Zimbabwe DSL-IP Project

The Zimbabwe Drylands Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme (DSL-IP)

The Project focuses on restoring degraded land and forests in the Save and Runde catchments. It is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF 7) and implemented by FAO in partnership with government agencies and NGOs.

Goals:

To promote sustainable land and forest management while improving ecosystem resilience and livelihoods.
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DSL-IP Project

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2,150 ha

Land restored

172,540 ha

Under improved practices

1.26 million tCO₂e

Emissions mitigated

15,000

Beneficiaries (≥52% women)

Key Achievements

Land Restoration & Climate Impact

  • 2,989 ha restored (exceeds target)
  • 155,986 ha under community forest management (exceeds 130,000 ha target)
  • 5% of emissions target achieved
  • 705 ha rehabilitated through gully restoration

Sustainable Land Management (SLM)

  • 26,400 ha under climate-smart agriculture (88% of target)
  • Adoption of:
  • Pfumvudza/Conservation Agriculture
  • Agroforestry (3,623 ha)
  • Terracing and water conservation

 Livelihoods & Value Chains

  • US$37,000 revenue generatedfrom green value chains
  • 15 business plans developedfor producer groups
  • 200 savings groups mobilized
  • Savings: US$58,000
  • Loans: US$84,600

 Gender & Inclusion

  • 63% of beneficiaries are women(above 52% target)
  • Women hold >52% leadership positions
  • Strong participation in:
  • Farmer Field Schools
  • Savings groups
  • Value chains

Institutional Strengthening

  • Functional LDN Technical Working Groupsat all levels
  • 11 Environmental Sub-Committees trained
  • Integrated Land Use Planning (ILUP) piloted successfully
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Major Issues & Challenges

Environmental Risks

  • Veld fires increased sharply:
  • 2024: 3,784 ha burned
  • 2025: 9,267 ha burned
    • Causes:
  • High biomass from rainfall
  • Weak enforcement
  • Human activities

3.2 Land Degradation Drivers

  • Overgrazing and poor rangeland management
  • Invasive species (e.g. Sporobolus pyramidalis)
  • Deforestation and unsustainable resource use

Gender Barriers

Despite progress:

  • Cultural norms still limit women’s leadership
  • Heavy domestic workloads reduce participation
  • Resistance from some male stakeholders

Weak Market Performance

  • Some value chains underperform:
  • Low returns from raw products (e.g. baobab)
  • Limited value addition
    • Earnings per member often < US$40

Policy & Financing Gaps

  • Fragmented governance systems
  • Weak land tenure security
  • Limited and uncoordinated financing

Community-Level Challenges

  • Human–wildlife conflict (crop/livestock losses)
  • Limited benefit-sharing from conservation
  • Tensions with park authorities
  • Restricted cross-border movement (Zimbabwe–Mozambique).