Bringing Chidobe Wetland Back to Life
Posted on June, 09 2025
Years of drought, deforestation, and excessive trampling by animals had caused the Chidobe wetland’s dam to fill up with silt, and one of its springs to dry up, leaving 500 families and hundreds of cattle with limited water supply. Local gardens had been abandoned, and the community was affected.
In July 2024, under the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas (CAPA) initiative, being implemented by WWF Zimbabwe and sponsored by Global Affairs Canada, 75 community members came together to desilt the dam and prevent further degradation to the springs. By December 2024, the dam’s storage capacity had been restored by 60%, in time for the rains, with water from the remaining springs flowing into the dam again. The community’s teamwork and inclusion of women and youth brought hope back to Chidobe, showing that when people unite, they can restore nature and improve their lives.
Protecting the Wetland for the Future
To sustain the desilting of the Chidobe dam, and protection of the wetland core from further damage, the Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Agency (EMA) put up a perimeter fence around the springs and dam, directing livestock from the wetland’s core area to designated watering spots. The community, guided by training from the Hwange Rural District Council, built stone and gabion structures to reduce soil erosion and reclaim the gullies leading to the wetland. The youth in the community went on to plant 1,500 vetiver grass plants to bind the soil and reduce runoff. These actions have helped the wetland to stay healthy, improved water quality, and guarantee that the ecosystem can support both people and wildlife for years to come.
Opportunities in Nature-based Solutions.
Restoring Chidobe wetland is not just about water; it’s about growing a better future. A group of women and youth will be managing a 15-by-15-metre tree nursery, learning how to grow seedlings for replanting in the wetland, on farms and on degraded sites. This nursery will help reforest the area, reduce runoff, and provide new ways for families to generate income. With the wetland coming back to life, the community is also reviving their gardens, planning to grow nutritious crops and chillies that can be sold and help deter elephants from the gardens and fields. These efforts have brought new hope, empowered women and young people, and made Chidobe stronger and more resilient to climate change.
Protecting the Wetland for the Future
To sustain the desilting of the Chidobe dam, and protection of the wetland core from further damage, the Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Agency (EMA) put up a perimeter fence around the springs and dam, directing livestock from the wetland’s core area to designated watering spots. The community, guided by training from the Hwange Rural District Council, built stone and gabion structures to reduce soil erosion and reclaim the gullies leading to the wetland. The youth in the community went on to plant 1,500 vetiver grass plants to bind the soil and reduce runoff. These actions have helped the wetland to stay healthy, improved water quality, and guarantee that the ecosystem can support both people and wildlife for years to come.
Opportunities in Nature-based Solutions.
Restoring Chidobe wetland is not just about water; it’s about growing a better future. A group of women and youth will be managing a 15-by-15-metre tree nursery, learning how to grow seedlings for replanting in the wetland, on farms and on degraded sites. This nursery will help reforest the area, reduce runoff, and provide new ways for families to generate income. With the wetland coming back to life, the community is also reviving their gardens, planning to grow nutritious crops and chillies that can be sold and help deter elephants from the gardens and fields. These efforts have brought new hope, empowered women and young people, and made Chidobe stronger and more resilient to climate change.
Community members desilting Chidobe Wetland
© WWF Zimbabwe
Community members desilting Chidobe Wetland
© WWF Zimbabwe