Day and World Water Day in Opuwo from 4 to 7 March.
Currently, Namibia has designated five wetlands as Wetlands of International Importance, commonly known as Ramsar Sites.
Three are located at the coast: the Walvis Bay wetlands, the Sandwich Harbour wetlands and the Orange River Mouth. Two are inland: the Etosha Pan and the Bwabwata Okavango Ramsar Site.
This information is according to a statement issued by the environment ministry. It stated that World Wetland Day was celebrated on Friday under the theme 'Wetlands and Human Wellbeing' to emphasise that wetland landscapes nurture wellbeing and mental health.
Awash with benefits
The ministry underlined that wetlands provide water and food and that healthy, well-vegetated floodplains can also protect people from floods.
“For the many Namibians who live alongside our permanent rivers and temporary Oshana, these wetlands are essential for their livelihoods. They provide water for their livestock and crops, fish and waterlily bulbs to eat, a means of transport and also employment in wetland-based tourism.”
The ministry pointed out that many tourists visit the coast, Sossusvlei, Etosha Pan, Epupa Falls, the lodges in Kavango and Zambezi regions, and the Etosha Pans every year to derive pleasure from wetlands, be it for birding, game watching, experiencing their beauty, or for angling.
Vanishing wetlands
The ministry, however, expressed concern that across the globe, wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests.
“In the last century, over half of all wetlands have been lost, many drained or filled in for agricultural land and human settlement, and vital floodplains have been lost due to the canalising of rivers.”
Many wetlands continue to be threatened by human activity, such as habitat loss, overuse of wetland resources, alien plant invasions, pollution, and agricultural runoff containing pesticides, herbicides and fertiliser.
In Windhoek, rubbish thrown into rivers ends up in Swakoppoort Dam when it rains, causing algal blooms that not only make the water taste and smell bad but are also very expensive to treat.
“We need wetlands for our health, and wetlands need us to keep them healthy. We need to all get actively involved in conserving our healthy wetlands and restoring the damaged ones.”
This year, Namibia will jointly commemorate World Wetland Day and World Water Day in Opuwo from 4 to 7 March.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article