Zimbabwe is officially mapping out how to pay for protecting its natural treasures, and the United Nations is stepping in to help make sure the money reaches the people who need it most.
Harare, Zimbabwe - This week, the country launched its journey with the global Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), a program already adopted by 90 other nations.
The goal is simple but massive: find the funds to keep Zimbabwe’s forests, wildlife, and water sources healthy while also boosting local economies. Speaking at the launch event, Constance Pepukai, a leader with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), put it plainly: You can’t have a healthy economy without a healthy environment.
“They say money makes the world go round,” Pepukai said. “But without healthy forests, clean water, and thriving ecosystems, the world won’t go round for long.” Her message was a wake-up call about the link between finance and nature. She stressed that protecting the environment isn’t just about saving trees or animals, it’s about protecting the basic resources people rely on every single day.
Pepukai assured the government that the UNDP will stick with Zimbabwe every step of the way, offering expert advice and helping build partnerships. But she also made it clear that the funds raised need to flow beyond government offices. “Investments in nature should support rural livelihoods, women’s economic empowerment, and opportunities for youth,” she said. “Ensuring that communities benefit from sustainable resource management is essential for long-term conservation success.” That last point is critical in Zimbabwe, where nearly 70% of the population depends on nature for their income and daily needs, from farming to fishing to tourism.
So, what’s the price tag for all of this? According to global estimates, the world needs to raise about US$200 billion every year by 2030 to close the gap in nature funding. For Zimbabwe specifically, reaching its conservation goals between 2025 and 2030 will cost roughly US$1.51 billion.
The BIOFIN strategy is designed to help the country unlock that money, not just through government budgets, but through private investment and innovative financing that puts cash directly into the hands of local communities. For Zimbabweans who rely on clean rivers to drink and healthy forests to farm, the success of this initiative could mean the difference between poverty and prosperity. As Pepukai put it, the money has to benefit people—because if nature suffers, so do we all.
