Environment and Natural Resource Conservation and Management in Mozambique

Munyaradzi Mawere

Description

This is an eloquent, engaged and extremely well informed narrative of the environmental and natural resource conservation and management issues in Mozambique. While the topics in this volume are diverse, they are all explicitly designed to move beyond the routinized blame of natural resource mismanagement and environmental degradation on local communities, and to rethink ecosystem destruction, land degradation and natural resource over-exploitation in Africa and beyond. Never losing sight of the major causes of environment and resource mismanagement in Mozambique, the book advances the thesis that environment and resource problems are a result of compound factors such as poor governance, poverty, corruption, low education levels, and disregard of endogenous conservation epistemologies. A combination of all these factors makes the whole terrain of conservation even more complicated than ever; hence the need for urgent action by all social actors. This is a valuable book for environmental conservationists, land resource managers, social ecologists, environmental anthropologists, environmental field workers and technicians, practitioners and students of conservation sciences.

Informations

• Publié par: Langaa RPCIG
• Date de parution: 24 juin 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9789956790098
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

Extrait

environmental field workers and technicians, practitioners

Environment and Natural Resource Conservation and Management in Mozambique Munyaradzi Mawere L a ng a a R esea rch & P u blishing CIG Mankon, Bamenda

Publisher: LangaaRPCIG Langaa Research & Publishing Common Initiative Group P.O. Box 902 Mankon Bamenda North West Region Cameroon [e-mail] www.langaa-rpcig.net Distributed in and outside N. America by African Books Collective [e-mail] www.africanbookcollective.com ISBN: 9956-790-77-X ©Munyaradzi Mawere 2013

DISCLAIMER All views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Langaa RPCIG.

Dedication To Pedro, and my dearest cousin, John, I humbly and gratefully dedicate this book. Thanks for the inspiration

Table of Contents Preface………………………………………………….. Vii Guide to the Reader…………………………………….. Xv Chapter 1: Situating Mozambique’s Natural Resource Management in Historical Context…………………. 1 Introduction…………………………………………….. 1 Research Question……………………………………… 3 Legislation Passed For the Management of Natural Resources during the Colonial Era…………………………………. 4 Natural Resources Management after Independence (1975- 1992)……………………………………………………. 7 Natural Resource Management Trend in Mozambique since 1992……………………………………………………. 9 Conclusion……………………………………………… 18 Chapter 2: Environmental Malpractices In Mozambique: A Case Study of Xai-Xai Rural Area, Gaza Province, Mozambique………………………………………….. 27 Introduction…………………………………………….. 27 Background to the Study Problem……………………….31 Research Objectives……………………………………. 33 Geographical Description of the Study Area…………… 34 Methodological Issues………………………………….. 36 Results and Discussions………………………………… 40 Possible Causes and Impacts of Environmental Malpractices in Xai-Xai Rural Area: A Closer Look………………….. 44 Confronting The Jeopardy: The Way Forward………….. 48 Conclusion……………………………………………… 52 iii

Chapter 3: Green Revolution Program (GRP) In Mozambique: Rethinking the Impact of Mozambique’s Fast-Track GRP on the Environment and Biodiversity…………………………………………….59 Introduction…………………………………………….. 59 What Is Green Revolution?............................................... 62 Background, History and Principles of Mozambican GRP (MGRP)………………………………………………… 63 The GRP and Its Problems in Mozambique……………. 67 Mozambique GRP and Its Impact on Non-human Animal Rights……………………………………………………68 The Impact of Mozambique GRP on the Physical Environment…………………………………………….74 Conclusion……………………………………………… 78 Chapter 4: Gold Panning In Central Mozambique: A Critical Investigation of the Effects of Gold Panning In Manica Province……………………………………….83 Introduction……………………………………………. 83 Background and Historical Overview of Gold Panning In Manica…………………………………………………...86 Research Questions and Methodological Issues………… 89 Discussion Based On Field Observations and Interviews………………………………………………. 92 Impacts of Gold Panning In Manica……………………. 95 Negotiating the Problem: Some Recommendations……... 99 Conclusion……………………………………………… 100

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Chapter 5: Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) In Mozambique: Lessons and Directions for Natural Resource Management……. 105 Introduction…………………………………………….. 105 Study Objectives……………………………………….. 108 Research Questions…………………………………….. 109 Framework for Considering CBNRM…………………... 110 CBNRM Crisis in Mozambique: Lessons and Directions for the Management of Natural Resources………………... 112 Conclusion……………………………………………… 121 Chapter 6: ‘It’s neither Conservation nor Preservation’- Possibilities for Alleviating Poverty through Dambo Utilization in Chokwe Rural Area, Gaza Province, Mozambique………………………………………….. 129 Introduction…………………………………………….. 129 Understanding the Concepts of Dambo and Poverty…... 132 Problem Background and Geographical Description of the Study Area……………………………………………….136 Methodological Issues………………………………….. 138 Discussion Based On Research Findings……………….. 141 The Way Forward For Dambo Utilization in Chokwe: Some Recommendations……………………………………… 146 Conclusion……………………………………………… 150

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Chapter 7: Small-Scale Cash Income Sources In Central Mozambique: The Root Cause of Resource Scarcity and Environmental Instability?...................................................159 Introduction…………………………………………….. 159 Theoretical Framework- Sustainable Livelihoods………. 161 Dombe Case Study: Competing Resources Uses………... 165 Methodological Issues………………………………….. 166 Discussion Based On Research Findings: On the Possible Impacts of Unsustainable Small-Scale Income Sources to the Environment…………………………………………….168 Challenges for Addressing Problems to Do With Resource Use………………………………………………………173 Conclusion……………………………………………… 176 Chapter 8: Unlocking the Crisis: New Directions for Conservation in Mozambique………………………...183 Introduction…………………………………………….. 183 The Connecting Thread Cutting Across Conservation Discourse……………………………………………….. 186 The Final Word………………………………………….189

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Preface The debates around issues of environment and natural resource conservation and management in Africa and beyond have been highly momentous and have sustained controversies of epic proportions in conservation sciences and environmental anthropology. Given the nebulous nature of the concept of environment coupled with problems around resource conservation and management, a robust comprehension of both the concept of environment and root causes of the problems around natural resource conservation and management is more urgent than ever, especially in contexts such as those of emerging economies such as Africa in general and in particular Mozambique. In Africa, the debate on environmental conservation has on one hand been provoked by the fact that while developing countries have contributed less than any other region to the greenhouse gas emissions that are widely held responsible for global warming, they are more vulnerable due to their 1 dependence on burning fuels , and also because of their high 2 poverty levels. As pointed out by Mawere , “the impacts of climate change in Africa are generally manifested in human health and in the agricultural sector worsening the existing levels of poverty and undermining all development efforts in the continent”. The other consequences include adverse impacts on Africa’s varied livelihoods systems and the unique biodiversity of its ecosystems. In fact the global environmental change such as climate change, for example, has impacted negatively on ecosystems thereby making water and food security especially in already semi-arid areas more uncertain than ever. This has caused most forecasting scenarios suggesting greater vulnerability to ecosystem vii