RAMSAR COP15: Zimbabwe's Chance to Strengthen Pledge on Wetlands Protection

This occasion will commemorate the 15th gathering of the Conference of the Contracting Parties under the Convention on Wetlands.

The conference will gather delegates from more than 170 nations to address the protection and sustainable utilization of wetland areas.

This occurrence takes place against the backdrop of ongoing deterioration of wetlands in Zimbabwe, coinciding with demands for a collaborative strategy involving all parties concerned to conserve, rehabilitate, and safeguard these areas.

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) reports that 82% of the nation's wetlands are moderately to severely degraded, leaving just 18% in an almost pristine condition.

Being a party to the Ramsar Convention for the conservation of wetlands, Zimbabwe boasts seven globally recognized wetland areas, four of which are situated beyond Harare.

These include the Chinhoyi Caves, Mana Pools, Victoria Falls National Park, and Driefontein Grasslands.

Harare boasts three wetlands recognized by the Ramsar Convention: Lake Chivero, Cleveland Dam, and Monavale Vlei.

Nevertheless, Harare’s upstream wetlands, similar to numerous others globally, face substantial strain due to various human activities resulting in their swift deterioration and disappearance.

The destruction of wetlands in Harare can be attributed to several factors: draining and repurposing these areas for construction projects, turning them into farmland, issuing fraudulent land allotments, contamination from refuse and wastewater, and extensive sand extraction, which has been notably observed around the Cleveland Dam Catchment region.

Data indicates that in the past twenty years, Harare has seen a loss of half its wetlands, prompting stakeholders to emphasize the necessity for immediate measures to protect what remains.

Harare relies on its upstream wetlands for water provision, and their ongoing degradation represents a considerable risk to the city’s sustained growth and progress.

"The continuous deterioration of wetlands poses significant challenges for the future development of Harare city, especially as efforts move towards becoming a climate-smart metropolis. The disappearance of these wetlands exacerbates the already dire water scarcity issues caused by swift population expansion and urbanization, thereby intensifying strain on current water supplies. Wetlands are vital for purifying water, managing floods, and maintaining biodiversity—elements crucial for the health of urban communities," stated Selestino Chari, Programs Manager at the Zimbabwe Wetlands Trust.

He stated that the forthcoming COP15 Summit presents an excellent chance for Zimbabwe to strengthen pledges regarding wetland conservation.

This prominent occasion presents a crucial chance to progress both national and regional pledges towards conserving wetlands and biodiversity. Additionally, the scheduling coincides with the UN’s Ecosystem Restoration Decade (2021-2030), emphasizing the critical need for swift actions to rehabilitate damaged environments and safeguard threatened ones.

Enhanced governance and safeguarding of wetlands are crucial for maintaining thriving ecosystems capable of supplying fresh water, fostering biodiversity, and contributing to national developmental aims. The preservation of these wetlands aligns perfectly with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), particularly in achieving the nation's biodiversity and community welfare goals. Additionally, this alignment extends globally through initiatives like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and climate action efforts by boosting carbon sequestration, regulating regional climates, and building resistance against climatic changes," stated Chari.

He urged those responsible to make coordinated efforts towards managing and protecting wetlands.

Multiple civic organizations in Zimbabwe are still urging the authorities to implement the clauses of the Ramsar Convention, which was signed by the government back in 2013.

"The safeguarding of wetland ecosystems and public waterways is both a key national concern and a mandated duty as per the Environmental Management Act (EMA) Chapter [CAP] 20:27 no. 13/2002, along with Statutory Instrument (SI) 7 of 2007, which establishes rules for environmental impact assessments and ecosystem preservation," stated Chari.

The Network for Environmental and Climate Justice (NECJ) emphasizes that implementing the Ramsar International Convention at a national level is essential for protecting wetlands in Zimbabwe.

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