Africa’s wildlife, along with the human population, is suffering greatly from the effects of climate change that UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mahommed saw first-hand on Sunday in Zimbabwe. While global temperatures continue to rise and the world seeks ways to stem the flood, the deputy UN leader visited Hwange National Park, which is roughly half the size of Belgium at 14,651square kilometres.
“We have seen what climate change is doing to our environment and livelihoods”, she said. “We saw how the park is hounded by climate change; the way in which Hwange is hot, the water, and even animal migration and people”.
Hillary Madhiri of national parks and the wildlife office stated that there were over 400 birds and 150 mammal species–45000 of them elephants–affected by unreliable weather patterns that lead to reduced rainfall. Key issues include human-wildlife conflict, water shortage, habitat loss, limited resource levels, population management and community collaborations for conservation. Park protection.
“It’s quiet complex,” the deputy UN chief observed. Mr Madhiri maintained that of all the problems “climate change is our biggest challenge”.
He said that, despite the use of green technologies by the park and the collapse of more than 100 boreholes to protect animals from literally killing thirst in the dry season, much has yet to be achieved.
Prelude to meeting
In Zimbabwe, the Deputy General Secretary shall participate in the 6th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, which will start on Monday and run until Thursday in Victoria Falls. Ms Mohammed said she would participate in a discussion on the UN-African Union Regional Coordination Mechanism. The focus will be provided to the elements needed to speed up progress on the ground for nations to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063–the master plan for turning Africa into a global superpower–and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda–the blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the world.
“What a better place than Zimbabwe to show the kind of leadership that we would like to see in transforming Africa through the Agendas 2063 and2030,” the UN deputy chief said.
Data Source: UN News
