Government has embarked on the Development of Guidelines for the Sustainable Utilization of Wetlands in the country to be launched this year.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Sylvia Masebo said the guidelines will provide for procedures for sustainable management of wetlands and monitoring and quality assurance procedures.
Speaking during the commemoration of 2025 World Wetlands Day in Lusaka, Ms. Masebo disclosed that the Ministry has begun revising and updating the 2015 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action.
She said the revision and updating of the strategy is to align it to the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the Eighth National Development Plan.
Ms. Masebo said this is in order to address threats and challenges faced by wetlands such as the recent droughts that have led to a high demand for land in ecosystems for investments.
She further disclosed that a total of eight wetlands have been designated as Wetlands of International Importance in Zambia, such as the Kafue Flats, Bangweulu Swamps, Barotse Floodplains, Luangwa Floodplains among others.
“Millions of Zambians directly depend on wetlands for agriculture, fisheries, livestock rearing and much more through wetlands dependent industries like tourism, commercial agriculture and water transportation,” Ms. Masebo.
She emphasised that wetlands provide benefits and ecosystem services such as freshwater supply, food and building materials, flood control and ground-water recharge and nutrient recycling.
Ms. Masebo said this year the government in collaboration with several stakeholders such as the Ministry of Tourism, Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Birdwatch, has lined up a number of activities to mark the Commemoration.