Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands that concluded in Victoria Falls on Thursday was a resounding success with delegates from across the globe adopting critical resolutions aimed at strengthening wetland conservation, youth inclusion and integrating indigenous knowledge systems into sustainable management practices.
Held under the theme: “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” the conference saw an unprecedented participation, with Zimbabwe receiving widespread applause for its exceptional hospitality and organisational excellence.
Among the resolutions of COP15 was the formal recognition and gratitude extended to the Government of Zimbabwe and its people for hosting what many delegates described as the most successful Ramsar COP in history.
In an exclusive interview shortly after the closing ceremony on Thursday night, Ambassador Tadeus Chifamba, the president Alternate of COP15 and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, reflected on the conference’s achievements.
“By their own admission, the delegates said this has been the best COP ever, from many perspectives. One was that it received the highest level of political commitment, which was shown through the Presidential segment, where President Mnangagwa, together with some leaders from the region, demonstrated their political commitment to wetland restoration and protection,” he said.
Amb Chifamba said the adoption of the Victoria Falls Declaration, a high-level ministerial commitment to advancing wetland conservation, was a key milestone. Additionally, COP15 recorded the highest attendance in the convention’s history, with numerous delegations actively contributing to discussions and pledging support for global wetland restoration efforts.
Among the 28 resolutions passed, two stood out for their transformative potential. Recognising that young people are critical stakeholders in environmental sustainability, COP15 adopted a resolution to actively involve youth in wetland restoration, sustainable use and management.
“One of the most exciting resolutions was a resolution to include the youth in wetlands restoration, sustainable use and management.
“This is a critical thing we are going to advance during our presidency — the youth agenda in decision-making and implementation,” he said.
This resolution aligns with global efforts to engage younger generations in climate action, ensuring that future leaders are equipped with the knowledge and resources to protect vital ecosystems.
Another ground-breaking resolution emphasised the importance of integrating traditional knowledge from indigenous peoples and local communities into wetland management strategies.
“There was also a resolution that spoke about the importance of the inputs from the indigenous people and local communities, the utilisation of their traditional knowledge systems, combined of course with the scientific approach, in terms of wetlands management,” said Amb Chifamba.
The move acknowledges the deep ecological understanding held by indigenous communities, which, when combined with modern science, can enhance conservation efforts.
After 15 years of stagnant funding, COP15 successfully negotiated a four percent budget increase for the Ramsar Secretariat, ensuring better support for global wetland conservation programmes.
“Spirited efforts to maintain a zero-growth budget were overcome, and we were able to secure more than a 4 percent increment in terms of funding for the Secretariat to facilitate its work,” said Amb Chifamba.
As the new president of the Ramsar Standing Committee, Zimbabwe is leading by example. During COP15, delegates visited Kasibo Wetland, where local communities showcased successful wetland restoration projects that have improved livelihoods.
“We have seen how the Kasibo community has a business unit, a community garden, they have been able to create small dams or wells to harvest water.
“During the last drought, surrounding communities, some from as far as 30 to 40 kilometres benefitted from Kasibo,” he said.
He added that Zimbabwe’s whole-of-Government approach, involving multiple ministries, has strengthened food security, value addition and market access for communities dependent on wetlands.
With Zimbabwe now at the helm of the Ramsar Standing Committee, the focus shifts to implementation.
“We will be having a national workshop to review the outcome of this COP and to go through all those resolutions to see how, as Government, we can lead by example,” said Amb Chifamba.
As the world moves forward, the resolutions from COP15 mark a significant step toward sustainable wetland conservation, ensuring that the vital ecosystems continue to support biodiversity, climate resilience and human well-being for generations to come.
