| Overview : Mozambique is endowed with a diversity of natural resources, habitats and species. To manage this diversity of resources, the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) was set up. It is the main body responsible for the supervision, monitoring and management of the conservation areas (ACs) and for supervising the partnerships established with NGOs in the framework of international cooperation. ANAC was set up in 2011 as a parastatal institution, and it is guided by its Statutes and by its strategic plan for the period of 2015-2024.
To preserve the natural resources and to use them sustainably, a network of conservation areas (ACs) was established which covers about 25% of the surface area of the country. The conservation areas under the direct management of ANAC are the following (the marine areas are identified in bold type): - National Parks (9) - Quirimbas, Gorongosa, Mágoè, Bazaruto, Limpopo, Zinave, Chimanimani, Banhine and Gilé Special Reserves (3) - Niassa, Maputo and Ponta do Ouro;
- National Reserves (2): Marromeu and Pomene
- Environmental Protection Areas (2): First and Second Islands and Maputo
- Community conservation areas (3): Mitchéu, Tchuma Tchato and Chipanje Chetu
As for the areas that are not under the direct management of ANAC, there are 17 official hunting areas and 50 game farms. In each of these conservation areas, there is a corps of rangers, generally composed by a Head of Law Enforcement and a variable number of wardens. The Head of Law Enforcement responds to the Warden of the Conservation Area. The hunting areas and game farms have their own teams of rangers, who are guided by a manager. In the community areas it is the Natural Resource Management Committee which manages the area, including its protection.
Protection and inspection activities are assisted by the Natural Resources and Environment Protection Police (PPRMNA), which was set up in 2013 with the mandate of protecting the natural resources and of intervening, if necessary, inside the ACs when requested to do so, and outside them in a routinely base. ANAC also coordinates with the Environmental Quality Agency (AQUA) for law enforcement operations in zones adjacent to the conservation areas. For investigating crimes against wildlife, ANAC also interacts and coordinates its activities with the Criminal Investigation Services (SERNIC).
In the fight against poaching and trafficking of wild life products, including marine wild life, in the context of the legal framework, through Article 63B of Law no. 5/2017 of 11 May, ANAC acts as an assistant to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and should collaborate with the Attorney-General’s Office of the Republic of Mozambique. |
