Story by Buhlebenkosi Makwelo
BULAWAYO-GOVERNMENT is finalising the country’s third National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), which will guide biodiversity conservation efforts from 2025 to 2030, in line with Vision 2030 and international environmental commitments.
A two-day validation workshop is currently underway, bringing together government officials, academics, community representatives, and other stakeholders to review and finalise the draft document.
The workshop aims to incorporate diverse feedback to ensure the plan is inclusive, practical, and aligned with Zimbabwe’s biodiversity conservation needs.
Director of Wildlife and Forestry Resources in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Mr Tanyaradzwa Mundoga, underscored the importance of a healthy ecosystem in sustaining livelihoods and national development.
“Our lives depend directly and indirectly on biological diversity, the ecosystems around us, trees, wildlife, water resources and even the air we breathe and it all depends on the health of our ecosystems, so it is critical that as a country we manage our biodiversity in a way that insures that we meet the demands of our current generation and even the future,” he said.
The ongoing review process has placed a deliberate focus on community participation, particularly the involvement of indigenous people and local communities in shaping national strategies.
“It is very important that representatives of communities participate in this programme so that their interests and needs are captured in the strategy document. It is quite encouraging to see indigenous people and local communities being brought to the table to engage with other stakeholders,” Community Representative, Mr Gladman Chibememe said.
Facilitator of the workshop, Professor Chrispen Phiri, reiterated the need for collective responsibility in safeguarding biodiversity, highlighting that sustainable environmental management is not solely the responsibility of government.
“We expect that everybody in Zimbabwe to work together, it is not the responsibility of the government alone. It’s everyone’s responsibility because what we do in the urban areas affects those in the rural areas. Stakeholders also play a crucial role in preserving our biodiversity,” he said.
Preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems remains one of Zimbabwe’s key environmental priorities, forming part of broader national targets that seek to elevate the country to an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
The finalised NBSAP document is expected to provide a comprehensive roadmap for coordinated action across sectors, while reinforcing the country’s commitment to global biodiversity frameworks under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
