Latest news with #MusondaMumba
Zawya
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
As Wetlands COP15 opens in Zimbabwe, it's time to rethink how we value wetlands
Hon. Dr Evelyn Ndlovu (center), Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Republic of Zimbabwe and Secretary General Musonda Mumba (right) speak at a press conference ahead of the #WetlandsCOP15, which officially kicks off today in Victoria Convention on Wetlands As Zimbabwe hosts the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (COP15), this location invites a closer look at the role wetlands play in sustaining life, and the decisions now needed to ensure they continue to do so. COP15 arrives at a moment when wetlands—essential for climate resilience, food production, water supply, and biodiversity—are being lost and degraded at a rate that outpaces our responses. According to the Convention's recently released flagship publication, the Global Wetland Outlook 2025, global wetland extent has declined by 22% since 1970, with losses continuing at an average rate of 0.52% per year. Degradation is accelerating: one in four remaining wetlands is now in poor ecological condition, with that proportion rising. Despite these figures, wetlands still provide some of the most valuable and cost-effective solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. They support water security for billions of people, absorb carbon more efficiently than most other ecosystems, and deliver an estimated $7.98 to $39.01 trillion in annual ecosystem services. Yet these contributions remain undervalued in decision-making and underfunded in public and private investment. Zimbabwe knows better than many others just how important wetlands are. Wetlands provide water to more than two-thirds of the population, allowing for agriculture and tourism while buffering against floods and droughts. In response to growing pressures, the Government has implemented stronger legal protections, advanced local restoration initiatives, and deepened public engagement on wetland issues. The recent recognition of Victoria Falls as a Wetland City reflects both local commitment and the kind of urban ecological leadership that can be replicated elsewhere. But national ambition—however strong—cannot substitute for global coordination. Wetlands are shared systems. They cross borders and connect sectors. Protecting them requires cooperation, consistent investment, and a shift in how they are understood: as strategic infrastructure that protects the stability of our economies, health systems, and food supply. The Global Wetland Outlook 2025, sets out the scale of action needed: at least 123 million hectares must be restored to account for past loss, and 428 million hectares of remaining wetlands must be conserved. Doing so will require a major increase in global financing—somewhere between $275 and $550 billion per year —yet current investments fall far below that range. In fact, biodiversity conservation across all ecosystems receives just 0.25% of global GDP. Zimbabwe's hosting of COP15 is both timely and significant. It brings global attention to a region where wetlands are still deeply embedded in the landscape and culture, but also increasingly vulnerable. The conference presents a unique opportunity to prioritise wetlands in the biodiversity and climate agendas, and to align technical, political, and financial systems behind that goal. Africa, home to approximately 40% of the world's remaining wetlands, is well positioned to lead this shift. Many of the continent's wetlands remain ecologically functional, and traditional knowledge of sustainable management practices endures. But external pressures—driven by extractive industries, land-use change, and climate stress—are growing rapidly. Without targeted support, we risk losing these ecosystems for good. COP15 can help turn that tide. The Convention provides a platform for negotiation, as well as strategies, data, policies, and innovations. It is also a place to elevate voices that are often underrepresented—local communities, Indigenous groups, cities, and young people—who are already shaping the future of wetland stewardship on the ground. This meeting in Victoria Falls will not solve every problem. But it can set a new trajectory. Decisions made here have the potential to ripple outward, shaping how wetlands are valued and governed across continents. Rivers rarely follow straight lines, and neither does meaningful change. But when enough tributaries converge, that momentum can become difficult to ignore. It's a life lesson that wetlands have taught us, and perhaps now the world is finally ready to listen. © Copyright The Zimbabwean. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Fashion Value Chain
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Value Chain
Greenstorm Unveils Winning Images Celebrating Beautiful Wetlands
The winners of the 16th Greenstorm Global Photography Festival were announced today at a virtual ceremony that brought together leading environmental voices, visual storytellers and an international audience. The Grand Prize-winning photograph by Mr. Steven Triet from Vietnam revealing the golden rice terraces of Lao Chai, Mu Cang Chai Themed 'Beautiful Wetlands', the festival, which is now in its 16th year, attracted 11,835 entries from 155 countries. The Grand Prize of USD $10,000 was awarded to Steven Triet from Vietnam. Hanifi Ko (Turkey), Aref Tahmasebi (UAE) and Pepe Manzanilla (Costa Rica) received Special Jury Mentions, each carrying a prize of USD $1,000. Dr Muralee Thummarukudy, Director of the (G20 GLI) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) announced the Festival's winners. G20 Global Land Initiative sponsored the festival for the second year running. It is using photography to both shine a light on the loss of terrestrial ecosystems and inspire actions all over the world to keep wetlands healthy in a bid to reach its ambition of reducing degraded land by 50 percent by 2040. Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, and Chief Guest at the event, said, 'Wetlands are our planet's natural infrastructure. They store carbon, clean water, protect us from floods and droughts, and sustain life in all its forms. But they are being degraded and destroyed faster than any other ecosystem.' 'The Global Wetland Outlook 2025 shows the consequences of this loss and the solutions already working around the world. COP15 in Victoria Falls next week is our moment to change course-through global commitment, national action and local innovation,' Dr Musonda Mumba added while speaking at the ceremony. According to the 2025 Global Wetland Outlook, released last week, wetlands are disappearing at a faster rate than any other ecosystem. About one-fifth of the world's remaining wetlands are expected to vanish by 2050 without urgent action. The loss is valued at USD 39 trillion in benefits that support people, economies, and nature. Some of the winning photos will be on display from 23-30 July 2025 at the 15th meeting of the Contracting Parties of the Convention on Wetlands taking place at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Nature conservation through an artistic lens The winning pictures, from the lush paddy fields in Vietnam to flamingoes in a lagoon in Tunisia, offer a breathtaking glimpse into the beauty and ecological diversity of the world's wetlands. From serene water bodies reflecting vibrant skies to the quiet resilience of marshland life, each photograph tells a story of balance, survival and the urgent need for conservation. The winners were selected through a two-tier jury process. The first-level jury included Alex Wides (Italy), Anilkumar (India), Dilek Yurdakul (Turkey), Jaclyn Bringuez (USA), Sahar Al-Zarei (UAE) and Thomas Onyango (Uganda). The Global Jury curated the finalists and selected the winners. Renowned photographers Charlie Waite (UK), Latika Nath (India), and Nick Hall (USA) made up the Jury. They observed that this year's entries covered a remarkable spread of subjects and pushed the boundaries, offering a clever, unusual and deeply human way of seeing wetlands. They stressed that in a world increasingly shaped by artificial images, photographs grounded in nature give us hope and reconnect us. What's more, they remind us that even while we're caught up in our routines, nature is still out there, shapeshifting under sun, wind and tide. 'For 16 years, the Greenstorm Festival has harnessed the power of visual storytelling to ignite a passion for nature conservation among young people worldwide. These evocative images not only showcase nature's beauty but drive meaningful behaviour change, inspiring the next generation to protect and restore our planet's vital ecosystems,' said Mr Dileep Narayanan, Founder and Managing Trustee of Greenstorm Foundation. Narayanan started the festival 16 years ago to raise awareness about the earth's fragile ecosystems. Greenstorm Foundation runs the annual global photography festival, and is based in Kochi, India. About Greenstorm Foundation Greenstorm Foundation is a global creative conservancy committed to inspiring an attitudinal shift among youth toward environmental conservation through the power of creativity. Its flagship initiative, the Greenstorm Photo Festival, has engaged over 12 million young minds across more than 150 countries. Founded in 2009 in Kerala, India, as a CSR initiative of Organic BPS, a purpose-driven brand consultancy, the Greenstorm has grown into one of the world's largest youth-led environmental photography movements. In 2023, Greenstorm joined hands with the G20 Global Land Initiative of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), further amplifying its global impact. A registered not-for-profit public trust in India, the Foundation is led by trustees Anil K Menon, Dileep Narayanan, and George Korah. Over the years, Greenstorm has earned numerous national and international accolades, including the prestigious IAA Olive Crown Award for excellence in green communication. About UNCCD-G20 Global Land Initiative The Initiative was set up by G20 Countries in 2020, during the Saudi Arabia Presidency. It supports member and non-member countries and organizations to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation globally, in all ecosystems. The G20's ambition is to reduce degraded land globally by 50 per cent by 2040. This includes supporting the international community to achieve its global commitments of restoring, by 2030, one billion hectares of degraded land, an area about the size of the United States.
The Star
15-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Wetland loss could cost global economy 39 tln USD, report warns
NAIROBI, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Unchecked wetland degradation could trigger a 39 trillion U.S. dollar loss to the global economy, alongside worsening water stress and food insecurity, according to a report released Tuesday. Unveiled at the ongoing 20th Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20) in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, the Global Wetland Outlook report said that although wetlands cover only 6 percent of the Earth's surface, they provide critical ecosystem services, including flood control, food production, and carbon storage, valued at the equivalent of 7.5 percent of global gross domestic product. Compiled by the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), the report said that the world is losing wetlands at an annual rate of 0.52 percent. This loss significantly undermines global efforts to combat the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, hunger and poverty. Musonda Mumba, secretary general of the Convention on Wetlands, said that restoring degraded wetlands could unlock massive socio-economic benefits for rural communities and accelerate the green transition. "We need to value wetlands and increase investments towards their restoration, since losing them comes at a heavy cost to planetary health and livelihoods," Mumba said. The report, titled "Valuing, Conserving, Restoring and Financing Wetlands," estimated that about 411 million hectares of wetlands have been lost globally since 1970, representing a decline of 22 percent. It added that 25 percent of the remaining wetlands are degraded, suffering from unsustainable land-use practices, invasive species, pollution, rapid urbanization, and climate change impacts. The report was released ahead of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15), scheduled for July 23-31 in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife Evelyn Ndlovu said that the data from the report will help inform policy and legislative interventions to halt wetland depletion. Ndlovu called for cross-border wetland conservation initiatives, knowledge sharing, innovative financing, and greater community engagement to help restore the ecological health of this vital ecosystem across Africa.
Associated Press
31-01-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Ducks Unlimited Canada and partners celebrate - ‘Wetlands at work' on World Wetlands Day
STONEWALL, MB, Jan. 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Wetlands are nature's unsung heroes—they are an essential foundation for life. They are home to 40% of the world's species, they filter and store water, they help safeguard communities from flood and drought and they absorb the impact of storms and water surges, stemming erosion and protecting infrastructure. In addition to these vital ecosystems being essential to the survival of countless plants, animals, and insects, they also contribute to economic and community resilience. Wetlands both support and are supported by key economic sectors - working together to stabilize water availability and contributing to agriculture and other critical industries. Wetlands are natural landscapes for people to enjoy our traditional pastimes, like pond hockey, birdwatching, hiking, hunting, and fishing. Wetlands at work quietly do it all. At Ducks Unlimited Canada, our mission is to conserve wetlands that are critical for waterfowl, wildlife and people. By collaborating with the agricultural sector and partners in various industries, Ducks Unlimited Canada ensures conservation efforts align with the needs of farmers, businesses, governments and communities, creating a balance that benefits both the environment and the economy. Indigenous Peoples have been the stewards of wetlands across Canada for millennia and Ducks Unlimited Canada is proud to support the work of Indigenous nations and communities to advance their wetland conservation goals and initiatives. What is a wetland? Wetlands can be natural or artificial areas where water is present long enough to support aquatic processes and vegetation. Canada has organic bogs and fens, often referred to as 'peatlands', and mineral wetlands like marshes, swamps, and shallow open water. These can be fresh water, salt water, or brackish. They appear throughout Canada including the prairies, the boreal forest, along coastlines and even in the tundra. The diverse types of wetlands in Canada include bogs, fens, marshes, swamps and shallow open-water wetlands. Quotes 'Wetlands provide essential services that sustain life and protect our communities. They filter pollutants, improve water quality, mitigate floods and store vast amounts of carbon, performing roles that would cost billions to replicate artificially—and many of these benefits are simply irreplaceable,' said Michael Nadler, CEO, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), 'When we protect our wetlands, we provide the foundation for a healthier, more resilient planet for generations to come.' 'The Convention on Wetlands provides a global framework to protect and restore wetlands. Through the Convention, governments and partners around the globe are being supported with the tools to reverse wetland loss, tackle climate change and protect biodiversity. By working together, we can ensure wetlands remain a foundation for sustainable development and resilience for both people and nature,' said Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General, Convention on Wetlands 'Wetlands are the linchpin of interconnected ecosystems. Protecting and restoring them means addressing the triple crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and water scarcity. Wetland restoration offers one scalable, nature-based solution that simultaneously contributes to global objectives like the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals,' said Han de Groot, CEO of Wetlands International. Tackling wetland loss through collaboration and action Wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, with up to 70% already lost in some regions of southern Canada. This loss threatens not only biodiversity but also the pollination, water filtration, flood mitigation and carbon storage benefits that wetlands provide. Ducks Unlimited Canada is calling for bold action to reverse wetland loss by working in partnership with individuals, businesses, communities, and governments. Wetlands on working lands—such as farms and ranches—offer a unique opportunity to integrate conservation with economic activity, ensuring mutual benefits for people and nature. We need the collective efforts of all Canadians to support these vital ecosystems and secure their benefits for future generations. Innovation and data-driven conservation Data and innovative tools like Ducks Unlimited Canada's Prairie Biodiversity Mapping and Assessment Tool offer detailed insights and predictions to help land managers, conservationists and industry make informed decisions that promote climate resilience against flood and drought and bolster biodiversity. Similarly, Wetlands International's Global Mangrove Watch provides up-to-date worldwide mapping using remote sensing data and tools that help to protect and restore mangroves. The organizations are aligned with global efforts to make conservation more effective and impactful. DUC's Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research (IWWR) drives science-based solutions that support wetland and watershed conservation, advancing understanding and guiding action. Support for this vital science is essential to protecting Canada's wetlands and the benefits they provide. Migratory flyway conservation North America's wetlands are critical for migratory birds. Ducks Unlimited Canada works to protect these migratory pathways, to ensure safe habitats across continents for countless bird species. To learn more about the flyways - Watch now. Healthy communities Visiting natural spaces like wetlands is good for our health and wellness. The natural beauty and diversity of animal and plant life in wetlands make them ideal locations for recreational activities, whether harvesting, birdwatching or skating on frozen ponds. These activities generate significant income, benefiting local communities and promoting the sustainable management of wetlands. A study published in Scientific Reports showed that spending at least two hours per week in nature is associated with improved health and well-being. As part of this year's Small Ponds, Big Goals campaign, DUC is also celebrating pond hockey – Canada's favourite winter pastime – connecting people with wetlands while highlighting the vital role these ecosystems play in our lives. Storytelling with Oak Hammock Marsh The beauty and resilience of wetlands are best experienced firsthand! DUC is hard at work readying the renewed Wetland Discovery Centre at Oak Hammock Marsh, for a grand reopening later this year. The energy efficient centre highlights the vibrant life that thrives in healthy wetlands and how conservation work helps safeguard these vital ecosystems. Visitors will discover an unparalleled experience with new interactive exhibits and enhanced accessibility features. Want to support wetland conservation? Become a member or volunteer with DUC to learn about our latest initiatives and how you can help. Consider making a donation to Wetlands International's Water Bird Fund. Together, we can make a positive impact on our planet's wetlands. Media assets Video: Watch now Wetlands at Work / 2024 conservation highlight reel Resources: About Ducks Unlimited Canada Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is the country's largest land conservancy and a leader in wetland conservation. A registered charity, DUC uses sound science and partners with government, industry, non-profit organizations, Indigenous Peoples and landowners to conserve wetlands that are critical to waterfowl, wildlife and the environment. To learn more about DUC's innovative environmental solutions and services, visit About Wetlands International Wetlands International is the only global not-for-profit organisation fully dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands. Our vision is a world where wetlands are treasured and nurtured for their beauty, the life they support and the resources they provide. We work to inspire and mobilise society to safeguard and restore wetlands for people and nature, and to scale up action by enabling others to implement proven solutions. Visit and follow us on LinkedIn. About the Convention on Wetlands The Convention on Wetlands, also known as the Ramsar Convention, is the only global treaty dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. The Convention unites 172 Contracting Parties in their shared commitment to protect and restore wetlands for people, nature, and the planet. It provides a framework for international cooperation, scientific research, and local action to safeguard wetlands as essential ecosystems that support biodiversity, water supply, climate regulation, and human livelihoods. To date, the Convention has designated over 2,500 Wetlands of International Importance, covering more than 255 million hectares worldwide. Learn more at
