Victoria Falls – The 15th Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands officially opened on Wednesday, bringing together representatives from 172 member states.
The day was marked by crucial high-level regional meetings and the 65th meeting of the Standing Committee, as delegates began the vital process of aligning priorities for the upcoming formal negotiations.
These initial discussions are instrumental in shaping the conference’s outcomes. “We have held several regional meetings to look at expectations around the draft resolutions,” stated Ramsar Secretary General Dr. Musonda Mumba.
She emphasized that “These discussions help define what countries want to see emerge from the plenary and what priorities should guide the next triennium.”
The collaborative spirit aims to forge a common path forward for global wetland conservation.Further highlighting the importance of international cooperation, Dr. Mumba toured various national exhibition pavilions, including the China Pavilion.
As the outgoing president of COP14, China’s display, alongside others, showcased a diverse range of impactful wetland conservation efforts, drawing praise from the Secretary General for their quality and scope.
Hosted in the iconic Victoria Falls, COP15 is poised to be a pivotal event. Its primary objective is to bolster international cooperation in safeguarding and restoring wetlands, which continue to face severe threats globally.
The conference underscores the urgent need for concerted action to protect these vital ecosystems, which are critical for biodiversity, water regulation, and climate resilience.
The discussions and resolutions emerging from COP15 are expected to set the agenda for wetland conservation for the next three years, reinforcing the message that #WetlandsMatter.
