Transforming Urban Policy to Combat Wetland Degradation in Harare

Kudumba, Brighton Tapiwa

doi:10.4236/jss.2022.1011031

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…However, given the limited availability of land in urban areas, most of the farming is done on wetlands. Such indications support the findings by Kudumba [6] and Mhlanga [22] who both highlight that farming on wetlands has become popular in the recent years. From the study it was realised that some people did not want to build their houses on the wetlands, but they grow crops on such areas as they regard them as idle and by farming, they can use the land productively.…”

Section: Urban Farmingsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Participants revealed that this is witnessed mainly towards elections as political figures will be allocating land, including wetlands spaces to the citizenry in a quest to obtain votes. This resonates with the study by Kudumba [6], which highlighted that approximately 115,000 ha of predominantly wetland land in and around Harare is occupied illegally.…”

Section: Poor Urban Wetland Planning and Politicssupporting

confidence: 64%

“…Wetlands often provide several socioeconomic advantages and have played an important part in human development throughout history.These wetlands are an example of the planet's life-support systems that provide a wide range of unmeasured products and services that benefit people and many other living things.Major civilizations relied on them, including the Maya, Inca, and Aztec in Latin America, the Khmer in Asia, the Marsh Arabs in Mesopotamia, and the Nile and Niger in Africa [5]. Wetlands provide water and primary productivity upon which various species of animals, plants and birds depend on for survival [6,2,1]. For centuries, certain species of living things have identified wetlands as their home as they provide them with the required food nutrients and habitants for their wellbeing.The Ghodaghodi Lake Area in Nepal, provides habitat to a variety of animals, which benefits humans in several ways.…”

Section: Functions Of Wetlands and Their Advantagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The extent of the wet area has reduced in size over the years, and seemingly the trend may continue for an extended period of time. According to Kudumba [6], approximately 115,000 ha of predominantly wetland land in and around Harare is occupied illegally. As such there is no policing and control of activities in such areas.…”

Section: Wetland Degradation and Its Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Environmental literacy, the key to sustainable conservation of wetlands in urban areas

NZVERE,

CHIRUBVU,

MASUNDA

2024

SCRD

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The study focuses on understanding human effect on urban development and wetland degradation in Harare and Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. Wetlands are a crucial ecosystem as various living things depend on them for their survival and existence. In Africa, particularly Zimbabwe, continued existence of wetlands is under threat due to human activities, such as construction of houses, urban farming and waste dumping. There are limited conservation efforts in place to save the resourceful wetlands whose benefits to human beings and other various living species are immeasurable. This study was conducted in Seke in Chitungwiza, Warren Park and Mufakose in Harare where wetlands are affected by human activities. The study explores the effect of urban development on environmental sustainability due to urbanisation. A qualitative approach was adopted where 30 households were engaged in in-depth interviews. The study highlighted various reasons for residing, farming and dumping waste on wetlands.Moreover, the study explores challenges associated with living in wetlands,while showcasing the limitedlevels of environmental literacy among residents regarding wetlands and environmental conservation. Major gaps have been realised on environment literacy and policies that govern environmental conservation and these were identified as the main factors contributing towards continued wetland degradation in the three areas under the study. The study concluded that individuals are more concerned with their primary needs of securing food and shelter, with little or no consideration of the after effects of such on the environment which include individual heath, as well as depreciation of other services and goods found in wetlands. Recommendations have been put forward to ensure that literacy levels are increased and more importantly, comprehensive and binding policies should be put in place to enforce the conservation strategies.

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Section: Urban Farmingsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Poor Urban Wetland Planning and Politicssupporting

confidence: 64%