Genesis, boas práticas e sustentabilidade dos comités de gestão dos recursos naturais: estudo de caso do Parque Nacional de Gilé, Moçambique

Abstract

One of the main objectives assigned to National Parks in Mozambique is to support economic development compatible with conservation. The Gilé National Park (PNAG) has faced challenges in achieving the objectives inherent in the conservation of wild flora and fauna, due to the practice of illegal extractive activities by local populations, as well as by external agents. In the last 10 years, the Park lost several wild animals and recorded very high levels of uncontrolled burning. The creation of a Natural Resources Management Committee (CGRN) is one of the approaches adopted to reduce illegal practices. However, community involvement in biodiversity conservation is weak, leaving room for increased biodiversity loss. The present study sought to understand the genesis, the good practices of the CGRNs, and the perception of the members of the CGRNs about their sustainability, in the Gilé National Park, located in the Province of Zambézia, in the districts of Gilé and Pebane, in center region of Mozambique. The study used the mixed method (qualitative and quantitative). The qualitative method consisted of individual and group semi-structured interviews. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 members of the CGRNs, 1 head of the community development department and 1 representative of the Non-Governmental Organization-Nitidae, covering a total of 30 people. Group interviews were conducted with 8 groups covering a total of 246 CGRN members. The quantitative method consisted of applying a 5-point likert scale (1 to 5) in individual interviews with 28 members of the CGRNs, to measure perceptions about the sustainability of good management practices and conservation of natural resources. The results of the research indicate that, because of old issues related to unmeasurable forest and faun exploration in the Park, especially in sensitive area (buffer zone) was created between 2009 and 2019, 14 CGRNs on 14 adjacent communities officially legalized in 2019, through the introduction of different co- operation projects to development, financed by Italian Co-operation. Key good practices in the CGRNs included: community sensitization on the use of non-timber forest resources for beekeeping; practice of cold burning to reduce uncontrolled burning; training of local producers on conservation agriculture techniques. These practices aim to reduce the loss of biodiversity and contribute to improving the living conditions of rural populations in the districts of Gilé and Pebane by maintaining biodiversity and natural resources. The perceptions of the members of CGRNs about the sustainability of good management practices and conservation of natural resources, indicated that, the creation of the Committees, improved the conservation of the natural resources of the Park because the communities were taught good practices of management and conservation of the natural resources. However, good practices in the management and conservation of natural resources are not fully implemented due to the lack of incentives and benefits in the Committees by the Park. This situation conditions the social and economic development of communities adjacent to the PNAG, because the lack of motivation of CGRN members negatively influences inspection and participation in matters related to the management and conservation of the PNAG's natural resources. In this perspective, it is recommended to maintain the approach of the constitution of CGRNs to reduce the practice of illegal extractive activities by local populations, as well as by external agents, and contribute to the reduction of biodiversity loss