The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Wetlands will take place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 23-31 July 2025. Some 172 Contracting Parties, alongside NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, indigenous groups, and other observers, will meet to advance global commitments on wetland restoration and its sustainable use, under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future.”

Wetlands play a vital role in agriculture by supplying water for crops, livestock, and aquaculture while also supporting staple food production, particularly in human-made wetlands like rice paddies and ponds. Although agriculture benefits from wetlands, its systems can negatively impact wetlands through water over-use, habitat destruction and pollution.

Agriculture is responsible for 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals. That’s why the degradation of wetlands and freshwater systems threatens agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and water security, making their restoration crucial to achieving sustainable agrifood systems.

Join FAO and the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands along with the COP15 Presidency - Zimbabwe, and key partners, to advance global commitments on wetland restoration and sustainable use, aligning with FAO’s mandate and Strategic Framework 2022–31.

FAO along with its partners will be leading and participating in side events focusing on integrated approaches that balance water use for food production with the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems.