Communities in Mozambique Inspired to Curb Deforestation

By Environmental Governance Programme (EGP)

May 20^th, 2020

BY THE YOUNG ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS - MOZAMBIQUE TEAM*

The Young Environmental Journalist pilot initiative aimed at raising awareness and fostering youth engagement in environmental and human rights protection in the mining sector in four resource-rich countries: Colombia, Kenya, Mongolia and Mozambique. This initiative was organized by the joint Swedish Environmental Protection Agency – UNDP Environmental Governance Programme (EGP) in collaboration with the United Nations Volunteers’ online volunteering service.

The views expressed in this story are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the United Nations, including UNDP or the UN Member States.

* Prepared by the Young Environmental Journalists: Mariane Almeida and Sofia Barbeiro

Rio de Janeiro/Lisbon (InDepth News - IDN)

In Mozambique's province of Gaza, 9,240 tons of charcoal are produced every year placing pressure on the region's natural resources. Wood burning for charcoal production has led to high rates of deforestation.

Unfortunately, what is happening in the Gaza province mirrors a nationwide trend. Data from the Global Forest Watch show that Mozambique has lost nearly 3 million hectares – or 10 per cent – of its forests since 2000.

The UNDP project on Adaption in the Coastal Zones of Mozambique reported that natural resource pressures are threatening biodiversity, damaging essential ecosystems, aggravating climate change and destabilizing livelihoods.

If current rates of deforestation continue, the population of Mozambique will endure increasingly uncertain environmental and economic conditions.

As much as 80 per cent of the population still rely on wood and charcoal to provide fuel for essential activities, such as cooking. Feliciano dos Santos, Executive Director of a local development and environmental protection NGO called ESTAMOS, claimed that high energy prices are one of the key reasons why curbing deforestation is so complicated.

"Since gas is expensive, people end up using charcoal, and the problem is that large areas of forest are being cleared without replacement of trees." What more, energy costs are on an upward trend, which means the country will need to find sustainable, affordable fuel alternatives to reduce the economic demand for wood.

Several organizations in Mozambique are responding to this by inspiring change at community level. Sebastião Coana, from Palmeira, Maputo, has established an ecological charcoal production industry named Eco-carvão Moz.

The charcoal is made from coconuts and is more affordable than its traditional counterpart, offering a viable fuel alternative to vulnerable communities.

This start-up company has also introduced innovative production techniques such as biomass processing, which reduces waste by recycling processed materials. By reducing demand on wood, Sebastião Coana hopes they can reduce the rate of deforestation while stimulating local economies with a new generation of jobs.

Mozambican musician and environmental defender Feliciano dos Santos supports local communities in Niassa Province to develop their skills in sustainable natural resource management. He is founder and the executive director of the NGO ESTAMOS, and was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2008, for his use of music to promote the need of improving water and sanitation infrastructure in northern Mozambique. Credit: ESTAMOS/Mozambique.