Germany and SADC Partners Strengthen Rangeland Restoration Efforts in Southern Africa

In the wake of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention, held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from 23–31 July 2025, a high-level German delegation from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) visited the IKI-financed Growing Greener Project: Restoration and Sustainable Management of Agropastoral Systems in Open Arid Landscapes across Southern Africa. The visit underlined the COP15 theme – “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future” – by showcasing how community-led conservation models are building resilience in some of Southern Africa’s most fragile ecosystems.

The delegation – led by Dr. Jochen Gebauer, the Head of Division for International Cooperation on Biodiversity at the BMUKN – included Ms. Verena Klinger-Dering, Head of Division for International Cooperation on Biodiversity; Dr. Alban Kisife, Policy Officer for International Biodiversity Cooperation; and Dr. Kim Grützmacher, Head of Division for International Nature Conservation at the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN).

They visited the Simalaha Community Conservancy (SCC), located on the floodplains of the Zambezi River in Zambia’s Western Province, a flagship site for the Herding for Health (H4H) approach under the Growing Greener project.  Implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and in partnership with Peace Parks Foundation (PPF), Conservation International (CI), and Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), the conservancy is a pioneering example of community-owned and community-driven conservation that aligns local livelihoods with sustainable land management.

Through H4H, livestock herders are implementing planned grazing and resting cycles, allowing degraded rangelands to recover and thrive. This approach restores biodiversity, reduces desertification, and improves animal health and productivity. It also creates value chain opportunities, linking herders to better markets and strengthening local economies.

During the visit, the delegation met traditional leaders from the Mwandi Kuta (royal court), women’s cooperatives, grazing committees, and eco-rangers who manage livestock across communal rangelands. The exchanges offered firsthand insights into how the project is strengthening local livelihoods, promoting gender inclusion, and advancing sustainable natural resource management.

One memorable highlight was when the delegation joined local herders to guide a herd of 215 cattle back to their night enclosure – a symbolic gesture of shared stewardship. The herders’ skill, confidence, and deep understanding of the land underscored the success of knowledge transfer and local ownership.

“It is encouraging to see that even beyond the life of the programme, the community of Simalaha is positioned to sustain these gains,” said Dr. Jochen Gebauer, commending the strong emphasis on sustainability. “Even without external funding, the cooperatives are ready to continue – that’s the kind of ownership and resilience we strive for.”

Ms. Verena Klinger-Dering highlighted the critical role of women in rangeland restoration: “When women are actively involved and empowered, entire communities thrive. Management of conservation activities in their hands transforms families, restores dignity, and secures a more resilient future.”

Adding his voice, Dr. Alban Kisife noted the project’s holistic approach: “We were particularly impressed by how pest and disease control – especially foot and mouth disease is being tackled in connection with rangeland restoration and community wellbeing.”

A Regional Effort with Global Impact

Across Southern Africa, rangelands cover over 60% of the land area, supporting millions of people and contributing more than 30% to the region’s agricultural GDP. Yet these vital ecosystems are increasingly threatened by land degradation and climate stress.

Through the Herding for Health model, the IKI Growing Greener Project is empowering communities to adopt sustainable rangeland management practices, strengthen market-oriented livestock value chains, and curb greenhouse gas emissions.

In Simalaha alone, the project aims to restore and sustainably manage more than 100,000 hectares of grassland – contributing to the sequestration of over 35,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases. This initiative is part of a broader regional effort spanning Botswana, Madagascar, South Africa, and Zambia.

Strengthening International Collaboration

The visit reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to working with regional partners under the International Climate Initiative (IKI) to advance climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land management. It also highlighted the SADC region’s leadership in linking conservation with development, ensuring that restored ecosystems not only sustain nature but also generate tangible benefits for people.

Through initiatives like Growing Greener, Germany and its partners are demonstrating that local knowledge and community ownership are central to solving global environmental challenges, growing greener economies, one rangeland at a time.

#HerdingforHealth #IKI #SustainableLandManagement