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KAZA TFCA joins the global community in commemorating World Wetlands Day
As the world commemorates World Wetlands Day on 2 February 2026, under the theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” the Secretariat of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) pays tribute to the local communities across the landscape for their centuries‑long stewardship in protecting, managing, and sustainably using wetlands.
KAZA TFCA hosts three Ramsar sites—the Okavango Delta (Botswana), Rainforest/Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), and Mahangu National Park (Namibia).
Beyond these designated sites, wetlands stretch across vast areas of the KAZA landscape, delivering essential ecological goods and services and sustaining millions of livelihoods.
Picture credit: Johann Vorster / Wild Bird Trust
Since 2019, KAZA has advanced several initiatives aimed at improving the recognition, sustainable management, and wise use of wetlands. Key recent milestones include:
- Prioritization of the Cuando River for Collective Action
This multi-country effort has led to the development of several scientific and management tools and strengthened collaboration across the basin focused on the Cuando River Basin. Achievements include:
- Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Plan
- Basin Health Scorecard
- Environmental Flows Assessment
- Installation of Water Quality Monitoring Stations
- State of the Basin Report
- Strategic Environmental Assessment
- Groundwater Assessment for the Cuando River Basin
- Transboundary Diagnostic Assessment
These tools collectively enhance evidence‑based decision‑making and long‑term sustainability.
2. Kavango–Zambezi “Rivers of Life” Tourism Brand
Launched in May 2024, this shared tourism destination brand celebrates the vital role wetlands—and the river systems that connect them—play in shaping the landscape’s ecological integrity and tourism offerings. It recognizes the interconnectedness of the Cuando, Chobe, Kavango, Kafue, Zambezi and rivers in the landscape, which form the lifeblood of the TFCA’s tourism industry.
In July 2025, Zimbabwe hosted the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention in Victoria Falls. During the event, three KAZA Wetland Cities were officially declared:
- Shakawe (Botswana),
- Kasane–Kazungula (Botswana),
- Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe).
These designations highlight exemplary urban wetland conservation efforts within the KAZA landscape.
On the sidelines of COP15, the KAZA Secretariat joined the Wild Bird Trust and the Secretariat of the Wetlands Convention to celebrate the then anticipated designation of Lisima Lya Mwono as a Wetland of International Importance. This gathering brought together traditional leaders from Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, underscoring the deep cultural connections between communities and their wetlands. The event honoured the ecological importance of this vital source region and the cultural wisdom of the communities who have protected it for generations.
Post COP 15, the government of Angola and the Secretariat of the Wetlands Convention announced the designation of Lisima Lya Mwono as the country’s first Ramsar Site in January this year. Located in Angola’s central and southeastern highlands, the site derives its name from the Luchazi language meaning “Source of Life.”
Although situated outside the KAZA TFCA boundary, the site forms a crucial component of the headwaters of the Zambezi River, playing a significant ecological role for the broader region. The Lisima Lya Mwono site forms a vital component of the broader Angolan Highlands Water Tower, whose contribution to regional food and water security is becoming increasingly indispensable amid the growing impacts of climate change.
Angola also hosted its second Ride do Okavango in September 2025, beginning at the sources of the Cuando and Kavango Rivers, drawing national and regional attention to the importance of safeguarding wetlands.
#ZAMCOM #OKACOM #sadc #IWMI #PPF #WWF #sadcGMI #KfW #TNC #WildBirdTrust #NGOWPConservation #NGOWP #Lisima #TheConventiononWetlands #ANAGERO
