Story by Yolanda Moyo
Zimbabwe has urged the international community to prioritise the needs of vulnerable groups and swiftly establish the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund at COP16.
This Tuesday, high-level delegates from around the globe gathered in Cali for the opening of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), the first Biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022 in Canada.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, addressed the high-level session outlining the country’s ambitious environmental policies aimed at curbing biodiversity loss and promoting sustainable development.
“Zimbabwe has developed an innovative, science-driven Biodiversity Economic Policy. Through this policy, the country has played a pivotal role in the establishment of Trans-frontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) in the SADC Region, which are significant milestones in our journey towards sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Further, Zimbabwe has developed various policies such as the National Wetlands and Forestry policies, which guide Government efforts towards the conservation and restoration of our biodiversity,” she said.
The Minister also stressed the importance of prioritising the needs of the most vulnerable, including women, youth and marginalised rural communities, who rely on biodiversity for their lives and livelihoods.
“As we address this global crisis, the loss of biodiversity, it is essential that we prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable, including women, youth, and marginalised rural communities, who rely on biodiversity for their lives and livelihoods, to ensure that “no one and no place is left behind” in our pursuit of sustainable development and a better future.
“By empowering these communities and ensuring their equitable participation in conservation efforts, Zimbabwe aims to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all. As Zimbabwe, we are therefore concerned about the delay in the establishment and operationalisation of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund. We urge member states to expedite the establishment of this Fund for the benefit of all countries, in particular, Developing Countries that are most affected,” she added.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called upon the private sector to contribute towards halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.
“Promises for financing must be kept while support to developing countries is accelerated. We must bring the private sector on board. Those profiting from nature cannot treat it like a free, infinite resource. They must step up and contribute to its protection and restoration,” he said.
The theme for the conference in Cali, Colombia is ‘A COP of the people,’ with discussions focused on biodiversity conservation, environmental justice and the role of indigenous and local communities in shaping sustainable futures.
