27/07/2026
The Zimbabwe Youth Biodiversity Network was represented recently at the National Convention on Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) by Tapiwa Prosper Chimbadzwa . It brought together Government representatives, traditional leaders, communities, conservation organisations, development partners, academia and the private sector to reflect on the future of community-led conservation in Zimbabwe. 🌍🌿🤝
The convention was hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife in partnership with WWF Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation Zimparks Forestry Commission Zimbabwe , Environmental Management Agency Maliasili and Embassy of Sweden in Harare 🏛️🌳
The Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, highlighted that CBNRM is not only a conservation approach but a pathway for sustainable development that places communities at the centre of managing Zimbabwe’s natural resources. 🗣️🌱🌟
“Community-based natural resource management is not merely a conservation approach. It is a development approach that places communities at the centre of conservation,” she said. 💬🏞️👩👩👧👦
The discussions reflected on how CBNRM has evolved over the years from early conservation initiatives to a model that recognises communities as custodians, decision-makers and partners in protecting natural resources. 📈🤝🌍
As Zimbabwe works to strengthen community-based conservation, stakeholders explored opportunities to improve community governance, enhance benefit-sharing, address human-wildlife conflict and align CBNRM with national development priorities. 🐘🧑🤝🧑💰
The message is clear: conservation succeeds when communities are empowered as equal partners in protecting Zimbabwe’s natural heritage. 💪🇿🇼💚
We are closely engaged in this discussionas it seeks to place communitie and youth at the centre of biodiversity conservation. 🔔📰🗓️
