MILLICENT HUNGWE
HARARE – As the world marked Desertification and Drought Day on June 17, 2025, Zimbabwe joined the global call to combat land degradation and drought, with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) leading efforts to promote land restoration as a key to climate resilience and sustainable development.
Zimbabweans are urged to take collective action under the global theme ‘Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities’.
EMA director general Aaron Chigona emphasized that land restoration is not just about environmental compliance, but a core development pillar aligned with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.
Highlighting the significant threat of land degradation and drought, Chigona cited the words of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw, “Land degradation and drought constitute significant barriers to economic prosperity, stability, food production, water security, and overall quality of life.”
This observance serves as a critical affirmation of humanity’s collective capacity to revitalize degraded terrestrial ecosystems, thereby transforming them into sources of abundant opportunity.
Chigona echoed this sentiment, stressing that Zimbabwe’s identity and future prosperity are intrinsically tied to its land.
Zimbabwe’s progress toward its Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Targets, adopted through the UNCCD, these targets aim to rejuvenate forests, restore wetlands, safeguard grasslands, and ensure sustainable land use across all sectors.
“Signifying our resolute commitment to arresting and reversing land degradation, we aim to ensure that future generations inherit a fertile and productive national landscape,” Chigona stated.
Zimbabwe is set to host COP15 of the Convention on Wetlands from 23 to 31 July, an event which Chigona described as “a crucial platform for Zimbabwe to reaffirm its steadfast dedication to the judicious utilization and conservation of wetland ecosystems.”
He added, “fulfill a vital role in mitigating the impacts of drought, facilitating groundwater recharge, supporting biodiversity, and providing essential ecosystem services.”
As the world reaches the midpoint of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), Chigona stressed the urgency for action.
“It is incumbent upon us to translate our aspirations into concrete actions on the ground,” he said, calling on individuals, agriculturalists, community leaders, policymakers, and corporate entities to engage actively in land restoration.
He concluded with a call to action,
“Let us embark upon the restoration of our land, thereby unlocking the profound opportunities it presents for a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable Zimbabwe, and significantly contributing to the realization of our Vision 2030.”
With EMA’s leadership and the nation’s unified resolve, Zimbabwe aims to turn environmental threats into transformative opportunities for future generations.
