Vumelani Edwin Dlamini is an experienced forestry and environmental specialist with over 20 years of professional experience in sustainable forest management, climate change mitigation, and forest ecosystem conservation in Eswatini and growing into the SADC region. He has been instrumental in the development of Eswatini’s Forest Reference Levels (FRL) report and has contributed to the UNFCCC technical assessment and reporting processes, particularly in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector.

Currently, Vumelani Edwin Dlamini serves as the country representative for the REDD+ working group in the SADC region and as a correspondent for FAO FRA reporting, advocating for forest management strategies that balance conservation with sustainable economic growth. He aspires to successfully lead national programs, such as the development of a National REDD+ strategy and a national forest monitoring system, and facilitate the establishment of a National Botanical Garden for research and germplasm improvement to which he has already drafted and submitted for funding concept notes.