An environmentalist has warned that Malawi will lose some aquatic species if it continues to neglect its wetlands.

The environmentalist Mathews Malata was speaking as Malawi has joined the global community to commemorate world wetlands day which falls on 2 February, annually.

Malata said the importance of wetlands cannot be overstated as they provide water and food among other benefits but they are on the verge of extinction due to among others, climate change issues.

“We have not done much to protect wetlands in our country if you go down Vwaza Marsh check, Lake Chilwa you find that there isn’t much to admire, some of the wetlands have dried and this is a cause for worry,” Malata said.

In his message on world wetlands day Director- General, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Qu Dongyu stated that: “Wetlands and water resources play crucial and irreplaceable roles in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. On this first celebration of UN World Wetlands Day, let us act together and take care of our wetlands as a healthy kidney of our planet. For better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all – leaving no one behind.”

A call to take action for wetlands is the focus of this years’ campaign. It’s an appeal to invest financial, human and political capital to save the world’s wetlands from disappearing and to restore those we have degraded.

Meanwhile the United Nations has organized the world wetlands run from 2 to 5 February 2022.