"Mozambique - Forestry and Natural Resource Conservation in the Provinces of Zambezia and Maputo" by Nuova Frontiera (1996)

Objectives:

On an environmental and ecological level: increasing the recycling of foodstuffs and therefore of the biomass in general, reducing erosion, guaranteeing reforestation with the consequent environmental and climatic effects, protecting the environment and improving the diversity and quality of the fauna and flora, improving the microclimate, guaranteeing the protection of the roads and the regulation of rainfall drainage, diminishing deforestation (200.000 families in one year consume approx. 2.400.000 cubic metres of wood).

On an economic level: guaranteeing new sources of earnings and employment via the sale of wood, the production and sale of charcoal, the improvement of the conditions of agricultural production and animal husbandry, improving the diet with the production of fruit, guaranteeing the construction of new houses, facilitating the opening of new commercial routes between city and countryside (thanks to the sale of wood and charcoal in the city) which allow the transferral of urban area income to agricultural areas, breaking out of the monoculture cycle and favouring the development of agricultural knowledge and zootechnics.

On a social level: increasing the wealth of the population, blocking emigration from the area, guaranteeing wood for the reconstruction of schools and public buildings, teaching appropriate methods for reducing wood wastage, reducing the labour of the women in finding wood for cooking and food.

Results:

At the end of the project, it is aimed to have covered approx. 7.000 Ha of land with agroforestry and anti-erosion measures, of which approx. 2,050 Ha with intensive forestry and approx. 1 Ha with the planting of about 1.000 fruit tree plants (500 grafted on site).

These objectives will be realised in the two work areas in total (Zambezia and Maputo).

12 Hectares (Bobole special reserve) will be methodically controlled and two measures aimed at teaching the population in the area how to protect and transplant palm seeds will be inaugurated. Through these actions, it is hoped to maintain about 100 Raphia Australis palms in the reserve.

The realisation of 8 small and medium-sized nurseries both under cover and open-air in the project areas and the implementation of agricultural and zootechnical activities is also planned.

The realisation of a Geographical Information System and a zoning area definition in 800 Ha.