Jonathan Sibanda
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – In a major announcement made at the official opening of the Ramsar COP15 conference, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay revealed that Zimbabwe will open its first-ever National Groundwater Center in 2026.
The new facility will serve as a Center of Excellence to enhance groundwater research, management, and sustainable use in the face of growing climate challenges.
UNESCO, the official depository of the Ramsar Convention, is committed to fostering a better relationship between people and nature through three key priorities: Protecting, Understanding, and Educating. This new center aligns with the second priority—Understanding—by promoting science-based decision-making and deepening knowledge about groundwater systems, particularly in wetland ecosystems.
Azoulay highlighted that the center will not only generate data and scientific insight but also ensure the active involvement of communities and women, while integrating indigenous knowledge systems that have helped local populations live in harmony with their environment for generations.
“At a time when climate disruption is causing upheaval in our world, we must draw from the knowledge of indigenous people—here, like elsewhere—knowledge forged over centuries of living in symbiosis with the environment,” she said.
A National Groundwater Center focuses on research, monitoring, capacity building, and policy support related to underground water resources. For Zimbabwe, it offers a strategic platform to improve water security, guide sustainable land use, and protect vital wetland ecosystems.
By combining traditional wisdom with modern science, the center is expected to advance Zimbabwe’s environmental goals while reinforcing its role in global conservation efforts.
