Assessing the Drivers of Wetland Changes in Areas Associated with Wildlife-Based Tourism Activities in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study assesses wetland land cover changes associated with high wildlife densities and tourism activities in Dete vlei, located in Sikumi protected forest, adjacent to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. The vlei is used for photographic safaris and is associated with high number of tourists visiting the wetland to see a variety of wildlife species congregated in it. On-screen digitization and analysis of SPOT images for the period of 1984-2013 was used to determine land cover changes in the wetland. Field data were collected through observations, measurements and semi-structured interviews with key informants. The results of the study showed that the spatial extent of bare areas increased in the lower section of the vlei after the establishment of salt licks and watering points meant to attract many wild animals during the dry season. In contrast, wetland conditions have been expanding in the upper section of the wetland without artificial salt licks and watering points. Tourists' footpaths, road culverts, unplanned vehicles' roads, to mention a few, contribute to erosional features evident in the wetland. The study recommends the introduction of wildlife-based tourism management strategies in seasonal wetlands to minimise degradation and possibly loss of wetlands.

Local Governance and Wetlands Management: A Tale of Harare City in Zimbabwe

“…However, less is known regarding the role and efforts of local government in wetlands protection or lack thereof. Again, scholars can also find faults in these corpora of literature in the sense that it pays attention to the challenges affecting wetlands from a broad sweep (see Marambanyika, 2015;Muziri et al, 2019). Consequently, a granular and micro-level analysis on the role played by local governments in wetland loss is often diluted-if not given marginal scholarly and policy attention (Sithole & Goredema, 2013).…”

“…Consequently, a granular and micro-level analysis on the role played by local governments in wetland loss is often diluted-if not given marginal scholarly and policy attention (Sithole & Goredema, 2013). Instead, the literature has tended to focus mainly on how the ordinary citizen engage in everyday activities, including agriculture, underscoring how this affects wetlands existence (Marambanyika, 2015;Sharai et al, 2020). One can posit, this is only but a partial presentation of a complex and convoluted situation involving a multiplicity of (f)actors.…”

“…Before engaging in the broader discussion, it is pertinent to offer a working definition of wetlands. Notably 'Zimbabwe does not have a home-grown definition of wetlands … but instead adapted the Ramsar definition' (Marambanyika, 2015:2). In the absence of a country-specific definition, Zimbabwe adopted with slight modifications the Ramsar definition.…”

“…Under the Ramsar Convention, focus has also been devoted to the 'wise use' of wetlands (Ramsar Convention Secretariat, 2007). Such calls have been mimicked in policy and academic circles as evident in how, in recent years, advocacy around wetland protection has gained momentum (see, Richardson, 1993;Farrier & Tucker, 2000;Nelson et al, 2017;Marambanyika, 2015). The clamour for sustainable and 'wise use' of wetlands follows hard on the heels of several states' global commitment regarding environmental management (Ramsar Convention Secretariat, 2007).…”