Home 
Network News Network News Botswana: Maun to Host Wetlands Day
Network News Network News Botswana: Maun to Host Wetlands Day
|
Botswana: Maun to Host Wetlands Day |
|
On 2 February 1971, nations of the world met in the Iranian city of Ramsar to adopt an agreement known as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. World Wetlands Day marks the global recognition of efforts in sensitising and raising public awareness on issues affecting wetlands and their utilisation. This year's theme is: "Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People". The theme symbolises the significance attached to good wetlands resources management practices and the health benefits that can accrue to the people. Wetlands are known to provide resources in the form of food, clean water, medicinal products, timber, thatching grass and river sand. Wetlands are the world's most productive environments, being home to countless species of plants and animals. They vary in form all over the world. The main wetlands include rivers and lakes, coastal lagoons, mangroves, peat lands, and even coral reefs. In addition, there are human-made wetlands such as ponds, irrigated agricultural land, salt pans, reservoirs, gravel pits, sewage farms, and canals. There are 1,411 sites designated as wetlands of international importance worldwide. One of them, the Okavango Delta, currently ranks as the second largest among the listed Ramsar sites. The 2008 World Wetlands Day commemorations will be held in Maun, Botswana. A number of activities are arranged to mark the commemoration. These include showcasing the completion of the planning phase of the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP), an International Wetlands Conference, Environment and Development Dialogue and the launch of the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission Secretariat. The International Wetlands Conference will be held at Maun Lodge on the 31st January - 1st February. The conference will focus on sharing lessons and experiences on effective implementation of wetlands management activities. To benefit from attendance of international experts at the conference, the exchange will continue in the evening of 31st January at Maun Lodge with a panel discussion on wetlands sponsored by the GEF-funded project, BIOKAVANGO, under the topic 'Who's Delta is it?' The topic will be discussed in four parts: community, economic opportunities, ecological dimensions and regional and international interests. All interested parties are welcome to the dialogue. The ceremony to commemorate Wetlands Day will be at the 'Big Tree' site along the Thamalakane River on the 2 February 2008. The activities will include a march and clean up along the river, a wetlands fair to exhibit materials and artifacts on wetlands management. The Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Onkokame Kitso Mokaila, will officiate at the occasion. The Director General of the Convention, Dr Anada Tiega, Members of Parliament and cabinet ministers have been invited. Also expected are the Permanent Okavango Commission delegates from Angola and Namibia, representatives from the World Conservation Union, SIDA and the ambassador of the USA. On the afternoon of February 2, Botswana will again celebrate the launch of the newly established OKACOM Secretariat in Maun. The Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Onkokame Kitso Mokaila will launch the secretariat. http://allafrica.com/stories/200801300921.html |
