Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
THE Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife Evelyn Ndlovu has held a high-level bilateral engagement with the Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Ms Beth Bechdol on the sidelines of the #UNCCD COP17 Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar.
In an update on its Facebook page, the Ministry said the engagement provided a crucial platform to review and express profound appreciation for the robust partnership and technical support provided by FAO to Zimbabwe.
“The Minister highlighted key joint achievements, including the successful implementation of the Global Environment Facility seventh cycle (GEF-7) Drylands Sustainable Landscapes Project Zimbabwe (DSL-IP), the Transboundary Integrated Sustainable Management of the Miombo Woodlands executed alongside the Forestry Commission, the Integrated Fire Management Initiative, and Zimbabwe’s active leadership within the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO) Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems,” said the Ministry.
It further said in response to the Deputy Director-General’s request for Zimbabwe to share its priority intervention pipeline, the Ministry articulated key national focus areas tailored toward addressing the severe impacts of climate change.
“These priorities center on conducting comprehensive drought risk assessments, scaling up climate change adaptation frameworks, and strengthening early warning systems to cushion vulnerable communities against recurring climate shocks,” said the Ministry.
The Ministry said both parties highlighted the imperative of joint resource mobilization to up-scale and out-scale successful landscape restoration models nationwide and agreed that structured, regular coordination between FAO and the Ministry will be established to ensure emerging national priorities are proactively addressed, existing programs are fortified, and new international financing opportunities are fully unlocked.
“Through this enhanced cooperation, Zimbabwe remains dedicated to advancing land degradation neutrality, safeguarding biodiversity, and building lasting climate resilience in alignment with National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030,” said the Ministry.
