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CONSERVATION AT GORONGOSA

“We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity.”
— E. O. Wilson

Conservation

Gorongosa National Park is one of the most beautiful and special places in Africa. Thanks to its varied terrain, the richness of its soil, and the blessings of plentiful rain, Gorongosa boasts a remarkable variety of different ecosystems, each with its own “cast of characters”:
After several surveys, some of the world’s leading scientists have declared Gorongosa to be one of the most “biodiverse” places on Earth –  that’s a scientific way of saying Gorongosa is home to an astonishing range and variety of creatures, some of which are “endemic” or unique to this park. Every year, we discover more and more reasons why Gorongosa is truly special. And why it needs very special protection.

The critical job of protecting and saving this priceless world treasure falls to our Department of Conservation. These passionate and dedicated men and women are at the front lines of our effort to preserve Gorongosa for future generations. It’s a complicated job, and the Department employs over 300 people,  99% of whom are Mozambican, in their wide-ranging approach, which includes law enforcement, wildlife managments, re-introductions, conservation technology and managing human wildlife coexistance.

 

Wildlife Rangers

Conservation Heros

Healing Ecosystems

Wildlife Veterinary

Human Wildlife Coexistance

Hope for the Future

Saving Pangolins

Mozambique’s 1st Rescue Program

 

2019 has proved an important year for Conservation at Gorongosa. We reintroduced 14 painted wolves (African wild dogs) in 2018 with great success. Twenty-six pups from three litters have swelled their numbers to 40. We reintroduced another 15 painted wolves to the Park in October of this year. The lion population has increased to 146 known individuals, and the elephant population to 800 – and growing.

We now manage an area adjacent to the Zambezi River.  A former hunting concession (Coutada 12), it is home to leopards and painted wolves and the largest indigenous closed canopy forest in Mozambique. We are working with local communities in a forestry concession to establish a safe wildlife corridor between Gorongosa Park and this new sector.

During the first half of 2019, Park rangers rescued 27 trafficked pangolins in Sofala and Manica provinces. Gorongosa Park wildlife vets cared for them and released them into the wild. Our rangers seized three leopard skins and 25 elephant tusks outside the Park borders, collaborating with the police to bring traffickers to justice.

We greatly increased our communications capability with a new Park-wide digital radio system. We now use the ‘EarthRanger’ domain-awareness system to coordinate and monitor law enforcement operations and radio-collared wildlife.

Gorongosa Park provided sable, waterbuck, oribi and reedbuck to help rewild Zinave National Park and the Maputo Special Reserve. 

Our Mission

Our Mission

Advance an integrated multi-partner approach to conservation and to people-centred development. The Gorongosa Project protects the Park’s biodiversity and ecosystem services and unlocks its economic potential for the community inhabitants of the Gorongosa Buffer Zone, Sofala Province, Mozambique and further afield.

Our Vision

A thriving, biodiversity-rich, Greater Gorongosa conservation landscape, which supports Sofala Province as an engine for resilient and sustainable development enabling nature experiences and wellbeing for its people, enriching all of Mozambique and the world.

A Park for Peace

On 1 August, 2019 a historic ceremony was held in Gorongosa to celebrate the Cessation of Hostilities Accord between the leaders of the Government of Mozambique and the opposition Renamo Party. The accord established Gorongosa National Park (GNP) as a ‘Park for Peace’, delivering human development to the communities that share the greater landscape.

Ethics and Compliance

The Ethics and Compliance e-mail is a reporting mechanism that facilitates reporting of possible illegal, unethical, or improper conduct from staff, suppliers and stakeholders. The e-mail is Ethics@gorongosa.net