Zimbabwe launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative aimed at strengthening conservation funding and promoting sustainable natural resource use.
Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Evelyn Ndlovu, said the initiative comes as Zimbabwe continues to bear financial burdens in managing elephant populations that exceed ecological carrying capacity.
“Zimbabwe is endowed with exceptional natural capital, from our diverse ecosystems and wildlife to our fertile soils and resilient communities, yet the financial resources to protect these remain insufficient,” she said.
The minister highlighted that the initiative is people-centred, promoting women and youth empowerment, indigenous knowledge systems, and ecosystem services that sustain life.
Through the Biodiversity Finance Initiative, Ndlovu said Zimbabwe will undertake a comprehensive assessment of biodiversity expenditures, identify financing needs, and develop targeted solutions.
“Conservation is costly. Zimbabwe bears a significant financial burden in managing elephant populations that exceed ecological carrying capacity. Unlocking the responsible value of our wildlife stockpiles is not about profit — it is about plugging the funding gap required to protect our species and empower frontline communities,” she said.
The initiative will see the country partnering with development agencies, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to strengthen conservation efforts.
UNDP Deputy Country Representative Challa Getachew commended Zimbabwe for joining more than 90 countries implementing the UNDP-led Biodiversity Finance Initiative methodology.
“Protecting biodiversity is not a cost — it is an investment in national prosperity. The Biodiversity Finance Initiative will enable Zimbabwe to identify funding gaps, design innovative financing instruments such as green bonds and payments for ecosystem services and catalyse private sector participation,” he said.
Getachew said for biodiversity financing to be effective, it must reach those who live closest to nature.
“Finance alone is not enough. It must reach the people in our rural communities, women and youth who are the true custodians of nature. When they derive economic value from protecting ecosystems, conservation becomes sustainable,” he said.
The Biodiversity Finance Initiative is expected to help Zimbabwe assess biodiversity financing gaps, align with the National Development Strategy 2, and fulfil global commitments under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Paris Agreement, and Agenda 2063.
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