Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Zimbabwe
This inventory showcases the variety of nature-based solutions (NbS) projects that have been completed recently or are currently under implementation in Zimbabwe. It provides information on the approach taken by these projects, the climate and biodiversity risks they address, the intended beneficiaries, and the ecosystems they target.
Key Findings
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Geographically, the NbS projects are concentrated in areas such as Hwange National Park, Zambezi National Park, Zambezi Valley, and the Victoria Falls region. These areas are biodiversity hotspots and face significant climate risks, making them priority locations for conservation efforts.
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Reforestation and wildlife corridor conservation are the primary focus of NbS projects in Zimbabwe.
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Many NbS projects emphasize community participation, integrating Traditional Knowledge with modern conservation practices. This approach ensures equitable distribution of benefits and strengthens local ownership.
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Interventions span diverse sectors, including water management, wildlife conservation, sustainable agriculture, and forestry. Each contributes to improving Zimbabwe’s climate resilience and biodiversity conservation.
Zimbabwe faces a range of climate-related challenges, including prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainfall that threaten water security and agriculture, rising temperatures that impact ecosystems and biodiversity, and increased vulnerability of communities reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods.
NbS, especially ecosystem-based adaptation, offer cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to conventional infrastructure-based solutions by harnessing ecosystem services to address these challenges. For instance, wetland restoration in riverine areas helps mitigate flooding and improve water quality; reforestation initiatives combat desertification and create carbon sinks; and wildlife corridor management reduces human–wildlife conflict and supports biodiversity.
This inventory highlights the various NbS responses across the country to the climate and biodiversity crises, as well as efforts to address the increasing risks and vulnerabilities posed by a changing climate. It provides information on the approach taken by these projects, the climate and biodiversity risks they address, the intended beneficiaries, and the ecosystems they target. The information is beneficial for government officials, adaptation and conservation practitioners, and donors, and can help them understand the landscape of NbS implementation in the country, pinpoint existing gaps, potential synergies, and collaboration opportunities, and avoid duplication.
Participating experts
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