COP15 Summit in Victoria Falls Targets Global Wetland Restoration
The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands opened on Wednesday in Victoria Falls, bringing together delegates from 172 countries for high‑level talks on wetland conservation.
Running from 23–31 July under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” the summit is set to culminate in the adoption of the Victoria Falls Declaration, a landmark commitment aimed at scaling up wetland restoration and creating a Global Wetland Restoration Fund.
Speaking on the eve of the conference, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife Evelyn Ndlovu said wetlands were central to the global climate agenda.
“Wetland conservation is not just an environmental concern, it is a climate imperative, a hydrological necessity and a development obligation,” she said.
Key initiatives being launched at COP15 include:
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Global Wetland Watch – a real‑time monitoring platform,
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African Wetland Observatory Network – supporting grassroots solutions,
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The integration of wetlands into national climate and biodiversity frameworks, including Wetland City Accreditation.
Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, called the summit a historic moment.
“This is not just a meeting of governments – it’s a platform for science, diplomacy, and community to come together around a common goal: protecting wetlands for our common future,” she said.
Background on the Ramsar Convention
Established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, the Ramsar Convention is the only global treaty devoted exclusively to wetlands.
It promotes the wise use of wetlands and oversees more than 2,500 Ramsar sites worldwide.
Zimbabwe ratified the convention in 2012 and hosts seven Ramsar‑designated sites, including Lake Chivero, Mana Pools and Monavale Vlei.
The urgency is clear. According to the Convention Secretariat, over 411 million hectares of natural wetlands have been lost since 1970, with a financing gap of up to US$550 billion threatening global restoration efforts.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to officially open the summit later this week.
Delegates will also visit the Kasibo Wetland in Hwange to see Zimbabwe’s nature‑based restoration projects in action.
