As the Ramsar COP15 unfolds in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, the spotlight is once again on global efforts to protect wetlands. Building on the momentum of the Wuhan Declaration adopted at COP14 in China, this year’s conference brings together 172 parties to chart a shared path forward.
In an interview with China Africa Talk, Lei Guangchun, Vice Chair of the National Wetland Science Committee and Board Chair of the Shenzhen Mangrove Conservation Foundation, and Anthony Phiri, Director of Environmental Management, Renewable Energy, and Climate Center at the Harare Institute of Technology in Zimbabwe to discuss priorities and targets Africa and China can set to protect wetlands and promote environmental sustainability for a shared future.
China Africa Talk: Could you share the significance of this conference, both globally and for Zimbabwe? What does it mean for Zimbabwe to host this event, and what preparations have been made to raise public awareness about wetland conservation?
Anthony Phiri: This is a very exciting opportunity for Zimbabwe to host this conference. In Zimbabwe, we face challenges regarding freshwater, and Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, is built on a wetland and its main water source, Lake Chivero, is adversely affected by water that enters the lake without being properly purified caused by a broken-down system. Construction on wetlands has led to a high concentration of pollutants in Lake Chivero due to a lack of protection. This conference emphasizes the need to protect this freshwater source. There could never be a better time for this conference in Zimbabwe. It comes at a timely moment, as we are reaching a point of no return if the destruction of the wetlands continues. The Environmental Management Agency of Zimbabwe (EMA) has demarcated wetland areas and initiated activities to educate people about the importance of protecting these areas from construction and other activities. If we protect the wetlands, the cost of water treatment will decrease since they protect our freshwater from pollution. Additionally, EMA and other organizations have aired radio announcements to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands.
China Africa Talk: The previous COP14 hosted by China in 2022 resulted in the adoption of the Wuhan Declaration. What do you see as the key legacies of that meeting? How has it shaped wetland protection efforts over the past few years?
Lei Guangchun: The Wuhan Declaration is a very important document. After more than half a century of implementing the Ramsar Convention, everyone is curious about how much progress has been made as well as the current state of our wetlands. The key legacy of COP14 is recognizing the failure to implement the convention. This is because wetland conservation is associated with many aspects of social and economic development. Therefore, the COP, the Conference of the Contracting Parties, is calling for the formulation of the convention’s fifth strategic plan with a clear objective before 2030. Most importantly, the COP calls for raising awareness of wetlands and their role in social and economic development. Wetland conservation and management must be integrated into the sustainable development agenda. Technically, we need more strategic conservation measures, including sustainable financing, partnerships, legislation, and capacity building. Over the past three years, the Ramsar Convention, as well as wetland venues, has been a high-priority issue on a global scale. It has played a key role in advancing global sustainable development, particularly the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
China Africa Talk: Zimbabwe is home to several wetlands of international importance, many designated as Ramsar Sites. Do you think current environmental policies are strong enough to protect these ecosystems? How can Zimbabwe ensure the recovery and proper remediation of wetlands facing human and climate-related threats?
Anthony Phiri: Because it is being hosted in Zimbabwe, I’m sure this conference will easily showcase the importance of these wetlands to everyone in the country. We know that these wetlands practically promote biodiversity. The connection between biodiversity and climate change is strong. The loss of habitat and animals is associated with rising temperatures, less water and rainfall, and erratic weather patterns. The environment is directly linked to the climate. Climate change is principally caused by anthropogenic activities, or human activities on the planet. Most of our activities on land generate greenhouse gases, creating these challenges. This conference in Zimbabwe can effectively spread awareness of the dire situation we may face in the future if wetlands continue to be decimated. Zimbabwe has Environmental Management Agency, which are a regulatory body for development. They ensure that an environmental impact assessment is conducted before any development begins. This is the regulatory perspective that any project with an environmental impact must undergo an environmental impact assessment. This means that appropriate mitigation measures must be implemented to ensure that there is no environmental impact.
China Africa Talk: Globally, wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests. Yet, in China, we’ve seen a steady increase in wetland areas in recent years. What policies and actions have contributed to this progress? What lessons or experiences could China share with other countries, especially in Africa, to support wetland conservation?
Lei Guangchun: I think this is a very important question. The effective conservation and restoration of wetlands in China has benefited from national ecological civilization strategies, especially in the following ways. First, wetland conservation and restoration have been integrated into national strategies and development plans. A series of national wetland conservation and restoration programs have been implemented through funding from the national and local governments, NGOs, and corporations, providing many sources of funding for wetland conservation and restoration. Second, public awareness of wetland conservation has significantly increased, which is a powerful mechanism for conservation. Any destruction or degradation of wetlands can be brought to the public’s attention. This makes our wetland conservation and restoration efforts transparent. All of the public and civil societies have the right to examine the reasons for wetland disappearance or degradation. Another important reason is the promulgation of national wetland protection laws. This is one of the most significant developments in China. Wetlands are legally protected, and the national implementation has put in place comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, inspection, and auditing measures to ensure leadership accountability. Leaders must be held accountable for the status of the wetlands under their leadership when they leave their position. National and ground activities on wetland conservation teach us important lessons- conservation is much more effective and cheaper than restoration. Research shows that the cost of restoration may be as high as 1,000 times the cost of conservation. This is a valuable lesson for African countries, as many African wetlands are still in good condition. It is time for African countries to make more of an effort to conserve their wetlands.
Wetlands must be included in comprehensive national development plans. This is important for wetland legislation, institutional development, financing, and wise use of wetlands.
International cooperation mechanisms help build capacity and share information, as well as develop joint conservation programs.
China Africa Talk: As Zimbabwe hosts COP15, what priorities and targets should Zimbabwe, Africa, and partners like China focus on to protect wetlands and promote environmental sustainability for a shared future?
Anthony Phiri: We have a far-reaching relationship with China, which has often provided technology to Zimbabwe. There has been a technology transfer, and I’m sure that, in the future, if China wants to provide Zimbabwe with technology, we should focus on how to receive it and how it will protect our environment. China has provided training to ensure that we are ready to use technology that complies with our local environmental protection standards. I think this relationship, considering these technologies, can keep the country safe and elevate the relationship between Africa and China.
Lei Guangchun: Zimbabwe is home to seven Ramsar sites of international importance. This includes the famous Victoria Falls, where the COP is taking place. This country has actively promoted environmental sustainability as a contracting party since 2013. Zimbabwe has definitely seized the opportunity to host COP15 to demonstrate its leadership in water conservation. The African continent has designated more than 430 Ramsar sites, including some of the largest in the world, covering over 5 million hectares. Together, these sites account for 43% of the global total wetland area. These figures demonstrate Africa’s significant contribution to the world.
Future priorities for Zimbabwe and other African countries may include capacity building, nation-to-nation policy reform, and the development and implementation of national water and conservation programs, as well as international cooperation programs.
China Africa Talk is a weekly podcast with CGTN Radio.
