Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

Joint Management Accord between the Government and the Carr Foundation Consecrated at Gorongosa National Park

Apr 21, 2008 - Gorongosa National Park

The blessing by the traditional leader, Régulo João Chitengo, of the Gorongosa National Park Joint Management Accord between the Mozambican Government and the Carr Foundation was one of the high points of the celebrations which took place in Chitengo on April 11.

According to the Gorongosa Park Director of Operations and Infrastructure, João Viseu, the Accord involves the Mozambican Government, represented by Bernardo Beca Jofrisse who was appointed by the Tourism Ministry, and the Carr Foundation, represented by its President Greg Carr. Within 20 years from today, the Accord aims to return the Park to its previous state, when it was an attractive tourist destination. During the 1970s it reached its all-time high of nearly 22,000 tourist visitors.

The Accord document, which contains more than 130 pages, was signed at the end of 2007 after nearly three years of negotiations. The Accord will permit the Carr Foundation, a philanthropic NGO from the United States, to realize its ambitious project to protect and renew the biodiversity and natural processes of the ecosystems in Gorongosa National Park. The accord will also allow for the development of the buffer zone around the Park through construction of public social infrastructures, such as schools and hospitals, among other activities linked to human and social development.

João Viseu confirmed that the great challenge facing the new Park management is to stimulate the work to improve Gorongosa Park both in terms of animal repopulation and development of the surrounding communities, and also in terms of construction of basic social and tourist infrastructures as well as training of human resources.

“Our objective is to develop Gorongosa, to reintroduce animals that disappeared for various reasons, such as the armed conflict that ended in 1992, to regulate the quality of water that feeds the Park and, principally, to develop industry and tourism,” Viseu stressed.

“We hope to achieve these objectives. Greg Carr, who is a person of much good will, has already shown us what can be done. Just look at how even before the Joint Management Accord was signed, he had already invested large sums of money to improve the condition of access roads, accommodation, food, and safari facilities. All of this has gradually led to the recent increase in the number of tourists that stop in Gorongosa to enjoy the beauty of the scenery and appreciate its potential for animal life.” Viseu concluded.

For his part, Greg Carr, President of the Foundation which carries his name, said simply that Gorongosa National Park is the most important park in the world. He stressed the necessity for collaboration to guarantee the maintenance of this extremely important tourism enterprise.

Directing his comments at those present at the event, Carr said that one advantage of the Park is the creation of many jobs in the region. He explained that the Park currently employs 600 workers, both full time and part time, most of whom were recruited from the areas around the Park.

On the other hand, Carr commented on the contribution the Park makes to the local and national economy. “The Park is continuing to receive many tourists. They pay a lot of money for the services of restoration and safari. Through this, we help to improve the life of the human populations in our proximity through community development projects that are an integral part of our social responsibility policy.” he concluded.

For her part, the Permanent Secretary of the District of Gorongosa, Lina Fafetine Ofiço, who spoke at the end of the ceremonies as the representative of the District Administrator, João Oliveira, praised the efforts undertaken by the Carr Foundation towards the goal of developing Gorongosa National Park and the region in which it is established.

“The government of Gorongosa is very satisfied with the activities undertaken by Gorongosa National Park. We would like to give special thanks to Greg Carr, who first chose Mozambique, second chose the Province of Sofala and third chose the District of Gorongosa, from among all of the countries of the world that could have received his investment. And so we hope to have this man with us for a long time, and as they say, in love with the Mozambican people,” she said.

In conclusion, Ofiço reminded everyone of the state that the Park was in as a result of the armed conflict, which had serious effects on the social fabric, and what it is today. “The war killed almost all of the animals, but mainly thanks to Greg the Park is quickly becoming repopulated with all of the species decimated during the 16 years of civil war between brothers,” she concluded.