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Zimbabwe has pledged its support of land degradation neutrality at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Conference of Parties (COP) 15 taking place in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Addressing delegates at the conference on 11 May 2022, the Chief Director for Environment, Climate and Meteorological Services in the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry, Professor Prosper Matondi said the country is confident that those countries most affected by drought, land degradation and desertification including Zimbabwe will receive due attention during Cote d’Ivoire’s presidency.
“Zimbabwe, also congratulates the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, for hosting the UNCCD COP15 and for the excellent hospitality extended to our delegation. We are most humbled that your country, with the strength, wisdom, empathy, and intellect represented by the symbol of an Elephant also closely touches our country and people. We equally champion the African elephant, and we are certain that your strength will galvanise land restoration and biodiversity preservation toward habitable planet earth.
“Mr President, Zimbabwe acknowledges and appreciates the sterling work and support offered to us and other African countries by the Secretariat, the Global Mechanism, and partners to enhance actions to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). The programmes that we implement to address DLDD, also contribute to the improvement of livelihoods for our communities and provide opportunities to adopt economic development pathways that ensure sustainable development,” Prof. Matondi said.
He said Zimbabwe believes transforming the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets into action is essential and indispensable for achieving a Land Degradation Neutral World and building the resilience of communities and capacity to address Desertification Land Degradation and Drought.
Calling for unity, Prof. Matondi said the fight against Desertification Land Degradation and Drought can only be won through strategic partnerships that allow for effective resource mobilisation; synergies across the three Rio Conventions on climate (United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change), land degradation and desertification including drought (United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification) and biodiversity (Convention on Biological Diversity ), involvement of civil society and the private sector as well as provision of platforms for sharing information and lessons learnt.
He said the accelerated implementation of Desertification Land Degradation and Drought programmes has the greatest potential and provides an opportunity for the planet to achieve many of the targets under SDG 15, life on land adding that healthy land and ecosystems are the bedrock of the planet’s economies and nature-based approaches are appropriate to address the triple threat of Desertification Land Degradation and Drought, Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss.
Zimbabwe has taken significant steps in addressing Desertification Land Degradation and Drought through the implementation of various integrated programmes that include, the National Wetlands Rehabilitation Programme; biodiversity and habitat protection; Climate Change Management, the Sustainable Mining Projects for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Enterprises; the Land Restoration Programme; the Veld fire Management Programme, and the National Tree Planting Programme.
The Zimbabwean Government is committed to ensuring Land Degradation Neutrality is achieved in the Country through strategic partnerships with the Private sector, Non-Governmental Organisations, Development Partners including the United Nations (UN) Agencies and financial services institutions among others. Zimbabwe is committed to playing its part toward a Land Degradation Neutral and nature positive world.