The government of Mozambique has earmarked funding of around US$60 million annually to support the country’s network of conservation areas through its involvement in the newly formed Africa Keystone Protected Area Partnership (AKPAP).
Launched in September, AKPAP aims to bring governments, communities, NGOs and funders together to secure the long-term future of 162 of Africa’s most important protected areas through mechanisms such as collaborative management partnerships.
The initiative is led by African Parks, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Frankfurt Zoological Society with the support of various other conservation organisations and funders such as the Rob Walton Foundation.
At the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi from October 8-15, Pejul Calenga, DG of Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas, said an MoU was being finalised with the Rob Walton Foundation – a major funder for African Parks – to secure the protection of identified keystone protected areas.
These include the Gorongosa, Zinave, Banhine, Gilé and Magoe national parks, the Niassa Special Reserve and the Tchuma Tchato Landscape.
AKPAP has so far secured the support of the African Union and the heads of state of Angola, Botswana, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
