The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15), due to take place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in July this year will spotlight the value of wetlands and create new avenues for collaborative conservation to protect and restore the wetland ecosystems.
This year’s COP15 will be held under the theme, “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”, which emphasizes the important role wetlands play in sustaining ecological health, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
172 contracting parties are expected to convene at the conference to strengthen international commitments for wetland conservation.
Every three years, contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands meet at the conference to agree on the programming for the next triennium and consider guidance on a range of on-going and emerging issues on management of wetlands.
According to Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future” resonates with global goals on biodiversity and climate, focusing on wetlands’ role in fostering resilience towards the achievement of sustainable development. It emphasizes the critical role that wetlands play in ensuring ecological balance, supporting biodiversity, climate resilience and providing essential resources for human livelihood.
COP15 will facilitate crucial discussions on the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, serving as a global platform for advancing wetland conservation, fostering international collaboration, and promoting sustainable practices that protect these vital ecosystems and their benefits.
Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife Ambassador Tadeous Chifamba has stated that the event is important to his country and the world because wetlands are a critical component of the ecosystem, providing important water sources not only for communities but also for river systems.
Chifamba emphasised that wetlands release water that benefit communities, livestock and lot more living organisms therefore it is important not only to manage but also to protect them.
‘‘In areas where we see wetlands we also see poverty, the poverty within those communities rise because there is no more water for agriculture even in the food chain, the aquatic life of fish and other species that people live on actually disappear and it leads to desertification,’’ he said.
Chifamba noted that it was important for relevant stakeholders including council, ministries and private sector to sit around the table and discuss how they can manage and protect the wetlands.
Meanwhile, Chobe District Council Chairman Johane Chenjekwa revealed that as the council there are ready to take part at the conference and make deliberations. The council will be receiving the prestigious RAMSAR Wetland City Accreditation award for the accreditation of Kasane-Kazungula as a RAMSAR Wetland City.
Chenjekwa had previously stated that they would also utilize the 16th Conference of Parties (COP 15) of the Ramsar Convention as a platform to advocate for the listing of the Chobe River as a Ramsar Site. He had noted that the accreditation of the Kasane-Kazungula as a RAMSAR Wetland City was an indication that Chobe River has what it takes to be listed as a Ramsar Site.
Chenjekwa had indicated that Chobe River is unique in its nature and supports large population of animal and plants species therefore it is eligible to be listed as a Ramsar Site. He had further stated that for the past years sustainable conservation measures have been practiced within the Chobe River which has been meaningfully supporting the livelihoods.
