Zimbabwe champions wetland restoration, sets ambitious 2030 targets

THE Government has supported 92 community-led wetland restoration projects covering 31 082 hectares under the National Development Strategy One (NDS1), a significant boost to environmental conservation and community livelihoods.

This milestone was revealed by the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, ahead of the 2026 World Wetlands Day commemorations set for 2 February.

Through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), these projects are revitalising degraded ecosystems while directly supporting local economies through sustainable farming, fisheries, beekeeping, and water harvesting initiatives.

“Under NDS1, and through EMA, the Government has supported 92 community-led wetland restoration projects, covering 31,082 hectares and supporting livelihoods,” said Dr Ndlovu in a press statement issued on Wednesday.

She emphasised that this progress underscores the vital link between ecological health and human wellbeing, and has been achieved with the indispensable guidance of the nation’s Traditional Leaders.

She highlighted Zimbabwe’s elevated role on the global stage as the President of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP15), and announced even more ambitious national targets.

“As the COP15 President, Zimbabwe has committed to restoring 250,000 hectares of degraded wetlands and designating five new Ramsar Sites by 2030,” she said.

This commitment places the country at the forefront of wetland conservation efforts globally.

Dr Ndlovu said achieving these goals will require collective action from all sectors of society.

This year’s World Wetlands Day theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” resonates strongly in Zimbabwe.

Dr Ndlovu noted that communities have long understood and protected these areas, known culturally as matoro, mapani, and amaxhaphozi.

She cited successful examples of community stewardship, including the Ditchwe Wetland Forest in Makonde, which will host the national commemorations on 2 February.

With wetlands disappearing globally three times faster than forests, Zimbabwe’s integrated approach, combining policy, community action, and traditional knowledge, offers a replicable model for sustainable environmental management and climate resilience.

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