Maputo, 24 Jun (AIM) – The Mozambican government has decided to lift the suspension imposed on the management of Niassa Especial Reserve (REN), the country’s largest reserve.
The Niassa Special Reserve is managed under a public-private partnership agreement involving the Mozambican government, through the National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
The suspension of Niassa Especial Reserve (REN) management had been announced on 8 June by the Secretary of State for the northern province of Niassa, Silva Livone.
Livone had claimed that “the suspension is the result of the failure to curb the human-wildlife conflict that has claimed victims among the local population in the region. As a result of this poor coordination, arrogance and poor performance, the levels of human-wildlife conflict continue to persist. What we want is to protect fauna and flora, protect people, protect our communities and develop our province.”
The decision to suspend the Secretary’s measures was taken by a multisectoral team consisting of members of the central government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, and the provincial government.
According to Jornito Muemede, spokesperson of the multisectoral team, all suspensions previously announced by the Secretary of State in Niassa have been lifted, while the authorities are studying a new co-management model to benefit local communities.
“The Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries has already begun the resizing of conservation areas, as our conservation area in Niassa province is extensive and we have been experiencing situations of human-wildlife conflict”, Muemede said, citing an official document.
He explained that the multisectoral team also decided to restructure the current co-management model with the WCS in order to “improve the environment for development and conservation of the reserve.”
“The reserve management will continue to work, but in order to preserve the image of our reserve administrator, the central-level team believes we must make a change in order to bring an environment of harmony in the management”, he said.
Am/
