NAIROBI, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's ministry of environment said on Tuesday that it had developed a wetlands policy to help reduce their degradation.
Keriako Tobiko, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources said that the new policy is aimed at promoting sustainable use of wetlands.
"The policy gives direction on the management and conservation of wetlands taking into cognizant of the vital role that wetlands play towards attaining the vision 2030 and the sustainable development goals (SDG)," Tobiko said during an event to mark World Wetlands Day.
He said the policy seeks to address wetland loss, restoration and rehabilitation while ensuring sustainable development as envisioned in the Ramsar convention, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
Tobiko called on Kenyans to adopt and pursue the provisions of the policy in an endeavour to conserve wetlands and other fresh water resources for posterity.
"Though wetlands are important, they are exposed to severe encroachment, overexploitation and degradation. The onus is thus upon us as a nation to stop destroying these lands and start restoring wetlands as a collective responsibility to save water and to conserve wetlands," said Tobiko.
He said that depletion of wetlands is linked to the extinction of countless species of animals and plants.
Tobiko said that the government has also rolled out measures aimed at enhancing conservation and sustainable management of wetlands in the country.
"The measures include strengthening environmental management governance through policies, rehabilitation and restoration of ecosystems, pollution control and waste management and biodiversity and climate change management," said Tobiko. Enditem