A local civic group has raised concerns over the destruction of a gazetted wetland in Tafara’s Gosden area, near Mabvuku Cemetery, where construction of residential housing is reportedly underway despite environmental protections. The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) said in a statement on Thursday that the City of Harare had approved the housing project, and…
Indigenous leadership in wetland conservation took centre stage at COP15 during a side event titled Listening to the Land, which underscored the value of traditional knowledge in restoring biodiversity and advancing climate justice. Indigenous peoples have long been stewards of wetlands, protecting ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and passing down ecological knowledge across generations. Their leadership has…
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for a global shift in mindset and policy to protect the world’s wetlands, describing them as vital ecosystems under growing threat. This was said during the opening of the COP15 summit of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Victoria Falls, Mnangagwa said wetlands provide essential services including water purification, flood…
Environmental leaders at the COP15 summit on wetlands have called for stronger enforcement mechanisms to prevent the continued degradation of wetlands, as countries face growing challenges in managing and restoring these critical ecosystems. The Global Wetland Report states that since 1970, wetlands have declined by 0.52% per year, amounting to the loss of over 411…
Africa is facing an alarming rate of wetland degradation, with losses that may surpass the global average of 35% since 1970, warns Dr Julie Mulonga, Director of Wetlands International East Africa. She warned of widespread environmental and economic consequences unless urgent action is taken to restore and protect the continent’s rapidly disappearing wetlands. Ahead of…
The ongoing destruction of wetlands worldwide could result in the loss of up to $250 trillion in economic benefits by 2050, according to the 2025 edition of the Global Wetland Outlook (GWO) released on Tuesday. Wetlands, which provide critical ecosystem services such as water filtration, flood protection, carbon storage, and support for agriculture and fisheries,…
BirdLife Zimbabwe is ramping up efforts to stem the rapid degradation of the country’s vital wetlands, threatened by urban sprawl, unsustainable development, as the nation prepares to host a major global conservation summit. The conservation organisation is leading the push with government, communities, local authorities, and schools to raise awareness and implement practical solutions aimed…
