The NGO AGBO-ZEGUE launched the activities of World Wetlands Day in the Lacs1 Commune on ^February 1, 2021 as part of the PAPbio C1-Mangroves project. The activities officially launched by the Lieutenant-Colonel of Water and Forests AGBETI Kossi Agbéssimé of the Directorate of Forest Resources, brought together the actors involved in the municipalities Lacs1, 2 and 3, Vo2 and Zio1.

Wetlands are celebrated around the world every February 2nd. This ^50th edition focuses on the theme “Wetlands and Water — Inseparable and vital for life”. This theme was chosen to express the vital role of wetlands for the future of humanity and in particular their relevance for the achievement of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular goals 6 (ensure access to water, sanitation and ensure sustainable management of water resources for all) and 15 (preserve and restore terrestrial ecosystems, ensuring their sustainable use).

To the NGO AGBOZEGUE, in order to raise awareness among the Togolese public on the richness and importance of wetlands, to remobilize its network of journalists from the PapBio C1 — Mangroves project and to revitalize the national platform of Togo, with the support of its technical and financial partner, IUCN, with the support of its technical and financial partner, IUCN, through PapBio C1-Mangroves, held an information and awareness-raising workshop on the problem of wetland management. in Aného in the Commune des Lacs 1.

Indeed, wetlands constitute a mosaic of very varied environments (lagoons, marshes, peatlands, humid meadows, mangroves, etc.). They are full of exceptional physical, biological and hydrological wealth that gives them great economic, cultural, scientific and recreational values.

 

The objective of this meeting is to inform the key players in the community so that the information can reach the grassroots.

During the meeting, two communications took place. PapBio C1-Mangroves and wetland conservation project, presented by Doctor Gabriel SEGNIAGBETO, Research Scientist at the University of Lomé, allowed participants to know the project and its sites, the link between these sites and wetlands and finally, the advantages of the project in relation to the conservation of wetlands. The second communication focused on the global theme: Wetlands and water, sustainable living environments. The aim is to present the ecological functioning of wetlands, the ecosystem services of these areas, ecological fragility, threats and the problem of wetland management.

According to the mayor of the city of Aného (Lacs1), the choice of his municipality is not trivial. “We are in a humid zone par excellence. The municipality of Les Lacs1 has undertaken a project with the help of the NGO AGBOZEGUE and its partners. “We have started a study on the islands and there are 4. These islands, called the Aného Islands, have areas that range from about 180 hectares to 3 hectares. So there is a project to restore these islands which aims to make mangrove relocation and ornithological projects, finally, that these islands become tourist nests” stipulated Master AQUEREBURU Coffi Alexis, mayor of Aného.

For the executive director of AGBOZEGUE, John Toviho GAGLO, communities need to realize the importance of wetlands in relation to their living environment. It is also about getting them to see the assets of these areas themselves in order to think about restoration and conservation.

Recall that at the end of the launch and communications activities, a field visit to the island in front of the town hall took place followed by exchanges.