Zimbabwe sends delegation to Switzerland to update on hosting Ramsar Convention

GOVERNMENT has sent a delegation from the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife to Switzerland to update the 63rd Standing Committee to the Ramsar Convention on progress made in preparation for the Conference of Contracting Parties (CoP 15).

Zimbabwe won the bid to host the event set for 23-31 July 2025 in Victoria Falls based on the tremendous work the country has done on wetlands conservation.

The bid was made at the end of CoP 14 to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands held in Geneva in December 2022.

Cabinet endorsed the hosting of the event marking the start of preparations.

The event will put Zimbabwe on the spotlight and its management of wetlands will be subject to both local and international dialogue.

Environment Permanent Secretary Professor Prosper Matondi is leading the delegation that comprises officials from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Environmental Management Agency and Ministry.

The delegation’s role is to update the Secretariat about the preparations while it is expected that the proposed Cop15 logo and theme “Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future” will be endorsed.

As incoming CoP president, Zimbabwe is expected to chair some of the sessions at the conference being held in Gland, Switzerland.

Regional representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and others assisting with the preparations.

Over the last few years Zimbabwe elevated conservation of wetlands to a higher level.

The Government has mapped all wetlands in the country and now has the National Wetlands Policy and the attendant Wetlands Management Guidelines.

The Ramsar Convention on wetlands is the only International Treaty focused on the sustainable management of wetlands and it provides a platform to 172 Contracting Parties working together for wetlands conservation and wise use.

Zimbabwe ratified the Ramsar Convention on wetlands on 11 February 2012 and has since designated seven wetlands as wetlands of international importance (Ramser Sites.)

These are the Victoria Falls, Driefontein Grasslands, Middle Zambezi/Mana Pools, Lake Chivero, Monavale Vlei, Chinhoyi Caves, and Cleveland Dam.