Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

Speech by Greg Carr, President of the Carr Foundation, on the occasion of the celebration of the Long Term Agreement for Joint Management of Gorongosa National Park

24 June 2008

Mr. President,
Honorable Minister of Tourism,
Esteemed Members of the Council of Ministers,
Governor of Sofala Province,
District Administrators,
Directors and Managers of Gorongosa National Park,
Representatives of State and private Institutions,
Honored guests,
Ladies and gentlemen:

It has been my great privilage to spend the last four years here in central Mozambique.  I have traveled to many countries in the world, but never have I met a people whom I have liked more than the Mozambican people.  A people who are always happy, even when you have very few material posessions.  A people who know how to share the little they have with their neighbors.

Gorongosa National Park is the crown jewel of this country.  Many people from all over the world will come here, and, when they do, they will see Planet Earth at its best—its most beautiful—and they will also see humans at their best—the most generous, resourceful, and kind human beings.

Here in the Park, we have the highest example of beauty that God created nowhere else in the world.  Gorongosa Mountain supports the only true tropical rainforest in Mozambique, a world-wide treasure of biodiversity.  The waters of the Mountain provide for the abundance of flora and fauna that once made the ecosystem of Gorongosa home to the richest wildlife populations in all of Africa.  The rivers born on Mount Gorongosa supply habitat to more than 500 species of birds, herbivores, carnivores (once the largest population of lions in the whole world), and reptiles (today we have the largest collection of large crocodiles in the whole world).

The resources of Gorongosa provide human beings with many benefits.  Tourism, for example, creates jobs for local communities.  The sharing of Park tourism revenue is used to build schools and health centers in communities around the Park.  Today, with President Guebuza, we will inaugurate a school and health center in one of these local communities.  At the same time, members of the management team of the Park will help the communities to increase the productivity of their farms.  The economic activities generated by the Park will one day constitute the economic base for the development of the entire region of central Mozambique.

I am proud of the management team and employees of Gorongosa Park.  98% of the people working at the Park are Mozambicans.  The restoration of Gorongosa National Park is a Mozambican project guided by a Mozambican vision.  First, I thank the President of the Republic for the support he has demonstrated that made this agreement possible.  I am equally thankful to the Minister of Tourism, the other members of the Council of Ministers, the Governer of Sofala Province, the agreement negotiation team, the District Administrators, the community leaders, and the members of the communities – our neighbors – for their support and spirit of unity.  Estamos juntos.