GOBA COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROJECT
The Community Association Ntava Yedzu that manages natural resources had proposed the creation of community tourist infrastructures to create alternative revenues and to finance environmental protection measures. After two years of intervention, the lack of conclusive results prompted ADAP to terminate this program.
AREAS OF INTERVENTION
Education, environmental protection, tourism development
LOCAL PARTNERS
Ntava Yedzu Association
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Between 2003 and 2005, ADAP supported the community association Ntava Yedzu, then in charge of natural resource management in the Goba Region. Located 75km from the capital Maputo, the Goba Region covers an area of nearly 10’000ha. At the time 1400 people lived in the area. Their main source of income was charcoal production to supply Maputo. Without alternatives, the environment of the region that conditioned the survival of the population was seriously threatened by that kind production.
Despite a certain dynamism and sustained growth, Mozambique was experiencing a difficult social and economic situation, with its natural environment under great human pressure. Dependent on decreasing wildlife and forest resources, rural communities were particularly destitute. In 2002, the legal framework governing the use of natural resources was revised to ensure that the rights and needs of local populations would be taken into account.
The project to support the community of Goba emerged from the following context. Responding to the threats to their environment, the Goba inhabitants joined the association Ntava Yedzu. At that time, Ntava Yedzu’s objective was to combat poaching and to limit/control the intense charcoal production devastating the forests. To do this, Ntava Yedzu proposed the creation of community tourist infrastructures (a guest house and camping, a handicraft market, and footpaths) that would create alternative revenue and finance environmental protection measures.
This approach was supported by the Mozambique Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Thanks to the support of the Ministry, Ntava Yedzu obtained ownership of all of the Goba region’s land (over 9’000ha). At the request of Ntava Yedzu and FAO, ADAP was then contacted to collaborate in the implementation of a project that would support the community and help it to continue with its initiative.
The project’s goal was to strengthen the community’s capacity to better protect and conserve its environment and to diversify its sources of income.
RESULTS
At the end of the project’s first phase, the partner had an office in Goba, a camping site in the community area, and a developed network of footpaths. In addition, the members of the association had benefited from training in the hotel reception, catering, and wood carving, thus making it possible to return value to illegally cut wood, seized by the association. A craft market was established. Various contacts were established with private actors in South Africa to develop partnerships for a future community eco-tourism zone.
Unfortunately, serious problems arose caused by major population displacements in the project area, following the end of the conflict. The displaced people, mainly ex-combatants, quickly endangered community functioning, imposing themselves by force and supporting the continuation of illegal charcoal activities. In a few months, most of the forest stands of interest were deforested, basically condemning the initial ecosystem restoration projects to an end. In this context, and given the lack of government interest to address the problem after repeated requests, ADAP decided to terminate the project at the end of the project’s first phase.
PROJECT
|
| Project duration 2003-2005 |
| Where Goba, Maputo region |
| Budget 200’000 CHF financed by the Geneva Federation for Cooperation and Developement (FGC) |
| Project beneficiaries 1’400 persons |
| Local partner Ntava Yedzu association |
| ADAP CH project officer:
Monsieur Antoine Bossel |
|