Youth Push for Wetland Governance Voice Ahead of COP15

By Abel Karowangoro

As Zimbabwe gears up to host the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) in Victoria Falls from July 23 to 31, 2025, a vibrant movement of young Zimbabweans is making waves, calling for greater inclusion in wetland governance.

With their future at stake, these activists are not waiting to inherit the mantle, they’re seizing it now.

The push gained momentum at a recent youth seminar on wetlands, held at the University of Zimbabwe and organized by the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change Zimbabwe (AYICCZim), the university’s Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development Institute, and BirdLife Zimbabwe.

The event buzzed with energy as participants crafted a National Youth Position Statement, set to be unveiled at #COP15.

Proposals included establishing a national youth advisory panel on wetlands, boosting support for school-based environmental clubs, and launching a youth-led wetland restoration fund.

Professor Kefasi Nyikahadzoi, a key figure at the seminar, underscored the urgency of youth involvement.

“Their innovation, scientific knowledge, and long-term stake in sustainability make them indispensable,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of decades of environmental research.

The sentiment resonated with the room, where young voices argued they are not just leaders of tomorrow but active contributors today.

Zimbabwe’s Ramsar National Focal Point, Phanuel Mangisi, who also serves as the Environmental Impact Assessment Manager at the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), affirmed the country’s commitment to this cause.

Citing COP14 resolution 14.12, Mangisi highlighted the recent appointment of a national youth coordinator to ensure young perspectives shape wetland policies.

“A new strategic plan will be adopted at COP15, setting fresh targets for global wetlands conservation,” he added, signaling a pivotal moment for the nation’s environmental agenda.

Dr. Samantha Sithole urged young people to take an active role in preserving wetlands, saying their involvement is key to protecting biodiversity and tackling climate change.

The stakes are high. Climate change and wetland degradation, driven by urban expansion, pollution, and unsustainable land use, is accelerating.

In response, the government is actively gazetting ecologically sensitive areas across Zimbabwe, a move youth leaders like Dr. Sithole see as a step forward.

For 19-year-old Tapiwa Moyo, a student at the seminar, the issue is personal.

“Wetlands are our lifeline, clean water, food, and culture depend on them. We need a seat at the table now,” she declared, her resolve mirroring a growing sentiment among peers.

With COP15 on the horizon, these young advocates are poised to transform their demands into lasting change, blending passion with policy to safeguard Zimbabwe’s natural heritage