Locally-led Indigenous Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in Zimbabwe
Document reference number: 1
Locally-led Indigenous Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in Zimbabwe – Public Comments Invited
February 20, 2025 – The Global Affairs Canada must determine whether the proposed Locally-led Indigenous Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation project, located in Zimbabwe, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.
To help inform this determination, the Global Affairs Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.
Written comments must be submitted by March 24, 2025 to:
Environment Specialists
Global Affairs Canada
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau (QC) J8X 4B7
Email:?CommentsIAARegistry-CommentairesRegistreLEI@international.gc.ca
The Proposed Project
The project seeks to foster low-carbon and climate-resilient economies in three districts of Zimbabwe (Gwanda, Mwenezi and Binga). These three regions are experiencing significant loss of biodiversity and ecosystems, high levels of food insecurity and are strongly affected by climate change.
The following physical works are proposed:
Boreholes : 9 boreholes will be constructed (4 in Gwanda, 4 in Binga, 1 in Mwenezi) to provide water for domestic, irrigation and livestock use and to minimize human and livestock pressure on existing wetland areas and water bodies. Each borehole will be equipped with a solar-powered pump system that will supply water to small irrigation systems and water tanks for community use. Piped water systems are expected to include headwork (livestock water trough, washing basins and soak away) aimed at improving health and hygiene at the water point. Water points will be fenced to prevent contamination. Boreholes will be capped.
Gully rehabilitation : Gully rehabilitation will take place in each district to address soil erosion and land degradation from heavy rainfall and flooding. In some locations this work will be part of wetland restoration activities. Rehabilitation will take place through physical and biological erosion control methods. Wire mesh will be used to construct gabion baskets which will be filled with locally acquired stones. These will be permanently anchored into gully banks or walls. Cement will be used to strengthen the bondage between the gabion and soil. Physical methods also include stone pitching and construction of silt traps. Biological methods include planting of indigenous plants such as aloe vera and Euphorbia tirucalli L. across the gully. In arable lands, vativa grass will be grown across eroded areas at intervals determined by the slope of the land. The restored land will be used for agriculture activities.
Erosion control: construct gabion baskets which will be filled with locally acquired stones. These will be permanently anchored into gully banks or walls. Cement will be used to strengthen the bondage between the gabion and soil. Physical methods also include stone pitching and construction of silt traps. Biological methods include planting of indigenous plants such as aloe vera and Euphorbia tirucalli L. across the gully. In arable lands, vativa grass will be grown across eroded areas at intervals determined by the slope of the land. The restored land will be used for agriculture activities.
Small dam rehabilitation : In Gwanda district, existing small dams in communities have limited water retention due to siltation from erosion. Dam scooping/de-siltation and re-vegetation will be carried out at five existing small dams to abate soil erosion and enhance water collection and retention of these local dams. the work will cross seasonal rivers and there will be tempoary encroachement of the water body formed by the dam during desiltation.