As Zimbabwe hosts the 15th Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Victoria Falls, global attention has turned to Africa’s rich wetlands and the urgent need for stronger protection strategies. The conference, which brings together 172 countries, builds on the momentum of the Wuhan Declaration adopted at COP14 in China in 2022.
In a joint interview with China Africa Talk, Professor Lei Guangchun, Vice Chair of China’s National Wetland Science Committee, and Anthony Phiri, Director of Environmental Management at the Harare Institute of Technology, outlined the stakes for Africa, the legacies of China's wetland policies, and the potential for deeper China-Africa collaboration on environmental sustainability.
“This is a very exciting and timely opportunity,” said Phiri. “Harare is built on a wetland, and its main water source, Lake Chivero, is under severe threat due to unregulated construction and pollution. We are approaching a point of no return.”
Phiri stressed that wetlands play a critical role in water purification and biodiversity conservation, which in turn affect rainfall patterns and climate resilience. He noted that Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has intensified education efforts, zoning, and environmental impact assessments to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems.
Professor Lei pointed to China’s national ecological strategy as a model. “China has integrated wetland conservation into its national development plans and passed strong legal protections. Public awareness is now high, and leaders are held accountable for the state of wetlands under their jurisdiction.”
Lei emphasized that prevention is far cheaper than restoration: “The cost of restoring wetlands can be 1,000 times more than conserving them. This is a critical lesson for Africa, where many wetlands are still intact.”
With seven Ramsar sites—including the iconic Victoria Falls—Zimbabwe has positioned itself as a leader in wetland protection on the continent. Africa as a whole accounts for 43% of the world’s wetland areas, with over 430 Ramsar sites spanning more than five million hectares.
Looking ahead, both experts called for capacity building, policy reform, and technology exchange. “China has already provided training and technology tailored to our environmental standards,” said Phiri. “We must deepen this cooperation.”
As COP15 unfolds, the message is clear: wetland protection is no longer optional. For Africa and China, safeguarding these ecosystems is essential for a sustainable, shared future.
This article is based on an exclusive interview from the CGTN Radio podcast, China Africa Talk.
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