Wetlands Crisis Takes Center Stage as COP15 Opens in Zimbabwe with Historic African Leadership

VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE – In a powerful opening address to the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Secretary-General Dr. Musonda Mumba framed the gathering as a pivotal moment for global environmental action, marked by its return to African soil after two decades and unprecedented high-level engagement.

Speaking against the backdrop of the majestic Victoria Falls (“Mosi-oa-Tunya”), Dr. Mumba, who revealed a personal connection to the site having visited frequently from neighbouring Zambia in her youth, lauded Zimbabwe’s leadership in hosting the critical summit.

“This COP is momentous,” declared Dr. Mumba. “It brings together not just the 172 member countries, but experts, media, indigenous peoples, and youth. We convene amidst extreme changes – Zimbabwe and much of Southern Africa endure their worst drought in memory. This underscores the vital power of water, the hydrological cycle, and why wetlands matter profoundly.”

She highlighted several historic milestones:

1. First African COP in 20 Years: Emphasizing the significance of the conference’s return to Africa.

2. African Wetlands Negotiators Group: Announced the formation of this groundbreaking group, crediting Zimbabwe’s Environment Minister and a landmark decision at the recent African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Nigeria.

3. Unprecedented Leadership: For the first time in the Ramsar Convention’s 55-year history, COP15 will be opened by a Head of State – Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa – and will feature a dedicated Presidential Summit. “This is extremely ambitious,” Dr. Mumba stated.

Dire Warnings and the Urgency of Action:

Dr. Mumba painted a stark picture of the global wetlands crisis, linking it directly to human suffering and ecological collapse:

“The changes in wetland ecosystems manifest with dire implications for communities,”she said, citing vanished coastal mangroves exacerbating disasters.

She pointed to the tragic desiccation of places like Lake Chad (referred to as the “Arruci”): “A whole sea has disappeared in our lifetime… what we witness are balls of dust. This cannot be the way because by its very nature a wetland is wet.”

A Call for Collective Hope and Truth:

Aligning with the COP15 theme “Wetlands Action for People and Nature,” Dr. Mumba called for a spirit of “positivity, trust, community, and hope.”

“We do have a collective and common future,”she urged, stressing the critical role of transparent communication. “Your honesty matters, your transparency matters, and sharing numbers in truth equally matters.”She specifically addressed the press corps, emphasizing their vital role in sharing the wetlands message globally.

Dr. Mumba concluded by expressing deep anticipation for the coming days’ deliberations and reiterating gratitude to Zimbabwe for its leadership on this globally significant stage. The conference is poised to tackle urgent strategies for wetland conservation as a cornerstone for humanity’s resilience against climate change and biodiversity loss.