Cote d’Ivoire is this year’s host of the COP 15 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNDCCD) and the summit is being held in in Abidjan.
This a platform where global leaders are meeting to discuss action plans to stop terrestrial lands from losing fertility, particularly as a result of desertification and drought.
Representing Zimbabwe is chief director for environment, climate and meteorological services, Professor Prosper Matondi.
Addressing delegates at the conference, Matondi pledged that Zimbabwe will fully support efforts in addressing land degradation neutrality across the globe.
“We are confident that those countries most affected by drought, land degradation and desertification including Zimbabwe will receive due attention,”
“We equally champion the African elephant, and we are certain that your strength will galvanise on land restoration and biodiversity preservation towards a habitable plant earth,” Matondi said.
Furthermore, Matondi acknowledged and appreciated the sterling work and support offered to Zimbabwe and other African countries by the Secretariat, the Global Mechanism and partners to enhance actions to address Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD).
“The programmes that we implement to address DLDD, also contribute to the improvement of livelihoods for our communities and provide opportunities to adopt economic development pathways that ensure sustainable development.
“With regards the agenda items before us, Zimbabwe believes transforming the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets into action is essential and indispensable for achieving a Land Degradation Neutral World and building the resilience of communities and capacity to address Desertification Land Degradation and Drought,” Matondi added.
The conference comprises of scientific presentations, international policymaking and civil society action focusing specifically on land issues.
The fight against Desertification Land Degradation and Drought can only be won through strategic partnerships that allow for effective resource mobilisation; synergies across the three Rio Conventions on climate (United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change), land degradation and desertification including drought (United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification) and biodiversity (Convention on Biological Diversity ), involvement of civil society and the private sector as well as provision of platforms for sharing information and lessons learnt.
Zimbabwe has taken significant steps in addressing Desertification Land Degradation and Drought through the implementation of various integrated programmes that include, the National Wetlands Rehabilitation Programme; biodiversity and habitat protection; Climate Change Management, the Sustainable Mining Projects for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Enterprises; the Land Restoration Programme; the Veld fire Management Programme, and the National Tree Planting Programme.
