UN’s Deputy Secretary-general, General Amina Mahommed, disclosed this on Sunday 23rd February, 2020 at the 6th Africa Regional Forum on sustainable development in Zimbabwe.
He observed that alongside the human population, Africa’s animals are suffering from the effects of climate change.
As global temperatures continue to rise and the world seeks solutions to stem the tide. This is the reason deputy UN chief visited Hwange National Park, almost half the size of Belgium.
“We have seen what climate change is doing to our environment and livelihoods”, she said.
“We noticed how the climate change affected the park. After that, we observed the way Hwange is hot. Not only that, it affected water, animal migration and the people in the region,” she added.
Hillary Madhiri of the national parks and wildlife office said that more than 400 bird and 150 mammal species – 45,000 of them elephants – are suffering.
Furthermore, he disclosed that the major issues had to do with the conflict between humans and wildlife. He stressed that the park battled lack of water, loss of habitat and limited resources. He added that another challenge was population management and community partnerships to preserve the park.
Mr. Madhiri maintained that of all the problems “climate change is our biggest challenge”.
He stated that the park used green technologies and built over 100 boreholes to save the animals from dying. Nevertheless, the park still has more to do.
However, Ms. Mohammed commended the park’s efforts to buffer nature against climate change.
