Story by Courage Bushe
THE restoration of rangelands in Shurugwi District under the Dry Lands Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme (DSLIP) is advancing sustainable land and forest management while improving ecosystem resilience and community livelihoods.
Implemented across several provinces, the programme focuses on restoring degraded ecosystems, empowering communities and protecting critical wetlands.
Beneficiaries say the initiative is already delivering tangible results, particularly in improving grazing conditions for livestock.
“We are happy that we are seeing the fruits of the project because prior to this development, our livestock had no adequate grazing lands. But after the project, we are seeing a change,” a community member said.
Another resident called for greater community participation in environmental conservation efforts.
“We are encouraging all communities to participate in all initiatives that are meant to protect landscapes because that is where we grow our food. Food security and climate change are intertwined, and as a country, this is something that we should prioritise,” the community member said.
Government and development partners say the protection of wetlands and rehabilitation of degraded rangelands remain central to efforts to strengthen climate resilience, safeguard biodiversity and support agricultural production.
“The community is already testifying to the good works that are coming out of it within two years of implementation. We managed to fence off the wetland core, and as we speak, we have been hearing good stories coming from the community in terms of the increased water integrity, and also the biodiversity in the area,” Midlands Provincial Director of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Farm Infrastructure Development, Engineer Andrew Mupariwa, said.
Midlands Environmental Education and Publicity Officer, Mr Oswald Ndlovu said the programme is focused on strengthening environmental sustainability and improving livelihoods.
“The focus of this programme is sustainable land and forest management in all of these provinces. The objective is mainly to ensure the ecosystem’s resilience and improved community life,” he said.
The intervention has also improved water retention in the area, delivering benefits for agriculture, livestock production and wildlife conservation.
