Perspective Chapter: The Impact of Human Activities on Wetlands’ Provisioning and Cultural Services in Epworth, Zimbabwe

Abstract

THE IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON WETLANDS’ PROVISIONING AND CULTURAL SERVICES. Wetlands are fragile ecosystems that deliver a wide range of environmental and ecosystem services together with provisioning, cultural, supporting and regulatory services. The study assessed the impacts of human activities on wetlands’ provisioning and cultural services in Epworth’s Ward 6 (Overspill), Zimbabwe. The researcher adopted a case study approach which implemented both the qualitative and quantitative approach. Semi structured interviews, questionnaires and field observations were conducted to gather primary data that was synthesised with collected secondary data. The questionnaires were randomly distributed to 57 households’ representatives. Data obtained from the field was analysed through Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) software version 20.0 and Microsoft excel