Mozambique: Meteorologists warn of possible formation offshore of tropical storm - Lusa
File photo: Diário Económico
Miombo Forest Defense to Be Discussed at Conference in Washington, U.S. The defense of the Miombo forest will be the topic of discussion at an international conference taking place on April 16th and 17th in Washington, United States of America (USA). The event, organized by the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in partnership with the Government of Mozambique, stems from an initiative implemented in August 2022 by President Filipe Nyusi during the signing of the Maputo Declaration on the Miombo forest.
“The main objective of the conference is to promote the potential of the Miombo forest and contribute to global efforts to achieve goals on climate change, biodiversity conservation, and integrated sustainable development,” explained a document released by the Economic Weekly. The Maputo Declaration on the Miombo forest, signed by Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, establishes priorities for sustainable management and governance of natural resources in Miombo ecosystems.
“The forest provides numerous goods and services that ensure the livelihoods of over 300 million inhabitants of these countries, including tropical and subtropical pastures, shrublands, and savannas, constituting the largest ecosystem of dry tropical forests in the world. It is responsible for maintaining the Great Zambezi, one of the most important transnational hydrographic basins,” emphasizes the publication.
The document warns that “a growing population and the consequent increase in demand for agricultural land, combined with unsustainable use and excessive extraction of natural resources in parts of the Miombo forests and the impacts of climate change, pose a serious threat to forest products and services and the livelihoods that depend on them.”
According to data provided in 2023 by the National Director of Forests, Cláudio Afonso, Mozambique loses 267,000 hectares of forests every year, noting that in the country, the forest extends from the northern part of Inhambane to the provinces of Manica, Tete, Sofala, and Zambezia in the central zone, and Nampula, Niassa, and Cabo Delgado in the northern region.
Last July, the Global Environment Facilities (GEF) and the Italian Cooperation Agency announced the availability of about $17.6 million to Mozambique for the revitalization of forest reserves, restoration, institutional support, and implementation of the country’s forest monitoring system.
What is the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF)?
The ICCF is a non-profit educational foundation located in Washington, DC, which serves as the secretariat for the bipartisan Congressional International Conservation Caucus of the United States, composed of over 1/3 of the country’s Congress.
The organization brings together a board of leading business partners and non-governmental organizations that educate policymakers on innovative solutions to conservation challenges.
The organization has its own board of directors and coordinates with other non-profit organizations across Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia, so that the global operation functions as effectively as possible.
What is the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)?
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a non-governmental organization based at the Bronx Zoo, founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society (NYZS) and currently managing 200 square kilometers of wildlife reserves around the world, with over 500 conservation projects in 69 countries and 200 scientists.
The institution also has five facilities in New York City: the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium, Prospect Park Zoo, and Queens Zoo, which together attract over 4 million visitors annually.
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