Mozambique: US Forest Service to support combat against environmental crimes

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Mozambique: US Forest Service to support combat against environmental crimes

4:18 CAT | 06 Jan 2021

Picture: USAID

On Monday the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Mozambique gave notice that the United States Forest Service (USFS Africa & Middle East) has just become a new partner in natural resource and fire management

According to USAID, “support will be nationwide but include specific focus areas and entities such as the Niassa Special Reserve (NSR) and regional law enforcement offices”.

The USAID – Mozambique website reveals that the project, which will run until June 2023, has financing of US$900,000 (67.419 million meticais at current exchange rates).

The project’s “expected results and impacts” are:

Fire response and management plan developed for Niassa Special Reserve (NSR);

Monitoring database started and ongoing data collection underway in NSR;

Framework for Forest Response and Management in Protected Areas of Mozambique;

Remote review of current prosecutor, ranger, and judge manuals;

Creation of timber crime annex or similar curriculum to be used in law enforcement trainings; and

Comprehensive site plan for a community centre in Mecula, NSR.

The project’s goals, as listed by USAID, are:

To support fire prevention and suppression capacity in Niassa Special Reserve;

To counter timber trafficking with support to Mozambique law enforcement agencies;

To support the operational capability of the National Agency for Conservation Areas, and

To assist Niassa Special Reserve with its new community centre in Mecula.

Conservation partners include the National Agency for Conservation Areas (ANAC), the National Agency for Environment Quality (AQUA), Mozambique’s Attorney-General’s Office (PGR), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the USAID Supporting Policy Environment for Economic Development (SPEED+) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

“Mozambique’s rich biodiversity and natural resources have the potential to drive economic growth through increasing tourism and the extractive industries,” the USAID communique reads. “Historically, though, the government has lacked the capacity and political will to effectively protect these resources from illegal activities and corruption”.

“To expand both sectors responsibly, the Mozambican government is now working to curb corruption, enact conservation laws and policies and enforce meaningful legal penalties.”

“Better coordination between relevant government agencies and improved systems and tools for stopping illegal wildlife and timber trafficking, illegal fishing, and uncontrolled forest fire are necessary for the government to succeed in its efforts,” the introduction to the new partnership concludes.

Source: Carta de Moçambique / USAID