Community leaders and conservationists work toward peaceful coexistence.
Content/meeting photos – Samo Jossefa Samo
In the heart of Nhamatanda, where community lands meet wilderness, Gorongosa National Park and the Nhamatanda District Government recently brought together chiefs, local leaders, and residents for a high-stakes conversation. Held in the municipal village, the forum included representatives from Bebedo, Nhampoca, Matenga, Mucombezi, and Metuchira—communities that live closest to the edge of the wild. With rising concerns over human-wildlife conflict, illegal mining, trafficking of natural products, and poaching, the goal was clear: find common ground, strengthen law enforcement, and explore new ways to live alongside Gorongosa’s iconic wildlife.
Opening the forum, Nhamatanda District Administrator Adamo Abdula Ossumane emphasized the significance of the gathering. He described it as a strategic opportunity to equip local leaders with a better understanding of the pressures facing their communities—particularly in light of wildlife population growth and shifting animal behavior in areas bordering the Park. His remarks framed the forum as both urgent and timely, given the realities on the ground.
Ossumane acknowledged that communities in Nhampoca, Matenga, Bebedo, Metuchira, and more recently Lamego, are increasingly facing crop loss due to wildlife, especially elephants. In Metuchira, rice fields have been hit hard, creating both economic strain and fear. These incidents are part of a broader trend in the region where conservation success—bringing animals back—now requires careful planning to balance human needs with ecosystem recovery.
Ermelinda Xavier Maquenze, Director of the Provincial Environmental Service in Sofala, echoed the need for action. While standard responses such as relocation and deterrence exist, she called for deeper reflection and more creative solutions. “There is still something to be done,” she said, urging the group to keep the conversation open and collaborative, especially for the sake of families living near wildlife corridors.
Gorongosa Park Administrator Pedro Muagura closed with a hopeful message. He challenged participants to help create a new agreement—a social contract of sorts—between people and nature. “Together, we seek to build a future where man and wildlife can coexist in harmony,” he said. While these conflicts didn’t exist in the past, they are now part of daily life. The task ahead, he added, is not just to react, but to plan for lasting solutions built on dialogue, trust, and shared responsibility.
