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Sifelani Tsiko Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor
Zimbabwe has started working on a National Biodiversity Economy study that aims to document the country’s rich biodiversity and map out strategies to harness it for the benefit of the people and the country.
The Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry in collaboration with the African Wildlife Foundation launched a National Biodiversity Economy study on Tuesday this week to gather data and information about the country’s biodiversity and map strategies on how best it could be harnessed for long term economic growth and the attainment of vision 2030.
“AWF was approached by the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry following a request from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to develop the report as a tool to inform policies around maximising the country’s inclusive wealth and maintaining the long-term sustainability of its biological resource base.
“Obtaining optimal value from the biodiversity economy will also necessitate reducing society’s unsustainable dependence on natural resources,” said Olivia Mufute, the AWF country director for Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Biodiversity Economy study is being implemented by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association and technical experts drawn from various sectors.
The study is being led by Dr Jane Turpie, a renowned South African conservation biologist and consultant of Anchor Environmental.
Under the project, researchers will carry out an inventory of Zimbabwe’s biodiversity covering vascular plants, mammals, birds, domestic water fish, reptiles and amphibians.
The biodiversity inventory study will cover all ecosystems as well as involve critical sectors such as capital accounts, investment, the policy and legislative sectors.
Zimbabwe has an impressive biodiversity collection that includes 59 30 plant species, 670 bird species, 270 mammal species, 156 reptile species, 120 amphibian species and 150 fish species found within and outside protected areas.
Up to now, there is no detailed analysis of the country’s biodiversity and mechanism to foster integration of biodiversity and ecosystem values into policy development and implementation.
Dr Turpie said the inception of the study will lead to the publication of the first ever State of the Biodiversity Economy in Zimbabwe which will include a framework for natural capital accounting and a blueprint for leveraging key investment opportunities in the biodiversity economy.
“This is a very complex study but several countries have undertaken this. It requires a lot of work and data collection. So far, I am happy about the level of support that we have been promised from several key agencies in Zimbabwe,” she said.
“We hope to have something – a preliminary report by February 2022.”
Bio-piracy is now rampant in most African countries resulting in huge losses of benefits that come with the utilisation of plant and animal genetic resources.
A study by the African Union estimated that the continent was losing close to US$10 billion from the theft of its biodiversity.
Zimbabwe hopes to plug the gaps through the survey and map out strategies to harness biodiversity for long term economic growth.
Online Reporter