Southern Africa: Theindispensable role of mud flats, marshes and swamps

The need for greater urgency in addressing loss of wetlands in the Zambezi River Basin has been highlighted at a recent meeting in northern Zimbabwe. "Wetlands are crucial to all forms of life in the Zambezi Basin, yet they are not appreciated the way they should be," said Tabeth Chiuta, the water programme co-ordinator of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).