Zimbabwe to Host Ramsar COP15 as FAO Champions Wetland Restoration and Sustainable Use
The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, scheduled to be held in Zimbabwe from July 23 to 31, 2025, is set to become a landmark event in global efforts to conserve and restore wetland ecosystems. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has confirmed its active involvement, reaffirming its dedication to integrating wetlands into the global agenda for sustainable development and food security.
Wetlands are among the planet’s most valuable and vulnerable ecosystems. They provide essential services such as supporting rich biodiversity, filtering water, storing carbon, mitigating floods, and adapting to climate change. Yet, these critical habitats are rapidly degrading due to pressures like unchecked agricultural expansion, industrial pollution, and growing urban footprints.
The Ramsar Convention, a global intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the protection and wise use of wetlands, serves as a vital framework for addressing these challenges through cooperation, policy action, and conservation strategies.
FAO’s engagement in COP15 underlines the vital interdependence between wetlands and food systems. Integrated wetland-agriculture landscapes not only contribute to environmental stability but also support livelihoods, particularly in rural communities dependent on fisheries, rice cultivation, and agroforestry. Through its participation, FAO will advocate for nature-based solutions and policy frameworks that promote both ecological health and food system resilience.
Key topics at Ramsar COP15 are expected to include innovative financing for wetland projects, science-based conservation planning, and enhanced cross-border collaboration. With climate change intensifying natural disasters and threatening ecosystems, the role of wetlands as carbon sinks and climate buffers has never been more important.
As World Wetlands Day 2025 approaches, the outcomes of this high-level conference will shape global wetland conservation strategies. FAO’s leadership at the summit reflects a growing global momentum toward restoring and preserving these vital ecosystems while ensuring they contribute meaningfully to sustainable food production and human development.
