Indigenous knowledge systems in the collaborative governance of wetlands conservation in rural areas of Zimbabwe

Wetlands in rural areas provide essential ecosystem services like water purification and flood control, but they are increasingly threatened by human activity, climate change, and poor governance. This study investigated the integration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into collaborative governance frameworks to bolster wetland conservation in rural Zimbabwean contexts. Guided by the Socio-Ecological Systems (SES) framework and an interpretivist philosophy, the research employed a qualitative design. Participants included local elders, traditional leaders, and government officials engaged in wetland management. Data were collected via focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, field observations across six wetland sites, and archival secondary sources. Thematic analysis showed that indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) like myths, taboos, totems, and traditional leadership provide strong protection for wetlands and promote sustainability. Historically, these practices have helped mitigate droughts, floods, and degradation, enhancing socio-ecological resilience. However, colonial legacies, rural-urban migration, youth disengagement, and modernization undermine IKS effectiveness by disrupting oral knowledge transmission and cultural adherence. To address these threats, the study proposes multi-stakeholder collaborative governance, epistemic equity between indigenous and scientific knowledge, policy-level formalization of IKS, youth-targeted revitalization initiatives, and institutional validation of cultural protocols. Such synergies promise enhanced adaptive capacity, resilient management, and enduring conservation aligned with SES principles.