Using wetlands for disaster risk reduction

The world celebrates World Wetlands Day on February 2, every year since 1971, after the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

This year, 2017, the emphasis is on the impact of natural disasters, particularly drought, on wetland ecosystem; and the role of wetlands in mitigating the impact of natural phenomena, including those exacerbated by human activities.

It is also to buttress the role of healthy wetlands in increasing resilience to climate change and the effects of extreme weather conditions, as well as ensure climate change responses that would not lead to serious damage to the ecological character of wetlands.

The importance of sustainable wetland management and the restoration of wetlands to ensure the well-being of future generations is also a critical element in protecting communities from some natural disasters and to integrate them into relevant policies at the national level.

This year’s celebration also seeks to acknowledge the vital role of wetlands in reducing disaster risks by acting as natural buffers or protective barriers against land erosion, the impact from dust and sand storms, flood surges, tsunamis and landslides, and by storing large volumes of water, thereby reducing peak flood flow during the rainy seasons while maximising water storage during the dry season.

A recent report by scientists in California further strengthens the case for restoring wetlands. Released in November 2014, it proposes yet another way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time prevents soil subsidence – by preserving and restoring the world’s wetlands.

According to the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) also, the planet’s freshwater marshes, deltas, swamps and wetlands are home to 40 per cent of all the world’s species and 12 per cent of animal species. Deltas and mangroves have also been proven to provide an important buffer to protect coasts — and coastal settlements — from storm surges, cyclones and even tsunamis, and their annual value in ecosystem services and as protective zones have been measured in trillions of dollars.

Further, the World Resource Institute calculates that ultimately 90 per cent of the ocean’s fish depend on deltas, estuaries and coastal wetlands as nursery and spawning grounds, as well as sources of nutrients. The case for restoring wetlands is, therefore, a strong one, even on climate grounds; since it soaks up carbon dioxide.

Benefits of wetlands

Wetlands act as natural flood protection as they trap then slowly release surface water over time. This ability to store water in times of increased rainfall helps to prevent flooding. Draining wetlands for building development and farmlands has removed many of these natural defences, leaving surrounding areas vulnerable to increased flooding.

Wetlands also provide livelihoods for local communities and biodiversity. Folks who live near such water bodies, fish in it for their protein requirement and for some, the fish they sell is their main source of livelihood.  The salt mining industry in the Ada Songhor enclave is known to provide thousands of jobs for the inhabitants in that area.

The role of wetlands in reducing the risks of natural disasters cannot be underestimated. Notable among them is the ability of wetland reserves to store carbon which is our major protector in the face of climate change.

Despite their helpfulness, they are often under threat from human activities, which include encroachment and pollution.

Here in Ghana, water bodies such as the Sakumo Ramsar Site, the Korle and Chemu lagoons and the ever popular Odaw River (all in Accra), the Kpeshie Lagoon and the Songhor Lagoon in Ada (which is also a Ramsar Site) are all wetlands but are in a  deplorable state.

Wetlands are vital to all human lives. The UN millennium ecosystem report is of the opinion that very soon Africa would start experiencing natural disasters which include the likes of hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis and so on.

This they attribute to our manhandling of the environment, wetlands included - which are making us susceptible to natural disaster occurrences. There have been several instances where developers have encroached on wetlands for development projects.

Bringing into account what has become known as the June 3 Disaster which claimed over 159 lives, and its accompanying destruction of property running into millions of Ghana cedis, the part wetlands play in preventing natural disasters such as floods can never be overemphasised enough.

The lack of enforcement of land use plans, absence of local level disaster contingency plans and limited involvement of communities in development planning are some of the challenges that must be tackled to reduce the risk of natural disasters. This is mainly because natural and human-induced disasters undermine development gains.

It, therefore, behoves us to strive as a nation, and to do our bit to ensure our wetlands are preserved just as they are kept in other countries, which can bring in valuable foreign exchange to the country. Among other things, wetlands provide valuable habitat for migratory birds, provide buffer for flooding, protects coastlines and provide recreational activities such as hunting, fishing and canoeing.

Change in attitude

It is sad to note that most residents who live near such water bodies see them as dumping sites, while industries too dump their industrial waste into water bodies. Such activities prevent these water bodies from performing their natural functions of protecting the ecology and humans.

Worthy of mention are the beautiful migratory birds and turtles whose dwelling places are wetlands. In the absence of this, these water bodies have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes that terrorise residents near such water bodies and bring about malaria, cholera and other water-borne diseases.

While a change in attitude by all Ghanaians is needed here, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the National Wetlands Committee and NGOs that are environments centred should be seen to be doing more by way of public awareness creation and law enforcement to ensure individuals and industries do the right thing. They must also ensure wetlands are not encroached upon by squatters.