Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

Much of our ecotourism development is focused on Mount Gorongosa—a vital source of water for the Park and home to many rare birds and plants. The forests harbor an amazing diversity of plants and animals, including rare birds such as the Green-headed Oriole and the Moustached Warbler. However, slash and burn agriculture and charcoal production are creating barren patches across the landscape of the mountain. Mount Gorongosa’s 2000 inhabitants are struggling to find food, jobs, and places to live. Local communities sell charcoal and surplus crops at local markets to generate income, but the burning devastates the mountain. Forest that was once untouched by humans may disappear by 2011.

The entire ecosystem will be affected if Mount Gorongosa loses its forest, and our atmosphere will also lose an important resource on Mount Gorongosa—fresh air.  Every time trees are burned down, carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere, adding more greenhouse gases to the air we all breathe.

We are working with these communities to protect the mountain by training them as guides and putting the entrance fees to the mountain in a community-run bank account. Our ultimate goal is to attract international support for saving the mountain’s endangered forests while providing environmentally-friendly jobs and other income to local communities. Tourists who choose to hike the mountain are directly contributing to this ecotourism business and providing local people with an alternative to destructive slash and burn farming.

Learn more about our campaign to Save the Mountain>

For more information on planning a trip to Gorongosa National Park, visit the Tourism section.