Story by Memory Chamisa
Zimbabwe is participating in the 16th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where the focus is on coming up with innovative solutions.
A delegation, led by the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, is representing Zimbabwe at the high-level conference running from the 2nd to the 13th of this month in Riyadh.
The conference is a platform for experts to address escalating challenges around desertification, bringing together 197 signatories of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to come up with innovative and concrete solutions.
Dr Nyoni says Zimbabwe’s participation reaffirms its commitment to preserving ecosystems and combating desertification and land degradation
“COP16 is a pivotal conference, one that must prioritize resilience-based responses to tackling the escalating crisis of land degradation. By focusing on restoring soil health and scaling up nature-positive food production, COP16 can map a pathway toward a more sustainable future for hundreds of millions of people in Zimbabwe,” Minister Nyoni said.
She also highlighted how Zimbabwe stands out as a model for other nations through practical solutions to address deforestation and alleviate climate change.
“Through environmental bodies that include the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe and the Environmental Management Agency, various initiatives have been implemented with a focus on inclusive forest management involving local communities, promoting reforestation, and enhancing economic opportunities through ecotourism and sustainable forestry practices. Zimbabwe has since integrated various sustainable land use practices, including agroforestry to combat deforestation while promoting organic farming and sustainable agriculture.”
The summit has been described as a moonshot in protecting, restoring land and building drought resilience.
It also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, one of the three Rio Conventions that seek to address the interconnected environmental crises of climate change, land and biodiversity loss.
