UNDP Mozambique hands over bus to Wildlife Conservation Society to support conservation in Mozambique Niassa National reserve. This is part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF 6) ‘Strengthening the conservation of globally threatened species in Mozambique by improving biodiversity law enforcement and expanding community conservation areas in the buffer zone of conservation areas’.

These are remarks by Mr. Francisco Roquette, UNDP Mozambique Deputy Resident Representative, during the handover ceremony:

• Mr. James Bampton, Director of WCS Mozambique Office 
• Distinguished guests,
• Ladies and gentlemen,

I am honored on behalf of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Mozambique, to be  delivering this bus to WCS to serve the Niassa National Reserve.

The acquisition of this important mode of transport is part of the implementation of the PROBIO - GEF 6 project, entitled ʺStrengthening conservation of globally threatened species in Mozambique, through improved enforcement of biodiversity and the expansion of community conservation areas in the area. conservation area buffer areas.

The PROBIO project is funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and UNDP. It is implemented in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society, the National Conservation Area Administration (ANAC) and the Gorongosa Restoration Project (GRP).

I am pleased to note that this is one of the largest biodiversity conservation sector projects under implementation in Mozambique. Its real impact will result in the following concrete results for wildlife communication and conservation:

• The establishment of law enforcement bases and ranger camps to support permanent wildlife protection in the Niassa Reserve;
• The development and implementation of a monitoring system to monitor wildlife and forest crime;
• Support for the establishment of reserve co-management entities;
• Training co-management members in sustainable wildlife management, sustainable agriculture and forestry and alternative income generation; 
• Developing and implementing pilot projects on community-based wildlife management, sustainable agriculture, ecosystem restoration and small businesses, and producing lessons learned from the procecess;
• Developing mechanisms for preventing and mitigating conflict between humans and wildlife and presenting them to local communities for implementation

The implementation of the PROBIO project supported the operationalization of air resources for surveillance in the Niassa National Reserve, which contributed to a significant reduction in wildlife loss due to poaching. We note with satisfaction that for the Elephant species, which was heavily decimated, for over a year there has been no record of any death caused by poaching.

This result is very encouraging, and we hope the project will accelerate the consolidation of other results that are already visible in the project intervention areas in Niassa.

We are also encouraged by the fact that along the Marrupa - Mecula corridor around 10,000 people, 53% of them women, will benefit directly from the implementation of the project, especially the creation and operationalization of community conservation areas.

In conclusion, I would like once again to express our satisfaction in believing that this bus will contribute to the achievement of the project's objectives, particularly in the institutional strengthening of the Niassa National Reserve, as it, in addition to serving the Reserve's workers, will help move communities towards greater involvement in their conservation activities.

Communities are indispensable partners for the success of this particular project, and for the sustainable use of natural resources and fauna in all conservation areas in Mozambique. They are the key actors in establishing community conservation areas and are also the axis through which conservation activities promote the improvement of people's livelihoods to stimulate sustainable development.

With the delivery of this bus, UNDP wants to reiterate its commitment and willingness to continue and increase the partnership with WCS in pursuit of the project objectives, and other initiatives for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, in favour of sustainable development. socio - economic sector in Mozambique.

Thank you