Notification
Message from the Secretary General
Date: 14.03.2025
Turning 2025 into a year of action and opportunity for our Convention
COP15 is fast approaching, and the energy is building! These past few months have been very active indeed—bringing people together, strengthening partnerships, and setting the groundwork for a truly impactful conference. As a Secretariat, we continue engaging with leaders, experts, and communities who share our vision for wetlands conservation, and I couldn’t be more excited for what lies ahead.
SC64: Setting the stage for a transformative COP15
At SC64, Contracting Parties came together to refine key agenda items for COP15 and ensure alignment with global conservation priorities. Delegates engaged in constructive discussions on financial mechanisms, strategic initiatives, and emerging challenges, reinforcing the Convention’s role in international environmental governance. The decisions taken at SC64 will shape the discussions in Victoria Falls and provide a strong foundation for advancing wetlands conservation at the highest level. Following SC64, Deputy Secretary General Jay Aldous along with Conference and Governance Services Officer Delphine Bremond and Data and IT Manager Manuel Kern travelled to Zimbabwe to assess COP15 preparations, ensuring that the planning process remains on track.
Strengthening diplomatic partnerships for wetlands conservation
Engagement with ambassadors has been an important part of my outreach. On 7 January, the Secretariat welcomed H.E. Mr. Febrian Ruddyard of Indonesia and H.E. Mr. Rachid Bladehane of Algeria. My discussion with Ambassador Bladehane focused on strengthening Algeria’s engagement with the Convention, while Ambassador Ruddyard bid farewell as he transitions to a new role as Vice Minister of National Development Planning in Indonesia.
On 13 January, I paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See in Geneva. As the role of faith in environmental conservation is undoubtedly critical, I invited the Holy See to resume their Observer status at the Convention meetings.
The next day, I met with H.E. Mr. Leslie Ramsammy of Guyana, whose background in public health and environmental policy brings a valuable perspective to our discussions. Our meeting explored pathways for Guyana’s accession to the Convention and the organisation of a joint diplomatic briefing on wetland conservation for missions from the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) countries. Following up on this request, the Secretariat offered a briefing on 12 March at the United Nations Office at Geneva.
On the margins of SC64, on 22 January, I welcomed Minister Sheralizoda Bahodur of Tajikistan to our offices pledging our commitment to supporting Contracting Parties as they implement the Convention. This year Tajikistan will hold an International Glaciers Conference which will contribute in many ways to wetlands preservation campaigns on the global level.
I also had a meeting with Minister Aziz Abdukhakimov of Uzbekistan in Geneva on 3 February, during which I briefed him on the ongoing COP15 preparations and important role of the participation of Ministers from the Contracting Parties.
Strengthening global collaboration
Beyond COP15 preparations, the past three months have been instrumental in advancing strategic partnerships. In February, at the invitation of the European Space Agency (ESA), I delivered remarks at the opening of the BIOSPACE25 Conference in Frascati, Italy. This engagement underscored the vital role of Earth Observation in wetland conservation, building on the findings of the STRP-led consultation on this topic. In a bilateral meeting with ESA leadership, we discussed an upcoming Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will formalise our collaboration and help deliver on priorities identified by our Contracting Parties.
While in Rome, I also met with senior leadership from FAO and IFAD to deepen collaboration with these key UN agencies. These discussions focused on aligning wetland conservation with food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience efforts.
World Wetlands Day 2025
World Wetlands Day 2025 was a momentous occasion, marked by more than 1,800 events around the world as well as my own important engagements in Zimbabwe. During my visit, together with the Secretariat’s Senior Advisor for Africa Zebedee Njisuh, I met with the national and local COP15 organising committees to review preparations for the conference. Minister of Environment Dr Sithembiso Nyoni was gracious enough to take us on a tour of the COP15 venue at the Elephant Hills Resort and Conference Centre, and we left reassured by the progress being made.
We were also honoured to meet with Minister of Defence Dr Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who was representing the President of Zimbabwe, to discuss both the World Wetlands Day celebrations and the path ahead for COP15.
The official World Wetlands Day ceremony took place in Kasibu, Hwange, where we witnessed firsthand the benefits of wetland restoration. Visiting rehabilitated wetlands and community farms where women are using restored wetland water for agriculture reaffirmed the power of conservation to support both ecosystems and livelihoods.
Strengthening engagement at key events
Pursuant to the call from our Contracting Parties for enhanced engagement with GEF, our team participated for the first time in a GEF Technical Advisory Group meeting. Senior Advisor for Asia and Oceania Beom-Sik Yoo and Wetland Finance Support Officer Yejin Lee travelled to Washington D.C. the GEF 9th Replenishment Cycle which plays a significant role in shaping the organisation’s portfolio for the coming years.
Senior Advisor for Europe Flore Lafaye de Micheaux, Capacity Development and Policy Support Officer Robert Godoy Recasens, and Technical Support Officer for Europe Laura Berner-Alteneder provided National Wetlands Inventory training for Francophone countries at Tour du Valat and MedWet, bolstering technical capacity in the region.
At the Biodiversity Liaison Group (BLG) in Rome, Director, Science and Policy Jerker Tamelander represented me and contributed to discussions that align with our sixth Joint Workplan with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)—including important updates on the Cali Fund.
Your dedication and passion are what drive this Convention forward, and I am deeply grateful for your efforts. With COP15 on the horizon, I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together as the year unfolds.
With my warmest regards,
Dr Musonda Mumba
Secretary General
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Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands
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