Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Zimbabwe has 20 Important Bird Areas covering 30,050 km 2 , or 7.7 per cent of the total surface area [ ] 239 A participatory approach A statutory instrument on access to genetic resources was formulated in 2011 and a draft policy on intellectual property is also being devised. Ac- ceptance of the principles of equitable access and benefit sharing is en- shrined in the Constitution and the Indigenization and Economic Em- powerment Act. This has led to the creation of community share owner- ship trusts in the mining sector. Wildlife-based and forest-based land reform programmes have provid- ed the basis for indigenous communi- ties to engage in enterprises that have created community game ranches and commercial communal conservancies. There are local-level participatory institutions for natural resource man- agement, such as community-based enterprises for beneficiation of natural resources, river catchment manage- ment councils, wildlife committees, environmental subcommittees and fire management committees. The National Water Policy of 2013 incorporates overall environmental protection and pledges the provision of adequate quantities and quality of water for wetland ecosystems and wildlife. Integrated environmental concerns that promote biodiversity conservation are incorporated in the National Energy Policy of 2012, the Comprehensive Agricultural Policy Framework, the Ministry of Mining and Mining Development’s Five-Year Strategy Plan (2011–2015) and several statutory instruments on aspects such as commercial exploitation of forest-based products and access to genetic resources and indigenous resource-based knowledge. The National Environmental Council, comprising permanent secretaries of relevant ministries, academics and representatives from civil society and industry, provides impetus for improved harmonization of policies and conservation efforts. BirdLife Zimbabwe has identified and mapped Important Bird Areas and undertakes regular monitoring of bird populations and assessments of habitats. The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Author- ity has collaborated with national, regional and international scientific and academic institutions to conduct research and wildlife and animal surveys in protected areas. Ongoing monitoring of lion, wild dog and elephant populations takes place with financial support from the private and NGO sectors. The National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens carried out reassess- ment of habitats and endemic plant species in the Eastern Highlands in 2012. Other projects include Forestry Commission monitoring of invasive alien species in Eastern Highlands plantations, and a Man and the Bio- sphere monitoring programme. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Z imbabwe’s Protected Area (PA) network is made up of national parks, wildlife estates and gazetted forests, conservancies and Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources areas. Together, PAs constitute 28 per cent of the total land area. Human encroachment on some protected areas, private game reserves and conservancies has resulted in changes to ecosystems and habitats. Zimbabwe has intensified efforts at conserving biodiversity through participation in five transfrontier conservation areas. The country’s forest biodiversity comprises plantations, protected indigenous forests, woodlands, bushland and wooded grasslands. Ninara on flickr