Strengthening the conservation of globally threatened species in Mozambique through improving biodiversity enforcement and expanding community conservancies around protected areas

While conservation efforts have significantly up-scaled in Mozambique since the end of the civil war in 1992, there are several threats affecting biodiversity. Significant increase in wildlife crime has taken place, adding to the pressures caused by uncontrolled subsistence hunting by poor communities.

Since 2014 the poaching has increased, targeting not only elephants but additional threatened species, such as lions, pangolins and others. The international market for wildlife products is still of low risk and highly profitable. Subsistence poaching also threatens a wide variety of globally endangered species.

With local communities expanding further into conservation areas and growing populations in need of food and income, the threats to wildlife and forest resources accelerate at alarming rates, nullifying conservation gains of recent years.

Expected Key Achievements

Conservation of globally threatened species in Mozambique sthremghetened through implementation of the Conservation Areas Act
Improved biodiversity enforcement
Expanded protected areas through community conservancies and target the rural development activities