Creating a Community Conservation Area in Mozambique

Working with government and local community stakeholders, AWF is helping Mozambique to designate a community conservation area to provide much-needed habitat for elephants and other wildlife that roams between Mozambique and the neighboring nations of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Zambezi Heartland – which spans three nations – is home to many large mammals, including elephants. These animals roam from country-to-country – we call this transboundary. Unfortunately, lots of this habitat has been lost or fragmented due to human encroachment – and in Mozambique war has also taken a toll. But, soon, more than 100,000 hectares in the Tete Province of Mozambique will be designated as a Community Conservation Area – and aid in providing a habitat for transboundary populations.

Using 4x4 vehicles, a 12-person multidisciplinary team (including seven participants from Mozambique’s directorates of Tourism, Forestry and Wildlife, Land Planning and Mapping and Environment Coordination) set out in June 2005 to identify an appropriate space in the Tete Province of Mozambique for a Community Conservation Area.

Though not an easy task given the unexplored territory, the team collected key information that confirms this area is a critical dispersal area and offers great conservation and economic opportunities.

The team was divided into two groups. One group focused on investigating biological attributes of the area such as vegetation types, key species, general habitat condition, extent of use by wildlife, soil types and characteristics. The other group investigated socio-economic characteristics of the area such as chiefdoms, number of villages and households, general demographic structure, literacy levels, livelihood strategies, HIV/AIDS situation, and service infrastructure (roads, schools, clinics, shops, etc).

The team’s research indicates that the proposed 138,000 hectare conservation area will indeed benefit the wildlife by providing space critical for their movement and dispersal. AWF continues to collect detailed ecological and socioeconomic data to conclude the final designation of this “anchor” conservation area. And, local communities are enthusiastic about the soon-to-be designated Chawalo Community Conservation Area. They are hopeful it will lead to an improvement in their livelihoods with the introduction of wildlife-based activities.