Mozambique: ANAC Launches $15M TRANSFORM Wildlife Project

• Mozambique's ANAC has launched the $15 million TRANSFORM project, focused on biodiversity management and community livelihoods.
• The project targets the Quirimbas, Marromeu, and Gorongosa conservation areas over a seven-year period.
• It aims to improve management of over three million hectares, restore ecological corridors, and enhance climate resilience.
• The initiative seeks to reduce human-wildlife conflict by creating alternative income sources and improving land-use planning in Sofala and Niassa provinces.
• Funded by the GEF and UNDP, the project emphasizes biodiversity conservation, combating illegal wildlife trafficking, and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

By providing families with diverse income sources, the project aims to reduce their reliance on natural resources, thereby lessening potential conflicts.

Mozambique's National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) has officially commenced a significant environmental undertaking, dubbed the "Landscape-Scale Wildlife Conservation and Livelihood Transformation" project. This initiative, more commonly referred to as the TRANSFORM project, represents a substantial investment aimed at bolstering sustainable biodiversity management across key regions of the country.

The project's primary financial backing totals an estimated $15 million US dollars, as reported by ANAC. Its overarching goal is to fundamentally reshape biodiversity management practices within Mozambique's most critical natural landscapes, while simultaneously enhancing the living conditions of local communities residing in these areas.

Pejul Calenga, ANAC's Director-General, highlighted during the project's launch workshop that the focus would be on transforming how biodiversity is managed in specific priority conservation areas. This strategic approach underscores a commitment to integrating ecological preservation with socio-economic development, recognizing the interdependence of healthy ecosystems and thriving communities.

The ANAC TRANSFORM project Mozambique is specifically targeting three vital conservation areas: Quirimbas, Marromeu, and Gorongosa. These regions are central to the project's efforts to implement landscape-scale wildlife conservation, ensuring that interventions are comprehensive and address the interconnected challenges faced by these ecosystems.

Cleophas Torori, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) representative in Mozambique, noted that this initiative stands as one of the Global Environment Facility's (GEF) most substantial investments within the nation, with funding estimated at $15.4 million. The UNDP GEF Mozambique project is structured around four interdependent pillars: biodiversity conservation, the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking, the promotion of sustainable livelihoods, and fostering a positive shift in attitudes towards biodiversity.

This multi-faceted approach aims to move beyond immediate results, striving for a profound and enduring impact on the Mozambican populace. The project is slated to run for a duration of seven years, during which it intends to improve the management of over three million hectares of priority landscapes, restore crucial ecological corridors, and fortify community resilience against the impacts of climate change affecting the country.

A cornerstone of the Mozambique TRANSFORM wildlife project launch is its strong emphasis on community inclusion. ANAC Director-General Pejul Calenga articulated that the project seeks to promote sustainable livelihoods and harness the potential of the wildlife economy, positioning conservation areas as vital engines for local economic growth. Communities are envisioned to play a central and active role within the wildlife economy value chain.

Beyond economic upliftment, the TRANSFORM project is also designed to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, particularly in identified critical zones within the Sofala and Niassa provinces. This will be achieved by fostering alternative income-generating opportunities and refining land-use planning strategies. By providing families with diverse income sources, the project aims to reduce their reliance on natural resources, thereby lessening potential conflicts.

UNDP's Cleophas Torori reinforced the importance of local engagement, stating that community participation is significantly strengthened when individuals witness tangible benefits and positive outcomes stemming directly from conservation efforts. This highlights the project's commitment to demonstrating the practical advantages of environmental stewardship to those who live closest to the natural world.

Lawyers advising clients with operations or investments in Mozambique's conservation areas (Quirimbas, Marromeu, Gorongosa) or adjacent regions should monitor the implementation of the TRANSFORM project. This initiative will likely lead to new or reinforced regulations concerning biodiversity management, land-use planning, and community engagement, impacting environmental compliance, land acquisition, and social license to operate for businesses in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and resource extraction. It also signals potential for new public-private partnerships in the wildlife economy.

Source: Original reporting via AIM