WORLDWIDE Fund for Nature (WWF) has scaled up efforts to empower women through entrepreneurship in line with sustainable environmental conservation. Speaking during a recent business summit in Harare, WWF Kaza regional spokesperson Vongai Makamure - Nduna bemoaned the extinction of plants and animals that were important to women's day to day lives owing to climate change.
WWF started operating in Zimbabwe in 1984 with a mission to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and build a future in which human beings live in harmony with nature.
"Extreme weather conditions have a huge impact on women’s livelihoods and food security," Makamure-Nduna said.
"Climate change also increases health risks which disproportionately affects women and girls. The loss of biodiversity, including the extinction of certain plants and animals, reduces the availability of these resources, putting women’s livelihoods at risk. Women, especially in low-income countries, are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution caused by the burning of biomass for cooking.
“Exposure to these pollutants leads to respiratory diseases, which affect women’s health more significantly because they are often the primary cooks in the household."
WWF runs various projects in Zimbabwe to help women build resilience to climate through apiculture, goat rearing, among other projects. It has also been supporting initiatives aimed at reducing poaching, human wildlife conflict and raising awareness about conservation and sustainable development. WWF has trained female rangers in Binga under the project. The WWF food security and habitat protection KAZA ARISE project is also promoting sustainable agroecological farming practices by promoting climate resilient agricultural practices and seed varieties.
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WWF is also supporting climate change resilience for the environment and local communities through nature based solutions which include desilting of dams, invasive species removal, tree nurseries support, and gully reclamation, among others.