Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
COMMUNITY-BASED environmental conservation projects being implemented by the Government and its development partners under the Global Environment Facility Seven (GEF-7) are improving livelihoods and restoring degraded ecosystems in Masvingo Province.
More than 120 members of the Rufaro Environmental Management and Community Development Association in Masvingo District are benefiting from climate-smart initiatives that include poultry and livestock production, agroforestry and citrus farming under the GEF-7 Drylands Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme.
The interventions are improving household incomes, promoting sustainable management of natural resources and strengthening communities’ resilience to climate change.
Chief Zimuto said the programme has transformed environmental conservation in the area.
“In this community, we used to have several challenges, including veld fires, soil erosion and land degradation. The programme taught the community to protect the environment through fireguards, hay baling for livestock, gully reclamation and other initiatives. As a result, our environment has recovered,” he said.
Government officials and development partners toured the project this week to assess progress, with beneficiaries saying the initiative is improving food security, creating income-generating opportunities and restoring degraded land.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Mr Simon Masanga said the programme has had a significant impact.
“We are touring Global Environment Facility-funded projects across this district. I am happy with the impact these projects are having on the community. This area was prone to illegal mining, firewood poaching and veld fires, but through the partnership between the community, Government and its partners, degraded land and forests have been restored. People are now planting indigenous trees and engaging in livelihood projects such as poultry farming and irrigation,” he said.
GEF-7 National Project Coordinator, Ms Precious Magwaza said Zimbabwe is implementing the programme as part of a wider regional initiative.
“This project is funded by GEF in its seventh cycle and is being implemented in 11 countries under the Drylands Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme. In Zimbabwe, the focus is on the country’s drylands, covering eight districts in Masvingo, Manicaland and Midlands provinces,” she said.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Sub-Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative to Zimbabwe, Mr Patrice Talla, said the programme is helping communities build sustainable livelihoods.
“Today we witnessed the impact of Global Environment Facility funding in this community. I am confident the community will continue to use these programmes to improve livelihoods. They are designed to help families sustain themselves while diversifying their local economies,” he said.
Zimbabwe is implementing the GEF-7 Integrated Landscape Management Programme with support from the Global Environment Facility through the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The programme promotes sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience while improving the livelihoods of rural communities in line with the country’s environmental and sustainable development agenda.
