National Wetlands Policy - Implementation Plan.

This Implementation Plan of the National Wetlands Policy is a 10-year nationwide sectoral document aiming at providing concrete area of work for the active support and participation of all key stakeholders in conservation and management of wetland resources so that to create an enabling environment to ensure that wetlands contribute effectively towards national economic growth and development. For each of the six objectives stated in the National Policy on Wetland, this Plan identifies a series of policy measures. In particular (1) Measures to conserve wetland ecosystems are (i) strengthen the legal framework on management; (ii) develop and implement conservation plans and programs for the sustainable management; (iii) Initial Environmental Assessments as a basis for informed decision; and (iv) development of green technologies; and (2) Measures to protect the wetlands and improve their resilience to natural and anthropogenic shocks are (i) undertake studies in order to develop guidelines for their proper utilization; (ii) develop a wetlands classification system; (iii) development and implementation of an integrated wetlands management system; (iv) establish wetland eco-systems restoration mechanisms.
To enable a more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the Plan suggests (i) to encourage the participation of micro, small and medium enterprises in the sustainable utilization of wetlands resources; (ii) support traditional leadership and communities to develop local level rules and regulations to facilitate effective management of wetlands; (iii) promote the incorporation of indigenous knowledge on wetlands utilization, management, and decision making; and (iv) ensure equity in benefits, define roles and responsibilities for women, youths, and people with special needs in wetlands management.