The blue in the green economy is an emerging term that speaks of the
importance of water and wetlands in the green economy. The research
sought to assess the extent of wetland degradation with respect to land use
change, particularly housing and agriculture developments in Belvedere North
and Epworth, Harare, Zimbabwe. The research made two important findings.
Firstly, both the Belvedere North and Epworth wetlands have been severely
degraded by anthropogenic activities, with housing developments and urban
agriculture as the major contributors of this degradation. The development of
residential properties in the wetlands results from the high demand for residential
space in Harare. Secondly, the research found that wetland degradation was
closely linked to the lack of clear wetland policies both at national and local
levels. The study concludes that an integrated land use approach has the potential
of minimising wetland loss and degradation.