Nqobile Bhebhe Zimpapers Business Hub Zimbabwe today joins the international community in commemorating Desertification and Drought Day under the globally resonant theme, “Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities” with officials saying the observance underscores the urgent call to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems and unlock the socio-economic potential inherent in sustainable land management. In a statement marking the commemorations, Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Director General, Mr Aaron Chigona , said the occasion affirms humanity’s shared responsibility to rejuvenate degraded landscapes. “This observance serves as a critical affirmation of humanity’s collective capacity to revitalise degraded terrestrial ecosystems, thereby transforming them into sources of abundant opportunity,” said Mr Chigona. For Zimbabwe, a country deeply rooted in agriculture and natural resource-based livelihoods, the call to restore land has deep national significance, Mr Chingona said. “Our dedication to land restoration transcends mere environmental compliance; it represents a foundational pillar of our national developmental aspirations. “We acknowledge that land degradation and drought present substantial challenges to our agricultural output, water availability, and overarching socio-economic stability. These environmental pressures directly impact our capacity to achieve the sustainable development objectives articulated within Vision 2030, which envisages an empowered and prosperous upper middle-income society,” added Mr Chingona. Mr Chigona stressed that productive land is central to food security, job creation and resilient communities. Zimbabwe has made notable strides in aligning its development agenda with international frameworks, particularly the UNCCD, through the establishment of its Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets. “Our LDN targets are ambitious yet attainable, signifying our resolute commitment to arresting and reversing land degradation, thereby ensuring that future generations inherit a fertile and productive national landscape,” Mr Chigona noted. “These targets transcend mere numerical objectives; they embody our collective commitment to restoring our wetlands, rejuvenating our forest cover, safeguarding our grasslands, and implementing sustainable land management practices across all economic sectors.” Zimbabwe’s environmental leadership will be on global display when it hosts the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands from y 23 to 31 July this year. “This significant event will provide a crucial platform for Zimbabwe to reaffirm its steadfast dedication to the judicious utilisation and conservation of wetland ecosystems,” said Mr Chigona. “Wetlands are crucial ecological systems that fulfill a vital role in mitigating the impacts of drought, facilitating groundwater recharge, supporting biodiversity, and providing essential ecosystem services.” Restoration efforts on wetlands are integral to Zimbabwe’s broader environmental agenda, and directly contribute to sustainable water resources management and climate resilience. The national observance of Desertification and Drought Day is not just a call for environmental action, but a spotlight on the development potential embedded in land restoration. “Through the restoration of our land, we are not solely improving environmental conditions; we are concurrently forging new avenues for economic expansion and human welfare,” said Mr Chigona. These include green job creation, improved agricultural yields, eco-tourism revitalisation, enhanced water quality, and stronger climate resilience. As the world reaches the halfway mark of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), Zimbabwe is reinforcing its call for inclusive and urgent action. “It is incumbent upon us to translate our aspirations into concrete actions on the ground. Every Zimbabwean individual agriculturalists, community leaders, corporate entities, and policy-makers holds a crucial responsibility in this collective endeavour,” Mr Chigona said. “Let us collectively adopt sustainable land management practices, engage actively in restoration initiatives, and advocate for policies that prioritize the ecological integrity of our land,” he added. “Collectively, 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 realisation of our Vision 2030.”