Southern Africa unites to protect wetlands |26 July 2025
The Seychelles delegation
SADC Ramsar Regional Initiative officially launched
The official launch of the Southern Africa Ramsar Regional Initiative at Ramsar COP15 on July 24, 2025 marks a critical step towards strengthening wetland conservation efforts across the Southern African Development Community region.
This landmark event highlights the vital role of wetlands in biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods, reinforcing regional and global commitments to their protection.
Recognised under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the Southern Africa Ramsar Regional Initiative (SARRI) is designed to advance transboundary conservation strategies and mobilise resources for wetland restoration and management.
The initiative will serve as a platform for collaboration among governments, conservation organisations and development partners to ensure effective policies and actions safeguard wetlands for future generations.
The launch brought together ministers from Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, senior representatives from the Ramsar secretariat, SADC secretariat, IUCN, and esteemed development partners such as the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB), NatureXapirs, MedWet and others. As a high-level event at Ramsar COP15, it underscores the urgency of coordinated efforts to protect and restore these critical ecosystems.
Seychelles was represented by Jean Claude Labrosse, National Focal Point for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Seychelles; Nigel Simeon, the Senior Climate Adaptation officer from Climate Change Division and Corrine Julie, the Technical & Advocacy Manager from Nature Seychelles.
The event included opening remarks and keynote speeches from representatives of the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Ramsar secretariat, SADC secretariat and IUCN, highlighting regional leadership and commitments to wetlands conservation. It was followed by a panel discussion reflecting on SARRI’s journey since Ramsar COP14 in 2022 and its future direction in advancing transboundary wetlands management as well as engagement with development partners to build momentum for sustainable investment in wetlands conservation, ensuring long-term resilience and impact.
The Southern Africa Ramsar Regional Initiative (SARRI) has been developed over 18 months and is backed by a strong coalition of governments, organisations and stakeholders dedicated to protecting wetlands through shared knowledge, resources and coordinated action.
Contributed