Sustainable Forest Management in Niassa: Challenges and Strategic Actions
- Fundação RESET
- Mar 2
- 2 min read
The Plano Provincial Integrado de Gestão de Florestas (PPIGF) 2023-2032 for Niassa Province aims to promote sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and socio-economic development while mitigating deforestation and land degradation. As Mozambique's most forested province, Niassa faces increasing environmental pressures from agricultural expansion, logging, and charcoal production, necessitating a coordinated management strategy. The plan establishes governance mechanisms, conservation priorities, and strategies for sustainable land use, aligning with national and international sustainability goals.
Key Findings
Niassa retains 8.37 million hectares of forest, covering 68.2% of its land area, but has been losing forests at an average rate of 34,949 hectares per year. The primary driver of deforestation is agricultural expansion, particularly for smallholder subsistence farming, alongside unsustainable logging, charcoal production, and tobacco curing. Demand for fuelwood and charcoal is particularly high in urban centers like Lichinga and Cuamba, leading to extensive forest degradation. The lack of proper land zoning and agricultural planning accelerates deforestation rates, highlighting the urgent need for land-use management reforms.
To address these challenges, the PPIGF emphasizes a balance between conservation and economic development through reforestation programs, alternative energy sources, and community-based forest management initiatives. The establishment of forest reserves, wildlife protection areas, and community-managed conservation zones aims to enhance biodiversity protection. Moreover, the Niassa Special Reserve (REN) remains a critical stronghold for wildlife conservation, housing significant elephant, lion, and other endangered species populations. The plan also promotes sustainable forest concessions, improved regulatory enforcement, and investments in alternative livelihoods to reduce pressure on natural forests.
The strategy includes enhanced monitoring and enforcement measures, such as forest inventories, GIS-based tracking, and improved law enforcement against illegal logging. Additionally, the plan advocates for increasing community participation in forest governance, ensuring that local populations benefit from conservation efforts through employment opportunities and revenue-sharing mechanisms. To further enhance sustainability, the PPIGF proposes investments in agroforestry, responsible timber harvesting, and afforestation programs, while also addressing the social and economic drivers of deforestation, such as poverty and lack of access to clean energy sources.
The PPIGF 2023-2032 presents a comprehensive framework for forest conservation and sustainable management in Niassa, balancing economic development with environmental protection. By integrating community participation, governance improvements, and alternative livelihood initiatives, the plan aims to reduce deforestation, strengthen biodiversity conservation, and ensure long-term ecological sustainability. However, effective implementation requires strong institutional coordination, consistent enforcement of forestry regulations, and sustainable financing mechanisms.
The success of the Niassa Forest Management Plan depends on strong governance, local engagement, and international cooperation to ensure a sustainable and economically viable future for Mozambique’s largest forested region.
The Bibliography source:
RESET Foundation is committed with the The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainable Forest Management in Niassa is linked to several SDGs:
The SDG'sG's, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
