Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

The humans who live within the greater Gorongosa ecosystem are the area's greatest threat.  However, they can choose to be the ecosystem's best friend and protector.  The people of Gorongosa are a component of the ecosystem, they depend upon the region's natural resources, the Park's fate is in their hands.

In 2004 the Mozambique government and the Carr Foundation launched a long-term campaign to engage local communities in protecting Mount Gorongosa and the entire Park ecosystem by giving the local people an economic stake in the health and future of the Park. Twenty percent of revenue from ecotourism at Gorongosa -- safari game drives, bird watching, and guided hikes up the mountain--is given to community councils who spend the money to benefit social projects in their villages.  The parties do not consider this revenue sharing a gift,  communities earn it by assisting Park management in shared conservation objectives.

The management of Gorongosa is working with these local people to create a 5000 square-kilometer Sustainable Development Zone (Buffer Zone) outside of the Park's borders where development will be monitored to ensure protection of the forests and watersheds.

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