Italy-Mozambique: AICS and FAO sign an agreement for the protection of the miombo forest in the Zambezi valley

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Italy-Mozambique: AICS and FAO sign an agreement for the protection of the miombo forest in the Zambezi valley

9:23 CAT | 31 Jul 2024

Image: Agenzia Nova

The value of the two initiatives, we read in a press release, is just over eight million dollars, a sum that will be provided by Italy, within the framework of the Mattei Plan for Africa

The Italian government, through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), signed agreements today in Maputo for the implementation of two projects aimed at to protect the miombo forest of the central Zambezi and facilitate trade in the border region between Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The value of the two initiatives, we read in a press release, is just over eight million dollars, a sum that will be provided by Italy, within the framework of the Mattei Plan for Africa, with the aim of promoting sustainable development and cooperation between Mozambique and Zimbabwe through increasing food security, improving livelihoods and promoting resilience against environmental and economic challenges.

The first project, “Transboundary Integrated Sustainable Management of Miombo Forests”, aims to protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of miombo forests shared by Mozambique and Zimbabwe, an ecosystem considered vital for millions of people in rural areas, by providing resources essentials such as firewood, food and water.

The second project is related to the development of the agricultural value chain and trade between Mozambique and Zimbabwe, designed to strengthen agricultural value chains and trade, improving market access and promoting cross-border collaboration, with the aim of increasing the economic prospects of small farmers and agro-industries.

During the event for the signing of the agreement, the representative of the Mozambican government and the Ministry of Land and Environment Teresa Pinto reiterated that the projects are in line with the National Forestry Program and with the acceleration towards achieving the objectives defined in the Maputo Declaration on Integrated Agriculture and Sustainable Management of the Miombo Forest which includes the countries around the Zambezi River. “These initiatives will allow our country, together with Zimbabwe, to implement coordinated actions and cross-border supervision with participation in the fight against illegal trade in forest resources,” the government source said.

For the Italian ambassador to Mozambique Gianni Bardini the projects launched will accelerate the realization of the letter of intent to mobilize resources and ensure the sustainability of the miombo forest. “This project represents a concrete step towards achieving the objective of this letter”, stated the Italian diplomat, according to whom the initiatives will strengthen regional integration in a logic of protection of biodiversity, while at the same time allowing us to face the challenges agriculture and food security municipalities, covering almost 5 thousand families in selected areas, promoting gender equality and youth participation. The ambassador also reiterated that the Mattei Plan, launched in 2024 in Rome, in the presence of 22 heads of state, including the president of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi establishes a new relationship with the African continent, based on partnerships for mutual benefits. “Italy will invest 5,5 million euros, in cooperation, making agriculture one of the fundamental pillars of the plan,” he underlined.

READ: Italy disburses €35M for Agri-Food Processing Centre in Manica, Mozambique

In turn, the FAO representative in Mozambique José Luis Fernandes considered the agreements a bold and ambitious initiative that aims to protect and restore miombo forests, one of southern Africa’s largest and most vital ecosystems. “These forests are not just a source of biodiversity, they are a lifeline for millions of people who depend on them for firewood, food, shelter, medicine and water,” said the FAO representative, according to whom one One of the main objectives of the projects is gender equality and youth empowerment, which is why the initiatives recognize that women and youth are key to driving sustainable development. “Therefore we are committed to ensuring that at least 50 percent of the beneficiaries are women and 30 percent are young people. In doing so, we aim to promote inclusive growth and build resilient communities, capable of thriving despite environmental and economic challenges,” he said. The miombo forest cuts across southern Africa and constitutes one of the largest ecoregions on the continent, hosting a great variety of animals. The area is responsible for maintaining the Zambezi River basin, along which more than 40 million people from the eight countries through which the river flows live.

Source: Agenzia Nova