Protected Areas

 232

 Areas Protected

 106,838 km2


Terrestrial and Inland Water

27.21%

28.00%

Area protected, as per WDPA

Area protected, as per country reports

Coastal and Marine Coverage

Not Applicable

Area protected or conserved,
as per WDPA

Key species

Zimbabwe is home to almost 6,000 vascular plant species, of which 214 are endemic. There are 211 species considered threatened, but this is not a full count as only 10% have been assessed for threat status. Zimbabwe is also home to 670 bird species, 270 mammals, 156 reptile species, 120 amphibians and 151 fish species. There is limited knowledge of micro-organisms.

Pressures and threats

The major causes of biodiversity loss in Zimbabwe are: habitat loss and degradation due to unsustainable agricultural expansion, overgrazing, use of trees as an energy source, fire damage, mining, and infrastructural development; invasive alien species; and climate change. Many birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals are also directly threatened by illegal or unsustainable harvesting, for the illegal bushmeat wildlife trade. High levels of pollution in Zimbabwe’s aquatic systems have also had a large impact on biodiversity in the country.  Underpinning these direct threats are the longer-term challenges of poverty, uncontrolled economic development and a lack of institutional capacity to sustainably manage natural resources.

Protected and conserved areas designated as global sites of importance

Global designation

Number of sites

UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserves

1

UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Natural or Mixed)

2

Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites)

7

 Source ((Ramsar, 2019; UNESCO, 2019a, 2019b)

 

Priority areas for conservation

Designation

Number of sites

Alliance for Zero Extinction sites

1

Important Bird & Biodiversity Areas

18

Key Biodiversity Areas

6

 (AZE Secretariat, 2019; BirdLife International, 2019c, 2019a)

Regional Reference Information System Zimbabwe

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Protected Areas Management and Biodiversity Conservation

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