Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe and Colombia are taking significant steps to enhance their bilateral relations, focusing on biodiversity and environmental conservation.
This collaboration was highlighted during a meeting between Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr. Sithembiso Nyoni and Colombia’s Minister of Environment, Maria Susana Muhamad, on the sidelines of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The ministers expressed mutual commitment to exploring areas of cooperation, particularly in environmental protection and sustainable conservation efforts. Colombia recently hosted the 16th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), which Zimbabwe participated in. The two nations are now seeking to build on that momentum by aligning strategies for tackling global environmental challenges.
Minister Nyoni emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing critical issues such as climate change, wetland preservation, and biodiversity protection.
“Zimbabwe and Colombia share a common vision for sustainable development. By working together, we can strengthen our conservation efforts and create lasting impacts for our nations and the world,” she said.
Minister Nyoni also extended an invitation to Minister Muhamad to attend the upcoming 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15), which will be held in Victoria Falls in July 2025. This event is expected to highlight Zimbabwe’s commitment to managing its wetlands and fostering international dialogue on their protection.
Accepting the invitation, Minister Muhamad pledged Colombia’s support for the success of the conference. She noted that the Ramsar Convention meeting would provide a platform to discuss key topics such as the sustainable use of wetlands, the preservation of freshwater ecosystems, and biodiversity conservation.
The COP15 meeting in Victoria Falls is poised to place Zimbabwe on the global spotlight, showcasing its leadership in wetland conservation. It will also reinforce the nation’s efforts to balance environmental preservation with socio-economic development.
The growing partnership between Zimbabwe and Colombia reflects a shared commitment to global environmental stewardship and offers a promising path for innovative conservation solutions in the face of climate change.
