Source: EMA commits to scale up land restoration after UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia – herald

Thupeyo Muleya

Beitbridge Bureau

THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has wrapped up Zimbabwe’s participation at the 17th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, UNCCD COP17, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 17 to 28, with a pledge to translate global commitments into practical action at the community level.

In a statement on Friday, EMA Director General Mr Aron Chigona said the conference reaffirmed that land restoration is central to building resilience, securing food, and protecting livelihoods.

He noted that COP17 strengthened global resolve on proactive drought preparedness, Land Degradation Neutrality, sustainable rangeland management, catchment protection, and locally led environmental action.

“As Zimbabwe’s focal point for UNCCD implementation, EMA applauds the outcomes of COP17. The decisions taken here give us clear direction to align our national programs with international commitments so that communities can see real benefits on the ground,” said Mr Chigona.

He said EMA will prioritise five areas drawn from the conference and that on Land Degradation Neutrality, the county will commit to balancing land use with restoration to ensure there is no net loss of productive land.

“EMA will entrench sustainable land management through integrated landscape approaches that combine science, traditional knowledge, and community participation,” said Mr Chigona.

“Priority will be given to robust wetland protection and restoration, and safeguarding ecosystem goods and services that communities depend on.

“On Drought Preparedness, the agency will strengthen proactive environmental interventions to reduce vulnerability and protect communities from climate shocks. This includes early warning, soil and water conservation, and climate-smart agriculture.”

On issues of Sustainable Rangeland Management, Mr Chigona said EMA will promote practices that safeguard grazing lands and farming livelihoods.

He said this will be driven through localised policies, community leadership, gender responsive approaches, technical support, and empowerment, while priority practices shall include veldfire prevention, controlled extraction of forestry resources, and responsible mining and farming.

On Catchment Protection, the official said securing water and land ecosystems is vital for agriculture and human settlement and that EMA will push integrated catchment management to protect rivers, wetlands and groundwater that sustain both urban and rural communities.

“On Locally Led Action, let me emphasise that communities must be positioned as custodians of natural resources, not passive beneficiaries. It remains critical to combine cultural norms and values with scientific tools to drive stewardship and restoration,” he said.

Mr Chigona said EMA will align COP17 outcomes with National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) priorities as a means of turning international commitments into national development gains.

The agency said it will work with government ministries, local authorities, communities, civil society, the private sector, and international partners to restore degraded land, protect ecosystems, and strengthen livelihoods.

The official added that restoring land is not only an environmental imperative, but it is also an investment in resilience, livelihoods, and the future of Zimbabwe.

“We leave Ulaanbaatar with a clear mandate to accelerate restoration, prepare better for drought, and ensure that every hectare restored contributes to food security and jobs,” said Mr Chigona.

He said EMA will immediately begin consultations with provinces to domesticate the COP17 resolutions, with special focus on drought-prone areas in Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Midlands.

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