ABSTRACT
Mozambique is a vast country of about 800,000km2, with a range of ecosystems and significant cultural diversity. The management of protected areas has been influenced by the political situation of the country, the culture of the people involved, as well as, more recently, world policies for protected areas. In Mozambique, protected areas in the form of forest reserves are distributed throughout the country, many of which have hardly been managed since their proclamation. In recent decades, some management of forest resources, through community-based natural resource management programmes has begun, focusing on the exploitation of resources. The protected areas that were created with wider objectives, including the protection of wildlife, habitats and ecosystems are seen as the source of multiple benefits, including social and economic benefits (derived mainly from tourism activities), and are the focus of this chapter. In Mozambique, there are 6 game reserves, 6 national parks and 12 controlled hunting areas or coutadas (see Table 6.1). National parks, reserves and coutadas
|
Name |
Province |
Area (km2) [% of surface area] |
Year of proclamation (amendment) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
National Parks |
|||
|
Gorongosa National Park |
Sofala |
5370 |
1966 (1967) |
|
Bazaruto National Park |
Inhambane |
1600 |
1971 |
|
Zinave National Park |
Inhambane |
6000 |
1973 |
|
Banhine National Park |
Gaza |
7000 |
1973 |
|
Limpopo National Park |
Gaza |
10,000 |
2001 |
|
Quirimbas National Park |
Cabo Delgado |
7506 |
2002 |
|
Total area |
37,476 [4.68%] |
||
|
National Reserves |
|||
|
Maputo Special Reserve |
Maputo |
700 |
1960 (1969) |
|
Pomene Reserve |
Inhambane |
200 |
1964 |
|
Marromeu Buffalo Reserve |
Sofala |
1500 |
1960 |
|
Gilé Reserve |
Zambézia |
2100 |
1960 |
|
Chimanimani Reserve |
Manica |
1740 |
2003 |
|
Niassa Reserve |
Niassa |
42,200 |
1964 |
|
Total area |
48,440 [6.06%] |
||
|
Coutadas |
|||
|
Coutada 4 |
Manica |
12,300 |
1969 |
|
Coutada 5 |
Sofala |
6868 |
1972 |
|
Coutada 6 |
Manica |
4563 |
1960 |
|
Coutada 7 |
Manica |
5408 |
1969 |
|
Coutada 8 |
Sofala |
310 |
1969 |
|
Coutada 9 |
Manica |
4333 |
1969 |
|
Coutada 10 |
Sofala |
2008 |
1961 |
|
Coutada 11 |
Sofala |
1928 |
1969 |
|
Coutada 12 |
Sofala |
2963 |
1969 |
|
Coutada 13 |
Manica |
5683 |
1960 |
|
Coutada 14 |
Sofala |
1353 |
1969 |
|
Coutada 15 |
Manica |
2000 |
1969 |
|
Total Area |
49,717 [6.21%] |
