2017 Highlights

Gorongosa National Park Highlights
2017
www.gorongosa.org

OCTOBER 2017
Contents
2017 In Focus – A Teamwork Achievement 3
Mission
Conservation, Science, Ecotourism, Human Development in the Buffer Zone
Message From Mateus Mutemba
The Park – A Piece of Paradise 8
2017 – In Focus – A Teamwork Achievement
Mission
Ensure the restoration and protection of the biodiversity
and natural processes of the Gorongosa National Park and
its Buffer Zone, and contribute to human development
and poverty alleviation through an integrated approach of
education, improved access to health services, improved
agricultural practices and ecotourism development based
on the restored biodiversity and ecological processes.
The Gorongosa Project works in four core areas:
Gorongosa National Park and Buffer Zone
Conservation, Wildlife, Infrastructure, Wildlife and Forest Crimes
Science, Biodiversity Assessments, Palaeontology, Science Education
Ecotourism Gorongosa Collection, Turismo de Gorongosa, Eco Camp Muzimu, Activity Centre
Conservation
Protection of
our heritage for
future generations
Ecotourism
Employment,
revenue,
economic sustainability
Employment Gorongosa Coffee – Agroforestry Under-shade Project
The Buffer Zone – People Matter 18
Communications and Media
Human Development, Health
Community Outreach Facilities, Education and Girls’ Clubs
Micro-entrepreneur Projects CBNRM, Conservancies, Democratisation, Small-holder Farmer Agriculture
Profiles – Sponsoring Success 24
Dominique Gonçalves; Josefa Joaquim Moguene; Olga Alberto Tomo Aniceto;
Jacinto Mathe; Cesária Tupo Pedro; Albano Vasco Chonze; Tonga Torcida
Performance Indicators Measures of Success 26
Finances – Where the Money Goes 28
The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of its Parts 30
‘If we do not do something to prevent it, Africa’s animals,
and the places in which they live, will be lost to our world and her children, forever.
Before it is too late, we need your help to lay the foundation that will preserve
this precious legacy long after we are gone.’
Nelson Mandela
Science
Informed conservation
and management
Human development
Health care, education,
farmer assistance,
economic
well-being
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Conservation
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An aerial wildlife count of 51.6% of the Park in October 2016 resulted in 78,627 herbivores of 19 species counted:
waterbuck – 45,000; sable – 800+; elephant, buffalo, impala, kudu and nyala numbers substantially higher than in
2014.
Funding was received to build northern HQ, ranger posts and new gate infrastructure.
Two hundred and twenty patrol groups, consisting of a total of 228 scouts, swept 9,725 kilometres across four sectors.
Fifty per cent fewer traps and snares were encountered than in the previous year.
Fifty recruits, including three women, underwent training this year.
Science
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A second phase of the E. O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory was completed, with the addition of a lecture hall, genetics
laboratory, zoological collection room and student accommodation.
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Seventy researchers from more than 20 Mozambican and international universities undertook a diversity of projects in
the Park.
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The fifth and sixth systematic biodiversity surveys took place during March–April 2017, resulting in significant
additions to the number of species known for the Park and its Buffer Zone.
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The Science Education programme supported five full-time Mozambican Research Fellows conducting independent
biodiversity research projects and five youth interns from the Buffer Zone.
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A total of 10 advanced science workshops for Mozambican students and young professionals was held at Gorongosa
from May–December 2017.
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Planning was finalised for the establishment of an accredited M.Sc. in Conservation Biology in 2018.
Ecotourism
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After the announcement of truce and peace negotiations in 2017, an estimated 5,790 visitors have joined our tours.
Seventy-seven individuals, (96% Mozambicans), are employed in the tourism industry in the Park.
The Gorongosa Collection, a Park initiative, was launched to generate income for the Park and create employment for
local people.
A luxury tented camp with 12 beds is being set up at Muzimu, along the Mussicadzi River.
There has been an expansion of tourist services through activities of the Gorongosa Collection and Montebelo.
More formal links with associated tourism industry partners have been set up.
By adopting a 21st Century conservation model of balancing
the needs of wildlife and people, we are protecting and saving this
beautiful wilderness, returning it to its rightful place as one of
Africa’s greatest parks.
Centre: The Honourable Carlos Agostinho do Rosário, Prime
Minister of Mozambique. With him are Mateus Mutemba
(Park Warden and Patricia Guerra.
The Prime Minister visited the Park’s staff at
the Fair in Maputo.
Human Development in the
Buffer Zone
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Over 10,000 local people participated in EE
programmes.
The Agriculture Programme was officially launched
and is supporting 4,200 small-holder farmer households.
Agroforestry has regained momentum on Mount
Gorongosa; 15,000 coffee seedlings have been planted
and previous plantations are being worked again.
Planting indigenous trees as shade species in coffee
plantations has resumed.
Twenty-three new community health workers have
brought the total number to 235, serving almost
87,000 people in their communities.
The official launch of the Girls’ Clubs was attended
by the Mozambican First Lady, Isaura Nyusi, who
became their patron.
There are now 680 girls in 17 Girls’ Clubs in two
districts in the Buffer Zone, with plans in place to
upscale this in 2018.
Twelve girls received scholarships to attend high
school through a pilot project.
In June, the second 12 km Marathon in the Jungle was
held in the Park, with 1,400 participants, including
some of Mozambique’s top athletes.
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Message from Mateus Mutemba
Park Warden – Gorongosa National Park
Dear friends and constit-
National parks serve as engines of human development, promoting national
and international investment and creating jobs in operations, science and
tourism. Development is critical to the success of biodiversity conservation,
as impoverished communities rely heavily on natural resources to the
detriment of protected areas. At Gorongosa National Park, we recognise
these synergies between development and conservation, but first and
foremost we acknowledge human development as a critical and urgent
mission in its own right.
The year 2017 has been dominated by winds of change and expectation.
After more than two years, military and political tension in parts of
Gorongosa District on our beautiful Mount Gorongosa, came to an end. I am
delighted to report that during this year, in line with our Park Management
Plan 2016–20, we were able to upscale all our operations and have been
able to resume much of our work, even in the most seriously affected places
in the Buffer Zone of the Park.
In the field of conservation, our wildlife numbers are increasing substantially.
Deployment of our rangers and equipment, paired with capacity building
and financial incentives, greater awareness and collaboration with the
judiciary system and the Republic Police, have resulted in an increase in
arrests and criminal cases successfully prosecuted for wildlife crimes.
Our staff complement is growing in number and quality. Currently we have
592 full-time and 210 part-time staff working for the Park – not including the
75 employed by the Montebelo Safari Lodge. I am particularly proud of the
fact that, of the full-time staff, 98% are Mozambican, of which 88% are from
neighbouring districts, and the entire part-time staff complement is also from
the surrounding districts.
On the tourist front, we began construction of the first high-end tourist camp,
Muzimu, under the Gorongosa Collection brand, which is due to start
operating in the first semester of 2018.
The Park – A Piece of Paradise
I am particularly proud of the fact
that, of the full-time staff, 98% are
Mozambican, of which 82% are from
neighbouring districts and the entire
part-time staff complement is from
the surrounding districts.
The Government of Mozambique is delivering on its goal to find dedicated
co-management partners for its National Parks, as set forth in the Strategic
Plan for the National Administration of Conservation Areas 2015–24. Here
in Gorongosa, we are particularly grateful for a unique partnership with Greg
Carr, who has dedicated himself and his Foundation to making Gorongosa
great once again as a development engine for Sofala Province. Greg is
working with the entire Gorongosa team and a myriad of public and private
stakeholders to create the Greater Gorongosa vision. While the Park forms
the developmental hub of the region, the people living in the Park’s Buffer
Zone remain at the heart of the vision.
With the assistance of our valuable partners, we have been able to expand
both infrastructure and our work with 16 communities in six districts
throughout the 5,333 km2 Buffer Zone, which includes some 177,000
people. Despite challenges such as pests, small-holder farmers have benefited
from improved production and market access, and coffee production on
Mount Gorongosa has been re-established.
Our educational inputs from primary school to university level have increased
substantially and included the official launch of the ‘Girls Clubs’ initiative
aimed at retaining girls in school and reducing child pregnancy. The event
was led by the First Lady of Mozambique, Isaura Nyusi, who became patron
of the programme.
The expanded EO Wilson Biodiversity Lab continued to increase its role in
science education and we geared our efforts towards diversifying the scope
of research and the involvement of national and international research
institutions in the Park.
In the national and international arena, the Park received encouraging
feedback in the form of international awards for both Greg Carr and me, as
Park Warden, and a number of invitations to deliver presentations and share
experiences in conferences and seminars.
In ending this year of challenges and many achievements, I want to
express my gratitude to the entire staff of Gorongosa National Park for their
hard work and unparalleled commitment to our mission. Similar gratitude
is extended to all layers of Government (District, Provincial and Central) as
well as local communities, whose support was instrumental in what we have
achieved in 2017.
With so much going on in 2017, we can definitely look forward to even
more activity in 2018. We thank you for your continued support – and look
forward to joining brains and hands in the new year!
The Gorongosa Project
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How we are restoring
Gorongosa National Park (GNP) perhaps Africa’s
greatest wildlife restoration story.
The mountain
The rainforest
Where the coffee grows
The corridor to link
these two areas
Bunga Inselbergs –
granite outcrops
Nhandue River
EN1 to Caia
The buffer zone ,where our
neighbours Live
The neighbours’ game parks
Inhaminga
The Cheringoma forests
Mobile Clinics – Health care for thousands
Schools with Girls’ Clubs – Raising the quality of life
Vila Gorongosa
Vunduzi River
Our northern HQ
Palaeontology, origins
Limestone cliffs , gorgeous gorges
Mozambique
Community Education – Knowledge is power
Community Conservancies – Citizen stewardship
Gorongosa Buffer Zone – Where the neighbours live
Gorongosa National Park – The world’s most diverse
Our HQ and where
tourists stay
Pungue River
Mussicadzi Riv e
r
Chitengo Camp
Camp Muzimu
Lake Urema
Muanza
Condue
The Park - where the wild animals are
Ranger stations
Agricultural Support – From consumption to production
Sanctuary –Safe haven
Inchope
Where our main
focus on neighbours is.
Nhamatanda
EN6 to Beira
Urema River
Gorongosa boasts a remarkable variety of
different ecosystems, each with its own
“cast of characters”
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Gorongosa National Park and Buffer Zone
Conservation
A great deal of our work-effort focuses on law enforcement, although we are striving to develop an incentive-based system
to discourage wildlife and forestry crimes. In 2017, we were able to secure additional funding to help us implement a more
refined conservation strategy and upscale our law-enforcement capacity. The conservation team is composed of 228 rangers,
of whom 186 patrol actively. In 2016 and 2017, a dedicated effort was made to include female staff in the team. We now
have nine women rangers and scouts on board.
One of the major challenges during the past year has been the large influx of people settling in the Park, often clearing
substantial tracts of land, especially near our northern border. Many of these people fled from the political instability around
Mount Gorongosa. It remains difficult for the Park to enforce clear boundaries, and illegal hunting of small game for bush
meat is prevalent. We have a very dedicated team and are proud of all our conservation achievements.
Wildlife
An aerial wildlife count was conducted in October 2016. The previous count took place in 2014. The focus was on the Rift
Valley in the southern, western and central sector of the Park. Overall 51.6 % of the Park was surveyed. A total of 78,627
herbivores of 19 species was counted – which represents the minimum number of large animals in the Park. Numbers of
warthog, bushbuck, oribi and common reedbuck were down from the previous count, probably due to a two-year drought.
The waterbuck have continued to increase and now number over 45,000. Impala, kudu and nyala have also increased
substantially since 2014. We are very proud that our sable population is now over 800 individuals strong, with upward
trends. Elephant and buffalo numbers also continue to grow. The drought was broken by good rains at the end of 2016 and
in the beginning of 2017. Although the next aerial count is only planned for 2018, indications are that 2017 has been a
good year for the drought-affected species to rebound in numbers.
Our lion population is stabilising and is continuously monitored throughout the core study area of 900 km 2 by means of
satellite-collars, trail cameras and direct observations. Planning and coordination of a newly launched Leopard Recovery
Strategy took place for reintroduction of wild leopards, including a collaring operation, and corridor assessment of leopard
numbers. We continue to track the ecological changes and succession, and watch on as Gorongosa National Park
rehabilitates.
As part of the programme to restock other depleted conservation areas in Mozambique, a total of 412 waterbuck, 99 warthogs
and 53 reedbuck were captured and relocated to Zinave National Park and Maputo Special Reserve in 2016. In 2017,
a further 413 waterbuck and 91 reedbuck were relocated to Zinave, and 810 waterbuck and 101 warthogs were
translocated to Maputo Special Reserve.
Gorongosa National Park (GNP) in Mozambique is perhaps Africa’s
greatest wildlife restoration story.
Infrastructure
During the past year, we were fortunate to secure funding
for improving our park infrastructure, especially in the
northern and eastern parts of the Park. This was a major
boost to developing our northern headquarters, new park
entry gates and several ranger posts. These are critical, not
only for conservation, but also for improving our community
outreach, as well as presenting opportunities for tourism.
The technical drawings are now in place and we hope
to proceed with construction of the various buildings in
2018. The establishment of the northern headquarters and
associated community education centre will bring about
profound changes to our work and team, enabling us to
notch up our operations to yet another level.
Wildlife and Forest Crimes
Gorongosa faces challenges relating to illegal logging as
well as fishing and the bush-meat trade (the latter two
mostly for the domestic market). A team of 228 passionate
scouts patrols over 4,000 km 2 of land within the Park, as
well as in Buffer Zone communities, mobilising the local
chiefs and educating local communities. The number of
snares and gin-traps found within the Park perimeters
declined by more than 50% in 2016/2017. In this period,
we were involved in a number of serious wildlife and forest
crime cases, during which perpetrators in ivory smuggling,
illegal logging and pangolin poaching cases were caught
and prosecuted.
Mozambique has generally been in the headlines for more
organised and big-scale wildlife and forest crimes, and is
considered one of the most important transit countries to
the Far East for illegal wildlife trade. We strongly believe
that our concerted efforts can have an impact on other
areas in Mozambique, and we are proud to have a good
working relationship in this regard with other parks and the
Mozambican Protected Areas Authority.
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Science
The E.O. Wilson lab, founded in 2014, is thriving, and
its expansion has ensured that one of the most modern
research facilities in southern Africa is now found in
the heart of the bush. In 2017, we had 70 researchers
formally based at the lab to conduct diverse studies.
These researchers are associated with more than 20 local
and international universities and institutions, including
the University Eduardo Mondlane (Maputo campus) and
Lúrio University (Pemba) both in Mozambique, as well
as international institutions such as Princeton University
(USA), University of Oxford (UK), University of Edinburgh
(UK), Yale University (USA), University of Idaho (USA),
Boise State University (USA) and CIBIO (Portugal). These
multi-national and multi-disciplinary research teams are
also involved in our science education projects.
During 2017, we successfully broadened our social,
political and health sciences focus, which is especially
important for our work in the Buffer Zone of the Park. A
baseline survey of all 20 communities in the Buffer Zone
has created a strong point of departure for monitoring
future developmental projects. In addition, the development
of a civil education component, both in our science
education programme, as well as in the Community
Education Centre, aims to support the peace and
democratisation process in Gorongosa.
Every year, we discover more and more
reasons why Gorongosa is truly special.
And why it needs very special
protection.
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Biodiversity Assessments
Gorongosa is an enormously diverse Park. While we are still striving to rehabilitate its large wildlife populations, we also
focus on ‘the small stuff’. As Professor E. O. Wilson, one of the world’s leaders in conservation biology says: ‘The key to
continued species diversity on the planet is to protect critical areas like Gorongosa.’ We continue to implement systematic
biodiversity surveys in the Park and the greater Gorongosa area to better understand the biodiversity of the entire area.
In 2017, an expedition surveyed Coutada 12, a hunting concession that forms part of the Greater Gorongosa Ecosystem
that will be formally linked to the Park. The rodent and bat faunas were rich and interesting, and one of the highlights of
the survey was finding a family of bats (Emballonuridae or sack-winged bats) that has never been recorded from Gorongosa.
Birds were equally well represented, with 165 species recorded. The highlight was finding the African pitta which, despite
its breeding season being over, was still present in the coutada.
Over 30 species of amphibians and reptiles were recorded. This included four snake species, including Africa’s largest blind
snake Afrotyphlops mucroso. Insect fauna was rich and abundant. Some of the highlights included two species of bush
crickets that had previously been known only from a few specimens collected in Central Mozambique in the 1950s.
A second biodiversity survey targeted limestone caves of the Codzo River System in the corridor between the Park and
Coutada 12. The survey focused on the cave fauna, including bats and included a virological screening of over 300 bats
for the presence of potential zoonotic pathogens. We identified an astonishing 27 species of bats, including a rediscovery
of Pipistrellus grandideri, a species not seen in over 100 years. At least 154 species of diurnal butterflies and 300 species of
moths were recorded. One species of subterranean lizard, new to science, was also discovered.
Palaeontology
The palaeo-primate project of Gorongosa (PPG) began during 2016. A team covering disciplines such as geology,
primatology, palaeobotany, palaeozoology, archaeology and spelaeology undertook an initial survey in 2016 and started
with test excavations in 2017. The team discovered new and important palaeontological localities within the Park. The sites
still need to be properly dated, but they are thought to be of Mio-Pliocene age. Although the palaeontological specimens
discovered thus far are fragmentary and have yet to be studied in detail, this represents the first significant collections
of fossil bones and teeth ever reported from this part of the East African Rift System. This indicates that it is highly likely
that additional and more complete specimens will be found once proper excavations start. This work is highly relevant to
Gorongosa and helps us develop the long-term view of how evolution and ecology have shaped our current environment.
We are also particularly excited to link the research to the cultural developments in this part of Mozambique – an important
aspect of our local heritage.
Science Education
During 2017, the Science Education programme supported five full-time research fellows and five interns, all young
Mozambicans. Additionally, a number of interns worked in the Park for their end-of-course projects. We have hosted a
total of 10 advanced science workshops on Topics in Conservation Biology for Mozambican students and young
professionals from May–December 2017. The 113 participants (54 female) in the advanced workshops were from 26
different universities and institutions throughout Mozambique. The courses were completely free of charge to successful
applicants. Negotiations have been finalised for additional collaboration with academic institutions for the BioEducation
Programme in 2018. These include: Institute de Politecnica de Manica, Universidade Zambezi and Universidade de Lisboa,
Portugal. With support from donors, we are expanding the science education programme to include higher education
courses in civil education, democracy and peace, in line with the associated Carr Centre at Harvard Kennedy School. This is
a particularly exciting development, and we hope that such investment will make a significant contribution to peacebuilding
in Mozambique.
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Ecotourism
The tourism industry in Mozambique is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country, contributing
approximately 7.2% to the GDP (2015), which is a 5% increase from 2.1% in 2005. Tourism development in Mozambique
has however, been hampered by a series of difficult conditions. In Gorongosa, visitor numbers fell significantly
from 7,000 visitors in 2011 to 2,293 in 2015 due to the insecure political situation. However, during the first half of 2017,
just after a truce was negotiated at the end of December 2016, tourism numbers in the Park increased substantially and this
year we have had approximately 5,700 visitors.
Tourist arrivals in southern Africa are predicted to rise to 36 million by 2020, an increase of over 10%. Should Mozambique
enter into a peaceful period, it will enjoy a good proportion of this increase. In 2017, we have made significant investments
into rebuilding and expanding Gorongosa’s tourism potential to ensure that the tourism sector will contribute to the Park’s
long-term financial sustainability.
Gorongosa Collection, Turismo de Gorongosa, Eco Camp Muzimu
Turismo de Gorongosa, the Park’s tourism initiative, was registered in 2017. Operating under ‘The Gorongosa
Collection’ label, the first up-market eco-camp is being constructed at Muzimu. There has been significant progress – the
site has been selected and surveyed, environmental assessments have been completed and the necessary regulatory
approval has been obtained. Infrastructure such as tents have been procured, and initial booking are being received.
Once the camp is fully operational, it will provide at least 34 direct jobs. Muzimu is just the first eco-camp in a series of
three that are in the advanced planning phase. We strongly believe that tourism can become the single most important
income generator for Gorongosa and its Buffer Zone programme – a true development engine.
Activity Centre
During 2017, the Activity Centre in Chitengo was taken
over by the Gorongosa Collection. In 2017, (for the
8-month season) 806 activities were conducted for guests,
with approximately 5,700 people joining our safaris. While
we are currently restricted to relatively few routes, we do
have plans to expand the visitors’ experience. This year
we prepared and developed funding proposals to establish
a science visitors’ centre at Chitengo and we are hoping
to build a canopy walk close by. We intend to create an
unforgettable experience for visitors – from the Park Buffer
Zone, as well as national and international tourists – of
nature and culture in Mozambique.
Eco-tourism is a powerful force that helps
conservation. If you visit Gorongosa for a
Mozambique safari, you help save it!
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Employment
Investing in the Park’s tourism infrastructure and assets
lays the foundation for sustainable jobs in tourism, which
in turn will support local farmers and entrepreneurs.
Additionally, training opportunities for local tourism staff
will provide people from the Buffer Zone with long-term
employment opportunities, leading to reduced poverty
levels in neighbouring communities. With this in mind,
2017 has been a year of planning new tourism initiatives.
These include up-market facilities at Muzimu, where it is
estimated that 34 staff members and three qualified guides
will be employed. Three up-market mobile tented camps
are envisioned over the longer-term, which will each
employ a similar number of staff. Increased occupancy
rates at Montebelo Gorongosa could lead to the employment
of 12 qualified guides and additional hospitality
staff. At present, 75 individuals (96% Mozambicans) are
employed in the tourism industry in the Park. Revenue
generated from tourism, such as concession and entry fees,
will flow back to Gorongosa Park.
Funding is being sourced to establish Mozambique’s only
safari guiding academy, which will train Mozambicans to
service the high-level and luxury tourism sector.
This is crucial to establish the required skills for guiding at
an international standard and ensure a consistent flow of
qualified guides feeding into the new hospitality establishments
as they roll out. If all goes well, the school will also
provide courses in basic housekeeping and other
hospitality aspects for our local work force from the
Gorongosa Buffer Zone.
Gorongosa Coffee Agroforestry-under-Shade Project
The Gorongosa Project has invested in developing shade coffee plantations on the slopes of Mount Gorongosa for
‘out-growers’ (local small-holder farmers) and a coffee value chain, linking high quality Arabica coffee grown locally to profitable
international markets. As a result of political conflict in the area during the past two years, the coffee project had to
downscale its three-year pilot programme, which was to plant out 20ha of coffee in each of the three years, but has gained
new momentum in 2017.
Out-growers on the mountain planted 15,000 coffee seedlings, and are working their previously established plantations
again. In each hectare of coffee, 90 trees native to the rainforest and produced in nurseries adjacent to the coffee nursery,
have been interplanted into the coffee fields to provide shade and assist in the reforestation process. Functional support services,
such as a seedling nursery, dry processing facility and micro-roasting under the Gorongosa brand are in place. Major
investments have continued, and with a promising peace process underway, the full value-chain for coffee can be reignited.
It is estimated that within a five-year period, coffee could provide an approximate cash return of US$ 500 for small-holder
farmers involved.
To secure a great future for Gorongosa National Park, we must improve
the lives of its people. Our goal is healthy families with improved food
security, alternative, sustainable livelihoods and reduced population
pressure around Gorongosa.
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Parque Nacional da Gorongosa
Parque Nacional da Gorongosa
The Buffer Zone – People Matter
Human Development
The Buffer Zone is a dedicated human development zone, integrated with the conservation objectives of the Park. The
GNP Management Plan 2015 – 2020 implements the Conservation Act of 2014 and supports the Sofala Provincial
Development Plan (O Plano Económico e Social e Orçamento de Estado Provincial, 2014), incorporating a detailed human
development vision. A dedicated Buffer Zone Management Plan is yet to be developed.
Gorongosa District has been specifically affected by recent civil unrest in Mozambique, but a peace process is currently
underway. Extension services in the conflict areas have been disrupted, and communities have been largely self-dependent
for the past two years. During the years of conflict, the Gorongosa Project was one of the only organisations that remained
operating in the area, with a human development programme that targets health, education, girls’ empowerment and
small-holder farming support measures.
Currently, some 177,000 people reside in the Buffer Zone, consisting of an estimated 26,000 households straddling six
districts. About 65% of people in the Buffer Zone are considered to be living below the poverty line. The Gorongosa Project
is creating a new model for Gorongosa National Park. Instead of functioning solely as a wildlife sanctuary, it aims to serve as
a development engine. In 2017, the Gorongosa team made a concerted effort to foster investment in a remote region with
few opportunities for development.
Health
The Gorongosa Project implements a variety of health
and community services in the Park’s Buffer Zone with
the aim of increasing the coverage of high impact health
and nutrition services through expansion of community
health workers and mobile clinics. Mobile health units
(with public medical staff) and community health workers
are supported by the national health system to visit remote
settlements regularly to deliver basic health services. Family
planning and child health-care activities are underway, as
is maternal health education, which encourages pregnant
women to use the maternity wards across the Buffer
Zone. ‘Model moms’ are being trained to help spread
important health, nutrition, education and conservation
messages, and a cadre of ‘Madrinhas’ or godmothers, provide
family planning information to young girls and
collaborate with Girls’ Clubs. Additionally, 23 new
community health workers were deployed into the field,
37 traditional birth attendants were trained to service an
outlying community, and a complete restructuring of the
health team took place early in 2017.
Notably, a detailed baseline survey was implemented in all 16 communities in the Buffer Zone, collecting basic information
on household economies, health, basic services, education and other key development parameters. This information is
critical to further shaping the human development programme and also to track achievements of programme interventions.
The Park supports the people who share the greater ecosystem and in turn, the people support Park objectives.
ção da Maratona na Selva
orongosa
Parque Nacional da
114
2.a Edição da Maratona na Selva
2.a Edição da Maratona na Selva
Through mobile medical clinics,
we reach some of the most vulnerable
families in some of the remotest areas
of the Gorongosa region.
These clinics save a lot of lives.
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Community Outreach Facilities
The Gorongosa Community Education Centre (CEC) is
situated just outside the park borders, a few kilometres
from the Park’s main entrance gate, and is the centre of
our Buffer Zone human development programme. It
houses not only the park offices and the majority of the
staff, but more importantly, many of our community
outreach and education events. In 2017, a total of 2,384
individuals participated in training events and courses at
the centre.
The CEC specifically invests in environmental education
and facilitates visits for community members and especially
school children. This year, 25 additional teachers from the
Buffer Zone were trained to form eco-clubs, which are
situated in 36 schools in two districts, and at present have
a membership of 260 pupils. A projected 100 more
teachers are expected to be trained in eco-club facilitation
by the end of the year. In addition, 130 community elders
visited the centre to share local traditional conservation
ethics with staff at the centre. In this period, 2,434
members of the community were sponsored to visit the
Park to see its wildlife and experience the beauty of nature
from a park’s perspective for the first time.
First Lady of Mozambique Isaura Ferrão Nyusi
Greg Carr Mateus Mutemba
Education and Girls’ Clubs
Girls and women of Gorongosa are disproportionately impacted by poverty and are among the most vulnerable in the
communities of the Buffer Zone. Poor, adolescent girls in Mozambique are more likely to drop out of primary school due to
a number of cultural and societal norms, including the practice of early marriage and the high rate of childhood
pregnancies. The project operates Girls’ Clubs, which are after-school programmes that focus on literacy, numeracy and
health, and identify career opportunities. Girls’ Clubs have proved to encourage young teens to remain in school and
continue into high school, potentially lowering the incidence of child marriage and child pregnancy.
The Girls’ Clubs concept has been implemented in 17 primary schools, reaching approximately 680 girls. At the clubs,
they are taught and mentored by slightly older Mozambicans, ‘Promoters’, who have graduated from high school and are
supported by 340 ‘Madrinhas’ (godmothers) in family and community related matters. Funds have been committed to
support an additional 33 Girls’ Clubs in the southern districts over the next three years, and later to include the remaining
43 schools in the Buffer Zone, especially in areas where the impact of the political instabiity has been most severe on local
communities.
This year, during a pilot project, 12 bursaries were awarded to selected Girls’ Club members to attend high school. While
the Girls’ Club programme will be upscaled slowly, the progress made during 2017 is significant. We believe that focusing
on girls’ education and empowerment will bring about true transformation in these communities.
In 2016, the Samora Machel Primary School in Mussinhá Village, was rebuilt to become a modern primary school encompassing
Grades 1 to 7. The school consists of five classrooms, a hall, administrative block, toilets and a house for the
principal. It greatly enhances the access of local pupils to full primary education. The new school started operations early
this year.
In parallel with the growing human development
programme, numerous additional staff members were
recruited. Funds have been secured to build proper offices
to accommodate the staff, allowing them to move from
their prefabricated offices. While building will only
commence in 2018, this is a major achievement and
further such ‘operational’ support is needed in the future.
An additional CEC, a similar, albeit smaller, community
centre, will be situated near the northern headquarters,
to help overcome the logistics of travelling long distances
to and from communities and field sites. The plans for the
CEC have been prepared, and construction will start in
2018.
20
CLUBES DE RAPARIGAS
PARQUE NACIONAL DA GORONGOSA
Education is how we hope to shape the future.
At Gorongosa National Park, we teach local people (especially children)
the principles and values of environmental conservation so they will be willing
and able to help us protect the Park in the future.
21

Micro-entrepreneur Projects
During 2016, 20 community members from Nhambita, Nhanguo and Mucombezi attended training on small business
management at the CEC. After the training, these new Community Animators received grocery products with which
to start their micro entrepreneur businesses. In March 2017, a review meeting was held with the beneficiaries of this
ongoing entrepreneur project: of the 47 entrepreneurs, 38 still remained in business. It was decided to reduce the
maintenance effort to see how many would remain in business without support.
Early in 2017, the programme focused its attention on harvesting and purchasing honey from 40 beekeepers, and the
Gorongosa Project held its inaugural Honey Harvest. The honey was harvested from 30 hives in the small Miombo forest
at the Community Education Centre. By the end of March, the programme had purchased over 400 kg of honey from
members of local communities.
The majority of vegetables consumed in the CEC cafeteria (which serves on average 160 meals per day) and the Chitengo
cafeteria, are now sourced from local farmers in Vinho and Nhambita.
Small-holder Farmer Agriculture
During 2017, the Gorongosa Project further refined its
small-holder farmers programme approach. Eight hundred
small-holder farmers are being supported in the southern
and northern parts of the Buffer Zone. Working with
over 60 ‘lead farmers’, of whom almost half are women,
best practices relating to climate smart agriculture, new
interventions through promoting early adopters, and
training have been rolled out. Farmers have also received
implements and seeding materials. Two dedicated seed
trial plots have been established and are being used as
demonstration ‘farms’, investigating which agricultural
treatments are effective in specific agro-ecological systems
in the Buffer Zone.
CBNRM, Conservancies, Democratisation
Community-based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) is considered a productive avenue to generate direct
economic benefits for local communities in the Buffer Zone. The Gorongosa team has been engaged with various
communities for some time to discuss options for natural resource-based businesses. Sustainable forestry management,
community-based ecotourism and game meat production are opportunities currently being investigated in detail. Agroforestry
linkages between conservation and agriculture are also being considered. In certain areas, the formal demarcation
of a form of ‘community conservancy’ is also being explored in association with the Mozambican Protected Areas Authority,
ANAC.
The understanding and establishment of equitable governance structures for such CBNRM entities are critical, and need to
be linked to existing natural resources committees on a Regulado level and a further decentralisation to a Sapanda or Fumo
level (both traditional sub-structures down to a village level) is envisaged. The Gorongosa Project is now able to engage with
the 16 existing Natural Resources Committees in the Buffer Zone to start initial steps of raising awareness about democratic
governance and creating relevant structures to establish CBNRM initiatives.
+258 82 308 2252
www.gorongosa.org
100% puro, mel orgânico da selva Africana colhido
pelas comunidades à volta do Parque Nacional da
Gorongosa e trazido até si por Produtos Naturais da
Gorongosa, Província de Sofala, Moçambique.
Gorongosa
M L
HONEY
Gorongosa
M
HONEY
L
INGREDIENTS:
Pure Natural Honey
100% pure, organic African bush honey harvested by
the communities around Gorongosa National Park and
brought to you by Produtos Naturais da Gorongosa,
Sofala Province, Mozambique.
Some of our most important
conservation work is done
outside the Park,
in communities and
villages, in schools and
health clinics.
It is evident that the key bottlenecks for small-holder
farmers are access to markets, as well as unlocking full
value chains for their produce. The Gorongosa team is
working hard to identify these value chains and to help the
farmers increase the value of their produce.
The potential of establishing a local cashew nut industry is
being investigated and piloted, including value addition,
such as a packing facility for nuts. The Gorongosa team
specifically aims to inject commercial farming know-how
and approaches through Gorongosa’s ‘Produtos Naturais’,
a commercial farming enterprise. It is believed that such
investments will become economically viable only by
instilling a commercial outlook into the agricultural
development of small-holder farmers. It is estimated that
by Year 5, the annual production of cashew nuts from the
Buffer Zone alone, will be 1,840 metric tons. This would
inject an annual cash amount of US$ 1.84 million for
farmers in the Buffer Zone. If the nuts are further
processed at a Gorongosa Project processing factory
(out of shell, unroasted), this could increase six-fold.
22
23

Profiles –
Sponsoring Success
Dominique Gonçalves
M.Sc. graduate
The project has supported four Mozambican
students for their tertiary education abroad,
seven in Mozambique.
Josefa Joaquim Moguene
– Madrinha (godmother)
Three hundred and forty Madrinhas
(godmothers) support 680 girls in 17 Girls’
Clubs.
Olga Alberto Tomo
Aniceto Girls’ Club member
Twelve girls from the Girls’ Clubs received
bursaries to continue their education to
secondary school.
Jacinto Mathe
Science fellow
Five Mozambican and 70 international
students and senior scientists have been
based at the Wilson lab, Gorongosa.
Cesária Tupo Pedro
Promoter
In 2017, 680 girls participated in the
Girls’ Clubs.
Tonga Torcida
Wildlife technician
This year the Park has 592 full-time
members of staff, of which 98 per cent are
Mozambican.
Albano Vasco Chonze
Ranger
There are 228 rangers and scouts mostly
from the Buffer Zone, including the first
nine women rangers.
Dominique
I was born in Beira and studied Ecology and
Conservation of Terrestrial Biodiversity at
Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo. I
completed my M.Sc. in Conservation Biology at
the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology
at the University of Kent – UK. During this time,
I was a research fellow working with and being
trained by people I really admire in the Elephant
Project in Gorongosa National Park. I presented
research results at the Resilience for Development
conference in Johannesburg and attended the
Human Wildlife Conflict Transformation capacity
building. I was also invited to speak at the Altura
Institute’s Conversations with Exceptional Women
in Idaho, USA in September this year. I aspire to
pursue further education and get more
experience on the ground to better serve GNP
and conservation in general, especially of
elephants, and to encourage young people to
work in conservation. My vision is to engage in
activities where the skills I have acquired fit and
serve the best.
Some workers from the Park met with our
community, and told us about the Girls’ Club
Project. They asked if anyone was interested in
becoming a ‘Madrinha’ (godmother) – it’s a
volunteer position, but my colleagues and I
wanted to help the girls in our community, so
we applied. We encourage girls to stay in school;
we visit girls in their homes and we talk to them
about the importance of continuing to go to
school and to avoid early marriages. If a girl stays
in school she can get a better job and help her
family, and not become dependent on a
husband. She can even help her husband if he
is not working! Education gives you a strong
foundation for the future. The project also helps
to recover the culture that existed in the
communities a long time ago. The community
praises us and our activities. Now they want
us to talk to and counsel their
daughters!
I’m 16 years old, and I live in Bebeto with my
father, my mother and 10 siblings. Uncle
Bareto and Aunt Gloria came to my school and
told us about the Girls’ Club. I joined
immediately. At the club, I learnt about how
important it is not to get married too early, and
to study and stay in school. That way we can
get a good job, and help our parents. Without
Girls’ Club and the scholarship, I would not be in
school now, because my parents cannot afford to
pay for me to continue my studies. I hope that in
the future I will be like Uncle Barreto and Aunt
Gloria; helping other people.
I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary
Sciences at UEM in Maputo in June 2016. I did
a wildlife internship in Gorongosa from
September to December and started my
fellowship in February 2017. I work in
Palaeontology and I’m connected to the
Primates Project. We went on a field visit in
August, which was really cool. We had some
interesting finds, but we are still processing
the results. It’s hard work – we work every
day of the week at Chitengo. We also do tours
to the lab. I have met new friends and made
new contacts who I plan to visit someday. I
would like to further my studies – perhaps do
a Masters at UEM, but would really like to do a
Masters at Coimbra University in
Primatology/ Palaeontology. It’s my dream. If
I could become an intern there, I could earn
some money and learn something about the
country.
I am 21 years old. I live in Gorongosa and
would like to become a forest engineer. I was
considering what to do after school and read
about becoming a promotor in the Park. When
I read that it involved working with girls, it
motivated me more. Being a promoter is being
a big sister who is there to help the girls learn
and grow academically, counselling them on
things such as personal hygiene, sexual
reproductive health, boys and other things
during teenage life.
During my time here, I have learnt that people
are scared of change and that we have a very
big responsibility to protect these girls and
make sure they are prepared for the real world
out there. Even in today’s world there are many
parents who do not let their kids go to school.
If we can counsel them, I am sure they would
change their minds, because many of them are
simply following tradition without really
understanding the consequences.
I work in the Conservation Department of
Gorongosa National Park. In August 2017, I
came back from the Mweka Wildlife College in
Tanzania, where I received my Bachelor’s
Degree in Wildlife Management. Mweka is
fantastic as you learn a lot of practical things.
We visited several parks and worked with the
local park management teams. In the
beginning, my biggest challenge was the
language barrier, not only English, but also
Swahili. Now I can claim that I speak six
languages! My duties here in the Park include
organising patrols and deploying the ranger
force. I also monitor and track large carnivores,
as part of our Large Carnivore Project. I have
high expectations of conservation in
Mozambique. I sincerely believe that
Gorongosa’s wonderful approach to sharing
the Park’s benefits with local people can be
applied in other conservation areas as well. I
would really like to be part of that initiative.
Before working as a ranger, I worked in the
Park as a conservation agent. I wanted to
rebuild but also to protect the Park, so in 2011
I applied for training to be a ranger. I would
encourage others to become rangers, because
in addition to protecting our environment, our
home, our Gorongosa, we are also paid for
our work, and we can provide for our families
and invest in our children’s education. Some
other rangers have invested in better housing
and transport for themselves and their families.
What I like most about my job is seeing the
satisfaction of tourists, and providing support
to scientists as they do their work in the field. It
is very motivating. I think that, in the future, a
work-exchange programme between national
and international parks would greatly improve
my professional experience as a ranger.
Josefa
Olga
Jacinto
Cesária
Tonga
Albano
24
25

Performance Indicators –
Measures ofSuccess
Performance Indicators
1. Number of tourists visiting the Park
2. Number of community members from the Buffer Zone visiting the Park
26
2017 - 5,700
2016 - 1,992
2015 - 2,597
2014 - 1,247
2013 - 1,244
2012 - 6,311
2011 - 7,000
2017 - 2,713
2016 - 2,434
2015 - 347
2011
3. Number of participants enrolled in Girls’ Clubs
GC members 680
High school bursars 12
2012
2013
2014
CLUBES DE RAPARIGAS
2015
PARQUE NACIONAL DA GORONGOSA
2016
2017
4. Number of species documented in Gorongosa National Park
2017 - 5 001
2016 - 4 874
2015 - 4 300
2014 - 3 208
2013 - 2 074
5. Ecology - Outcomes of wildlife counts
Species 2014 2016
Blue wildebeest 361 363
Buffalo 670 696
Bushbuck 2,277 2,022
Bushpig 167 108
Common reedbuck 11,871 10,451
Duiker grey 61 49
Duiker red 26 21
Eland 105 94
Elephant 535 567
Hartebeest 613 562
Hippo 436 440
Impala 2,727 4,705
Kudu 1,200 1,466
Nyala 945 1,299
Oribi 4,485 3,884
Sable 757 810
Warthog 9,086 5,383
Waterbuck 34,482 44,948
Zebra 33 34
TOTAL 70,837 77,902
27

Finances
Where the Money Goes
Finances
During 2017, we managed to significantly diversify our support
base, and now have a substantial number of bi- and multi-lateral
cooperation partners, especially supporting our human
development programme. In a concerted effort of committed
individuals and philanthropic foundations, we can continue to
improve and scale up our conservation and development agenda.
Gorongosa Finances 2017
Revenue 2017
3%
5%
Expenses 2017
9%
4%
26%
Co-sponsor
specific activities
Join a circle of
annual givers e.g.
become a Business Club
member
How to engage
There are many ways in which you can support the work of the Gorongosa team.
Please contact us if you are willing to contribute.
The Gorongosa Business Club has made essential contributions to
our work portfolio, and we hope that in the future, income from
tourism will grow – contributing to the Park’s sustainable financing.
We would like to thank each and every one of our supporters and
hope we can continue this wonderful cooperation in the future
27%
65%
10%
Give through our
community outreach
Support through a
once-off donation
Among our donors are: the Carr Foundation, Zoo Boise, the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Government of Portugal,
Oak Foundation, Rizwan Adatia Foundation, National Geographic
Big Cat Initiative, USAID, The Royal Embassy of Norway, Irish Aid,
the Global Environment Facility (GEF/ UNDP), all our Business
Club members and various individual sundry donors.
Foundations, philanthropy, donations $6,422,000
Bi-/multi-lateral cooperation partners $2,680,000
Tourism income $ 282,840
Gorongosa Business Club $ 435,000
$9,819,840
13%
17%
21%
Tourism infrastructure $2,500,000
Operations $2,069,722
Conservation $1,694,262
Community $1,324,468
Science $ 979,774
Agriculture $ 859,224
Other $ 363,240
$9,790,690
Take a sponsorship
for a child’s
education in the
Buffer Zone
Promote the Park
and help identify friends
Organise your
own fundraising
events
The protection and conservation of Gorongosa National Park
and its surrounding communities would not be possible
without the support and generosity of our partners.
We are grateful for their commitment to our mission and to the
future success of Gorongosa National Park.
28
29

The Team
The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts
Gorongosa Project Team
GOVERNMENT OF MOZAMBIQUE
“MITADER”
GORONGOSA PROJECT
Board of Directors
Oversight Committee
Gregory C. Carr
Bernardo Beca Jofrisse
PARK WARDEN
Mateus Mutemba
Human Resource
Liaison
Board of Directors
Gregory C. Carr President (Gorongosa Project)
Calista Terezinha da Silva (National Coordinator,
NGO Women and Law in Southern Africa)
Jennifer Garvey (Director: Legal Consultant:Renewable Energies
and Natural Resources)
Mateus Mutemba (Gorongosa National Park Warden)
Fernando Sumbana (Economist and Former Minister of Tourism)
Robert Pringle Ph.D. (Assistant Professor Princeton University)
Christopher Parker, (OAK Foundation)
Human
Development
Manuel Mutimucuio
Community Based
Natural Resource
Management
Education
Operations
Mike Marchington
Finance, Procurement,
Reporting and
Donor Relations
Workshop, Vehicle
Fleet, Roads, Air
Gorongosa
Conservation
Pedro Muagura
Collaboration with
Neighbouring
Concessions
Law Enforcement
Scientific Services
Marc Stalmans
Bio-physical and
Socio-economic
Research
Ecological
Monitoring and
Advice
Communications
& Media
Vasco Galante
Tourism
Partner Liaison
Communications
Health
Infrastructure and
Maintenance,
Construction, IT
Ecological
Management
Environmental Impact
Assessment and
Tourism Zoning
Gorongosa
Business Club
Agriculture
Payroll, Workplace
Safety, Training
Human-Wildlife
Coexistence
Park Management
Plan Coordination
Community
Conservation
Commercial Licenses,
Produtos Naturais,
Turisimo da Gorongosa,
Gorongosa Trust
Mt. Gorongosa
Wilson
Laboratory/Science
School
Wildlife
Sanctuaries
30
Carnivore
Management
31

Contacts
Gorongosa Project
Avenida Mártires da Revolução, N.1539
Bairro de Macúti, Beira, Mozambique
www.gorongosa.org
https://www.facebook.com/gorongosa
Vasco Galante
Director of Communication and Tourism
vasco@gorongosa.net
www.gorongosa.org