Enabling Conditions for effective Community-Based Natural Resource Management in Magoe National Park, Mozambique
Placing communities at the heart of conservation efforts involves not only acknowledging their role as guardians of biodiversity but also recognising them as active participants in conservation initiatives.
In Mozambique, where communities reside in and around all protected areas—covering 25% of the country’s territory—community engagement is critical for supporting the implementation of management plans and enhancing benefit-sharing. For this engagement to succeed, communities must be properly identified, organised, and recognised as institutional partners capable of collaboration.
Community Governance in Magoe National Park
Through ReGeCom’s community governance approach, residents living in and around Magoe National Park, are empowered as active stewards of their environment. Recently, under the World Bank-funded MozRural Program, supported by BioFund and coordinated with ANAC (National Administration of Conservation Areas), ReGeCom successfully trained 57 community facilitators (25 of whom are women) in natural resources management and geospatial data collection using tablets.
Moments during the training of a group of community facilitators.
These facilitators, selected by their peers, have already engaged with over 7,000 households, across 27 communities. Their work is expected to redefine Park community engagement strategies and pave the way for sustainable land-use planning, which is the next step of the project.
This initiative is expected to add value to the broader conservation efforts of the recently declared ZIMOZA Transfrontier Conservation Area, where ReGeCom and regional partners such as CAMPIFIRE Association in Zimbabwe, Zambia CBNRM Association and Wildlife Conservation Action, are fostering community-based natural resource management (CBNRM).
Map showing the results of community socialisation meetings carried out by the community facilitators (circles of various colours, as per November 11th 2024). Yellow patches on the map are deforested areas detected in 2017-2022.
Looking ahead, ReGeCom is committed to working with ANAC and other stakeholders to strengthen community governance in protected areas nationwide. This vision aligns with ReGeCom’s strategic plan, which has already supported community engagement in Mount Mabu Community Forest, Chimanimani National Park, Marromeu National Reserve, and Maputo National Park. Every step forward in community engagement strengthens the foundation for sustainable conservation and biodiversity protection. By supporting ReGeCom, you invest in a vision where communities thrive as guardians of their natural heritage.
