THE preservation of wildlife and the environment is essential for maintaining ecological balance, promoting sustainable development and ensuring a greater future for the country, a government official has said.
The call was made by Gokwe North principal administrative officer Stewart Gwatirinda during the national biodiversity and action plan seminar in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
“We have got a lot of wildlife which encroaches on people’s territories and because of that, we need to make sure that we protect these species as well as protecting the lives of the people,” Gwatirinda said.
“So there is a harmony that needs to be created between the wildlife and the humans and all the other species that are becoming extinct so that we preserve and take care of them.”
Gwatirinda said there was need to implement strategies that allow for protection of both environment and natural resources for the development.
“So as a district, we have benefited a lot and we are going to implement this strategy and make sure that we protect all our indigenous wildlife as well as all the resources that are available,” he said.
Gwatirinda said some human activities have led to destruction of the environment.
“We have to revamp the wetlands, according to our strategy, because reviving them increases the issues to do with precipitation as well as agricultural activities,” he said.
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“As Gokwe district, we rely more on agriculture, hence the need to revive protection of wetlands in order to boost our farming activities.”
Wildlife acting deputy director Tendai Rudzidzo said they are working on implementing a policy that allows for the protection of wildlife and the environment.
“We have been facing a challenge with wildlife and human conflict so we are working to have a policy that allows for ending such a thing, hence having a sustainable environment,” he said.
Rudzidzo said there is a need for protection of wildlife.
“We are implementing a national document that allows for the protection of wildlife and environment,” he said.
“The last one was done in 2014.”
